Free The Vampire Gift 2: Kingdom of Ash by E.M. Knight Page B

Commander is standing at the doors, his arms crossed, glaring at me with no attempt to hide his disdain.
    I shift away from Mother’s desk. There is nothing there except make-up, perfume, and other such frivolities.
    “You know…” he strolls casually into the room and closes the door behind him. “This is probably the last place I’d expect to meet you.”
    “Oh?” I say. In my mind, I size him up. He’s a complete unknown, brought in from the Outside at a time when my Mother needed help.
    “I thought you’d be lost in the underground caverns, feeding on humans to satiate your bloodlust.”
    “You thought wrong,” I say.
    “So I see. Still, that doesn’t explain what you’re doing here.” He takes hold of the hilt of his sword and withdraws it a quarter of an inch. The metal gleams in the artificial light. “Or if I should let you go.”
    That anger tries to bubble up again. I know better than to give in to it. I need all my mental faculties intact if I am to negotiate my way out of this.
    “So why don’t you tell me what you were doing,” the Captain Commander continues. “And help me make my choice?”
    “I could ask you the very same thing,” I deflect. “Why did you come here, by yourself? Aren’t you supposed to be at the Queen’s side?”
    He shrugs. “I have others posted. Besides, your Mother is quite the spectacular woman. She’ll have no trouble taking care of herself.” He flashes a wicked grin. “As she’s so aptly demonstrated in her treatment of you.”
    I walk around the table. The Captain Commander pulls out his blade another inch.
    “You think you can threaten me with that?” I ask. “All you do is show your own fear.”
    “Oh, you mistake me,” he offers. “That’s not me threatening you.”
    In one smooth motion he withdraws the entirety of the weapon.
    “ This ,” he says, pointing it right at me, “is me threatening you.”
    I go still. His blade is coated with silver. I’ve had enough experience with that horrific metal to last a lifetime.
    “They way I see it,” he continues, “we can go about this in two ways. One, I do the task that was assigned to me, and arrest you for trespassing—which is entirely in my right as Captain Commander. Or, two—” to my surprise, he sheathes his sword, “—I simply let you go. You walk out the door. We forget this ever happened.”
    I eye him suspiciously. “Just like that?”
    He nods. “Aye. Just like that.”
    I start to move—but—then a question comes to mind. “What are you doing here?”
    “I heard a noise and came to investigate.”
    “Sounds convenient,” I note.
    “Are you questioning me? Remember who has authority here, Phillip.”
    “I’m sure Mother gave you all the assurance you need, Smithson, ” I say. “But I still am her son. So whatever happens to me reflects directly onto her.”
    He scoffs a laugh. “You want to pull that card on me? After everything she’s put you through? Please. I know just how much the bloodline means to her.”
    I think of calling his bluff—then decide against it. I raise my arms.
    “Fine,” I say. “You see me walk, and I’ll pretend I never saw you.” My eyes flash to him. “Because I know you were not expecting to find this room occupied when you came here.”
    By the momentary look of surprise that crossed his face, I know I’m right.

Chapter Thirteen
     
    JAMES
     
    I pace back and forth in the small enclosure of the underground cell. There’s dirt all around me. The roof of the place is low enough that if I stand absolutely upright, my head would brush the ceiling.
    My thoughts are stormy and chaotic. I’d gambled everything when I told Mother that story. She called me out on it right away.
    I’d gambled, and I lost.
    How had I been such a fool? How have I allowed myself to be so transparent?
    But never did I think she would sentence me to such a fate. Even now, hours after her proclamation, it doesn’t seem quite right.
    I am to become one