Page 112 of Blood Ties

“A plan I can remember without a family tree or a diagram.”

“I thought you’d appreciate that.”

“I appreciate plans that don’t require me to bleed into antique furniture.”

The vault lamps brightened along the passage. Harrowmere had heard enough and wanted us upstairs.

We left the case behind. The staircase opened when Bryony put her palm against the vault door, then sealed after we climbed into the witness room.

Lenora remained at the outer ledge. The guards had moved the dead vampire away from the dividing line and covered him properly. White light held their memories across the wall.

“Any sign of Adrian?” I asked.

“He hasn’t opened the formal court,” Lenora said. “Vampires from the outer houses are arriving at the main gate. His guards are trying to keep them in the entrance hall, but the witness call reached them. They know a charge has been accepted.”

Bryony looked at the sealed outer door. “Can they see the memory from there?”

“The room will show it to anyone who answers the call. Adrian can delay them. He can’t erase what Harrowmere holds.”

The swordsman rested against the ledge with one arm pressed to his ribs. “He can still kill us if that door opens.”

“Then it stays closed,” Bryony said. “Lenora, bring the witnesses into the inner court if the seal weakens. Harrowmere will let them cross under my protection.”

Lenora studied the white line. “They attacked you here.”

“Adrian forced them. I’m not leaving them outside so he can do it again.”

The raven under Bryony’s feet lit in answer. A narrow break appeared in the line, wide enough for a vampire to pass if the room allowed it.

Lenora nodded once and rested her hand on her sword. “We’ll hold this side until we need it.”

Bryony turned towards me. “Where’s the safest place for us?”

“The throne room gives Harrowmere the strongest defence.” I watched the red seal on the wall. “It also keeps you close to the Crown.”

“Then we use the rooms beside it and leave the dramatic headwear alone.”

Harrowmere opened the inner door as if it approved.

We crossed the garden and entered the Blood King’s rooms. Another door had appeared beside the fireplace. Pale wood replaced the dark panels around it, and a silver raven sat in the middle.

Bryony reached for the handle. “Was that here earlier?”

“The heir’s rooms have always connected to mine. Harrowmere kept the door hidden while it considered you an intruder.”

“And now?”

“Now it watched you refuse my oath and protect vampires who tried to kill you. The court has apparently decided you can have a bedroom.”

She opened the door. A wide room waited on the other side, filled with soft lamplight. A second bed stood against the far wall with black roses carved into its headboard.

Bryony looked between the beds. “Harrowmere thinks we need separate rooms after giving you a bed large enough to invade a country.”

“It values tradition.”

“It watched us ignore tradition all over your mattress.”

Heat stirred in my blood. “The mattress survived.”