Bonds of the Vampire King (Blood Fire Saga Book 7) by Bella Klaus (romantic books to read TXT) 📗

of the special viewing rooms of museums. Ancient weapons hung suspended within glass displays. Each was labelled with a description of which duel or battle it was last used.

On the other side were items fashioned in precious metals, ranging from antique teapots to headgear to jewelry. We passed crowns and pendants. We passed amulets and armlets, bracelets and breastplates, coronets and circlets, each studded with an array of precious gems.

A pair of guards stood at the end of the displays, in front of a door marked PRIVATE.

A female vampire sat behind a white desk within a white room, wearing a black coat that wrapped around her body like a straitjacket. From her expressionless, pale, and unlined features, she looked as ancient as Caiman, but warmth shone from her chocolate brown eyes.

“It is a pleasure to meet His Majesty’s fiancée, the Lady Phoenix.” She rose from her seat. “I am the royal treasurer, Atalia Sargon de Akkadian.”

I froze, not knowing if I should bow or curtsey, but in the end, I inclined my head. “I’m pleased to meet you. Please call me Mera.”

“Then you must call me Talia.” The treasurer’s gaze remained fixed on me, even after Geb cleared his throat.

“Valentine hired these bodyguards a couple of months ago, and they’d like to be paid,” I said.

Talia held out a hand. “Invoice, please.”

Geb stepped forward and handed her the scroll. As she unrolled it, Geb spoke in the archaic language, making her frown as she scanned its contents. I chewed the inside of my cheek, waiting for her to turn to me and confirm that I had indeed offered to pay them double the amount on the contract.

When she turned to him and shook her head with a few harsh words, Nut wrapped her fingers around my forearm and snarled.

My heart made its slow descent down my lungs, picking up speed as it raced past my plummeting stomach. I could barely croak out the words, “What’s happening?”

Talia lowered her gaze and said something so quickly it was hard to tell which language she had spoken. I turned pleading eyes to Caiman, who stiffened.

“My Lady,” he said in halting words. “Unfortunately, His Majesty only has enough gold to fulfill his original contract.”

Chapter Fifteen

As though connected by magic, both Nut and Geb turned to me and grinned, their teeth sharpening into points.

I stepped back from the counter with my palms out. “Wait a minute,” I snapped. “You just got a third of your money. We can give you the rest as soon as the bank opens.”

“No.”

Nut’s deep voice resonated through my entire body, a bone-deep shudder that also reached the lining of my stomach. I clenched my teeth. This was the female who took my place when I’d refused that naked sushi dinner. What on earth had he ever seen in her?

“Listen,” I hissed. “You both know I’m capable of defending myself. The moment you so much as touch me with a claw, I’ll turn into a phoenix and burn you both to ash.”

Neither twin made a move toward me, but I wasn’t naive enough to think that my words would have any effect. Somehow, I needed to keep them at bay until Caiman or whoever else was authorized to go to the bank on Valentine’s behalf could get their money.

Geb turned to Caiman and said something in that ancient language. The butler’s features turned pinched, and he shook his head.

“What did he ask?”

“Such a request does not warrant translation,” he said.

“Caiman, please,” I said.

His lips formed a disapproving line, and he lowered his gaze to the counter. After taking in a sharp breath, he spoke. “Mister Geb said he would accept an alternative form of payment.”

“What?” I asked, raising my palm.

“Your firstborn.”

Nut said something next.

“Mistress Nut says she will consider your second should you lay a clutch of eggs.”

I clenched my teeth, glowering from one twin to the other, who still hadn’t put away their sharp teeth. It was no wonder the butler refused them outright. Maybe this was what they’d wanted all along—an opportunity to get a baby phoenix.

Ages had passed since they’d been attacked by November in the slaughterhouse. They could have come to the palace at any time to collect their payment, but they’d waited until now. After I’d returned from being abducted to the Realm of the Gods, while Valentine was behind bars and incapable of paying my debt, and while I was alone and without wealthy allies.

Geb said something else to Caiman and flicked his head toward me as though demanding that the butler translate.

“What did he say?” I asked.

Caiman’s nostrils flared. “No force in this realm could make me relay such an indecent proposal.”

“Isn’t there something else they’ll accept?” I glanced around the room. “Precious gems? Antiques? Weapons?”

Nut said something and gestured at me with a thick finger. Caiman turned to me and said, “The contract states that payment comes in the form of gold or organs.”

“But I don’t have a contract.”

Both twins laughed. It was a harsh sound that grated on my every nerve. Geb spoke a string of words and then stepped back to make Caiman relay them to me in English.

“Master Geb says that you have a verbal contract which was witnessed by the King of Demons himself.” Caiman held his elbows close to his sides, looking like he was trying not to cringe. “He also suggests that you refrain from rehashing this line of conversation, or else.”

I clenched my teeth, meeting the demon’s hard eyes. How much did I want to bet that he hadn’t delivered his message so politely.

The door behind us opened, accompanied by the squeaking of a trolley and the clinking of fine china.

“Tea’s up,” said a voice from behind us.

I would have turned around if it wasn’t for the hungry demons salivating at the prospect of eating my organs.

A fruity scent filled the air. It was sweet and floral and familiar. It caressed my sinuses, curled around my senses, and cajoled me to slumber. My arms