Chapter 20: The Venom In Her Violet Eyes

••{RHIANNON’S POV}••

"So..." Delilah tilts her head, her gaze slowly traveling over me from head to toe. "You’re the girl who’s caused such an uproar throughout the Empire of Night."

I swallow the lump in my throat, slowly stepping back.

"Why are you here?" I ask.

"Hmm..." she hums softly, crossing her arms and twirling a loose curl around her finger. "Let’s just say I’m someone who is..." her eyes narrow. "Curious."

I take another small step back. "Curious?"

"Of course," she shrugs. "Who isn’t?"

Once again, her eyes drag over my frame from head to toe, then she begins circling me very slowly.

It makes me deeply uncomfortable.

I don’t like having my back to anyone here, especially someone I don’t know. So I turn with her, watching her every move from the corner of my eye.

"I learned that the Emperor abducted you from your kingdom," she says slowly. "And he’s going to marry you in a few days, making you Empress of the Empire of Night. Everyone is asking why he would risk angering his entire race for a mere human. But then I took some time to think about it, and I wondered..." she pauses, thoughtfully tapping a finger on her chin. "Maybe this princess isn’t merely human after all."

My heart begins to race.

I slowly curl my fingers to fists, taking a slow, deep breath to try and calm myself.

She’s a vampire.

I can’t let her notice my fear or give her the idea that she’s onto something.

"Well, as you can see," I say, forcing my voice to hold steady. "I’m just a human girl."

Delilah stares at me for a moment too long before letting out a sigh.

"Yes you are, darling," she says, her tone and expression filled with disappointment. "You look weak, just like the rest of your kind."

My brows furrow. "Excuse me?"

"Oh," she lifts her brows, placing a hand on her chest. "Don’t be offended, Your Highness," she says, her tone filled with mockery. "I’m just finding it difficult to understand what Azræl sees in you."

"Azræl is your Emperor," I fight back, stepping closer before I can stop myself. "Who gave you the right to call him by his name?"

She arches one of her brows. "Has no one told you?"

"Told me what?"

Delilah stares at me for a heartbeat before she bursts out laughing.

She doesn’t sound loud or hysterical.

If anything, her laughter is just as graceful and elegant as she looks.

"Oh my," she says, wiping a fake tear from the corner of her eye. "Everyone in the empire knows who I am, Your Highness. I am Azræl’s mistress."

My mind goes blank for a moment.

"...Mistress?"

"In our tradition, the emperor may take as many mistresses as he desires," she continues. "Azræl has had a taste of many women in his lifetime."

She gestures lazily with her hands. "Once he gets tired of one, he takes another lover. But for the past two hundred years, I am the only woman he has been with."

She steps closer until we’re practically breathing each other’s air.

"He leaves kisses on every inch of my body," she whispers, her eyes glaring into mine. "He fills me with his royal seed every time we make love."

Heat creeps up my neck, rising to my cheeks.

"Why exactly are you telling me this?" I ask quietly.

A devious smirk curves Delilah’s lips.

"Because Azræl was mine long before your grandparents were even born," she says, her tone cold and sharp. "And he will continue to be mine, and mine alone. Even after you’re married, he’ll come running back to me because you’re nothing."

For some reason, I start to feel irritated.

Then she leans in slowly and whispers in my ear.

"If you think I’m lying, just watch your husband-to-be crawl into my bed on your wedding night."

Before I can stop myself, my palm lands across her cheek. Her hair whips across her face and her head snaps to the side.

She quickly turns back to face me, her violet eyes wide and furious as she cups her cheek.

For several tense heartbeats, we stand still, glaring daggers at each other.

Anything could happen to me at this very moment but I don’t care. She may be a vampire but she doesn’t scare me.

Suddenly the doors swing open and we both turn to see Nayeesha. Her expression slowly pulls into a frown as her eyes flick between the two of us.

"What is going on here?" she asks.

I turn back to Delilah.

She eyes me once more before clearing her throat and forcing a smile on her face.

"Nothing," she says sweetly, turning to Nayeesha. "I was just leaving."

She crosses the room, slipping past Nayeesha before she leaves.

"I see you’ve met Azræl’s mistress," Nayeesha says.

"I already hate her," I mutter.

"I can’t stand her either," she replies.

I give her a light shrug. "At least that’s one thing we have in common."

She chuckles softly, and before I know it, I’m laughing too.

After a moment, she gestures toward the door.

"Come, let’s walk," she says.

As soon as we step out of the fitting chamber, the guards standing outside immediately fall into step behind us.

We walk quietly for a little while before I gather the courage to break the silence.

"I’m not sure I can go through with this wedding."

Nayeesha’s steps slow, and her gaze softens.

"I don’t want to marry him, Nayeesha," I continue, my voice quiet and hopeless. "I don’t want to become a part of his world. And I dread walking down that aisle and making vows to a man I despise with every part of my being."

Nayeesha doesn’t say anything right away.

She looks straight ahead, presses her lips into a thin line and continues walking.

"I understand how you feel," she says finally.

"No, you don’t," I murmur.

"Yes, I do," she insists.

She stops walking and steps in front of me.

"You’re angry and grieving because Azræl took you against your will and tore you away from everyone you love," she says gently. "And you’re afraid because you’re trapped in a world you don’t understand, surrounded by people you don’t know if you can trust."

She takes my hands in hers.

"I know this is very hard for you," she continues. "But Azræl is doing this for a greater good. For all of us."

Something inside me snaps.

"How in the seven hells is abducting me and forcing me to marry him supposed to be for the greater good?!" I scream. "Tell me, Nayeesha! Make me understand!"

"Rhiannon, please—"

"Just stop!" I lash out, ripping my hands free from hers.

Nayeesha’s shoulders drop, and she looks at me with nothing but sadness in her amber eyes.

"I’m sorry," I mutter, averting my gaze. "Today hasn’t been easy for me... I just... I need to be alone right now."

I slip past her without glancing back, walking through the halls with tears blurring my vision.

And with every step I take, I feel as if I’m drowning and there’s no one to save me.