Unfortunately, the vampires around me guffawed.
Ash crossed his arms over his wide chest and lifted a sandy brow. “Obviously, that is a minority opinion, Kori.”
“They don’t matter. There’s only you three and me in this decision,” I told him, careful to keep his gaze. “I was never trained in any kind of combat. I am physically weaker than probably anyone here. I have no magic.” I stepped closer to the dais.
“Maybe everything you just said is true . . .” Death paused and tilted his head, considering me closely, “. . . but there’s a hunger in your eyes that makes me think that you might be the most dangerous person in all of Portland.” To my surprise, he sounded intrigued by the idea, and it gave me a little more confidence.
“I thought we were talking about nourishing your hunger, King Death, not mine.” I took another step forward, stopping when my jeweled slippers hit the lowest step to the dais. Tilting up my chin, I gave him a look of challenge. “But if you’re offering, I’ve always been curious about the taste of blood and why you vampires enjoy it so much.”
Ruin chuckled, and when I turned, I saw a familiar mirth lighting in his eyes. “You’re admitting to being blood-thirsty. Under the circumstances, do you really think that’s wise?”
“I’m admitting to being curious.”
“Ah.” He nodded. “So, which one of us are you proposing to, Kori? I thought it was me, but it seems as if your interest has shifted…” He paused to smirk, “Twice.”
I looked between them, but there was no way that I could say that I only wanted Ash, Death, or Ruin. My instincts were telling me that what I said now could change everything, and I needed to be completely honest and see which way the world turned. “I want all three of you. I always have… you know that.” I bit my lip. “I suppose the decision would be up to which one of you wanted me.”
Duchess Dread bared her fangs. “Your Highnesses, pardoning them is out of the question. You will not, under any circumstance, give these treasonous murderers power in your court.”
“This isn’t a choice you have any control over, Duchess.” Ash stood, his jaw stiff. He walked slowly down the dais, stopping on the last step, towering over me.
I made sure to hold his gaze as he stared down, but it was hard to do. His attention felt as if it had physical weight attached to it.
“Why should I take you as my consort, Kori? Do you have anything for me—anything at all that will convince me that you won’t just do it again?”
“Do what again?” I asked.
He gave me a look like I was being obtuse on purpose. “Kill us to take over Portland.”
Looking up into Ash’s intent gaze, I wondered if I could tell him, unequivocally, that I would never kill him to take over Portland. My gut reaction was that I could never kill a good person. But what if he turned out to be cruel? What if when I answered him, there was some small glimmer of doubt that shone through my eyes? I didn’t trust my own thoughts under the gaze of such a perceptive man. Instead, I whispered, “The courtesans had a very real reason to kill the king last time, and you know that. We want to redeem ourselves and go on with our lives. But you’re the king. It’s in your control—we are entirely under your power.”
“I know,” he said on a sigh. “And that’s why we’re not taking this decision lightly. We need to talk to each other, in private, before we make our decision.”
I took a quick glance around and found every eye in the room was on us, including the vampire royals, all of the courtesans from Seattle, and the duchess. We were on display, and the kings probably felt very much put on the spot. There was too much pressure in this setting. No decision would be made here.
Likely sensing this also, the duchess stepped forward. “Guards, you heard the kings. Take these criminals back to their cell so we can head to dinner.” From the menacing look in the duchess’ eyes as she stared down at me, I knew I could not let the kings leave without one of them pronouncing me their consort.
“Your Highnesses,” she snapped with a gesture out of the throne room. “I planned this homecoming party to celebrate your arrival to Portland today, and the food is getting cold.”
The royals started filtering out, their voices rising, as the guards closed in around us.
“Wait, Your Highnesses,” I called as loud as I could. “Can we go for a walk? Please.”
Ruin rubbed the stubble on his chin. “So that you can manipulate us with your irresistible charm?”
