I did make him king, yes, Darius responds. And now he’s going to decide what he feels is best for his kingdom.
He says this like it’s law, but it seems a little ridiculous.
Hot as my temper may be, I keep my freaking mouth shut as Darius stands and gestures for me to come forward. “Emerus, I’d like to officially introduce you to Bernadette Morgan. She’s… very special.”
Emerus nods his head in acknowledgment, so I follow his lead and hope I’m not embarrassing myself but also like, so what? It’s really confusing being a woman in a normal world. It’s extra extra confusing being a woman--a witch--and constantly bouncing between different cultures and worlds.
I follow Darius’ and Emerus' lead as the two walk down from the Pit and head across a wind-swept patio of stone, orange dirt and cacti-like plants.
I can feel Zev’s annoyance at this subservient treatment, but I admonish him to keep silent. A lot is riding on this partnership, and giving the new king ‘tude won’t do anything to help our cause.
We are ushered into a room that looks extravagant for one person but a bit cramped for four.
I don’t need my mental/emotional connection to Darius to know that this was his room.
I try to take in every detail, gleaning as much as I can from my lover’s life before we met. Frankly, there’s not a lot to take away from it.
It’s an austere space, with a large bed, a dresser, a desk and a fireplace with one chair set beside it. A door on the north wall leads to what I hope is some semblance of a modern bathroom, because my bladder has been stretched to capacity and I have to pee like I’ve never had to pee before.
A woman’s postpartum bladder does not pause for war, it seems. This is another thing they didn’t include in the What To Expect books. Honestly, they need a whole subseries on what to do when you have a baby and crazy paranormal shit happens.
I can’t even pay attention as Emerus and Darius say their farewells. I’m legit trying not to pee myself.
When my kinda brother-in-law leaves, I instantly turn to Darius. “Tell me there is a bathroom?”
He points to the door I’ve been pinning all my hopes on and I don’t even pretend decorum as I beeline it to relief.
What awaits me is less than encouraging.
There’s a hole in the floor. That’s it.
I eye it skeptically, but the urgency in my bladder propels me forward.
The pit is deep, and I can’t smell or see what awaits anyone who might fall into it.
Though this does nothing to give me comfort, I stand over the hole and drop my pants, squatting and trying to aim as best I can.
What I wouldn’t give for a shewee right now.
Last summer, AJ couldn’t stop talking about a thing that could let us girls pee standing up like boys. At the time it seemed ridiculous and I told her so. Now, I’m eating my words as I try not to fall into the neverending pee pit. I’m also fighting back tears thinking of AJ. I need to get to her and Erzsébet ASAP to make sure everyone’s okay.
I finish my business and try to shut my emotions down, knowing sadness won’t get me any closer to finding my friend. Cleaning myself is a challenge best not discussed in polite company. When I return to the guys, I desperately wish for a proper bathroom, and I tell them so.
“This isn’t...civil.”
But honestly, we are all too exhausted to care.
The bed isn’t big, but it’s big enough. We arrange ourselves as best we can, with Darius on an edge, then me, Rain, Zev and Rune. It doesn’t take long for us all to fall asleep.
I expected nightmares, but when I wake sometime later, it’s a relief to realize I had a dreamless sleep after all the horror of the previous day.
I’m especially grateful to see a platter of food readied for those of us with human-esque stomachs. I feed and care for Rain then help myself to dried fruit and dried meat.
I’m surprised to wake before the guys, but am glad I’ve had a few moments to myself with my child before they rise.
I can feel the tension rolling off Darius as soon as he moves from the bed.
“My brother will make a decision shortly,” he says.
I don’t ask him how he knows. I assume it's either a vampire thing or a brother thing. Either way, time to get ready for what’s to come.
Darius looks sallow and pale and when Rune takes Rain, I pull the vampire into the makeshift bathroom. “Feed on me.”
He shakes his head, refusing. “I’ve betrayed you.”
“Oh my lord, you are a pain in the ass. You need blood; I have blood. I’ll get over the betrayal, but only if you stay… undead. And not like dead dead.”
Frustrated by his unnecessary restraint, I pull him toward me and push his mouth towards my neck. It doesn’t take much more than that to get him to feed.
I wish I could avoid the pleasure I feel in this act. I’m still processing the deceit, even though I understand the motivation. Nevertheless, I can’t deny the relief present in the act of giving my life essence to him.
Zev and Rune have finished the refreshments by the time Darius finishes feeding, and I strap Rain to my chest as we make our way through winding halls to Darius’ brother.
We find him sitting on a throne, with attendants on either side. He’s wearing his father’s crown and totally looks like he’s practiced sitting on the throne before. I narrow my eyes at Emerus, suddenly suspicious of his motives as a wave of unease rides over me.
I want to flee.
To take my men and run.
And this urge makes me extra nervous.
Be careful, I say. Something doesn’t feel right.
Darius doesn’t reply. Instead, he focuses on his brother. “What have you decided?” he asks without preamble.
Emerus takes a long pause before speaking, making me doubt he’s going to give a simple thumbs up to my request. He gestures to a couple plush pillows on the floor in front of his throne. “Please. Sit.”
The hair on my neck stands on end at his words and I suck in my breath and hold my wand tightly in my hand, ready for whatever he’s about to say. Darius sits without hesitation, so I steel my nerves and follow his lead.
“I have decided to offer an alliance to your cause and any who might join it, to stop Timót and his army. After that is done, I make no promises of peace.”
“Understood,” Darius says. He seems relieved by his brother’s words, but I still feel like there’s more to come. Emerus holds up a finger, proving me right when I had really hoped to be wrong.
“I have one condition to this agreement. It’s not particularly pleasant, but it aligns with our laws… and it’s non-negotiable.”
Shit. This isn’t good. I want to tell Darius to run. I want to blast Emerus with my wand before he has a chance to speak. Making him king was not the right call. Amiable as he may have been before, Vladimir’s crown has made him shitty. I just know it.
“I will give the support of the vampires,” Emerus says with a look of unearned triumph in his eyes, “if you, dear brother, agree to accept your due punishment.”
Darius stiffens at my side and I shudder at whatever he is trying to avoid thinking. Whatever it is, it absolutely terrifies a vampire who almost never gets scared.
My heart feels on the precipice of breaking at the newly crowned king’s next words. “I sentence you to the Tomb of Time for three passages of the moon. You will suffer one day for your sins, one day for mine, and one day for our fallen father, for whose death you will accept the blame.”