“You didn’t think you could come here without greeting me, did you?” Davina demanded, although she sounded more cheerful than angry.
Queen Imogen’s gaze dropped to the floor. “Davina, darling, what have I told you about walking on the palace floors in bare feet?”
Ignoring her mother’s reprimand, Davina hurried across the room and engulfed me in a hug. She was remarkably strong for someone who looked and acted like a princess. I stood there awkwardly with my arms squeezed against my sides and looked down to notice her pink painted toenails. I wasn’t much of a hugger on any occasion, but I felt even more uncomfortable when the one hugging me was a vampire. The illogical part of me worried Davina would somehow sense my identity via osmosis.
“From now on, we’re hiring you for all our knightly needs,” she declared. “Isn’t that right, Father? Mother?”
I stifled a laugh. I fully intended to add ‘knightly needs’ to my business card.
“I’d release her before she perceives you as a threat,” another voice said, this one familiar and oh-so-intoxicating. “Trust me, you won’t like the response. I’ve seen what she’s capable of.”
Callan swaggered into the room. Did he have to look so…so…? He flashed his fangs a reminder of who and what he was. There. That helped.
“Callan says you fought well,” the king said. “You have no idea what high praise that is.”
“The highest,” Davina added.
The king regarded me. “How would you feel about a permanent post? I could use someone with your skills at Hadrian’s Wall.”
Hadrian’s Wall? He wanted to send me north to be the first line of defense against raids from House Duncan?
The prince seemed to share my sentiment because he chuckled. “Her presence here is far more effective than at Hadrian’s bloody Wall.”
“Now that we’ve lost Victor, we could use someone skilled there,” the king replied.
“Victor’s death was unfortunate but unrelated to his post. Our knight’s talents are best utilized here in Britannia City,” the prince insisted. “Besides, my father is no threat to you while I live.”
“I appreciate the offer, Your Majesty, but I have no interest in relocating. I have a life here.” Small and manageable, just the way I liked it.
“If you change your mind…” King Casek began.
“She won’t,” Callan interjected. “She’s very stubborn, as I’ve learned.”
The queen smiled. “In that case, I’m surprised you both made it through the ordeal unscathed.”
Same, girl. Same.
Davina clasped her hands together and flashed two dimples. “You should come for supper next week. London deserves a royal meal. Wouldn’t you agree, Callan? She’s skin and bone. I don’t know how she manages to lift a weapon without injuring herself.”
I suppressed a shudder. As kind and unexpected as the offer was, I needed to distance myself from vampires now.
“There’s a fair bit of muscle in there too,” Callan added. “She hides it well.”
“Please don’t feel obligated to feed me.” There was no way I wanted to become a regular fixture at the palace. They were only nice to me now because I’d successfully completed a job for them. They were still vicious vampires at their cores. It wouldn’t take much for them to decide to execute me on the spot, especially if they decided I was a threat.
And I most definitely was.
My magic flared in response to my thoughts, producing a few flecks of silver on the skin of my hands. I quickly clasped them behind me and ignored the rapid beating of my heart.
“Leave her be, Davina. She’s a busy knight with more important considerations than which frock to wear to dinner.” Maeron peeled himself off the wall. I hadn’t even noticed when he entered the room. He must’ve made himself invisible until now.
Davina glowered at him. “You make me sound silly. You know I have loftier ambitions than food and fashion.”
Maeron grinned back at her. “Of course. We wouldn’t have bothered to save you otherwise.”
I took a side step toward the door. “I’ll leave you to your family time.”
Davina waved a hand in my direction. “See? You’ve frightened her away. Why do you always do that, Maeron?”
“Enough,” the king commanded. He shifted his gaze to me. “Go now before it escalates.” He sighed. “Because it always does.”
I bowed and hurried from the throne room. A soft silver glow emanated from my hands and I thrust them into my pockets. The faster I walked, the faster I returned to fresh air and freedom. The duty to House Lewis was fulfilled and I was free to return to the Circus. Thank the gods.
I almost reached the main doors without another interruption. Almost.
Callan appeared out of nowhere and intercepted me.
I swallowed a scream. “Why do you insist on walking around your own house invisible?”
He looked at me with something bordering on amusement. “Why so much interest in how I walk around my house?”
“It’s bizarre. I don’t walk around my flat invisible.”
“Only because there’s no one there to hide from, unless your animal companions are begging for food.”
He wasn’t wrong, but I didn’t give him the satisfaction of admitting it.
Callan tilted his head in the direction of the throne room. “You’ve certainly made an impression on the right people.”
“That’s not why I did it.” Not even remotely.
“Even so, it’s good to have a royal stamp of approval, especially a knight like yourself in need of steady work.”
“We’re happy with the work we have, but I appreciate the thought.”
His mouth curved in a smile that sent involuntary shivers down my spine. It was a smile that promised to make me feel things I didn’t want to feel.
“Still not interested in working for vampires?” He glanced at the wall that featured a portrait of Queen Britannia with her fangs smeared with blood and her sword raised high. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. We can be a brutal lot.” He turned back to me. “Then again so can you.”
“I’m only brutal when it’s necessary for self-defense.”