The tension gripping my stomach eased a little at his teasing tone. I tilted my head and gave the scarred warrior a small coy smile. “Charm goes both ways, King Ruin. You have to be willing to be charmed for it to work. I’m sure you can resist me.”
He smiled, showing a hint of fang. “I’m not so sure.”
“The party,” Duchess Dread snapped.
“The party will start without us,” Ash said, keeping his gaze on mine.
Ruin and Death stood. The men surrounded me on three sides.
Ruin rubbed the back of his neck. “Is redeeming your name the only reason that you’re interested in becoming the consort of Portland, Kori?”
“Not even close to the only reason. I want this for so many reasons that I don’t feel comfortable admitting here. I was hoping that we could talk privately before you make your decision.”
“Is this a plan to kill us?” Ash asked. When I looked back into his face, Ash was considering me. “How do we know that this isn’t some assassination plot?”
“Of course, it’s a plot to kill you,” the duchess snapped, she stepped down onto the first step of the dais but halted. “Your Highnesses, we’re going to the feast, now.”
Ash looked back. “Don’t give us commands, ever, Duchess Dread. I thought I made that clear.”
Duchess Dread stepped back onto the dais, her golden eyes filling with hate before she spun away.
“Here.” I reached back, making all three of the men tense. “My sash. I’m just untying my sash,” I called out as I turned and showed them all what I was grabbing for. I pulled the sash off and spun toward my sister, holding up my ribbon.
Genevieve’s amber eyes widened as she looked at me, and she made a small humming sound of protest at the back of her throat, but she took the ribbon. This whole time, I could feel how much my siblings wanted to argue their own case, but they’d agreed to let me take the lead and stuck to it thus far.
Genevieve took the ribbon and wrapped my wrists, so the insides were touching each other. She swathed them tightly enough that I had little hope of escaping, and then she tied them off in a series of knots. When I turned back to the kings with my bound hands, I held them up. “Now I couldn’t have a hope of killing you three, even if I wanted to—which I don’t.”
Death reached forward and touched the intricate pattern of knots on the outside of the tie. When his eyes lifted to mine, they were full of heat. His fingers moved, and I could just barely feel his touch through the ribbon, yet it felt strangely intimate. “You didn’t have to do this, Kori.”
“I want to,” I whispered as a warm tingling sensation stirred in me that I hadn’t felt since the last time I stood in front of these men.
Ruin blew out a breath and shook his head. “This is just silly. She weighs about as much as one of our legs. Of course, I’ll walk with you, Kori. You don’t need the ribbon.”
“If it makes you guys more comfortable, then I will keep it on,” I said.
Ash worked his jaw back and forth. “Fine,” he said, grudgingly. we’ll go.”
“If that is your plan, Your Highnesses,” Duchess Dread snapped, “I’d recommend keeping Genevieve and Brendan Ignis under guard in the royal spa until you make your decision.”
“Please,” I whispered as my heart raced and breath hitched, “Can they stay with the courtesans? Their power is bound. I just want them out in public where they’re safer.”
“Under guard,” Ash said, and my heart dropped. He inhaled deeply. “They can go to the feast, b
ut their table knives will be removed.”
Both Genevieve and Brendan touched my shoulders.
“We’ll be fine,” Brendan whispered as he passed.
A minute later, the three kings and I strolled through the soldiers, side by side. Several vampire guards tried to follow, but Ruin good-naturedly waved them off. Just outside the door, Ruin hesitated, looking down both hallways. “To be honest, we were only ever allowed in the servants' corridors and the throne room before.”
“What do you want to see?” I gestured out the window toward the blue-lit garden. “There’s the inner courtyard with a hedge maze. Or, there are conference rooms, entertainment rooms...”
“Take us to somewhere peaceful,” Death said.
Ruin smirked. “Preferably without big drop-offs.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
KORI
The servants had tidied the courtesan communal room and lit a crackling fire in the hearth. It smelled as it had before the war, like burning cedar logs, old quilts, and spilled wine. This living area had always been full of lounging courtesans. Constant use had worn in the suede sofas and scratched up the mahogany chests and tables. Standing in this space gave me an immediate feeling of relief. It was cozy.
