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Nothing happened.
She tried again, pushing until her arm shook. “Close the bloody doors.”
Harrowmere didn’t answer.
Adrian stood in the open gateway with the dagger in his hand and four vampires at his back.
He smiled at Bryony.
“Now,” he said, “we can talk.”
34
BRYONY
Talking wasn’t the word I’d have chosen for arriving with four armed vampires and a dagger that opened doors.
Adrian remained in the gateway. The others stayed behind him, close enough to enter if he moved aside. None crossed the silver line set into the floor.
That mattered more than his smile.
Stellan stood in front of me with his sword raised. Blood ran from both wrists. Lenora held the service arch on our right, watching Adrian’s guards instead of him.
I kept my palm against the wall. Harrowmere ignored me.
“Put down the dagger and send them away,” I said.
“You’re giving orders to a house that has stopped listening.” Adrian pressed the black blade into the join between the doors. “You need the Crown.”
His voice stayed calm. The vampires behind him watched the blood run between the flagstones.
“You’ve said that several times. It hasn’t become more tempting.”
His gaze moved to Stellan. “The next demonstration may help.”
Red light flared under Stellan’s skin.
His shoulders locked. The sword dipped, although he forced it up again.
I stepped sideways until the throne was behind me. I followed the plan despite wanting to drag Stellan away from Adrian.
“If the doors belong to you now, why are you still standing out there?” I asked.
Adrian’s fingers tightened around the dagger. “I’m offering you one final chance to end this without further bloodshed.”
“Two vampires are dead at your feet.”
“Stellan killed them.”
The lie was so easy for him that anger pushed through my fear.
“You sent them through the gate.” I glanced at the four behind him. “Did he tell you that part before you volunteered?”
One of the vampires looked at the bodies. Adrian didn’t turn around.
“Bring Bryony to me,” he said.
Stellan’s sword struck the floor.
