23_Kingdom of Cassius
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Viktor looked out at the Kingdom of Cassius as they rode in. He couldn’t help the distaste that curled his mouth. Never before had he seen a Kingdom of Vampires that mingled with Sorceresses to the point of marrying them and living with them. It wasn’t that he absolutely despised Sorcerers, it was just that Viktor had a particular dislike of their way of living.
Trapping the innocent with spells, using and murdering humans for their sorcery, gaining power in the most monstrous ways. And yet Cassius embraced all that.
But then that made sense seeing as the royal family had a bloodline that was half Sorcery. Half witches. Viktor shuddered.
“Viktor, I don’t think it was wise to leave Kamilla by herself,” said Damon from the other side of the large carriage.
Viktor looked over at him. “We won’t be long. She should be okay for a few hours without causing trouble. Also, isn’t your human there?”
Damon shook his head. “No. Sasha took her.”
“What?” Viktor frowned. “Took her where?”
Damon rolled his eyes. “I don’t know. Shopping or whatever. She wants to be best friends with Grace since we’re together. I mean… uh, Sasha thinks me and Grace are together. She’s trying to do this double date bullshit with
you.”
Viktor pursed his lips, ignoring another one of Sasha’s attempts to get closer to him. “You’re still taking her
blood?”
Damon glanced out at the passing Kingdom. “Yeah. It’s the only way I can save her. It’s nearly done.”
Viktor looked at him with a sharp gaze. “You should stop, Damon. Now. That girl can’t be important enough for you to become addicted to blood over. What happens when she’s fully turned and you start craving? And did you tell her that once she’s turned, she becomes a slave to you in every way possible? Does she know the consequences of what you two are doing?”
Damon’s jaw clenched at he glanced down at his hands. “I know what I’m doing, V.”
“I doubt it.”
“Anyway,”
” said Damon, with his eyes tightly closed. “About Kamilla…” Viktor scoffed at Damon’s change of topic. “As I said, I don’t think it’s okay to leave her by herself. She’s already been cornered thrice. Once by Rogan, then by that Vamp assassin, and then by Rena. Now we can’t safely say that the other two don’t work for Rogan. They’re trying to separate you two, to make you both more vulnerable to them, Viktor.”
Viktor’s jaw clenched as he thought it over. The carriage slowly rolled to a stop and he pushed open his door.
“Kamilla’s fine,” he murmured as he got out.
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23 Kingdom of Cassius
Viktor knew that Damon was right. They couldn’t be careless about this. Viktor’s father had done that and look where it had gotten him. Killed.
Viktor had to hurry up with this and get back to Onyx. That Rogan bastard had looked too cocky at the morning meeting and Viktor had a bad feeling about it. But he knew Kamilla could hold her own for at least a few hours. She was a wildcat that way. And she’d gotten stronger since the attempted murder in that alleyway.
Tugging at the lapels of his black suit, Viktor looked up at the Queen’s castle. Impressive, but nothing close to what Viktor had back in Onyx. Ah. It sure was great to be him.
Glancing at Damon, he led the way to the Gates, knowing they’d open before him, locked or not.
The presence of his powerful Vampire King soul granted him entrance. The two of them walked on, into the dark castle, Viktor leading the way.
Pushing open two gold doors, they walked along a dark red carpet until they came to a pair of doors behind which they knew they’d find the Queen.
“You do the talking,” Damon murmured and with a nod, Viktor grabbed the handles and pushed open the doors.
The vast room behind the doors was in fact the throne room. At the front, past the long dining table, on a high throne, sat Diana, Queen of Cassius. Servants sat about her, tending to her every whim.
“Oohh!!” exclaimed a servant when her gaze landed on Viktor and Damon. She fell to her knees, immediately shuffling closer to Dianna for protection. “My Queen, my Queen!”
“What in the hell?” Dianna demanded as she rose from her throne. Her long black gown tumbled in lacy waves down the steps before her. “How dare you two barge in here like this? How did you enter?”
Viktor spread his hands in greeting. “Hello to you too, Queen of Cassius. How do you do?”
They strolled calmly over to her throne, trailing fingers over the mahogany wooden table adorned in gold.
Diana watched Viktor with narrowed eyes. “Have you come to beg for peace then, Viktor? After attempting to marry off my daughter! And to no more than a jobless painter! The biggest insult I’d ever received!”
They stood before her throne and Viktor sighed, crossing his arms. “Now, now, Diana. Let’s not be melodramatic.”
