Blood Debt (Kingdom of Blood #1) - Callie Rose Page 0,22

are really cute.”

My heart is thudding a million beats a minute as Anastasyia moves toward us, waving us out of our seats.

“Come, come,” she says. “Smooth procession, come now. I thought Arthur would communicate beforehand to make this a nice coordinated effort, but I guess he’s still upset that more female tributes were chosen in this round than male ones. I always tell him it’s not up to me, so it’s really not my fault, but he just will not let it go. Come on, shortest to tallest. We’re behind, but don’t look hurried. Decorum, decorum, smile girls!”

We all stand, and I get shuffled around, passed backward as the shorter girls jockey for position. Only Winona and the returning victim are behind me. We’re led to the opposite end of the high table from the men, and the matron starts up the stairs just as the male tributes are settling into position before the prince.

Every one of the men is looking at the vampire court seated behind the table—every one except Nathan. He’s looking right at me. I can feel his gaze burning into my face and I’m trying very, very hard not to look back at him.

We’re lined up in front of the high table before I’m done wrestling myself under control. My heart is flip-flopping like a fish on the bottom of a boat as the shortest male and shortest female tributes stand next to each other, creating a clear view between Nathan and me. Anastasyia and the male tribute’s—patron, I guess?—step forward as one.

“The new tributes, your highness,” Anastasyia says, sinking into a deep curtsy. “And a wonderful batch they are too.”

“Not nearly as wonderful as these new tributes.” The man who I assume must be Arthur gestures to the men, bowing even more deeply. “Young and strong and impulsive, all of them.”

Dammit, Nathan, stop staring at me. You’re going to give us away.

The prince is looking at me. Not at the female tributes as a whole—no, his eyes are locked right on me. God fucking dammit. Bastian can probably hear my heart galloping like it’s trying to bust out of my chest.

Nathan is still staring, and even as the weight of my brother’s focus makes my skin itch, the prince narrows his eyes at me.

Shit.

He knows.

Chapter Eight

I expect the prince to call me out, to drag me or Nathan or maybe both of us forward and make an example of us in front of everyone. But he doesn’t. He stays silent, still looking at me intently, and for the first time, it occurs to me that maybe the vampire prince is staring at me for a different reason entirely. Maybe whatever has drawn his focus to me is a good thing—maybe it’ll keep him from noticing the way Nathan is staring at me too.

Prince Bastian doesn’t say a word as Anastasyia introduces us all, one by one. On the other side of the platform, Arthur is working his way through the male tributes, having them each say their names.

I grit my teeth as Nathan gives his real name. Did he learn nothing from me at all? Apparently not. At least he isn’t staring anymore, but if he doesn’t wipe that shocked look off his face, we’re going to be caught anyway.

“And there you have it,” Anastasyia says proudly as Arthur finishes. “All twenty of them.”

The prince nods slowly, finally releasing me from his gaze to run his eyes over all of us. After a moment, he waves a hand, apparently dismissing us. Anastasyia bustles past me to the end of the line and leads us back to our table. The new male tributes are being led to the empty tables I expected them to go to earlier. The large dance floor is between us, but there’s a direct line of sight from the male tables to our table.

Fantastic, more opportunities for Nathan to blow my cover.

“I don’t think the prince liked us very much,” Chelsea says glumly as we all find our seats again.

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” Anastasyia says briskly, smiling perfunctorily. “The prince has his moods, and not all of them are pleasant. If he disapproved of any of you, he would have had you taken away for—well, that doesn’t matter. All that matters now is that you behave yourselves. The feast will begin in just a few minutes, so… well, just do as you’re told, and everything will be fine. Now, I need to have a word with Arthur. That was a disastrous