Vampire Debt - Supernatural Battle (Vampire Towers #2) - Kelly St. Clare Page 0,67
my work week was Monday to Friday morning. No one had come to the estate to correct the assumption anyway.
“That’s looking at it through rose-coloured glasses to the extreme, Angie,” I replied, making my way to where the roll was held each night.
Tonight was Clan Fyrlia’s turn.
“Perhaps. You might be interested to know that Queen Titania approves.”
Fuck me, even the queen’s name needed a Twitter page. I had a serious crush on Kyros’s mother.
I picked up speed to lose the vampire whom I neither liked nor disliked. Actually.
I slowed. “You know what King Julius said to me and Kyros then?”
“My sister and I are close,” she answered. “My sister is talking to him.”
Chipping away at King Julius? Was that possible?
Hopefully.
Because if he didn’t relent, my game plan was officially screwed.
I wasn’t convinced my seduction strategy was working, but I’d have to up it somehow—except that was bound to raise Kyros’s suspicions. What sane person would play with the fire that was King Julius?
“No need,” I said. “I don’t want to pursue the blood bond further.”
Vissimo were already crowded around the glass tube, and I stopped behind them. 11:57 p.m. Perfect timing. Not a minute more than needed. That surely sent the right message. And I’d try to leave early too. Anything to nullify any suspicion over my presence here—even though the king literally ordered me here.
The vampires in front of me parted like the two jagged columns of a zipper. I studied their expectant faces.
“No, no,” I said, planting my heeled feet. “I’m watching from back here.”
They continued to part, creating a path all the way to the glass tube.
For fuck’s sake.
Angelica shoved me gently, and I stomped to the front, scowling through the huge glass cylinder to where Kyros stood on the other side.
My eyes drank him in, something settling within me just for being near him.
Stockholm syndrome.
His contentment thrummed through me as tangible as the rumbling in his chest on the few occasions my head had rested against it.
The screen lit up, displaying the two kings and their queens. Tonight, King Mikhail picked up the dice and rolled. Huh, Julius really did have a better roll. I thought that was blind admiration for the Sundulus leader from his adoring minions.
The screen disappeared and the large screen map of Bluff City descended with the glass tube just like I recalled.
Kyros clicked the tiny remote in his hand, and everyone watched the red dot zigzag around the board in a seemingly random order.
I memorised the order this time. Grey, Estates, Orange, Red, Pink, Purple, Blue, Yellow, Green, Agriculture, and Black.
The red dot settled on Agriculture, and a displeased murmur rippled through the surrounding Vissimo.
“Eleven,” he announced. “Today Clan Fyrlia will work in the Agriculture district. While not an ideal roll, we are prepared for the worst-case situation. We will work closely with Prince Lionel’s sub-clan tonight. Please include the relevant sister team in your strategy meetings. You all know that Fyrlia recently gained an advantageous development deal in this area. That advantage cannot be allowed to gain further momentum. Currently, Lots 72-94 are privately-owned farming lands. If Fyrlia secure just one of those, the probability of us securing the remaining twenty-one lots decreases by 8 percent. We know that humans are more likely to listen to word of mouth. Let’s not allow Fyrlia to create that.”
A begrudging respect rose within me as he continued. The dice could have landed anywhere. He had extensive knowledge of Bluff City. Far more than me. I had to constantly refer to my Churchill team’s daily report for forecasting statistics.
“Live Right’s agricultural successes must occupy the top of every realty search for Bluff City,” Kyros continued. “Forecasting teams, SEO teams, you know what to do. Furthermore, today is a day to collect on favours garnered with our human liaisons. I don’t need to explain this is a pivotal moment. We have never been in a tighter position. If Fyrlia win the rest of the available agriculture land, we will enter the end cascade.”
I half listened as I processed that. Though I had no idea what an end cascade was.
The major bluff in Sundulus’s play was only known to the siblings and select few others—that I was certain of. Mr Ringly’s subdivision deal was meant to go south, but Kyros appeared deadly serious as he continued speaking of pulling in their council and finance contacts to inhibit development approval.
I guess that’s where compelled humans—like my grandmother’s friends—came in. The clans used them to facilitate and intercept