Never again to see his devilish eyes go black with emotion . . . ?
Her own eyes started to water behind her mask. Why had this decision fallen to her?
Morgana called, "And now, the gifts!"
More guards conveyed the procession of tributes toward the grandstand. One held a single envelope, one a velvety-smooth jewelry case, and another led in two stallions of a rare silver color, an exquisitely matched pair. Next came a bulging wagon full of gold. So much of it that even she raised her brows. Behind that was a rare phoenix, its feathers so brilliant she nearly had to shield her eyes.
Last: a bulky burlap sack?
Murmurs sounded, demons craning their heads to get a better look at the bag.
Already Bettina had made a decision about one of the gifts, a deadly decision. Dear gods, what if it was the vampire's? Trehan Daciano might be about to die.
And it took this realization for her to admit that there was something compelling between them. Maybe it was fate or his blooding or just unparalleled chemistry. Whatever it was, she wanted to explore it.
Would they never get the chance?
Morgana opened the envelope, announcing in a ringing voice, "For those of you in the audience, the envelope contains two tickets to deadmau5. Dead mau five?"
"Deadmouse," Bettina corrected in a whisper. A techno act she'd been wanting to see in the mortal realm. Clearly Cas's gift. No harm would come to him tonight.
Yet her sense of relief for Cas couldn't override her worry for Daciano.
Next, Morgana opened the jewelry case and announced, "The royal jewels of the long-fallen Peace Demonarchy." As she laid them on the dais table for Bettina to examine, she said, "Look at the pretties, Bettina!" She was gleeful, as if these gifts were being offered to her. "Is this not the best? You love jewelry."
True, but Bettina didn't like to be given it. The quality was always inferior to what she could create. Bettina would just wind up melting this gift down.
She shrugged; Morgana rolled her eyes, then called, "Next!" A soldier led over the horses. "Behold-the fey king's prized stallions, stolen from the legendary realm of Draiksulia." Over her shoulder, she said, "Look at the ponies!"
Sadly, Bettina wasn't fond of horses, and she was fairly positive that they hated her. She'd been thrown when little and had never climbed back in the saddle.
"Prancing, prancing ponies for Bettina?" Morgana queried. "No? Seriously?"
When Bettina gave another slight shrug, Morgana's expression turned woebegone. "But how they prance."
Bettina was seeing all new facets to the great sorceress. Before, Morgana had simply been her moderately evil godmother. Now Bettina was beginning to understand that she was a woman with her own concerns-such as the apocalypse-and her own wants and desires-such as prancing ponies and Vrekener extinction.
"Next! Ah, and here we have a phoenix, the sole male from what is thought to be the last flock."
What was Bettina supposed to do-put the bird out to stud? Advertise online? Though she adored the phoenix's vivid colors, she considered it cruel to take it away from its flock.
Not so for Morgana. "Think of the masks we could make from those feathers! No? Oh, come on! Really?" She gazed heavenward with frustration.
When the wagon of gold rolled out, its wheels groaning under the weight of all those riches, Morgana called, "This one needs no description! Behold a sorceress's fortune in gold!"
She winked at Bettina. "Looks like somebody wants to live. What's that smell? Ah, yes, it's desperation. . . ."
Then came the last gift. She and Morgana shared a look.
"What could be in that bag, Bettina?"
When she held up her palms, the sorceress waved a hand toward the sack, using her power to open the fastenings.
In a rush, the contents spilled out and bounced across the stage.
Bettina frowned when Trehan's offering lay strewn before her, as if she didn't comprehend what she was seeing.
And Trehan realized he'd erred this eve.