Sovereign (26 page)

My heart seemed to stop and I couldn’t catch my breath. I stared down at him, my mind spinning as I tried to understand what was happening. The sharp lines of his face softened and his eyes glimmered as he offered the ring. I covered my mouth with one hand, disbelief rolling through me like a turbulent wave.

“Will you marry me?”

I grabbed the back of the nearest chair. “Are you serious?”

“I don’t get on my knees for anyone—except you.” He lifted the ring higher, and the gems caught a ray of sun and scattered a prism of light against the dining room wall.

“Smooth,” Teddy whispered.

I stared into his eyes, his soul laid bare. He was the one I needed, the man who loved me more than his own life. It was all written there in the deep blue, the open heart, and the proffered ring.

I held out my shaking left hand. He kissed it and slipped the ring on my finger. My heart upped its pace to a hectic beat as he rose and pulled me to him. He hesitated before giving me the kiss I would kill for.

“I think you forgot something,” he whispered against my lips.

I smiled and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Yes.”

CHAPTER THIRTY

S
INCLAIR

I
PULLED THROUGH THE
gate and sped past the line of cars.

“Is that wise?” Stella smoothed her dress down. She didn’t need to. Everything about it, about her, was perfect.

“I’m the new Sovereign. If anyone has a problem with it, they can take it up with me.”

“Good point.” She held her left hand out and admired the ring.

The Vinemonts owned several priceless gems, but this one spoke to me the moment I saw it in the safe deposit box in New Orleans. It had been in my family since the 1920s, and had never looked more stunning. She was born to wear it. My chest swelled with pride that she liked what I’d picked for her. Then again, I always did have impeccable taste.

I pulled up to the valet in front of whoever had been patiently waiting and got out. An attendant helped Stella from the car.

“This is the one.” I handed the attendant my keys.

The attendant stopped and nodded, recognition firing in his eyes. He whistled two notes—the signal—to let me know he understood. Quinlan’s men were in place.

I helped Stella to the curb, and we climbed the stairs. We were two different people since the first time we’d done this a year ago. A cool wind whipped around us, and Stella’s skirt flowed to the side as I wrapped my arm around her bare shoulders. She trembled.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m perfect. I can’t wait, to be honest.”

I smiled at her bloodlust, and we continued to the top of the stairs. Dropping my hand to her waist, we entered the chateau.

Cal stood in the foyer greeting guests with his usual aplomb. “Hello gorgeous,” he said and shook my hand. “Stella, you look nice, too.” He laughed and took her waist.

My hands fisted, the need to destroy him rising like a ship on an ocean wave.

“I can’t wait until I get you home, beautiful.” He kissed her neck, and then held her at arm’s length. “And what’s this? New ink?”

“I had her branded a bit more. Just so everyone knows I had her first.” I kept my tone cold, though my hatred seethed, red and smoldering.

“I’ll take your sloppy seconds any day. Go on in. Your seats are on the stage. Where’s Teddy?”

“He’s arriving separately, but he’ll be here.”

“Perfect!” Cal slapped me on the back and waved us toward the ballroom.

Stella walked ahead of me, her red locks cascading down her back in a soft wave. I took her elbow and guided her through the groups of people, each of them whispering about us, each of them dying to know who the Sovereign would be.

We entered the ballroom—this time devoid of the enormous oak in the center. A stage stood along one wall. Red, his younger sister Evie, and Brianne sat in a huddle, as did Bob, his brother Carl, and Gavin. Three seats to the left of the podium remained empty.

Servers whisked by with drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Every so often, one of them would whistle from high to low, assuring me that the preparations were in order.

“Have I mentioned how beautiful you look?” I whispered in Stella’s ear.

“You may have mentioned it about a dozen times. But it can’t hurt to hear it again.” She smiled. That simple turn of her lips, nothing more than a reaction to stimulus—I lived for it. Her happiness was as necessary as the air in my lungs.

We made our way through the chattering throng toward the stage.

“Sin?” Sophia’s voice clawed at my eardrum.

