Gilded Thorns: A Dark Regency-Era Vampire Romance (The Crimson Court Book 1) by Maya Tate

Author:Maya Tate [Tate, Maya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

NATE

Ambrose turns, surveying the other pledges. His eyes darken and he tips his head back, sighing as he relishes the spike of fear in the air. He licks his fangs in anticipation and rubs his hands together.

Behind him, Edward’s blood drips into crimson puddles on the floor. The other vampires are over his body like vultures on a corpse — sucking his flesh and squabbling over the vials Ambrose filled.

I have no desire to drink from him, but the tang of iron coats my tongue, sweet and sickly. My pulse thrums in my veins, keeping time with the drip-drip-dripping from the boy’s arm.

Thirst constricts my throat, but then Ambrose’s eyes scrape across Seraphina as he selects the next victim for his game.

Immediately, I step out of the shadows and fly between them. “No more. You’ve had your amusement for one evening.”

Ambrose lingers on Sera for a moment, but then he turns, eyes narrowing to almost serpentine slits as he looks at me. “Your little blood-maid tried to command me, Nathaniel, and now you do the same? You really are a good match.” His voice drips with contempt and the hint of a French accent creeps into his words. It is rare to hear it — it only seeps in when he loses composure. And Ambrose is a master of control.

“It might be your birthday,” I spit the word out. “But I outrank you. And Seraphina is mine. You will not touch her.”

I catch Juliette from the corner of my eye, moving forward, her posture stiffening in warning. Don’t poke the bear.

Ambrose rolls his neck and his tongue darts out, licking the last viscous drops of Eddie’s blood from his lips. “It is my night,” he says, accent thickening. “And I will take who I want. You cannot deny me her. Now stand aside, unless you mean to stop me.”

“Ambrose…” Rafe’s warning surprises me as he too springs across the room. In all the years Ambrose and I have come to blows, Rafe has attempted to remain neutral. Even when Ambrose chose Elizabeth as his pledge, he did little other than taunt and tease him. There was no real threat of violence between them. Yet tonight, he shows his allegiances. “Come, cousin. Let’s not⁠—”

Before Rafe can finish, Ambrose shoves him aside. “Give her to me,” he barks.

“I have kept her from you, from all of you, because I do not share. And you have done the same with Elizabeth.”

Squaring up to me, Ambrose laughs coldly. “For days on end you have stood on the sidelines, keeping whatever nectar runs through that girl to yourself. Why should I share when the great Nate Blackwood will not even break skin in front of us? Juliette has only let it stand because she is soft when it comes to you. But tonight, you will not stop me.”

Juliette bristles, her fangs flaring. If there is one thing my sister is not, it is soft. For a moment, I think she might step between us too, but for once, Ambrose is in no mood for games.

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