Ruin crossed the room and poured four glasses from the decanter that sat airing out on the table and crossed to me.
“Would you like some wine?” He lifted one of the glasses up.
I reached to take it, but my bindings went too far up my arm to let me fully bend my elbow. Ruin considered my predicament closely. “Do you want me to untie you? This is a little ridiculous.”
“Only if you trust that I won’t try to kill you.”
“I don’t trust that,” Ash said. “But I agree that the binding is ridiculous. Do you trust her, Death?”
Death blew out a heavy breath, and I could see in his expression that he didn’t trust me. This imbalance of power might bother these men on an abstract level, but if they untied me right now, they would immediately be bracing for my attack.
“Will you help me drink instead, Ruin?”
“Help you drink.” His mouth twisted as his gaze met mine. “I guess I can do that.”
“Thank you.” I parted my lips and leaned forward. Ruin set the cool rim to my lower lip and tilted the glass so the wine poured onto my tongue. I licked the wine off my lips and gave him a small smile. “Now, let’s talk about all of the benefits of making me your consort.”
“All the benefits?” He chuckled as he lifted his own wine to his lips and took a sip. “Oh, Kori, I know all the benefits. It’s my lifespan that I’m worried about.”
Ash closed the distance and glowered down. “Right now, ten thousand rebels are hiding under Portland—ready to attack. We should be exiling you to one of the cave kingdoms. It is the only conclusion that makes any logical sense. But for some reason, it feels like the wrong choice. At the same time, I don’t see the wisdom of giving you one of the most powerful positions in our kingdom when you’re so obviously plotting to overthrow Portland’s government again.” Ash stopped after his long speech to inhale a deep breath and sigh.
“The only power you would be giving me is access to you three.” I lifted my hands to touch Ruin where he held my wine.
“And that’s what you want?” Ruin helped me take another sip.
“Yes.”
“Why?” Ash demanded.
“Because ten thousand humans are under this city, and I want to make sure that as many of them survive as possible,” I said, the answer coming on instinct. “I’ll be right there when you have to make hard decisions about Portland, and maybe, just maybe, you three will let me give you another point of view.”
Death stepped next to me. “You’d only become a consort after you bonded with one of us. A vampire bond with a human is more than a marriage, it’s romantic and to the death.”
I shook my head. “It doesn’t have to be romantic if you don’t want it to be. A human can’t be with anyone else, but a vampire can be with whomever they want. It can be a partnership, a friendship, a business arrangement.”
Ruin leaned away, his eyes going wide. “A business arrangement? With a lifelong bond?”
“Whatever it is, it’ll be between us.”
The silence that followed my words crackled with tension. Part of me was shocked that they were still considering my proposal at all.
Ash pushed his thick curls back from his forehead and narrowed his eyes. “Why do I feel like you’re orchestrating all of this to get us exactly where you want us?”
“Because I’m not hiding what I want. I’m telling you, flat out, that I want to be one of your consorts,” I softened my assertiveness with a smile. With a sigh, I told Ash, “I hope you don’t mind if I get comfortable.” I sat on the couch and turned fully to Ruin before patting the seat beside me. “Will you sit with me?”
“Is that you calling for more wine?” Ruin asked with a chuckle before he sat and threw an arm over the back of the sofa. With a grin, he held my glass to my lips.
“No. I just wanted to sit next to you,” I told him before taking a sip. “You guys think everything I do and say has an ulterior motive.”
Ash stopped before me and glowered down. “Kori, we plan to pardon you and your siblings…” he paused, and his dark gaze cut to mine, “not because of our conversation here but because it’s what is best for the kingdom. Punishing you or sending all three of you into permanent exile will only throw fuel on an already raging fire. You three will be guarded constantly up until the revolution is over. If you wish to leave Portland, you’ll be escorted onto the train and accompanied by a warrior until you arrive in Seattle, Nightendale, or The Deep—if they’ll accept you as political refugees. Knowing that, are you still interested in becoming consort to one of us? The terms of your pardon would be the same either way.”
