King of Gods (Vampire Crown Book 2)

by Scarlett Dawn

  Lord Belshazzar leaned to the side while tucking his knife away inside his suit jacket and pressed the button on the elevator to make it move again. The lord finally glanced at me and shrugged his shoulders. “They’re loyal to you. Your father won’t be an issue in their protection, to you or to him.”

  I studied the Overlord as we resumed our previous formation, the elevator continued to its destined path, my eyes tracking his movements. I finally questioned—with ample curiosity, “Is it hard for you to move at normal speed?”

  He grunted, his lips curling at the corners. “No.”

  “Hmm. Must be nice.” I turned my attention away from him. I pulled my gratitude up, knowing I needed to say it. “Thank you, my lord.”

  “You’re welcome, your majesty.” He smirked. The vain ass knew how hard that was for me to say. “It was quick and efficient. You won’t have to talk with them and ignore me tonight.”

  Jesus. He was on a fuck-mission.

  Not that I would complain. Heck no, I wouldn’t.

  “Fine. Plans are on again.”

  A simple shrug of one shoulder. “I thought so.”

  Arrogant. So damn arrogant.

  I eyed the back of my bodyguard’s head, not done with words that needed to be said. “My apologies, Phoenix.”

  He shrugged one shoulder, silent.

  That would be all I’d get from him.

  “Do any of you know how often you use your shoulders to communicate your feelings?” I asked, exasperated.

  All three men shrugged around me in answer.

  I threw my hands up into the air, done with it.

  The elevator dinged. The doors slid open.

  And a familiar vampire waited outside.

  My gaze narrowed as he moved aside for us to exit onto the royal floor. I dipped my head to him, muttering grudgingly, “Joshua.”

  My father’s personal assistant smirked and bowed deeply at the waist. “Your majesty.”

  A slow grin graced my lips.

  I liked the sound of that coming from his mouth.

  He peeked up and fully noticed the others with me, his lips forming a thin line. The vampire stayed lowered, greeting, “Lord Belshazzar. It’s lovely to see you again.” He slowly rose from his bow.

  Lord Belshazzar flicked a finger between us, his chilling eyes not missing our interaction. “You two know each other?”

  I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes, glaring at the man from my childhood. “Yes, when we were much younger.”

  Instant. “How young?”

  I held my hand up at waist high. “That young.” I tipped my head in interest. “Why?”

  The Overland’s shoulders visibly relaxed at my answer. “He wasn’t in your candidate file.”

  I blinked. “And everyone I’ve ever known was?”

  Joshua chuckled, backing into the elevator. “Everyone you’ve ever had relations with was.” With a grin at my pinking cheeks and stunned expression, he winked at me and his finger hovered over a button inside the elevator. “Any clue where your father is? He’s not answering my phone calls.”

  “Ceremonial room, the last I saw,” I mumbled absently, rubbing at my forehead. Hurriedly, as he pressed the button, I mumbled, “Joshua?”

  “Yes, your majesty?” Respect, he was giving it.

  “Who created the extensive file on me?”

  “Who else? The man who’s kept tabs on you your entire life,” he stated. Right before the doors closed, with my brows furrowing in confusion—and him using a nickname I hadn’t heard in almost a thousand years—he answered softly, “Gwenny, it’s Lord Cato.”

  The doors shut, cutting off any further conversation.

  “What. The. Hell.” I stood rooted in place, utterly stumped. I ground my teeth together, staring only at the elevator. I crossed my arms again, this time in frustration and embarrassment. “I’m pretty sure my father is trying to wreck our evening—intentionally or not.”

  And I really may have to forgive Joshua for almost killing me when we were just kids. He appeared to have grown into a fine man—despite whom he worked for.

  My brows puckered as a horrible thought occurred.

  It…

  It wasn’t fair to hold a grudge against him for almost killing his best friend— by accident—when I had killed mine—on purpose.

  Fuck.

