The remainder of the body dropped to the floor. Other vampires in monster form pushed away from the path, and a couple of creatures, unseen in the deep darkness, hissed.
“That might…cause a problem,” Emery murmured. “We should try to remain peaceful.”
Penny marched on, uncaring, the image of Reagan fighting a crowd of enemies, alone, seared into her mind. She’d done that so Penny and Emery and the others could get away. She’d sacrificed herself to a terrible fate so they could run like cowards.
“Fuck ’em,” Penny said with lead in her stomach. This situation was worth that real swear. She’d never get that image out of her head. Never. And if something happened to Reagan before Penny could get there—if Reagan was killed—Penny would never, ever forgive herself. They needed to hurry, and no swampy monster trying to intimidate them would get in her way.
A female form appeared on the path down the way, hips swinging exaggeratedly, legs ending in long, spiked heels. A bustier hiked up her ample bosom and a leather duster billowed around her. Her plump lips pulled up into a sarcastic sort of smile before she came to a stop.
“Hello,” she said in a velvety voice, her gaze skimming Penny and then lingering over her shoulder, clearly on Emery. “You are trespassing.”
“You are in the way.” Penny kept her pace even though she recognized the vampire as Vlad’s right-hand woman. His assistant, if vampires could be said to have them. His protégée, maybe. They’d met in Ireland, at the meeting that had been held prior to the storming of the Mages’ Guild.
“She’s right…”
This time Penny did slow as a second female form appeared beside the first. Shorter, dressed in a chic white dress that draped around her shapely calves, Marie was no less beautiful. Her smile was equally condescending, but it was not directed at Penny.
“My oh my,” Marie said, taking a step past the first vampire. “You are sure making a habit of choosing the wrong side.” Marie held out her hand for Penny, the large ruby on her middle finger glittering in the firelight. “Come, Penny. Darius is waiting for you.”
Penny heaved a sigh of relief and let her guard slip a little. Unfortunately, that also prompted her magic, which had been on high alert since the scene at the castle, to let loose.
“No, no, wait—”
Vlad’s assistant’s face never changed, haughty and arrogant. But suddenly she was airborne, caught up in a blast of wind and magic, turned end over end as she was propelled backward. She landed out of sight, the repeated thuds echoing around the vast space. Penny didn’t even know where she’d picked up that spell, but she was pretty sure the vampire would tumbleweed for a while before she could break free. She’d come out bloody, but she wouldn’t die.
Marie laughed in delight. “And that was just a mere fraction of what she is capable of. Imagine.”
Penny was well aware that Marie was pandering to the crowd. She and Darius needed to get vampires on their side—and away from Vlad—in preparation for the war that was surely coming.
That was all well and good, but first they needed to save Reagan. She was the only one who could help them win said war.
“Okay…” Penny made a hurry up gesture. “Let’s get to Darius. I have news.”
“Yes, of course.” Marie led them past a host of gawking younger vampires, their inexperience indicated by the green hue of their monster forms, but the vampires recovered quickly, and the path was soon clear again.
“What has Darius—”
“No, no.” Marie tsked at Penny. “Let’s discuss our private business in private.”
“Right. Fine. Good. Hurry up.”
“You are so tired you are nearly falling down.” Marie hooked an arm that might’ve been lined with steel around Penny’s back, holding her up.
“I’m good.”
“You certainly smell good.”
“Gross.”
At the end of the path, in the bowels of the earth, a cavernous room awaited them, with three thrones sitting side by side.
“Really?” Penny said, rolling her eyes.
Chests of gold and gems were arranged around the thrones, the treasure glittering in the warm glow of candles and larger sticks—torches—in metal rings along the walls. A table stood off to the side, laden with food, and Penny’s stomach growled.
“Come.” Marie led them down a hallway to the right, then another passageway, both lined with large paintings that were probably worth something. Pausing at a large door with a cross on it, she pushed it open and stepped aside. “Here you are.”
Penny stepped through with magic at the ready. Marie had always been on Darius’s side, who was on Reagan’s side, who was on Penny’s side, but that didn’t mean one of those sides hadn’t flip-flopped since. One could never trust a vampire.
Darius looked up from a round table in the center of the room, beneath a large crystal chandelier. A massive four-poster bed rose behind him, crisply made. At the side of the expansive chambers, beside a marble fireplace, sat a desk strewn with papers. Candles glowed from many surfaces, and a fire warmed the hearth.