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  I wouldn’t let it happen, I vowed, fear and anger bubbling inside me.

  If I was stuck with them, I’d be screwed.

  9

  Lorcan refused to let me pick my own outfit for the court party tonight.

  We both stood half-inside the walk-in closet, him on the left, hand on a hanger with a long, green gown draping from it. I shuffled through the new clothes I had selected earlier in the store.

  “One of my conditions was that I pick out my own clothing,” I said. “And you agreed to it.”

  “You will pick your daily outfit but not the attire for special occasions,” he said as patiently as he could, as if he knew better.

  “What’s so special about tonight? It’s just a vampire party with a bunch of bloodsuckers milling around, talking stupid politics, and doing creepy things.” I gave a mock shudder. “I hope they don’t feed in front of me. I won’t be nice if they do.”

  “You won’t call anyone ‘bloodsucker’ to their faces,” Lorcan said sternly. “Try not to offend everyone and put yourself in harm’s way. You’ll learn to be diplomatic under my guidance. You’ll learn how to interact properly with people.”

  I wasn’t sure if vampires qualified as people, but I bit my tongue. I wasn’t in the mood for another long lecture from him.

  “Tonight’s party will be serving that purpose,” he continued. “You’ll stay in a corner to observe. Be inconspicuous instead of standing out. In the end, you’ll gradually merge into the society.”

  I arched an eyebrow. “Why would I merge into the society? What’s in it for me?”

  “For your future survival.”

  “Your way won’t work. I’m not a sheep. I’m not a follower. I don’t play by anyone’s rules. And I don’t care if I get along with anyone or not. Society can kiss my ass.” I spat. “Especially vampire society.”

  The veins on Lorcan’s temples started to jump. “Must you defy me at every turn, Cass? What did I say about listening to my instructions in our bargain?”

  Menacing power rolled off him, and I backed a few inches away from him.

  “I was just saying you can’t make me pretend to be someone I’m not,” I said.

  Reysalor perched on the bed, his big head resting on his front paws, half-napping, half-listening to us. His occasional puff showed that he remained interested in my argument with Lorcan. I was hoping he’d jump to my defense, but the sly panther decided not to take a side.

  He wasn’t forced to go to tonight’s event. He had more privileges than I had, and he was a beast! Lorcan never made him to do anything he didn’t like, and treated him as an equal.

  Intelligent or not, he was still a panther. I should rank above him, right?

  “The party is training, and you promised to listen to me!” Lorcan’s voice rose in pitch when he saw me clenching my jaw. “If you go back on your word, you’ll force my hand.”

  I nearly sneered. What could he do now that I was out of the cage?

  His stare grew more menacing. “I’ll have to reconsider our deal. I’ll have to reduce three meals a day to two meals a day. Or even one meal a day without snacks!”

  It wasn’t worth fighting him. He wasn’t worth it.

  “Fine, I’ll wear that ugly, heavy green dress you picked,” I said, as if I’d just done him a favor. “But I’ll drink all the wine I want at the party.”

  He eyed me warily. “I don’t know if alcohol will affect you or not. For safety’s sake, you’ll drink one glass. You’ll stay in a corner, observe how others act and react, and take notes while sipping the wine slowly. The wine can be your prop.”

  I rolled my eyes. That was ridiculous.

  “Then I’ll need at least three or maybe four glasses of wine,” I said. I was giving him room to bargain. “The night will be long, and I’m a big girl, you know.”

  “No more than one glass. And don’t protest again,” he rasped as he handed me the gown. “You exhaust me like no one else.”

  Right, others might fear him and do whatever he ordered them to do, but no one bossed Cass Saélihn around. I’d promised myself that a long time ago in the cage. I’d vowed that once I was free, I’d be completely free.

  I wouldn’t even allow death to take away my freedom.

  “As you say, sir,” I said, and my two fingers brushed my temples in a mocking salute.

  His eyes narrowed for a second, then gave me a once-over. “And for the drinking, I have to ask: How old are you actually, Cass?”

