Crimson Crown Read online

  The buzz of excitement in the Dome was more than a sound. It was a palpable thing, spreading through the crowd like an electric current.

  There had been rumors since the night of the “feast,” and they’d multiplied each day that passed without a public appearance from Imogen.

  Some said the shocking display of violence toward humans and Imogen’s clear disregard for the consequences that night meant she was ready to launch her war on the humans.

  Others, who’d spotted Abbi at the feast, speculated a coup was in the works. Kannon and I had done our best to maintain calm and control the past few days, but it wasn’t easy—there was change brewing, and the vampire population of the Bastion could sense it.

  When everyone was assembled, the door in the rear of the cavern opened. An elegant woman emerged wearing the Crimson crown and walking slowly toward the raised platform where the Crimson throne stood waiting.

  My heart lurched into motion, banging against my sternum as if trying to escape my body.

  She ascended the stairs to the throne and greeted her subjects with a breathtaking smile. Or maybe it was just me who couldn’t breathe.

  Abbi.

  She was magnificent, resplendent in a floor-length red gown, the same one she’d worn to the Inception Ball the night I’d finally admitted my feelings for her.

  As if she’d heard my silent gasp, she turned toward me and made a beckoning motion with one hand.

  Fighting tears and the urge to grin like a fool, I made my way through the crowd toward the raised platform where Abigail Byler sat facing her new subjects.

  It was hard work not to kiss her or reach for her as I went to stand beside her throne, taking my place as captain of her personal guard. That might be all I could ever be to her, but I knew in my gut this was right.

  It was the best thing for the vampire race—the only solution—and if I had to stand by while Abbi took a succession of Bloodbound lovers, I would have to just suck it up and get through it.

  Somehow.

  Another problem for another day. Focus on keeping Abbi safe.

  She walked to the front of the platform and quieted the assembly with a hand gesture, surveying the sea of vampires staring back at her with a combination of confusion and surprise evident on their faces.

  Naturally, they’d expected to see Imogen before them, as usual.

  “Thank you,” Abbi said. “Thank you everyone for your attention. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Abigail Byler... Imogen’s daughter. I have some news to share with you, and many of you will find it quite shocking. Imogen is... no longer with us.”

  There was a swell of sound in the cavern as people made exclamations of surprise and asked each other what was going on. I was wondering the same thing, but I strove to maintain a stoic expression.

  Abbi pressed down on the air in front of her, settling them. “I know you have questions, and I will do my best to answer them. I want you to know, first, that everything is going to be okay. The Bastion will be okay, and so will you.”

  “Where did she go?” someone yelled. “Is she coming back?”

  Abbi rolled her lips inward then out again, drawing a deep breath. “I guess I didn’t make it clear. I’m very sorry but... Imogen is dead.”

  What? Shock rocked me back on my heels.

  “The humans did it! They killed her,” one of the Bloodbound shouted.

  “We have to fight back,” someone else yelled.

  Growls and hisses filled the air, and Abbi raised her voice to be heard. “She was not killed by humans. Imogen died of natural causes.”

  “That’s impossible,” a woman near the front cried. “She’s a vampire.”

  “It is possible,” Abbi said. “If you’ll give me a minute, I’ll explain in as much detail as I can.”

  She glanced to her other side where Kannon stood guard, and he gave her a quick head shake as if to say, “No.” What the hell had happened while I was gone?

  Abbi continued anyway. “I’m going to be as honest as I can and give you all the information we have right now. To explain it properly, I first need to share another piece of news that might shock you... there is a cure for vampirism. Imogen took it. She became human again, and she died of old age shortly afterward.”

  Now the auditorium filled with murmurs. The vampires around the room turned to one another with stunned expressions.

  Abbi had wisely left out the small detail that Imogen hadn’t taken the cure voluntarily, that Larkin had surprised her by injecting her at the feast.

  That information would probably not have gone over well.

  “Obviously, the formula is not a viable cure for all vampires,” Abbi continued. “Not yet. It isn’t suitable for those who turned centuries ago or even many decades ago. It might also be deadly to those who turned after catastrophic injuries, like me. We just don’t know yet. More research is needed and will get underway immediately.”

  Now I understood Kannon’s warning expression. Total honesty was Abbi’s natural instinct, but it might have been the wrong choice in this particular situation. I sensed a shift in the room and not necessarily in a good direction.

  The Bloodbound soldier who’d yelled before stepped forward. “What are you not telling us? Imogen would never have taken a ‘cure’ if such a thing even exists.”

  The guy’s name was Chase. He was a former boxer from Las Vegas, and while his strength was an asset, we’d had a few disciplinary issues with him. He was like one of those guys who comes in as an intern and thinks he should be promoted to CEO the next week.

  Honestly, if the ranks hadn’t been dwindling, we might have kicked him off the squad for insubordination.

  Both Kannon and I moved in his direction, but Abbi stayed us with a raised hand and remained unruffled. She actually smiled at him.

  “All questions are welcome here. And you are welcome to visit the research lab we’re setting up. The scientist who created the cure is actually here in the Bastion. Maybe we’ll hold a series of informational meetings with her so anyone who wants to can ask questions.”

