Free Shadow of the Vampire by Meagan Hatfield

as she took another drink.
              Alexia didn't know what was going on. All she knew was if she didn't act fast, that dragon lord's fate was as good as sealed and, for some reason, her mother did not want it so.
              "May I have a word, Mother?" She stared at Lotharus. "In private."
              His coal eyes steadied on hers. For a moment Alexia thought he might refuse. However, he disengaged himself from her mother's side. "Go ahead with your girl talk, my dear. I have a prisoner to interrogate."
              Alexia's heart thumped as she watched him walk away. "Why?" she called after him. "If he knew anything about the crystal, we would have uncovered it last night. I say he is telling the truth and we do as the Queen says. Let him go. Demonstrate our goodwill to the dragons. Use the beginning of this new era to show them we are willing to change."
              He stopped, his back visibly tensing. A heartbeat later, he'd crossed the room in a plume of smoke and mist to stand before her. Cold fingers wrapped around the bare flesh of her arm, pulling her into him. "I grow so weary of your insolence, little Alexia," he spat, twisting his hand until her skin beneath it burned.
              Grimacing, she pulled free of his hold. "I'm happy to disappoint you."
              Again, he made a move for her. But he stopped short, as if he finally remembered he stood in the presence of the Queen. With a shift of his shoulders, Lotharus straightened and turned his focus to Catija. "That dragon knows the location of the crystal and will confess it in good time. He is too strong and willful for us to have broken him in one night." He looked back at Alexia. "And as for releasing him, that is something I will not do until I am confident he speaks the truth. Or he's dead."
              Alexia watched him turn on his heel and again make for the door. "I will not let you destroy my entire reign before I even get there," she cried. "Do you hear me?" When Lotharus didn't reply, a wave of helpless annoyance rode through her. "You cannot deny my orders! I am the ruler here."
              Finally, he stopped and looked over his shoulder, his lips twisting. "Not yet, you're not."
              Alexia watched in stunned disbelief as he left the room. The moment he was gone, she rushed back to her mother. "Are you honestly going to let him get away with this? He's trying to start another war."
              The Queen casually took up the bottle and refilled her goblet. "We are already at war. Lotharus is only trying to do what's best for our horde."
              "You say the words as if you're trying to convince even yourself. What is best is to let the prisoner go. You said so yourself only moments ago."
              Catija lifted her head and Alexia couldn't help but notice it loll slightly to the side, as if it were too much effort to hold it upright. "Why this fierce stance on the dragon's life?"
              "Me? What about you? A minute ago you were begging Loth--"
              "How many others like him have you killed for the good of this horde?"
              Her question hit Alexia like a bucket of icewater. "Too many."
              The Queen stood. "Perhaps you should be thinking, not enough." Chalice in hand, Catija lifted her skirt and turned toward the bedchamber door. "I'll see to it that Marguerite comes to get you fitted for your ascension gown."
              "So that's it. Are you going to lie down and let him make all the decisions for you?" She exhaled. "Goddess, he has you totally delusional, doesn't he?"
              The Queen spun around, her black eyes flashing. "I will not have you address me so. This is my horde to rule until you ascend, and by the Goddess, I will do what I see fit."
              "I wish you would rule. But you have only two days left. And you better pray the