Chapter 0109
+25 BONUS
“Keep an eye on Emory,” I tell Rainier. “And have somebody taste her food before she does from now on.”
“You don’t think the queen would poison her, do you?”
1 wouldn’t underestimate her. Her mother, Queen Nerissa, gifted a poisoned hat pin to an enemy once.”
Rainier nodded, grimly. T’ll get the food tasters by tomorrow morning.”
Emory
Queen Agatha never runs out of stories. One perk of living for so many years is having an interesting life. Her stories about her childhood in Cerise Port and her subsequent marriage to King Michael that brought her to Crimson Peak are fascinating. I’m so focused on listening to her that I don’t immediately notice Lola’s discomfort throughout the dinner.
I glance at my sister and find her not eating, moving her food around on her plate. She keeps her head down, her dark blonde hair covering her face. I see the condescending looks from the nobles and know they’re the ones to blame. They haven’t treated me any better even after I defended the castle while Kane was away with his army. I almost died to keep their home safe, and they don’t care at all.
They hide their insults in whispers and pretend I don’t exist unless Kane forces them to. Being treated as a ghost is better than being subjected to vicious insults. It’s easier for me to ignore, and I have thick skin. Lola is more vulnerable. My sweet sister doesn’t deserve their vitriol.
I lean closer to her and tell her quietly, “Ignore them. They’re just bored and mean. They have to say bad things to other people to make themselves feel like they’re important.”
Lola looks up at me and asks, “Why would they need to do that?”
“Look around this room. The only person that has any real power is King Kane.” I nod toward where he’s seated and conversing with Rainier. “His best friend, Rainier, is the second most powerful because Kane listens to him and values his opinion.”
“What about the queen?”
“She’s his mother. Her opinion matters as well,” I explain, conspiringly. “Only King Kane gets to decide who is important. And he has told me himself that he doesn’t care for most of these snooty people.”
“Does he value your opinion?”
“I would hope so.”
She looks hesitant as she voices out, “Is he nice? He did take you away from me before.”
“That wasn’t his fault. That was our father’s doing. King Kane didn’t have to take me over you, but he agreed because he knew what our father tried to do to you was wrong.”
“He still took you away.”
“Only because I asked him to,” I reason. “If you had asked him not to take you, I promise you he would have listened.”
1/2
Chapter 0109
+25 BONUS
“So he’s nice?”
I smile. “He is, but that’s a secret. He doesn’t like it when other people know that.”
“Why not?”
“Because some people need to be scared of him so they do what he says.”
“Like how our dad was?”
“He’s nothing like Bernard. Kane could never be like him.”
Lola still looks unconvinced, but she is no longer trying to retreat into herself. I have a feeling it will take time to get my sister to warm up to Kane, but that is expected. After how we were raised to fear and distrust vampires, learning how they could be decent and kind will take time to sink in, but I am hopeful. If I could learn to see the goodness in vampires, my sister can too.
Kane
Dinner finally ends, much to my relief. I go to Emory as she and Lola are leaving the dining room. Lola still looks uncomfortable to see me, and she hides behind Emory as she watches me approach. I try to smile at her to show her I mean her no harm, but the girl holds tightly to her sister as if I am about to snatch Emory away from her. Again.
Emory smiles when she sees me. “Hi.”
“Hi.” A part of me uncoils at the sight of her, knowing I don’t have to use any masks around her. “How was your day?”