I took a few seconds to answer. The more power I had, the better the chances of escaping back to the rebel army, but that wasn’t the only reason I wanted to be with these men.
“Yes, that’s what I want,” I said.
“I don’t trust you,” Ash said, flatly. “I know that you’re likely spying on us for the rebels. Please, don’t mistake us for fools. However, this kingdom is divided. If we work together, we might be able to heal that rift. I hope that’s what you want as well.”
“I don’t want to heal a rift with a monarch like King Razor who killed humans whenever he was in a bad mood. But I used to know you three, even if it was just a little. I don’t think you would become those types of monarchs.”
Ruin blew out a heavy breath and set my wine glass on the end table. “Would you settle for monarchs who are trying to figure out who’s on their side and who’s trying to kill them?” He shifted so his knee was just beside mine before glancing down at my wrists. “This is ridiculous. Can I just untie you now?”
“Yes.” I held up my hands, and his fingers immediately worked into the satin knots. “You need to pull that ribbon.” I nodded to a loose ribbon at the apex of the knots.
Ruin pulled it, and the system of delicate knots came loose. He continued to unwrap me until my wrists were completely bare. His aquamarine gaze came up, pinning me to the spot. “If I were to accept your consort proposal, what would that mean?”
“It would mean that you and I would form . . . an exclusive companionship. You would care for me, protect me, and drink my blood. We would attend official functions together. It’s like a marriage of convenience, except that you’re a monarch and I have no official power.”
He leaned in a little closer, and I could tell from the set of his features that he was taking this absolutely seriously. “I’m in new territory here, Kori. I want to know the rules for something like this—your personal rules. I want to know what lines never to cross.”
Ruin was going to say yes. I could see it in the hunger in his eyes. Butterflies swarmed in my center as I reached forward and wrapped both of my hands around his wide palm. “I would always r
eserve the right to refuse you.” I tilted my head and pulled his hand up to the side of my neck. From where his fingers touched me, tingling warmth spread over my body.
Ruin curled his hand around the side of my neck, his muscles tight like he might pounce any moment, but he didn’t. Instead, he whispered, “What else?”
“You can’t hurt me, and I can end our partnership at any time for any reason. If I want to leave you, even if we’re mate bonded, you can’t stop me. If you want me to leave, you will be honest. And in return, I will be faithful to you and only you.”
“If you’re not?” Ash asked as he came to stand above me.
“The law says that if I’m not faithful, you can have me tried for treason and execute me.”
“Execute you?” Death said as he came to stand behind our couch. He said it as if the very idea was ludicrous.
“That used to be the law here in Portland. I guess the consequences would be up to you three now.” I sighed and released Ruin’s hand. “That’s the end of my long speech.”
His fingers lingered at the curve where my shoulder met my neck. Under his touch, my neck felt so long and graceful, and his fingers felt so soft and warm. Just like a year ago, my body immediately ignited with lust at Ruin’s touch. Pleasure already tingled in my clit, and my whole body felt hyperaware of the proximity of each of the men. Ruin ran his tongue over his fang, looking like he was thinking very hard about something. After a few more beats of silence, he asked, “You said this doesn’t have to be a romantic relationship? Would you want it to be?”
I didn’t feel right lying to him, but the truth was so very complicated. “I’ve had feelings for you for years. But things have changed. Going forward, you will always be my king, and I’ll never be your equal. That doesn’t mean I won’t fall in love with you—I’m not in control of that, but it does mean that I’ll never be able to fall in love in that uncomplicated and unreserved way that I’d have fallen for the warrior version of you.”
Ruin: A Reverse Harem Dark Fantasy Vampire Romance (Fire & Blood Book 1) Page 9