Estrella laughed, “Took you long enough, Nelo.”
He snorted, leaning against the ice-cold stone wall. The bitter air didn’t seem to bother either of them.
“Gentle as ever with the shadows, I see, Estrella.” Nelo looked calm and collected, despite having just moved through the darkness.
“Shut up,” Estrella replied, flicking her hair over her shoulder. “It’s not my fault the mortal is too weak to handle the shadow crossing. She probably won’t last a week.”
“Estrella.” The male’s voice rumbled through the small room, his warning echoing off the stones and settling in my bones. Even though he looked relaxed, I could tell that this vampire was not to be trifled with.
The blonde ignored him, scoffing. “Don’t you ‘Estrella’ me. We both know whathe’slike.”
My ears perked up despite the shivers running through my body. I couldn’t help it. I was desperate to know about this male I was marrying. Why did he frown when he saw me? Why did he leave? And perhaps even more importantly, was he as evil as they said?
“Remember the last time he was with a human?” Nelo asked as his deep voice carried a hint of amusement.
“Of course, I remember.” Estrella laughed. “How could I forget? What a time that was. What was her name? Alice? Anna?”
“Athena,” Nelo rumbled.
The blonde chuckled. “That’s right. Athena. I heard it took the servants a week to find all the pieces of her body.”
I blanched, and my stomach twisted even further as I pressed myself against the wall.
“Come now,” Nelo said. “Maybe she’ll survive.”
There was a long pause before Estrella burst into laughter. Nelo soon joined her, and the two of them roared with amusement, the sounds of their mirth sending shudders down my spine that had nothing to do with the arctic air.
“Isvana have mercy on me, Nelo,” Estrella said, gasping for air as she reached for me. “You’re hilarious.”
The vampire’s claws dug into my arm, and she cruelly yanked me to my feet. Her beauty definitely didn’t extend beneath her skin. Estrella’s black gaze crawled up my body, her mouth morphing into a sneer as she bared her fangs at me. “I suppose this will have to do.”
“Do?” I echoed, my eyes sweeping over my poofy golden gown that was doing little to stop the assault of cold air permeating this stone room.
She laughed again, and I ground my teeth.
“Yes,” Estrella said. “It’s time.” Turning to Nelo, she muttered, “The human’s an idiot.”
Dread twisted in my stomach, and my eyes widened. “Do you mean—”
“The Prince of Darkness is waiting for you,” the blonde vampire said, tightening her grip on my arm. There would definitely be bruises there later. If I was alive later. Estrella and Nelo’s behavior did not inspire confidence in my survival.
“To get married?” I croaked. My mouth opened and closed as my mind scrambled. They had just taken me to another country. I left my family, friends, and everything I knew behind. Panic settled within me and a cold sweat broke out on the back of my neck as the nerves I had tamped down earlier came roaring to life. “I thought I’d at least get a few hours to settle in…”
“Yes, to get married.” Estrella mimicked my voice, rolling her eyes so hard I was surprised they didn’t fall out of her head. This female was the definition of unwelcoming. Dropping my arm, she rubbed her temples. “Isvana have mercy on us all. You’re dumber than a wooden stake.”
“Bitch,” I hissed. I wasn’t a fan of calling people names—honestly, I thought it was far more artful to use creative words than an outright curse, but sometimes good, old-fashioned curse words seemed to fit the situation perfectly. This was one of them.
I was many things, but I absolutely did not lack intelligence. I was just having trouble keeping up with all the rapidly occurring changes in my life.
Estrella sneered, her fangs glinting in the purple light. “Say that one more time, and I’ll show you exactly what a vampire bite feels like.”
That would be a swift end to my time in Eleyta.
Estrella’s threat hung in the air, her snarling teeth emphasizing the earnestness of her words. There was no doubt in my mind that she was being sincere. She would bite me, and then she’d kill me.
So much for writing a letter to Marius. I wouldn’t even make it to my wedding. But I had come all this way. I couldn’t let her threaten me. Ipotha needed this alliance.
I might not have been a warrior, but I had three older sisters. I knew how to deal with females like Estrella. Steeling myself against the vampire’s angry gaze, I glared right back at her.