  “We don’t need a talk show—we want to see Imogen,” Chase insisted.

  “Of course. Of course we’ll have a memorial service for her, and if you’d like to view her remains, I can arrange it so her body lies in state. Anyone who wishes to will have the opportunity to come and pay their final respects.”

  That took some of the wind out of the guy’s sails, and he shut up—at least for the moment. Abbi turned her attention back to the crowd at large.

  “I know some of you have no interest in a cure, and that’s fine. But others might. Some may have been turned against their will—or perhaps turned then regretted it later. This is why research is being done on a cure. I want to assure you, no one will ever be coerced to take it. And no one will be forced to participate in the studies. We’re looking for volunteers. Every citizen of the Bastion is free to come and go as they choose. The days of vampires being compelled by force to do things they don’t want to do are over.”

  “Tell that to the humans,” Chase said, none too quietly. “We’re as good as sitting ducks here with the little princess’s Kumbaya crap.”

  Now I did move toward him. “Show some respect for your queen,” I ordered.

  “This isn’t a queen,” he yelled back. “This is a little girl! How is she going to lead us? Who’s going to protect us from the humans now?”

  Thankfully some of the other Bloodbound backed me up, cornering Chase and essentially driving him from the communal gathering space. But I was worried the damage had already been done.

  He’d probably succeeded in planting doubt in more than a few minds. Abbi would have some work to do to gain the trust and respect of the citizens here. They weren’t used to a Sadie-like approach, and I was afraid a lot of them would read it as weakness.

  Abbi went to the front of the stage again to address the assembly. What they couldn’t see—I hoped—was the trembling in her hands and top li
p.

  “Thank you all for coming today,” she said. “I know it’s been an enormous shock and you have a lot of new information to process. The memorial service for Imogen will take place in two night’s time. You’ll all receive more details about it tomorrow night as well as information about participating in the medical trials for the cure.”

  Then she turned and walked slowly toward the rear exit that led to her private quarters. As well as I knew her, I could tell she’d have preferred to run.

  “You good here?” I asked Kannon. At his affirmative nod, I followed Abbi.

  She’d done as well as could be expected from someone with no public speaking experience who’d been suddenly thrust into a role she wasn’t prepared for and didn’t really want.

  I only hoped it had been good enough and there wouldn’t be more Chases to deal with in the coming days.

  6

  Not Alone

  Abbi

  My knees wobbled as I left the Grand Dome, hurrying toward my chambers.

  The trembling in my stomach made me feel like I might lose my lunch—if I had eaten any, which of course I hadn’t.

  What a mess. I had totally botched my first speech to the Bastion’s people.

  When Reece had stepped up beside me and defended me against that angry Bloodbound soldier, it had taken everything in me not to launch myself at him in gratitude.

  And love. He still had my back, and it looked like I was going to need that support more than ever.

  Now I saw what Kannon was talking about when he’d suggested—strongly—that I start giving the Bloodbound my queensblood in their rations. It looked like if I didn’t, we’d have a mutiny before long. Maybe one was already in the works.

  “Are you okay?”

  I turned around to see Reece had followed me from the Grand Dome and was now on the threshold of my private receiving room.

  Running to him, I threw my arms around his neck and pressed my face against his throat. “I’m so glad you’re back. I wanted to tell you about Imogen before I told the whole Bastion, but I couldn’t wait. With the clinic staff members knowing and some of the Bloodbound knowing already, I was afraid word would get out and spread, and a panic might start. I think it might be too late.”

  “You did a great job keeping calm and showing everyone you’re in control,” he assured me.

  I pulled back so our eyes could connect. His revealed no falseness, but I knew he was wrong.

  “I didn’t do a great job at all. I wanted to approach this like Sadie would, with honesty and transparency, but I think I might have made things worse by sharing all the details.”

  “I don’t think it was bad to give them information... but it might benefit you to display a few Imogen-like qualities as well, to be a little... intimidating.”

  A simmer of nerves began in my belly. “What are you saying? You don’t want me to order the execution of that soldier, do you? He’s just afraid, and he was right—Imogen didn’t take the cure voluntarily. And I’m not sure I can lead and protect everyone. You know I can’t order someone’s death.”

  Reece’s eyes softened and he pulled me against his chest. “I know. My kind-hearted girl. You’ve probably already forgiven him. We’ll just banish him.”

  That seemed awful too. As Eudora had pointed out, the outside world was becoming less hospitable to vampires every day.

  “Where will he go?”

  “I don’t know, but we can’t let him stay,” Reece said. “Fear is like a cancerous tumor—if you don’t remove it, it’ll keep growing and infect the rest of the body. We can’t let Chase go around spreading dissent and calling your capability into question.”

  I sagged against his strength, suddenly very tired. “Oh Reece, how did we get here? How am I supposed to do this?”

  “One day at a time. You’ll figure it out,” he said as he ran one large hand over the back of my head and down my spine. “I’m afraid you are going to have to dose the Bloodbound with your queensblood though—and soon. We can’t afford to lose anybody else at a time like this.”