  “I’m not sure if I like him much anymore,” Lord Belshazzar stated out of nowhere, crossing his own arms and scratching at his jaw, again, in deep thought and staring at the closed elevator along with me. Not even glancing down at me, he mumbled absently, “And whatever put that look on your face, quit thinking about it. Sad eyes don’t do it for me in the bedroom.”

  “Sweet baby Jesus.” I rounded on him, pointing a sharp finger against his chest, capturing his attention. “Is that how you sweet-talk all those redheads into your bed? Because I have to say, it lacks in finesse, my lord.”

  His right hand snaked between us and captured my digit, pulling me much closer. Red lips curved in amusement while he towered over my shorter stature. The man didn’t even say a word, simply held me against his body, his eyes laughing down at me and not trying to hide it.

  I cleared my throat. “What?”

  Don’t you dare say anything.

  He took a different route. “How about tonight we don’t talk about who we fuck for work?”

  Instant relief. “I’m a-okay with that.”

  Any questionable jealousy was swept under the proverbial rug—on both of our parts since I hadn’t missed his with a certain annoying assistant.

  “I thought you’d agree.” He stepped away from me, releasing my finger. He swiped a hand in the direction of the long hallway that would eventually lead to our bedchambers. “The choice is up to you.”

  To go to bed with the devil or not…

  It wasn’t a hard decision.

  I moved past him, tossing a smirk over my shoulder. “You still haven’t told me how old you are.”

  Within two strides, he’d caught up with me. We strolled down the hallway of royal bedchambers at a sedate speed, neither of us rushing. I didn’t even have to walk fast to keep up with him—my stupid short legs were a pain—because he was walking slowly to stay in step with me.

  The lord placed his hands in his pockets and stared down at his bare, dirty feet, thinking silently. When he finally did glance at me, his eyes were cold and ruthless.

  He stated, “Don’t ask me that again.”

  I raised my eyebrows in shock.

  His tone hadn’t been…friendly. Not at all.

  I’d expected a teasing comment from him. Not that.

  I took a step to the side, putting space between us.

  Lord Belshazzar’s lips thinned. He grabbed my elbow and gently pulled me back over—our strides never faltered.

  I wiggled my arm and tossed a foul squint in his direction, yanking my arm free from his gentle hold when he didn’t immediately release me.

  He grunted, watching me, the man obviously unaccustomed to not getting what he wanted. A sour expression graced his own features, dragging his black brows down over his intense blue eyes. The lord hissed quietly, “Dammit. I’m sorry. I just don’t want to discuss it.”

  My eyes narrowed. “Why?”

  “Because I’m old. I don’t like talking about it, even if I do plan on living forever.” He scratched at his whiskers, his scowl matching mine. “I already apologized for the manner in which I spoke to you. Can’t we be done with this conversation?”

  I didn’t respond—yet. He obviously felt strongly about this. I held his irritated gaze, digesting his words with a calmer mind.

  Eventually, I sighed long and hard. My expression softened, and my shoulders relaxed. Behavior like this was typical for the eldest of the vampire and druid races when their age was brought up. Always was a long time to live, even with Rests. I opened my mouth to speak, but a door swung open behind us with a violent thud. I snapped my mouth shut, and the lord and I
swung around immediately.

  My eyebrows rose as the lord took a half step in front of me. I blinked and stared at the back of his shoulder for a beat, and then I cleared my throat in amusement and stepped beside him. The Overlord knew I could take care of myself, had said so merely a few minutes ago. Though, inherent protectiveness wasn’t a bad trait to have in a powerful lord, thank fuck.

  Gold mist poured out of a room at knee level.

  I visibly shivered. I knew how cold that mist was.

  It was Master Niallan’s room.

  I whispered under my breath, “These hallways were paved in hell. I know it.”

  Lord Belshazzar grunted. Agreed.

  “No, that is not what I said!” Master Niallan’s powerful voice boomed from inside his room. “You aren’t listening to me, Ysander. You need to get your shit together before—”

  Quiet for a few beats. The mist swirled angrily.

  “Dammit, yes, I’m hungry. I swear, they’re trying to starve me around here. But that’s not why I’m pissed.” Another pause…must be on a phone call. His best friends hadn’t been allowed in the stronghold, so one of them certainly wasn’t here. “I am. I am. But I can’t find my damn pants.”

