Page 31 of Club Blood
She always looked the part of a strong ruler, but today even more so. Mercy came back from the conference as the Reigning Bitch of Sin City, and I was born to stand by her side. She would come crawling back to me, she needed me like I needed her. I would make Mercy my consort, whatever it took.
“Mercy,” I said with a sly grin, fixing my face into a neutrally pleasant expression as I took in how exceptional she looked. I could lick the sweat from her glossy skin, the goosebumps freckling along my arms as my core tightened with need. She was fucking beautiful, something to be admired across all beings, all creatures alike. I think I fell in love with her the minute we met. She was so dark, so sultry, and confident in herself and her mission. Mercy Petrova was born to be a queen, and here she was, in all of her glory.
“Narcissa, Warren.”
I could see the warmth that seeped out of her as she spoke Warren’s name, and my shoulders tensed.
Her . . . neglect had punched me hard in the pit of my stomach. So stupid of me, to think she would only take one mate. It was not her way; so foolish to think that a queen deserves no more than one lover. My thoughts were distracting me, and before long I noticed the buzzing conversation around me had stopped.
“Narcissa, are you listening?”
My head snapped to hers, and I could see the disappointment that was housed there. Mercy had become distant these last few days, and it was more than just the conference, more than tearing out Nathaniel’s heart that made her that way.
“I’d like for us to all be on the same page, now that Warren will be housed with the coven.”
“You’re . . . letting him live here?” I asked, appalled. Warren sat still beside me.
“He is a part of my council,” she confirmed with a nod of her head to punctuate the point.
“Do we just hop councils now? Where is the fucking loyalty?” I seethed.
“My loyalty has always been to Mercy,”
“I don’t fucking believe you.”
There was a hiss from the doorway where Mercy stood, fire bright in her eyes. “I remembered at one point it wasmethat you both were answering to. And if neither of you can get along, I know damn well that I can do this without the both of you. Your heads will be cut off and railed on stakes faster than you could think to run away, so I think it might be best if you both closed your goddamn mouths.”
My lips tightened into an uncomfortable grimace.
“The plan moving forward is simple,” she continued, seeming satisfied with our compliance, “We keep them in the dark about Nathaniel and Wade, and we conquer. I don’t know what Carlisle Valore has up his sleeves, but I know it isn’t good. We all know well that being in another’s pocket is not ideal. Especially when that pocket is on the pants of a very public andvery dangerousvampire.”
“What would you like us to do?” I asked, clicking my nails together.
Mercy contemplated my question slowly, which I had always admired about her. She took every word she said seriously, which is what made them so deadly.
“Warren,” she turned her attention to the vampire next to me. He straightened at her directness, leaning forward as to not miss a single word, “Carlisle’s coven will be in Vegas awhile. It’s typical for his highness to come…survey the area of a newly appointed Keeper. I think it’s more tradition than anything, but I wouldn’t put it past him to be coming with ulterior motives.”
I bared my teeth in a hiss. She was right, Valore had an upper hand already, and we needed to make sure he couldn’t find anything else. But Warren? That was no job for him, that was forme. I was her guardian, her protector.
“I need you to protect…this home,” she ended hesitantly. My stare bore into her eyes, finding a softness I was not expecting. Weakness. Warren seemed to notice it too, cocking a brow in her direction.
“Surely your wards are enough to keep him from the estate unannounced?”
“I have full belief in my wards,” Mercy snapped, “but the human here, Cecelia, is unaware of the danger she is in. She stepped unwillingly into Nathaniel’s grasp, and ultimately his war. I do not trust Carlisle Valore and his coven if they are here unsupervised with her present.”
“Surely the human prisoner is too frightened to even take a step from her room? I am no glorified babysitter,”
“Cecelia,” Mercy said with frightening coolness, “is no prisoner.”
“Fine, not a prisoner…but she isexpendable. Her safety is of no more importance than Carlisle and his information—”
“Warren, again, I must implore you to think about the words you are saying. It ismewho runs the Southwest region, andmewho knows the most important tasks at hand. My rule requires my home to be protected, and right now, Warren, you are that protection. See to it that you don’t fail.”
He bristled in embarrassment but nodded silently. I could see the submission seep from his pores.
“While Carlisle is in our clubs and in our casinos, keep him close. Find his motives. Bring them to me. Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal,” Warren replied. I couldn’t tell if he was properly angry with her, but his frustration was palpable. Mercy looked at him pleadingly, seeming to sense what I had.