From Slave To Queen (Athena and Michael) novel Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Cassian

That little girl has only been in the castle for two weeks and has already given me more headaches than all my other feeders combined.

For a millennial vampire, saying that her defiant attitude tires me is saying a lot. Few things manage to stir any emotion in me, though this one is pure, absolute annoyance. Normally, I don’t even glance twice at any of them. They’re food, nothing more. And yet she seems determined to force my attention, always sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong, making the most unexpected remarks, or showing compassion for those who clearly don’t deserve it.

She’s strange, irritating, and impertinent.

The best thing that could happen is for one of those fevers to carry her away and rid me of her. It’s obvious I was a fool to buy her. Following that feeling pulling me toward her is turning out to be more expensive than the rubies I paid. Her blood isn’t even that good.

The door to my chamber opens, allowing Drystan to enter. His face is expressionless, devoid of emotion as is typical for all of us. He folds his arms behind his back.

“She’s fallen ill again.”

A huff escapes my lips, irritated with myself for having chosen such a weak girl. She never seems to fully recover. Ever since that party, she’s been falling into fevers constantly, with brief lapses of good health between long nights of cold cloths on her forehead.

“Let Lilith decide her fate,” I say, voice heavy with exhaustion.

• H

”

“You’re not going to call the doctor?”

=

“He’s been here twice already and doesn’t know what’s wrong with her.”

I slap my palms on the desk with a dull thud. “Let’s accept that there’s something wrong with her. I’m not going to waste any more of my time on something that has no solution. If her fate is death, so be it.” I smirk.

“It’s not like I hadn’t planned to drink her dry anyway.”

“And you’re just going to let such a costly investment go?”

He raises his eyebrows, letting me know he heard me call her that the other day down in the dungeons–when she discovered one of the many horrific things I’m capable of.

Did Mavka really think I would overlook her disobedience? I made it very clear that Elara is my prey, no one else’s. Only I have the right to take her life whenever I please.

“Lost wealth doesn’t matter as much as my good mood, and she ruins it every time she breathes. So yes, I’m willing to lose my investment.”

Drystan narrows his eyes, like he doesn’t quite believe me.

Yes, maybe it does irritate me how wrong I was about her. I thought what I felt at the Red Auction was because her blood

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Chapter 31

would be exquisite, a delicacy, something different. But it turned out to be nothing special–or maybe her fear altered her blood enough to make it tasteless. The anticipation and the way she looked at me had stirred my hunger deeply, overwhelmingly.

And then there’s the other thing… that feeling of familiarity. As if we were both hollow inside. Like her gray eyes–empty, pale. They reflect no emotion.

But none of that is worth all the trouble I’ve gone through.

“Maybe a change of scenery would do her good,” he suggests. “I’ve heard humans often respond well to that. A change of air to heal.”

“Nonsense.”

Hundreds of years of friendship and coexistence have given Drystan enough wisdom to know that nothing he says will make me change my mind. Continuing to speak is a waste of time and saliva, so he sighs in resignation and turns away. Before he can leave my room, I ask a question that’s been circling in my mind for days.

“Why are you so interested in Elara?”

He turns, just enough to look me in the eyes. He gives a slight shrug.

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