  If the Overlord and I didn’t want to discuss each other’s sexual partners, then confronting a half-naked man I’d fucked not too long ago wouldn’t be…helpful.

  As one, like we were in agreement with my internal thoughts, the lord and I started walking backward. Away from the druid’s guest room, our eyes avid on the open door, watching for any movement. Our steps quickened when we heard Master Niallan rustling into a pair of pants, still bitching on his phone. Then we both swiveled and dashed around a corner, our guards discreetly following behind us. It was a different route to the lord’s bedroom, but it would take us away from the royal kitchen area where the druid was sure to go in his grumpy-hungry state.

  My chin started to tremble in restrained humor.

  I peeked up at the Overlord.

  “That was unfortunate,” he muttered softly, as to not be overheard, not bothering to glance down at me. My chin quivered more fiercely. He cleared his throat, attempting to choke down a laugh. “Just keep walking, your majesty.”

  “Planned on it, my lord,” I whispered.

  * * *

  I pounced on the Overlord. That was the only word for it. Pounced. The lord’s bedroom door was in sight, and I was done waiting—perhaps a bit overzealous. I wrapped my body around him like I was a freaking monkey, my legs snug around his waist and my arms hugging his neck. No heartbeats or other rooms were around—other than the lord’s other guard protecting his room—so I had no fear when I slammed my lips against his and managed to surprise the most calculating vampire in history.

  “Christ.” Bel stumbled to a stop, and his muscular arms wrapped tight around me, our heartbeats now linked. His grunt reverberated deep inside his chest, vibrating against my own. Those long legs of his got with the program, and moved at a fast clip toward his door, his plump lips finally crushing mine in return. He panted against my mouth, “Just give me a second. I have to get us in there.”

  I squirmed against his muscular frame and gripped his long hair in my fists, a fire of desperation for this man pounding in my chest. I’d wanted to fuck him again since the last time I’d had him inside me. I whined a complaint when he removed one of his arms from around me and tried to dig into his pants pocket under my left leg. I bit along his jaw down to his earlobe while he worked to get his key out of his pocket. My tongue darted out to flick his earlobe, and then I sucked on it hard.

  “Fuck,” he groaned. Lord Belshazzar jerked his hand out of his pocket and slammed his palm against Orin’s chest, his key in hand. He growled, “Get the damn door open.”

  A second later, both of his palms gripped my ass, his lips back on mine and focused on devouring my mouth.

  The click of a lock echoed, and the door swung open. I hardly noticed when his shoes and socks went flying into the room, along with the key, from his guard’s hands. I leaned my head back long enough to order, “Phoenix, disappear.”

  My guard obeyed my command, gone in a blink.

  “No one disturbs me until we leave in the morning,” Bel growled to his men, pushing into the room.

  I hung on tight as he kicked the door closed behind us and locked it. This late at night, the steel security walls were down inside his bedchambers, but he pressed his thumb to a new, small black panel on the door, and quickly removed it. A steel panel slid down over his door in the next instant.

  Since receiving my apartments as Queen today, I’d learned all the royal suites were soundproof—not just his. But Lord Belshazzar had added additional security to this room.

  I pressed my mouth back against his, kissing and nipping his beautiful lips. “We’re going to get your bed dirty if we don’t shower first.”

  Bel’s smirk was wicked, his dominating eyes focused solely on me. He walked us to his massive bed. “They’ll be cleaned tomorrow.”

  “Oomph,” I grunted, staring up into his eyes from where I’d landed in the middle of his soft bed. The Overlord had tossed me without warning. I lifted up on my elbows, my attention riveted on him as he started to strip in front of me. “I’ll forgive you for doing that if you take those off real slow.”

  A cocky black eyebrow lifted, his fearsome eyes never leaving mine. His suit jacket casually slid off one arm, and then the other, revealing his strong, broad shoulders and his black dress shirt that fit snugly around his biceps. The jacket dropped to the floor.