  “I guess you’re right. I don’t like it though.”

  Pressing a kiss to the top of my head, he wrapped his arms around me more tightly. “I know, and believe me, I don’t exactly love the idea of other soldiers sharing your blood—or your bed. But I’m not sure what the alternative is.”

  Suddenly struck by an idea, I lifted my head. “They’re already loyal to you. I’ve seen it. They respect you. They listen to you. And you’re Imogen’s child too. I bet you’d have done a much better job with that introductory speech than I did, Mr. Debate Team President.”

  Reece gave me a chiding glance softened by a smile. “If you’re trying to foist that sparkly crown onto my head, you can stop right there. I assure you... it won’t fit. I don’t have the necessary pheromones. As far as I know, vampires have never been led by a male. Besides, it’s not just the loyalty factor. The queensblood also enhances the fertility of the drones.”

  The last sentence was delivered with a surly snarl.

  “You know I don’t want any part of that,” I told him.

  “I know, but if you don’t procreate, that could be the end of our species. And before you say that it’s meant to be, that the cure is the answer, there has to be one that works for all vampires. Who knows if Larkin can actually come up with one that’ll work for everybody? Even if she does, not all vampires will choose to take it. Those who remain will need a queen. Without one, they’ll be helpless, they’ll be victimized. Either that or they’ll fight back and be so weak they’re sure to be wiped out entirely.”

  My exhale was a long sigh. “I’m just so afraid I’m going to mess everything up. And I don’t know how to stop being afraid.”

  “Maybe the question isn’t how to get rid of your fear,” Reece said. “Maybe it’s more a matter of being willing to do what you have to do—even though you are still afraid.”

  He stroked my cheek so tenderly it brought tears to my eyes. “I wish I could take this burden from you and do it for you. Unfortunately I can’t. But I am here with you, no matter what. With or without the queensblood, you’ll always have my loyalty.”

  Pulling slightly away, I lifted onto my toes to reach his mouth. “Thank you. I literally don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  “You’ll never have to find out.”

  A knock at the door startled us apart. Reece went to answer it. Kannon stood on the other side—and he wasn’t alone.

  My heart leapt, and my eyes flew open wide at the sight of the people who stood with him.

  7

  The Box

  Abbi

  “I’m sorry to disturb you,” Kannon said, shooting Reece a quick side glance and an unspoken but very visible apology. “They said it was imperative to speak to you. They said you know each other?”

  “Yes. Yes, we do. Please come in, everyone.” I gestured for the group of four vampires to enter the receiving room at the front of my chambers.

  Turning to Reece, I explained, “They’re from the VHC. We worked together in Los Angeles.”

  “Queen Abigail. Thank you for seeing us,” one of the older male vampires said, and they all bowed low.

  I hurried toward them, arms open wide. “Please... please don’t do that. We’re all friends here. Please, everyone have a seat.”

  When my former co-workers were all seated on one of the two long upholstered red settees, I sat down on the other. “Wow, is it good to see you. I wasn’t even sure you were alive. Is this everyone? Don’t tell me the rest perished in the bombing?”

  I knew the surviving members of the VHC had scattered after the terrorist attack. Sadie and Larkin had fled to Canada where they’d set up a lab. I assumed the others had gone into hiding since I hadn’t seen or heard any evidence of them since.

  No doubt Sadie’s assassination had given them further motivation to stay out of sight.

  A woman I recognized as a board member answered for the group “
There are others of us who made it... a few anyway. These are dangerous times, and not everyone left a forwarding address or wanted to risk coming here. But we were looking for you and thought you might have returned to the Bastion.”

  My head jerked back. “You were looking for me?”

  Larkin had told me Sadie was disturbed by my disappearance and had tried to find out what happened to me, but why would the other members have been looking for me?

  A man I’d seen around the VHC headquarters held a box in his lap. He held it out toward me, and Kannon quickly stepped forward to intercept it.

  “If I may, my queen?” he asked with a raised brow.

  I nodded and he lifted the lid, inspecting the contents before handing the box to me.

  “Sadie left it with instructions that only you should open it,” the older woman explained. “She called you our ‘last hope.’ I guess now we understand what she meant by it. We thought she meant for you to take over leadership of the VHC—we didn’t realize you’d also become queen of the vampires. Not until we saw you up on that platform tonight.”

  It was hard not to cringe at the title, though I guessed it was technically correct.

  “It’s a... recent development. Thank you for bringing this to me. I’ll open it later. Right now, I want to hear about you. How did you manage to get here safely? Is the work of the VHC still going on or did you have to put everything on hold?”

  They took turns answering my questions, each of them speaking in reverent tones that gave me major imposter syndrome.

  Over the course of our conversation, I shared news of the cure with them—and its current drawbacks—and learned that one of the visiting party, a young man named Nolan, was a scientist like Larkin.

  In fact, they knew each other.

  “We worked closely together in Los Angeles. I’m thrilled to know she’s here, and I’d be honored to help her set up a new lab,” he said. “I know several other vampire scientists who’d be excited to join us in our work—if I have your permission to reach out to them and invite them to the Bastion.”