Thrall of the Vampire King (Blood Fire Saga Book 4) by Bella Klaus (elon musk reading list .txt) 📕

other situation, I might have something more helpful to say, but theirs was impossible to solve.

As we passed beneath the trees and continued along the walkway that ringed the house, a cold wind rustled from the branches above.

How would I react if I discovered I was related to Valentine? I pushed away that thought. Having him preternatural and under the control of Kresnik was bad enough without imagining other complications.

“Are you going to the morning briefing?” Racon asked.

“I thought I’d missed it.”

He paused by the door that led to the Flame. “They’re getting later and later each day. Our Lord is searching for an old enemy who fled to another realm.”

My head snapped up. “Did he say who?”

Racon shrugged. “Isn’t General Sargon keeping you up to date?” His brow furrowed. “He’s treating you alright? I don’t mean to intrude, but Coral says—”

I placed a hand on his arm. “Coral isn’t the biggest fan of vampires.”

With a nod, Racon reached for the handle and opened the door.

“Forget about the briefing,” Hades whispered in my ear. “While Kresnik is busy ranting at his followers, you can raid his office for my ashes.”

I stepped into the concrete stairwell, my insides thrumming with determination. Actually, that was a brilliant idea.

We descended the steps in silence and opened the door at the bottom. As soon as we stepped into the white hallway, Valentine’s smoky power approached, mingled with Kresnik’s sharp edges, along with something more ominous that reminded me of choking on cigarette and exhaust fumes.

My stomach clenched. I turned my head to find Valentine and Kresnik walking side by side, their large bodies taking up most of the hallway’s width.

“Damnit,” Hades hissed.

Valentine wore his usual black denim, this time with a round-necked jacket that buttoned up to his neck with button-down pockets at the front that gave his outfit a military feel. Beside him, Kresnik wore his usual white, looking like a male yoga instructor. His hair was still as red and flowing as before, showing no signs of returning to that of the blond sun god. I wondered if that was because Kresnik had used Father Jude’s body as a base.

Behind the pair was a group of figures wearing hooded cloaks following them in single file. I placed a hand over my throat. They were the source of the choking sensation.

My gaze skipped to Valentine, who I thought might growl the way he did the time Racon tried to shake my hand or rush to attack like he did the time when Racon stood at my side while Valentine was trying to get through the wards. His features remained still, although one of his brows lifted.

My throat dried, and I forced my features into a smile.

“There she is.” Kresnik spread his arms wide.

“See you later.” Racon swept into a deep bow before jogging down the hallway and leaving me alone with Kresnik, Valentine, and their followers.

Valentine’s gaze drifted to the disappearing man and then back to me, his expression unreadable. I glanced from Kresnik’s grinning features to Valentine’s neutral ones, now remembering that Racon was technically my brother as well as Gail’s. Hell, everyone here was some relative or another, including the fiend standing next to Valentine.

“Have you decided to attend our brunch briefing, my dear?” asked Kresnik.

I inclined my head into what I hoped looked like a gentle bow. “Yes, Father.”

“Good girl,” he said with a chuckle and turned to Valentine. “You certainly have her well-trained.”

Valentine also inclined his head. “The blood oath went as you commanded.”

My features froze as they approached. What the hell was this new development about?

Valentine placed an arm around my back, and dug his fingers into my waist. It was partially a warning for me to behave myself. Hades remained silent, which I guessed was because of Valentine’s vampire hearing, and I walked alongside the pair.

“Are these new recruits, Father?” I asked.

Kresnik chuckled. “All will be revealed in today’s briefing.”

I continued alongside Valentine for the journey, straining my ears to listen in on their conversation. They spoke in voices too low for regular ears, and I guessed that Kresnik had enhanced his hearing with one of the shifter powers he’d stolen.

The sensation of smog behind me wrapped around my neck like a noose, even with the reaper cloak pulled up to the hood. I tried not to shudder at the oppressive power, but a tremor of dread seized my skeleton, penetrating my bones to the marrow.

Part of me already knew the identity of these people, but I wasn’t ready to acknowledge anything until I’d seen them without their hoods.

“The blood oath is much like marriage,” Kresnik said out loud for my benefit. “I’m delighted that my beautiful daughter has given herself fully to you.”

“Thank you, My Lord,” Valentine replied.

“But a man of your tastes cannot be satisfied with one girl. My Martika pleases me immensely, and I think she may be more to your liking. Try her out and expand your horizons.”

My stomach dropped, and panic spiked through my chest, flooding my system with adrenaline. What the hell was Kresnik planning now?

Valentine stroked his hands up and down my waist. “I am touched by your generosity.”

I glanced up into Valentine’s unmoving features. Were his words a polite refusal or an eager acceptance? It was hard to tell when he was being so formal. My breath shallowed, and I wrapped an arm around Valentine’s back for support.

There was only one reason Kresnik was going to foist Martika on Valentine and that was because he was trying to prepare Valentine for my disappearance. Kresnik probably wanted me to take the oath to make me more likely to admit that I still wielded the power of the phoenix, so he could crack me open and extract my magic. Not that it would work because Valentine didn’t make me use his title, and I pledged my ultimate allegiance to his soul, as it was the higher authority who overrode any of his body’s orders.

I stared straight ahead, trying to calm my