  He purred, “Am I forgiven yet?”

  I licked my bottom lip, my panties damp. I mumbled absently, “Getting there.” I waggled a finger up and down his frame, my eyes trapped on his scrumptious body. I ordered, “Keep going.”

  His resulting chuckle was all confident male.

  Each shirt button opened so painstakingly slow, I was a panting mess when he slid it off his shoulders. I swallowed hard when the shirt plunged to the floor. His undershirt crept up his torso and finally over his head next. It hit the ground.

  He questioned, “And now?”

  “Almost,” I gasped.

  Muscles contracted and hardened as he slid his belt from his pants, his leisurely pace tormenting me in the best way possible. Holy-fuck-me, the man was danger and beauty combined, an intoxicating, scary ass being. I didn’t think I’d ever seen anyone more powerful and god-like as he unzipped his pants and continued to torture me.

  He allowed his pants to drop to the floor.

  Bel’s right thumb slipped below his boxer briefs, sliding his finger back and forth over his trim stomach. He hummed, “I have to be close now.”

  “Uh-huh,” I mumbled in a lust-filled daze. Damn that finger. I wanted to be his finger right now. I wanted my tongue flicking back and forth like his finger was doing. I wanted that finger on me. I squeezed my thighs together, already soaking for him. “Just a little more.”

  His fingers pushed under the material at his hips…and slowly…oh, so damn slowly…slid the boxer briefs down and kicked them to the side. The Overlord was fully erect, his cock intimidating in the extreme but mouthwateringly gorgeous.

  I groaned as I looked him up and down.

  The thick black leather band that wrapped around his right wrist was all that he wore, the vampire royal crest imprinted in the leather. Sexy as fuck.

  He ran his right hand down his bare chest, stopping just shy of his lovely cock. “Forgiven?”

  “Yes,” I moaned. I maneuvered onto my hands and knees, and crawled across his bed, tracking blood-mud behind me and not giving two shits. I was ready to taste his skin. All those delicious muscles. But I’d start with his cock first.

  Bel was having none of that.

  He hissed, his fangs lowering. He sprang at me.

  I squealed as the world turned inside out.

  Dizziness and flashes of color exploded.

  I landed back on his bed, butt naked, all my clothes ripp
ed to shreds around us—where the fuck were my weapons?—with a hungering Overlord on top me. Only to be rolled with me sprawled on top of him. Red eyes stared up at me. He hissed, “You want to suck my cock? You do it while you sit on my face. I want my tongue in your pussy.”

  I blinked. Lifted one finger. “Give me a moment.”

  Then…I burped. The world was still spinning.

  Bel pressed his head back against his mattress. “Do. Not. Puke. On. Me.”

  I twirled my finger, slurring, “My brain’s still trying to catch up.”

  Two of his fingers shoved deep inside my cunt.

  I jerked and sucked in a harsh breath.

  The room cleared, my vision straightening in a flash. I shuddered against him, my blue eyes turning red. This man was the whole package.

  He lifted one black eyebrow, curling his fingers ever so slightly inside me. “Caught up yet, little one?”

  I licked my lips and nodded. I ground against his fingers until my eyes closed and my frame shuddered all over. I whimpered, “So damn good.”

  Bel lifted his head and kissed my neck gently, then he placed his mouth against my ear. “I already said what I want. Your pussy on my mouth. Quit getting distracted.” I snapped my eyes open at his sexy, demanding tone, more than willing to obey his directive. His thumb rubbed against my clit, petting me before he removed his fingers from inside my pussy. Bel leaned his head back down, his long, black hair billowing out around his head on the mattress. He patted my hip, ordering, “Turn around.”

  Dominant, yet sweet. It was heady and attractive.

  I pressed my lips to his, kissing him, letting him know I was thoroughly enjoying myself. Our lips caressed and moved. We took our time to taste one another and revel in the softness of each other’s mouths. His groan curled my toes, and his hands ran over my back, then down to my ass. He squeezed roughly enough to remind me of the order he’d given.

  I chuckled softly. Pecked his lips once more.