Death Game: Supernatural Battle (Vampire Towers #3) - Kelly St. Clare Page 0,4

to a person.

I tensed as the front door opened, and blood pounded in my ears, surging as Neelan sniggered over my automatic reaction to the king’s arrival. He was one powerful fucker, and I hadn’t seen him since waking.

The queen wasn’t happy that I’d put her entire family at risk by entering Fyrlia territory.

It occurred to me her husband may not have taken it well either.

“Children,” the queen said happily, sliding into the kitchen ahead of her husband. Her nipples were covered today. The world should mourn the deprivation. They were art.

“Hey, Mom,” the siblings murmured back.

The king scanned the room when he entered, not speaking, his gaze settling on his eldest son.

My phone buzzed.

Thank fuck.

Drawing it out, I read the message from Rory.

Who dis?

I rolled my eyes.

Beside me, his thumbs blurred, and another three messages buzzed through a second later.

What’s happening between you and gyros?

Oops. *Kyros

#autocorrect LOL

Was he serious? Texting while beside me? Sometimes, it took a lot of effort to remember how old these vampires were.

He nudged me until I typed a reply.

He thinks he failed your family and me. He’s pissed.

<3 <3

Rory showed the message to Lalitta on his other side, then typed again.

I read his reply.

Can you un-angry him?

He’s being a pain at work and we need him on the ball.

They did? Were Fyrlia already moving on the information I gave them?

I sent my text.

Why? What’s happened?

Rory cast a look at his father, who prowled about the room looking about as out of place as a wolf at a roller disco. My tension inched upward as he passed close by, flicking his ancient blue eyes to the wound on my neck.

Please keep moving, please keep moving.

My shoulders didn’t relax one bit as he stalked past the window before returning to his queen’s side.

I opened Rory’s message.

Things have stalled with the recent distractions

Things like the Mr Ringly bluff? Fuck. It was starting. The Sundulus clan, unknown to most of their minions, were doing their best to sabotage a subdividing project that would trigger the end of the game.

Mr Ringly was a drug addict, and one month ago, Kyros was certain of the win.

Until I opened my big mouth to save Tommy.

If Fyrlia was pushing back, I had to get out of here and figure out a solution without delay. Which meant, it really was in my best interest to un-angry Kyros.

I nodded at Rory and Lalitta, texting:

I’ll try

How the hell I’d achieve that was the next question. Nothing came to mind.

My phone buzzed incessantly and I glared at Rory before seeing it was a call from Tommy. This had to be number fifty at least, despite my messages to her. I got her neediness. It was the same for me too. I just couldn’t stand for her to be compelled after everything Theodore did to her.

“Do you intend to answer that?”

My chest seized at the king’s silken voice though he was speaking quieter—like all of the Sundulus royals—because of my ears.

I darted a glance at him. “No, I—”

His eyes narrowed to slits. “Answer it, human.”

And when the fuck King Julius’s questions were rhetorical was anyone’s guess.

Shit. Tommy knew about Vissimo. What if she let something slip on the phone?

Swallowing, I obeyed, holding the phone away from my ear. “Tommy.”

“Basi! Oh my fucking god. You better have a great reason for fobbing me off for two weeks. Where the hell are you?”

I winced as she erupted into a stream of cursing and wandered to face a bookshelf against one wall of the large lounge area.

She paused for breath, and I slipped in. “I’m with Kyros in the Bahamas, Tom. And we’ve been… busy.”

Consider me non-plussed—because I could lie through my teeth to anyone else—but lying to Tommy wasn’t in my skillset. I really, really wished it was.

“Sex?” she snarled. “Really? I’ve had to put up with texts because you’re bouncing on the D?”

I bit back on a groan, my cheeks burning.

Francesca snorted.

Reaching up, I rested my hand against the spines of a few books. “I’m sorry I haven’t called. I’ve been worried sick. Fred has sent me updates, but are you okay?”

“Not worried enough to come home?” she said quietly.

I squeezed my eyes shut, but I had faith in my friend’s intelligence. She knew what I’m with Kyros meant even if the sadness and anger in her voice was real. “I love you, Tom.”

Her gulping sob nearly tore an answering one from my lips. “I miss you, Basil. I really need you right now. Theo’s gone missing. I