Passion of the Vampire King (Blood Fire Saga Book 5) by Bella Klaus (read novels website txt) 📕

I didn’t care if he thought I was being stupid. That man didn’t deserve to die. I might have been able to save him if I’d had my power. A lump formed in my throat, and I rapped on Istabelle’s door. I needed her help more than ever.

Chapter Seven

Nut and Geb hovered by the taxi, presumably getting rid of all signs of their murderous activity. I was too busy keeping an eye on them to notice that the door had opened, but Macavity darted inside, making me turn my attention away from the twins and toward the dwelling on my left.

Istabelle stood in the doorway, clad in a powder blue dress with a pussy bow neckline. The outfit flowed down to her ankles like a kaftan, obscuring the rest of her body. She’d tied her hair back with a matching band of material, letting her white hair puff out at the back.

The backs of my eyes prickled with tears, and my breath slowed as memories flooded my mind of the woman guiding me through my heartbreak. Over the past three years, Istabelle had filled a space in my heart. It was hard to explain how much it had meant to meet another Neutral who had become a respected member of our society, much less one who was willing to teach me her methods.

Istabelle had been there for me when I had needed her the most, and I’d brought trouble to her doorstep in the form of enforcers and potential assassins. A tight band of pressure wrapped around my chest with the mingled sensations of gratitude and guilt. Now, I was troubling Istabelle again for help.

“Mera.” She gazed at me, her gray eyes shimmering, and a pink flush blooming on her cheeks. “I thought you would never find your way back to me.”

I sucked in a deep breath, my heart filling with love. Before I could respond, Istabelle ushered me through a hallway of concrete walls and into a space the size of my entire studio apartment in Grosvenor Square.

As soon as I stepped through the doorway, my lungs released a breath of relief and I mentally bid the twins good riddance.

It was hard to make out the details through my blurred vision, but the interior was a tunnel-shaped semi-circle of beiges and pale brown. Wood panels stood on the left and right to give the impression of straight walls and a curved ceiling.

Istabelle guided me to a soft armchair and pressed a steaming cup of herbal tea into my hands. Once she curled my fingers around its warm ceramic exterior, she bustled to the back of my seat and massaged my shoulders with firm hands.

“I haven’t seen you this knotted since you first left Logris.” The pads of her fingers ran along a tight muscle in my neck. She stopped at the base of my scalp and pushed down on a pressure point that loosened the tension. “You must have gone through hell these past few weeks.”

Hiccuping a sob, I blinked away two fat tears, which streamed down my cheeks. “It makes being dumped on the palace steps seem like a minor setback.”

Istabelle tutted and continued loosening my muscles with her busy fingers. My vision cleared a little, and I took in my surroundings.

We sat within a living area of peanut-colored sofas arranged around a wicker basket that had been converted into a coffee table. Opposite, beyond an oak dining table and chairs, was an open-plan kitchen with matching cupboards, stainless-steel appliances, and a sturdy work table for preparing herbal concoctions.

Floor and table lamps provided illumination, making the place feel like we weren’t several feet below ground. A low fan whirred in the distance, which I guessed filtered fresh air from the surface.

“What on earth happened?” Istabelle’s voice seeped through my contemplation. “They said you escaped your cell, brought back King Valentine as a preternatural, and then cured him. I didn’t know what to believe.”

She placed a hand beneath my elbow, guiding the steaming cup to my lips.

The scent of herbs filled my nostrils—lavender, chamomile, lemon balm and passionflower—each containing compounds to relax the nervous system. My tense muscles loosened a fraction, and I took a sip. It mostly tasted of citrus and apples with a touch of honey, making it slide down my throat.

Istabelle perched on the arm of my chair, rubbing tiny circles on my back. My head dipped, and I continued drinking my tea, letting it melt away my tension one sip at a time.

“Can you talk about it?” she asked.

“There’s so much to tell you,” I rasped.

“Start with what’s bothering you the most.”

“I just witnessed a murder.”

The hand over my back stilled. “Where?”

“The Überwald driver who picked up some crystals from you, and you gave him a slice of chocolate cake. He was bringing me here with a pair of bodyguards Valentine hired, and they—” My breath hitched.

Istabelle rubbed my back and gave me a nudge on the arm to continue drinking.

I inhaled a deep breath and let the words escape me in a rush. “They killed him for gossiping about all the people down here.”

She paused. “Were they professionals?”

I nodded and stared into the cup. Macavity paced back and forth by my feet, trying to capture our attention.

“And the driver knew they were in earshot?” she asked.

It took a bit of thinking back to recall that the twins had materialized in front of the driver and he would have at least seen Geb step into the car. My brain was trying to suppress the memory already, but I pushed through, trying to make myself talk about the killing.

“Benny must have known they were listening,” I replied. “But—”

“He should have known better than to violate Überwald’s confidentiality guarantee and reveal details of the residents,” Istabelle said in the kind of hard voice she reserved for shoplifters. “For some people, this is their final refuge.”

Macavity made a meow of agreement.

My shoulders sagged, and I continued drinking. It didn’t matter if everyone disagreed. Benny