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We talked quietly, sitting in the gazebo while snow fell around us. At first, I was afraid she would be cold, then realized she was as unaffected by the temperature as I was.
I had many questions for her. I wanted to know what had happened since the Sentries had taken her after Rook Neculai’s death.
Calmly, she told me everything, her luscious lips tempting me as she spoke, making it hard to concentrate on the words. Inevitably, the conversation turned to her lady-help.
“Have you seen Talyssa... or your brother?” she asked.
I looked away. I didn’t have the courage to tell her I’d seen both of them several times. How could I explain that I’d been unable to do anything to help Talyssa? How could I admit I hadn’t even told Talyssa that I’d met her mistress?
“I saw my brother,” I said, hiding my embarrassment by averting my gaze. “King Maximus delights himself by bringing him to my challenges.”
Bianca’s breath caught. “He can’t possibly...”
I nodded.
“He’s truly a monster. He deserves to die,” she spat, hatred burning in her eyes.
I turned the conversation back to her. She talked willingly about her life at the White Palace, slowly easing my apprehension about what had happened with White Rook Neculai. My relief was short lived, however.
“The Queen’s only Trove has died,” Bianca said. “The man was her blood slave for fifteen years.”
“Then he finally rests,” I said with satisfaction. This was not good news for a Rook, but it pleased me to know the vampire Queen was confined to darkness.
“Lovina is angry,” Bianca said, glancing down at her hands. “She has threatened to put me in a pit of some kind if I don’t find another Trove to replace the one she’s lost. She’ll charge the Bishops with my torture.”
Oh, gods!
They also had a pit. The symmetry of this city disgusted me. It couldn’t hide the chaos and turmoil Bianca and I had to endure.
I reached for her hand and interlaced my fingers with hers. I didn’t tell her I knew about the pit for fear of scaring her further. She had to find a Trove. The pit could mean her death. Bishop Dragoslav’s bloody mouth flashed before my eyes. What if Bianca and the other White Rook couldn’t give Lovina what she wanted? What if the White Bishops killed Bianca the way Dragoslav had killed Skullflare?
“That’s terrible, Bianca,” I said. “She can’t do that.”
My mind reeled, trying to think of a way to protect her.
“It’s inevitable,” she said, a sick resignation shaping her features. “I couldn’t possibly condemn anyone to the life of a blood slave—not when I feared it so much for myself. She could have discovered me up until the last moment. I was so afraid when I went to her. I thought she might be able to sense it in me, but the bloodshade did its work. And now, I don’t need it anymore. And even though I’m this, at least I don’t have to worry about becoming her blood slave. I’m not free, by any means.” She laughed wryly. “But I’m not anyone’s daily meal.”
I had never stopped to think what vampire blood would do to someone like Bianca, to Timotei.
“You’re not a Trove anymore,” I said. It was a half question and half statement.
She shook her head. “The Queen’s blood cured me.”
“That means Timotei could...” I trailed off, my mind reeling. Why hadn’t I thought of this?
That night when I’d tried to rescue Timotei, and he ended up hurt, Maximus had healed my brother with his blood, but he’d made sure not to give him too much.
“We wouldn’t want your delicious blood to turn sour,” Maximus had said.
I should have realized this truth then, but it had escaped me. I thought for a moment, my thoughts unfurling in different directions. I would never be able to take blood from Maximus, but what if I gave Timotei my blood? Would that work?
No. I shook my head. Contemplating this type of idea was a waste of time. The King had offered me a way to save Timotei. I had to focus on that.
“I’m starting to think there is no way to save my brother.” I don’t know what made me say that, but I went on with the lie, never mentioning the King’s offer. “Everything I do makes things worse.”
My own behavior confused me. Why was I keeping the truth from Bianca? I trusted her, didn’t I? She might even help me find the item Maximus wanted from the White Palace, and yet...
“The only way is to kill Maximus,” Bianca said hesitantly as if afraid of my reaction. “There is no escape.”
I would love nothing more than to kill Maximus, but I knew better.
“He’s too powerful,” I said. “He can’t be killed unless...”
Unless another vampire did it. I didn’t say the words out loud, but they hung in the air nevertheless.
Bianca nodded, her gaze locked with mine. “I intend to kill him for what he did to me and my family. Once I’m Queen, I will be powerful enough to do it.”
I shook my head. “You can’t possibly want to do that. Bianca, you would... become someone else.”
“I’ve taken the first step. There’s no turning back,” she said, pulling her hand from mine.
“There has to be another way,” I whispered.
“You know there isn’t.”
“Bianca.” I placed a finger under her chin and forced her to look me in the eye. “What if you lose yourself?”
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take. I’m lost anyway. Only the thought of killing Maximus keeps me going.”
“What about... me?” I don’t know what made me ask this, but there it was. “I know it’s pretentious of me, but I...” I glanced down, realizing my foolishness. “I’m sorry. It’s stupid. We are members of opposite Boards. There’s nothing—”
She silenced me with a kiss.
My breath caught for a moment, but then I matched her kiss, taking her tender face in my hands and deepening the kiss. Daringly, my tongue brushed her lower lip. She pulled back, her breaths ragged, her eyes incredulous.
“I’m sorry I—” I started, but she silenced me with another kiss.
She wanted more.
My tongue issued forth again and slipped into her mouth, brushed hers. Desire burst in me like a raging fire. I wanted her.
To my surprise, she pulled me to my feet and pressed her body against mine. I practically went blind with lust. I pulled her closer, possessively—one hand around her waist, the other at the back of her neck.
Her hands traveled from my stomach up to my chest, exploring. I wanted to take her right there in the gazebo, but I was able to control myself. She had no idea what she did to me.
A dog’s bark echoed through the park. We pulled apart in an instant.
A boy with his pet came running down the path, playing fetch. A few yards behind him, his parents walked arm in arm.
Thinking fast, I removed my black cloak and jacket and set them on the bench. I was left in my white shirt to match Bianca’s colors.
I sat. “We shouldn’t be seen together. You should leave first. I will stay here until it’s safe to go.”
She nodded. The same disappointment I felt was stamped on her beautiful face. As she started to walk away, I grabbed for her hand.
I couldn’t bear the idea of her going back to the White Queen’s threat of the pit, so it seemed that while I’d been kissing her, my mind had worked out a possible solution for her situation. It was an abhorrent idea, but at this point, I cared too much about her not to mention it.
“Mr. Oakes sells bloodshade to Troves, as you know,” I said, “and some of them aren’t necessarily the best people in the city.”
She gasped and looked appalled, just as I’d suspected she might.
“I would rather you be safe than them,” I quickly added just as I let go of her hand. “Go!”
“Nyro,” she said in a rushed whisper, “I want to see you again.”
I bit my lip, trying to resist the temptation. Us was a bad idea. “It’s not safe.”
“Two weeks,” she said. “Flagfall House. Square B2. It will be safe.”
Then she was gone.