  “Sixteen,” I said with a small shrug.

  The room froze, silence engulfing us.

  Even the panther raised his huge black head from his paw and stiffened, as if it was the worst news he’d ever heard.

  “I was in the cage for thirteen years,” I added.

  “So, you—you’re still a child?” Lorcan said. He almost staggered back as if I’d slapped him.

  I giggled, pointing at his utterly shocked expression, which was priceless from the formidable High Lord of Night. “Look at your face, Lorcan.”

  His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. “You’re kidding, right, Cass?” His face turned serious. “This isn’t a joking matter.”

  “I’m sixteen,” I said. “If you don’t believe me, go ask my dear mother.”

  The silence seemed to stretch between us. Lorcan and Reysalor traded looks of utter dismay.

  “For a sixteen-year-old, you seem—” he paused to ponder, seeking words, “—taller than a regular —”

  I wasn’t tall. I was only five foot three, which was considered small. All of the vampires I’d seen were much taller than me. Even the human servants were taller.

  He meant I had a full bosom but seemed too reserved to say the words.

  I smirked at him. “You mean I have big boobs?”

  He sighed. “You’re not what I expected.”

  I sneered. “That statement alone is full of logical errors. You’d never heard of or met me before. How did you know what to expect?”

  The panther coughed.

  My brows furrowed. They’d heard of me before? From what source? I’d been completely isolated until now. My mother had even kept me a secret from the vampires in her court—except for King Dario, of course, since he’d allowed her to put me in the cage. And she called him our protector. The bitch was insane.

  “Cass,” Lorcan started again, then stopped, lost for words again.

  I decided to cut him some slack. If I saw me as child, he would never look at me with heat and appreciation again. People would call him a child molester, and he would back off. And I liked him viewing me as a woman, as I was. At least, I could take more advantage of him if he regarded me as a useful and attractive adult female.

  “Look,” I said, my hands cupping my breasts to show him how womanly I was. His gaze dipped to my creamy cleavage before jerking up abruptly. “I might be sixteen, but I reached maturity at the age of nine. I didn’t mature like the humans, vampires, shifters, fae, or any other creatures. I have my own timeline. Quit judging me by your puny standards. If you absolutely need a number, I’m equivalent to twenty-three in human years.”

  He didn’t seem to be offended by my lecture. Instead, his eyes lit up with unconcealed delight. He covered it up the next second and coughed, just like Reysalor had a few seconds ago.

  The panther let out a breath of relief, his ocean blue eyes swirling to slight amber.

  I waved the gown in front of Lorcan. “I’m going to change now. Can I have some privacy, High Lord?”

  Lorcan looked annoyed, but he retreated nevertheless. Reysalor grinned at me.

  “You too, Reysalor,” I said. “Out!”

  It’s not like I haven’t seen you naked. He had the nerve to protest.

  Lorcan halted at the doorway and glared at Reysalor. The panther rolled his eyes, then lazily arched his back, stretching his formidable form before he leapt off the bed and followed Lorcan out.

  I probably had to draw a firm line with the panther. I had to pro
hibit him from sleeping on my bed, considering that damned dream I had with Lorcan, him, and two other gorgeous dudes.

  My stomach fluttered at the mere memory of the dream. It was the hottest dream I had ever had. I could still feel Lorcan’s big cock filling me and the humming pleasure the two other men bestowed upon me. I blinked back to the present. I was supposed to be getting ready, not dwelling on my erotic dream, which was a bit perverted, I had to admit, considering that I had fantasized about the panther.

  Shaking my head, I put on the gown and strode to the bathroom to take a look at myself.

  I wasn’t pleased.

  The high-necked gown draped to the floor, covering almost every inch of my creamy skin and swallowing my curves. The deep green didn’t bring out the color of my unique eyes, and it made me look silly.

  I hissed.

  The High Lord of Night wanted me to appear as plain and boring as possible, so no one would pay attention to me while I cowered in the corner, a wallflower.

