my mind. “Next to you.”
“Oh!” I said, slapping my forehead. “That’s just Lord Wrangler Tough Skins. He’s the entertainment. He’ll be stripping later. You should grab a lap dance ticket. I hear he’s quite well hung.”
“I will get you back for that,” Levi said, laughing.
“Good luck trying. I’m really good at being bad. Just ask Uncle Fucker,” I replied, keeping my eyes on the girly girl. She was appalled by my behavior.
The room of North American Vamps, who I believed didn’t like me much, tittered with laughter, enjoying the game being played. Or more possibly they thought I was about to kick some ass and were excited. Bloodshed at Vampyre gatherings was normal and welcome.
Wilhem’s consort appeared confused. “I am quite serious,” she insisted, glancing around wildly at the amused and unconcerned assemblage. “What kind of Royal Palace lets Demons roam freely?”
“Well, let me enlighten you,” I said, stepping off the dais and crossing the room so quickly, the human eye couldn’t have followed. Circling the trio, I stopped right in front of my target.
All four hundred in the room murmured and leaned forward in anticipation. I was going to disappoint them greatly. I had no intention of smacking down physically on the woman who was pooping on my party. However, I was always good for a verbal dressing down when the occasion arose.
And the occasion had arisen.
The Demon in question was my blood. And even if he wasn’t, the intruder had no place questioning customs of other Dominions. While I was quite sure that there were those here who agreed with her, they were too smart to express it in front of Ethan or me.
Centuries of division between species had caused toxic distrust. However, the time had come to erase that. All of us were deadly, but some of us were deadly and nice. An oxymoron, but true.
“The Cressida House is a really fun place!” I said, using my high school cheerleader voice. I was half tempted to do a herkie jump, but I’d tried that a few years back and it had ended badly. Plus, I was wearing four-inch stilettos and a form-fitted Prada sheath. It would suck to rip it. “My name is Astrid. I was already announced, since I run this joint with the hot dude up on the throne. Actually, I’m banging him. You’re in the North American Dominion now, whatever your name is. Look around. We’re a diverse group.”
“My name is Catriona,” the woman said, paling and bowing her head to me. “Please pardon my outburst. It was out of line.”
I didn’t believe a word of her apology but nodded politely. “Not to worry, Carolinainnia,” I said sweetly as Anastasia choked back a laugh at my butchering of the woman’s name. “We don’t discriminate here. And since I am half Demon, it’s quite normal to see many different species in our midst—Fairies, Demons, Sprites. Even Mother Nature has been known to pop in for a pole dance. You feel me?”
Her eyes grew wide with shock. She glanced at Wilhem to save her. He didn’t move a muscle—didn’t even acknowledge her. This was going to be a very long night.
“I understand, Your Royal Highness,” she said, bowing again.
“Excellent,” I replied, glancing at Ethan’s brother and sister, who were sizing me up. “Welcome to the Cressida House. Let’s get this party started.”
“And over with,” Anastasia said, taking my arm and walking us toward a grinning Ethan.
“That too,” I said with a chuckle.
I was definitely going to like Anastasia.
Chapter Seven
The layout of the dais had expanded once the guests of honor had arrived. Wilhem was seated to Ethan’s right with Catriona on the end. I was next to Ethan and Anastasia was on my other side. Lord Wrangler was a few feet away to the left of Anastasia. Our backs were to the wall for safety. No one could come up from behind and that was fine by me. While the party was formal and polite, it would be unwise to forget we were in a roomful of predators who adored violence.
One by one, the Vamps paid their respects.
“Chosen One, I am Count Vincent Gustav of Bat Cave, North Carolina. My friends call me Vinnie. It is a tremendous, life-altering pleasure and honor to be in your presence.” The bizarre Vampyre bowed so low, his forehead touched the marble floor. He wore a black cape with a massive diamond clip at the neck. His skin was so pale it was almost translucent, and his eyes were jet