Damon pulled out two golden chairs from the long dining table and set one behind Viktor for him to sit.
Diana stared at them in shock. “I didn’t ask you to sit!” Struggling to maintain her calm, she cleared her throat and slowly eased herself back onto her throne. At her signal, a servant quickly began to fan her overheated Queen, “Tell me what you’ve come to my Magical Kingdom for, before I have you thrown out.”
Viktor laughed and watched Diana’s face grow tense, her gaze intensifying. Oh, look at her. She couldn’t even hide how attractive she found him. Should he just charm his way out of this unnecessary war? Or should he just kill her and take over her Kingdom instead?
Viktor nearly sighed. So many choices.
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Well, since he didn’t really enjoy being King and would much rather return to his company in London, he would rather not add another Kingdom to his troubles.
But charming the woman also seemed a little too torturous for him. Well, he’d just have to scare her then.
Viktor let a smile curve his mouth. “Now, Queen Diana, we both know that there is no need for war over something so trivial. Why do you want to lose thousands of your army over this little misunderstanding?
Seriously.”
Diana scoffed. “My father, the late king and his father before him went to war with Onyx hundreds of times over the past centuries!”
Viktor nodded. “Yes, and how many times did they win?”
Diana’s mouth pursed tightly. It was true that Cassius had never before won a war against Onyx, but it was also true that they were the only kingdom to ever be powerful enough to actually face Onyx. One time they’d taken out a thousand men of the Onyx army. If that wasn’t impressive, Diana didn’t know what was.
Accurately reading her face, Viktor waved a hand. “I’m not talking about coming close to beating Onyx or the number of killings Cassius achieved, I mean, a Victory. How many times did Cassius win, Diana?”
No answer.
Viktor smiled.
“Now,” he said. “Damon and I could easily wipe out your entire castle, right where it stands. Right here, right now,” A servant whimpered and ducked behind Diana’s throne at Viktor’s words. “But we’re gentlemen, so we
won’t do that.”
Diana looked at Viktor’s devilishly handsome face and inwardly cursed. If she could rip his head off, she would.
Damn him.
“Your daughter,” continued Viktor. “Wants to marry a son of Onyx. It would be her fucking honor, whether the kid’s a jobless painter or not! However, I cannot grant her that honor. Not while the young man is under my authority. Luckily, I was informed just this morning that he’d left Onyx. Gone to be amongst humans, I believe. Therefore, this no longer has anything to do with me. You have your daughter under you authority, you therefore, must control the situation.” Viktor pointed a finger at her. “It’s your family business, don’t involve me in it.”
With that, he stood and Damon followed suit.
Diana was so angry, she was practically vibrating on her throne.
“Don’t ever come back to my castle, Viktor,” she muttered.
Viktor’s mouth curved in a cold, sardonic smile. “Not if I can help it, Diana.”
As they turned to leave, a pair of doors behind the throne opened.
“I knew it,” said a voice.
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Viktor and Damon halted, slowly turning around.
A woman stood behind Diana’s throne. Viktor sized her up. She was weak. He could feel it. More a sorceress than a Vampire. No wonder she’d become so weak in her old age, although she didn’t look it.
She walked up to them, grey eyes assessing Viktor from head to toe. “Truebloods,” she said. “I knew there were Truebloods in the castle. I could smell you.”
Viktor made a face. “Uh, congratulations. We were on our way out.” They turned to leave.
“You are linked to Cassius,” said the woman.
Viktor stopped and turned to face her once more. “Excuse me?”
The woman’s gaze deepened. “I am Ursula. I’m the sister of the late King. Also, the sister of Donna.”
Viktor blinked. “What are you going on about?”
Diana stepped down from her throne and walked over to them. “Aunt. Let them go.”
Her niece grabbed ahold of her hand, but Ursula kept her gaze on Viktor. “You are connected to Cassius. By
blood.”
Viktor froze. What the hell was the woman talking about? Was she insane? Viktor asked her so, but the woman
shook her head.
“I’m not crazy. I just see and know what you don’t. Your father, Darrius… he didn’t tell you why the two Kingdoms
are at loggerheads.”
Viktor glanced at Damon who looked just as confused.
“Aunt, please. Stop,” said Diana. She glanced at Viktor. “Leave.”
Ursula narrowed her eyes at Viktor. “Speak with me. Not for long. I will tell you what you must know. Both of
you.”
Damon’s brows rose. “What? Me too?”
Ursula shook her head. “No.” She jerked her chin at Viktor. “Both of him.”
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