I spun, keeping Stella shielded at my back. “Sophia.”

I turned my head and whispered, “Wait for me by the stage.”

“Okay.” Stella backed away.

“Sin, where have you been? We were supposed to brunch on Sunday with Mother.” Her displeasure was eclipsed by mine. I hated the sight of her.

Even so, I masked my disgust. “My apologies, but my mother passed. I should have sent word.”

“She’s dead? Yes, you should have sent word,” she hissed. “Now it will look like I didn’t care.”

“When I’m Sovereign, will that matter?”

She opened her crimson lips, closed them, and then re-affixed a smile to them. “You’re right.” She kissed me on the cheek, and I wondered if her lips were still warm from being wrapped around Ellis’ cock. Not that I cared. Her lips would be forever stilled within the next few hours.

“Sin.” Teddy walked up and took Sophia’s hand, kissing the back of it.

“I’m glad to see at least one of the Vinemont men has manners.” She smiled, her dark eyes taking Teddy in from head to toe.

“When I see a beautiful woman, my first thought is to kiss her.” He shrugged, his boyish charm now an act, but just as convincing as the real thing.

“Oh, you flatter me. Keep it up.” She shifted her gaze to some point behind Teddy.

I followed her line of vision to Ellis.

“Excuse me for a moment.” She walked around Teddy and beelined for her lover.

Teddy shifted closer and eyed the crowd. “Where’s Stella?”

“In front of the stage.” I turned and scanned for her. My heart chilled when I realized she was gone.

Guests milled around, and I pushed through them until I stood at the stairs. She wasn’t there.

“Fuck!” I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think.

“We’ll find her. Calm down,” Teddy leaned this way and that, trying to see through the mass of people.

“Welcome!” Cal’s voice carried over all others as he made his way to the stage.

“We don’t have time.” I wanted to scream for her, to knock down anything that blocked the path to her, but I couldn’t.

Cal waved us on. “Come on fellas, get up there. Where’s Stella?”

“Powder room.” Teddy lied almost as easily as I did.

“We’ll have to start without her. Shame.” Cal pushed us up the stairs ahead of him.

At the top, I turned and scrutinized all the faces. I finally found hers, a look of horror on it as Dylan dragged her into a side room, his hand clapped over her mouth.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

S
TELLA

I
SCREAMED AS
D
YLAN
threw me to the floor in a small sitting room off the ballroom. His weight crushed down on top of me, and he pinned my hands to the floor.

“No one here to save you now.” He smiled as I tried to free my hands.

I should have been afraid. I wasn’t. Anger boiled over, scorching my insides with naked hatred.

“Get the fuck off me.”

“Shut up.” He let one hand go and slapped me. “I wanted to get my taste before Cal. I’ll have you after, too. But something about being inside you first just does it for me.” He pushed his hips into me for emphasis.

“You’re fucking pathetic!”

He backhanded me this time, his knuckles busting my lip.

I spat my blood in his face.

He wiped it away with the back of his sleeve as I inched my hand down to my thigh where my blade waited. Cal’s amplified voice came through the door clearly as he went over the trials of the year and built up to announcing the victor.

“I’m going to rip you apart for that.” He yanked my dress up and fumbled at his zipper.

“I’ll kill you.” I palmed my knife.

He stopped and wrapped his large hand around my throat. “I could snap your fucking neck right now. I should. You deserve it.”

Thunderous applause erupted from the ballroom and I swung, stabbing him in the side over and over before he even realized I’d done it.

“What are you—?”

I bridged up, shoving him off me. He clutched his side and brought a bloody hand to his face.

“You cut me.” He shook his head in disbelief as I got to my feet.

“That’s not all.” I aimed a kick at his face and delighted in the sickening crunch his nose made during the impact.

He fell back sputtering. The applause died down, and his cries grew louder. I had to shut him up so he could bleed to death quietly. I kicked him in the side of the head with all my strength. He went limp.

