House of Secrets and Vows (Crown of Deceit #1)

47. Vengeance

I arrive at our meeting spot almost an hour late.

Lachlan has filled me in on everything he's learned from his sources. I've always known my friend knew important people, but I'd had no clue how far his reach went.

Zariah relaxes her arms at her side and sighs as I approach. "I thought you'd… I'm glad you're okay. You are okay, right?"

I nod. "Lachlan found me."

"And?"

"He knows what I am, and he swears to help me—help us—take Maddox down."

I'm not sure if I actually want to be the one to sit on the throne someday. There's still so much about my curse I don't know, and I would rather appoint someone else to be king than be a shitty one.

But I'm the fool who let Maddox step in and take the title of heir, so I'll be the one to prevent my brother from further destroying our kingdom or die trying.

I've spent so much time embarrassed and sulking I'd never considered confessing my fuck up to my friends. I still don't know if they'll all accept me as Lachlan has, but they deserve the truth, and I vow to confide in them soon.

"Felix has a place we can stay for a fortnight,” Zariah says.

She must have washed up somewhere. She's still dressed in the gods-awful attire she'd worn the last few days, but her face and hair are cleaner now and mostly free from dried blood.

The peachy glow has returned to her cheeks. "Felix made me swear not to share any resistance secrets with you. He wouldn't give me the keys to the house unless I did."

"I get it. I'm a Valazican royal with vampire blood. Not exactly trustworthy traits."

"He wants to talk to you, and when he does, he'll learn you're more than those things like I have.” She smiles. “Now let's find this house and get out of these disgusting outfits."

I won’t argue with that.

I used the washroom at the resistance headquarters to rinse my face and hair, but I still feel more wild animal than human.

The safe house is more of a safe apartment in the heart of the Silver District. Thankfully, it is an outer townhouse unit with an entrance hidden behind a large oak tree.

A cute little porch, with a small table set and hanging planters, wraps around the building’s corner, and there’s even a wool mat with the word welcome stitched on it in thick black thread.

"Charming," I say as I slip off the necklace with seven keys attached and unlock all the locks.

The inside is just as endearing, with a plush couch, oversized chair, cozy fireplace, and even a piano that is missing a few keys.

Since I already had a chance to clean my face, I give Nevan the washroom first. While he bathes, I light a fire and fall back onto the couch.

We've really escaped. I almost expect to wake up, still in the cell, delirious from hunger and dehydration.

But something in my intuition tells me that I’m really safe—well, as safe as I can be when I am wanted by the heir to the throne and a vampire king.

I still have the maroon-steel dagger that fell from the cauldron, but the other blade capable of killing a vampire now likely lies with Maddox, who won’t hesitate to take out Nevan the first chance he gets.

After Nevan is clean and dressed in the outfit I found for him in one of the bedroom dressers, I excuse myself to the washroom.

Although the townhouse is well decorated and kept up, it is not luxurious enough to have hot water, so my bath is quick and not at all relaxing. But when I am out and dressed in clean clothes, I feel mostly human again.

I find Nevan curled on the couch under a blanket with a book in his hand.

"Strange," I say as I take him in.

He folds the book into his lap. "What?"

"You look almost human.” I cross the room and throw a log into the fire, earning a loud crackle.

"Looks can be deceiving." He grins, and the expression only makes him appear more human.

I sit in the chair across from him and pull my legs into a criss-cross. "What do we do now?"

"Sleep. For a few days at least."

"And then?"

"Then we figure out the next step." He runs a finger over the spine of the book. "In the meantime, I'll need to… eat. And I've been thinking about it. I know when we were locked up, you were able to stop me from draining you, but I think it's better if I find another source now."

I hug my knees into my chest. "Yes, that would be… smart."

“And about what else happened." The muscles along his jaw tighten. "We were both afraid and desperate and?—”

“—affected by the whole feeding thing." I remember all too well the effect him drinking from me had had on my desire. "It's in the past."

He nods. "Yes, exactly."

Our gazes meet, and I know how well-aware we both are that it hadn’t merely been the heat of the moment.

Before I ramble anything else, I stand.

"I'm going to find us something to eat. Some food. Something like soup." My face flushes, and I want to smack myself across the forehead. "Felix said there should be some dried goods we can have for now."

"Sounds good." Nevan picks up the book again as I turn away.

I disappear into the kitchen before I say something even more awkward.

He and I have been through hell together. There is no denying the bond now between us. But the things we'd done in the Blood Den are in the past, and from now on, we need to work together without complications if we have any hope of getting our revenge.

And there is nothing I won’t do or give up to make those who’ve wronged me pay.