  I wanted to look stunning because I was sure my mother would be at the party. I wanted to outshine her and let the image of a new, free me slap her in the face.

  But I’d argued with Lorcan for an entire morning due to our very different world views, and he’d worn me out. I didn’t want to get into another heated debate with him and have him snarl at me. He might make good on his earlier threat and take some of my meals away.

  Sulking, I pulled open the door and ventured out, a scowl on my face.

  The panther and vampire stopped in the middle of their mental discussion and turned to me.

  Reysalor grinned at me. Cass baby, you look good.

  I huffed. The beast had no sense of fashion.

  “What’s that for?” Lorcan asked, arching an eyebrow at my expression, then shut me up before I could voice my opinion. “Well, actually I don’t need to know. Let’s leave for the party. My subjects are waiting.”

  ~

  I bunched the material of the gown in my hands so I wouldn’t trip over the hem as I hurried along beside Lorcan on my much shorter legs.

  The High Lord of Night wasn’t going to accommodate me by slowing his pace, and I didn’t want him to view me as a whining trainee.

  I managed my sprint beside him, passing one long hallway after another, then a couple of chapels. I took in everything and memorized every turn and exit.

  This was the vampire palace. If it wasn’t for my grudge against their species, I’d be more appreciative of their luxury decorations—marble tiles, authentic paintings on the walls, and pillars curved like sculptures.

  A horde of vampire guards ahead blocked my view, and another horde behind us made me jumpy. Why did Lorcan need guards if he was the most powerful vampire roaming the realms?

  He wouldn’t appreciate me deriding his security details, so I couldn’t even ask him.

  Light piano music floated to me from a grand hall. Before I could follow Lorcan into it, his guards split into three groups. One pressed into the hall and spread out like fleeting shadows, and the second group flanked Lorcan. Suddenly, I wasn’t among his rank.

  Jade and another vampire gestured for me to follow them, and led me to a corner—my destined post.

  I watched Lorcan in the center of the hall. Males bowed to him and females curtseyed. Evidently, he was the most important figure in the party. It hit me then as I watched the women fawn over him. He didn’t want to be seen with me by his side. Did he consider me an embarrassment?

  I hadn’t thought I would care, but the hurt was sudden and stabbing and made my head swim for a second.

  “You’re not in his league and will never be,” Jade said beside me, her voice icy and vicious. “Remember your place, and you won’t be in for a world of hurt, little girl.”

  It had seemed that I had a way with the High Lord of Night, until this moment, when he effortlessly tossed me aside and returned to his own high circle, his limelight, to be worshipped.

  “Stay here and be the quiet, little mouse the High Lord told you to be,” Jade ordered. “Until we come to collect you.”

  She stalked away, leaving me alone in a forgotten corner.

  A sudden bleakness rippled over me—the same bleakness I’d felt back when I was younger, when I had first been locked in my cage and my mother left me alone for weeks on end.

  Unwanted.

  Used and discarded.

  Lorcan hadn’t even bothered to give me instructions when he’d brushed me aside.

  To be fair, Lorcan hadn’t exactly used me. He hadn’t had the chance yet, but he planned to.

  His freeing me from the cage, providing for me, training me, and now taking me to the party to make me feel so small all served one purpose—to make me an assassin for him.

  In the end, whether I was ready or not, he would send me out to kill the gods—the most powerful, brutal beings in existence, according to everyone.

  He was going to throw me to the wolves.

  I snickered. Lorcan had forgotten one thing.

  I wasn’t naïve.

  I, Cass Saélihn, wasn’t a fool.

  I had my own plans.

  I would use him first. And when I had more practical knowledge of the world and could stand firm on my own feet, I would kick the sucker to the curb.

  If I was to be a weapon, I’d be a weapon for myself.

  The High Lord of Night had my path mapped out for me—from cage to death. But I had my own grand design—from cage to true freedom, to a life I had been deprived of.

  The music was exquisite, the scent of wine was heavy in the air, and the laughter from the beautiful females surrounding Lorcan was flirtatious. The way they ogled him sickened me. They were all probably competing to be the lucky one he’d invite into his bed tonight.