I wiped my blade on the window curtain and stuffed it back down in the garter on my thigh. My hands were steady, my heart in a calm rhythm. I dabbed my busted lip on the inside of my skirt and traced the outline of my lips with my finger to wipe away any smeared lipstick.

Opening the door, I saw Sinclair at the podium. He spoke of history and the importance of tradition, but his eyes were fixed on me—his future. I gave him a nod to let him know I was okay and pushed my way through the throng before climbing onto the stage and taking my seat next to Teddy.

I glanced at Gavin and Brianne. They both watched Sin. I hadn’t had a chance to warn them. Dylan had grabbed me soon after Sin began speaking with Sophia.

Red cradled Evie in his arms as she sobbed, and Bob’s brother cried quietly to himself. Teddy rested his arm along the back of my chair as the faceless mob in the darkened ballroom stared up at us.

“You okay?” He whispered.

“I could take them all on, bare handed. I’m that okay right now.” Getting the best of Dylan shot me into the stratosphere, especially when his was only the first blood that would be spilled tonight. I’d killed a man, and instead of regret, all I felt was triumph.

“And now, I’d like to thank my Acquisition, Stella Rousseau. Without her, this win wouldn’t be possible. I’d also like to thank Red and Bob, and let them know their sacrifices are appreciated. Bring the knives.” He waved toward an attendant who climbed the stairs and gave long, curving knives to Red and Bob. Red’s hand shook as he took the blade, and Bob grabbed his with a chilling nonchalance.

The crowd began to chant. It started as a whisper in the corner of the room and grew until the entire room filled with the word “blood” on a never-ending loop. Sin whistled two notes, the sound carrying across the speakers and over the sounds of the continuing chant. Red held his sister, the knife shaking in his hand as he gave me a vindictive glare. I shook my head.
Wait
, I mouthed to him. His eyes narrowed.

Doors along the back and sides of the ballroom opened, and attendants wheeled in several carts covered with black cloths. They spaced them out amongst the guests and then retreated back through the doors. I couldn’t see it, but I knew lengths of chain were being affixed to all the exits. There was no escape for any of the people below. A small, hidden door behind the stage remained unbarred. That was it.

Sin held up a hand and the chant died down. “Patience. I have one more official act before the blood will be spilled.”

Cal stood at the foot of the stairs, his brow wrinkled in confusion at the change of plan.

“As you all know, being Sovereign comes with amazing benefits. I take a cut from each of you every year. My wealth grows and grows, and I have the power to end whichever one of you I see fit. Sovereign is a time-honored role, one that is coveted beyond all others. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Some of the guests applauded, though I could sense unease begin to build. I wanted to smile, but kept my face impassive.

“The reason we have a Sovereign is, of course, to prevent infighting and to consolidate power in one principal place. But have you ever wondered what would happen if there were no Sovereign?”

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

“That would lead to a power vacuum. That would mean the strongest of you would be the next Sovereign. There are plenty of people in here who could claim the throne—Cal, for instance; he’s strong. Sophia, his daughter, very smart and wily. Look at your neighbor. Would they take it from you? Your chance to be Sovereign? Would you let them? Or would you claim it for yourself and have everything you’ve ever dreamed of?”

Sin let the crowd ruminate for a moment. One of the guests pulled the sheet from atop a cart and a collective gasp sounded from everyone close enough to see what was there.

“As some of you have discovered, there are weapons scattered throughout the room. Knives, hatchets, hammers, bats, daggers, axes—you name it, it’s there.”

All around the room voices rose, and even in the glare of the spotlight, I could see people snatching weapons from the carts.

“Now, look around you. Who will reign? You best decide quickly, because my first act as Sovereign is to banish the Vinemont household from the nobility forever.”

Cal sputtered and shook his head as Sin continued.

“This is
your
chance. You want to reign? Take it. You want the spoils? Take it. You want to decide who lives and dies? Take it. Because if you don’t, someone else will. Pick up the knife and strike down anyone who tries to take what’s yours. There is no Sovereign anymore, except whoever is strong enough to claim it.”

The stage lights went out and the room became steeped in gloom. Screams erupted from all sides.