"Mocha, please, with extra chocolate." A jolt of caffeine would do me some good.
"Mocha, for the Queen of Winter. Extra chocolate and—I think—an extra shot of espresso would be in order for what we have to discuss this night." Regina dismissed her with the flick of a finger, and the woman scurried out of the room.
It was still hard for me to sit by and watch the vampires treat their servants like chattel, but even more disturbing was the realization that I was growing used to it.
After another awkward silence, the woman returned with our drinks. Directly on her heels was Lannan Altos, who swept over to Regina and kissed her hand and then her lips, his tongue playing over them. After the maid had given us our drinks, Lannan turned to face us.
Lannan Altos, Regina's brother and her lover. Originally from Sumer, they were two of the older vampires around. Lannan Altos, my bane.
Lannan of the golden hair that flowed down his back and the sleek, tight build. Lannan, the hedonist, whose obsession for me had become a dangerous game. Lannan, who had taken me down and made me grovel willingly at his feet. Lannan, who enjoyed games of humiliation at others' expense.
But Lannan—pervert though he was—had helped us when we needed it, though whether it was due to his own twisted agenda or not, I wasn't sure. And that meant I had to walk softly and try to keep out of his clutches and stay on his good side. He could do far more damage to me and our cause against Myst than I could do against him. Yet.
Rhiannon and I stood, giving him a cursory bow. As Regent, his position demanded it.
He moved in close, looming over me, and I was keenly aware of his presence. My body responded to him, remembering him in a way I didn't want it to.
"This matter was brought to our attention just this evening, so I apologize for my tardiness. You will forgive me, won't you? Cicely?" And he fastened his gaze on me, holding me entranced with those eternally black eyes.
I cleared my throat, mulling over the best response. After our last interaction—the day I'd left the mansion—I wanted nothing more than to kick him in the balls, but diplomacy won out.
"Of course." I turned to Regina. "But first, let me tell you what happened tonight." I told them about Luna and the vamps, and the message from Geoffrey. "We have to find them. We have to stop them."
Regina pressed her lips together before answering. Her voice was tight and brusque. "I have been in communication with the Crimson Queen. The situation is far more dire than you think."
Uh-oh. That couldn't be good. I glanced at Rhiannon. We waited for Regina to continue.
"When one of our esteemed Vein Lords went to visit the Blood Oracle yesterday, he discovered that…well…Crawl has gone missing."
"Missing?" At first I thought I'd heard her wrong, but one look at her face and I knew she was telling us the truth. Her four little words were enough to crumble the world.
Lannan stared at me, unblinking. "Make no mistake. It's true. Crawl is missing, and no one knows how he escaped from his prison." His voice echoed through the room, no longer smooth and elegant, but instead harsh. He was on his feet the next moment, pacing back and forth.
"Prison? Crawl's chamber is a prison?" That was the first I'd heard anything to that effect.
The Blood Oracle was esteemed, a seer among his people, revered as almost a god. I had no idea he was a prisoner, though it made sense. I knew they'd kept him tucked away between the worlds with good reason. The freakshow was deadly, with no conscience whatsoever, and he'd had his fangs in me once already.
Lannan glanced at me. "Crawl was imprisoned by the Crimson Queen eons ago, when she first anointed him as the Blood Oracle. He's far too powerful and dangerous to be allowed among the populace, especially around breathers."
He paused by me, lifting my chin to stare into my face with those gleaming black eyes of his. "You, of all people, should know what he can be like, my sweet Cicely." And the Golden Boy was back.
Shivering—from both his touch and the memory of Crawl tearing into my neck with wanton thirst—I swallowed the lump rising in my throat and forced myself to remain steady.
Rhiannon looked ready to faint. "How did he get loose?"
Regina grimaced. "Not without help, I can tell you that."
The idea of someone helping Crawl escape was ludicrous. "Who the fuck would help him get free? Who would even think of something that stupid?"
She gave me a long look. "Consider the situation, Cicely. Who has everything to gain by causing mayhem? By aligning himself with one as powerful as the Oracle?"
And then I knew. "Geoffrey…"
"Yes, Geoffrey and Leo. Word on the street is that Geoffrey is planning a major coup against Lannan, while Leo's out to kidnap Rhiannon. And both of them are out for revenge against you, Cicely."
"But why Crawl?" Rhia was so pale she looked as bloodless as the vamps.
Lannan answered. "Crawl can wield dark magic. Ever since he tasted Cicely's blood, he's been obsessed with how sweet and rich and tender she was. The Oracle does not forget lightly. And…the Oracle's sanity long ago turned to dust."