  The image of Lorcan licking my pussy and then thrusting his massive shaft into me flashed through my mind again. I nearly moaned at the feeling it evoked in me, but I shoved that image aside with violence.

  What exactly did the flirty fucker want me to learn tonight? How to flirt or what? I vaguely recalled him mentioning that I might need to infiltrate some parties the gods would attend. Did he want me to learn how to flirt with the gods and then stab them in the back?

  That was a dumb plan. And wearing in this heavy gown and playing the wallflower weren’t going to advance my training. It all just made me sulky.

  My rebellious gaze wheeled across the room. My superior hearing caught mundane conversations. Oh, dear fuck! I drummed my fingers on the wall behind me. I was bored out of my mind.

  Instead of learning—there wasn’t a fucking thing to learn anyway—I kept my stare on Lorcan.

  He laughed with the ladies, listened to them, and nodded in assent every now and then. He hadn’t been that agreeable toward me since I’d set eyes on him. I hadn’t even heard his laugh until now. Mostly, he’d frowned and sighed at me.

  When one of the servant boys passed me, a few drinks left on his tray, I lunged and snatched a shot.

  He gave me a slanted look he wouldn’t have dared give one of the vampires. Even servants looked down on me because I was alone in the forgotten corner. The servant seemed confident that I wasn’t important.

  Other than Lorcan’s elite vampire guards and the three girl servants assigned to me, no one in this court had met me anyway. Since he held the drinks, I decided to be friendly to him.

  “What’s this drink called, dude?”

  “Pincer vodka,” he said. “It’s very strong.” He gave me another once-over and frowned. “No one has ever called me a dude. Are you sure you want to—”

  I poured the vodka down my throat.

  Fierce fire lit a path to my stomach, knocking the breath out of my lungs for a moment. The fire numbed and quenched my rage a bit.

  Let the vampire lord laugh himself to death with the elegant ladies. I couldn’t care less about him and his fucking high class vampire world.

  Not once had he spared a glance at me. The fucker had already forgotten I eve
n existed.

  Yet I noticed in a room full of vampires, he was the only one with a heartbeat.

  And if I wasn’t completely mistaken, he hadn’t had a heartbeat when he had first stumbled into the room that held my cage.

  While I bit my lip, pondering the odd phenomenon of his heartbeat, his groupie escorted him out of the hall.

  I’d picked up a few things from Jezebel’s mind when she’d come to visit me in my cage in her drunken state. Vampire parties all had one thing in common: group feedings and sex orgies.

  So, he was going to feed and fuck, and I had to cower in the corner like a cockroach?

  No fucking way!

  Just as I was about to chase after him, Jezebel stepped into my line of sight.

  As an immortal, she looked the same age as me. Unlike me, she didn’t have two-toned eyes. Her big, beautiful eyes were so clear and blue that anyone would think she was the most innocent, pure being they’d ever met. But I knew better. Her virtuous appeal only masked her madness and cruelty.

  She wore a silvery, lace evening gown with diamond beading. She wasn’t curvy, though she was elegant. She fit right in with the thin vampiresses, despite not being one of them. Her glamorous air made her queenly.

  I glanced around, seeking Lorcan, but he was long gone, and there was a chance that he would not return for the rest of the night.

  Sighing, I flicked my gaze back to Jezebel. She’d asked to see me, but Lorcan had denied her. Even her vampire king couldn’t persuade the High Lord of Night on that matter. As always, my mother was a cunning cunt, and chose the vampire lord’s absence to approach me.

  “Hello, Mother darling,” I purred, though my every nerve bristled. “Come to see how I look without bars in front of me? How awfully sweet of you.”

  The servant boy who lingered nearby widened his eyes. Bowing deeply to the vampire king and his queen like their other subjects, the boy stole a nervous glance at me, then scurried away. No smart humans wanted to catch the vampires’ attention, especially not their king’s.

  Jezebel gazed at me, a teardrop rolling down her cheek.