Aleera glided over the planks of the cruise ship, auburn-copper hair glowing and murder on her heart; Dracula had only just landed with their escort moments before, and, as his first concubine, she had a duty to fulfill.
Then again, she also had a dangerous secret…
One that put her life in danger, and one chaotic person made that reality all too real.
I can feel your presence…
Why are you here when one slip and I could die?
Her husband had sent her to collect his newest concubine.
Hopefully, the young fangirl would be ready, and Aurora wouldn’t have gotten her wrapped up in anything she shouldn’t have.
Selene’s mission was simple: Pick up a body, bring it to their lord.
Aleera didn’t have high expectations for the sixteen-year-old—especially when Aurora was involved.
She paused as the mist around her collected into a deadly, formidable woman with long, flowing black locks.
“Verona…”
The woman’s intense, light-blue eyes drifted to her in that stoic, mysterious way that unnerved Aleera.
“You have been acting unusually compliant these last few days, Aleera. So very unlike yourself. I sense something is,” her head tilted ever so slightly, “troubling you. Our lord may be too preoccupied to see it… Yet it is as if you are a completely different woman.”
Aleera’s normally controlled demeanor crackled with tension as she glared at their master’s wife, her eyes smoldering with anger.
“You’ve overstepped your bounds, Verona,” she hissed, her voice sharp with disdain.
“Have I, when I am merely concerned for your wellbeing? How odd.”
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“This is the second time you have confronted me in the last twenty-four hours when I have done nothing but what our lord has demanded,” Aleera snapped.
“You may be his wife, and I a first concubine, but you and I are equal. What does Marishka think of your suspicions? Your meddling has caused nothing but trouble for us all. It’s time for you to leave me to do the duty our husband has dictated to me.”
Verona remained calm and composed, her expression unreadable as she regarded Aleera with that cool detachment that unnerved her.
“…Is that how you feel? I have done what was necessary for our family,” she replied, her voice carrying a hint of reproach. “But if my actions have displeased you, then I will take my leave, first concubine.”
Aleera’s nostrils flared as she took a step closer to Verona, her fists clenched at her sides.
“Don’t pretend you don’t know what you’ve done,” she spat, her voice tinged with bitterness. “Your selfish ambition has endangered us all by putting suspicion on all of the concubines. Dracula will hear of this, and you will answer for your treachery.”
Verona’s gaze remained steady, her resolve unshaken.
"I have always acted in the best interests of our family… Short as our time together has been," she stated firmly and with a hint of a frown on her enigmatic facade. “But if you believe my presence is a hindrance and abhorrent, then I will depart. Know that I always have my sisters’ best interests in mind… Including yours.”
With a final glare, Aleera turned on her heel and stormed toward the cabin the arrogant sea dragon had told her the concubine was in, leaving Verona alone on the dark deck.
The lights sputtered and broke in her passing.
Despite the confrontation, Verona seemed to remain unfazed.
Without a doubt, she suspected Aleera…
And she would be right to suspect her.
How does she know?
It has to be her doing…
But I have the power of Deceit!
So how does she know I’m not Aleera?
In the world of vampires, alliances were fleeting, and survival depended on one’s ability to adapt and thrive, no matter the cost.
Ruby was an expert at such maneuvers.
However, there were a few things that truly did fall outside her ability to predict.
One such person came into focus as she strolled down the ship corridor, opening the door to quiet the shock—Aurora.
Not Aurora…
Why did you have to butt into my performance!
Her patron deity spoke directly to her for the third time—ever.
Her words a toxic dagger inserted into her chest.
“Give me your body… Now.”
Breathing deeply, and feeling a tremor flow down her entire soul, Ruby let herself drift into oblivion as puppet strings attached to her figure, burning her with cold fire.
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