“I gave people rabies?” I asked, insulted. She nodded to the bats still circling. “Oh,” I said sheepishly. “Right. I’m sure they’re not rabid.”

“So what really happened?” Elijah asked. “I heard you staked a baby bunny.”

I gaped at him as Constantine chuckled. “Vampire gossip sucks,” I said. “To be clear: I never wanted Lady Natasha’s stupid crown and I don’t kill bunnies. God.”

“Bigger picture,” Constantine said. “Do you want the crown now?”

Yes. I blinked as everyone turned to stare at me. “No!”

“And why not?”

“Because anyone who touches it gets a big fat bull’s-eye on their back,” I pointed out. “No thanks.”

“Sometimes the only way to change the system is to work within it.”

I stood up even though I had nowhere else to go. “My mother’s the queen. I think I’ve traumatized her enough for one night, don’t you?”

“She’s made it abundantly clear that she’s holding the crown in trust for you. She’s more of a regent, really.”

I shook my head mutely. You could protect them all if you were queen. Let me help you.

“Think about it,” he suggested. “The Moon Guard would have killed us both tonight, if you hadn’t broken the rules.”

He was right. If I complained about a system that had exiled me, put my family in constant danger of assassins and bounty hunters, and then tried to stake a man for trying to protect me, then it was time for me to do something about it. Maybe this was the reason I was so different. If I found a way to use my power, it might not burn so uncomfortably inside me. I might not hurt people so much.

That voice might go away.

“Are you really tired of the old structures?” Constantine asked the others. “Because you’ve heard about the prophecies.”

Dragon fighting dragon. Although it also said, “Unseat the dragon before her time and increase ninefold her crimes.” Was the dragon Mom? Or me? He didn’t realize just what he was asking for.

“Are you ready to follow a new queen into a new way? A better way?”

“This is all going too fast.” I grabbed his arm. “I’m not ready for this, Constantine.”

“Of course you are,” he said, standing close to me, his arm around my waist. I wasn’t sure if he was supporting me or keeping me from running away. “Look at them.”

The vampires gathered around us were kneeling, one by one. They stayed on one knee in the snow, waiting for me to do something queenly. I was utterly at a loss.

They’d chosen the Bower over the monarchy and the Chandramaa.

And now they were choosing me.

I felt exhilarated and sick at the same time. The bats drifted lower, as if they were watching the proceedings too.

“Sorry, mate,” Marigold said, her fangs dimpling her lower lip. She looked like a particularly savage little doll in her candy-colored skirt and the flowers woven through her hair. “I’m with you but I don’t kneel. Not to anyone.”

I just nodded. Constantine must have sensed my agitation because he bent his head toward mine, lips tickling my cheek. “It’s just a symbol,” he assured me. “It buys you some protection, some followers to guard your back.”

“I’m not sure I like it.” I shifted uncomfortably.

“You will,” he promised.

Chapter 19

NICHOLAS

Tuesday, just after midnight

I waited until I was out of the cell before I fought back.

I dropped so suddenly I was able to slip free, the sleeve of my shirt ripping off, where it was already torn from the rusty nail. I rolled, knocking two vampires down like undead bowling pins, then I kicked up, booting a Huntsman in the thigh. He flew back and landed on a metal table, shattering half the jars and bottles. The clatter was loud enough to bring all of the other prisoners to the grates but not loud enough to wake the woman still swinging on her chains. She was now as close to dead as a vampire could be without being ashes. Even if I managed to cut her down, I couldn’t drag her with me and I couldn’t heal her. If I got away and brought the others back, Uncle Geoffrey might know what to do.

The silhouette of a Host blocked the main exit just as another charged out of a tunnel on the other side of the murky pond. I threw an entire table at him.

“Behind you!” Lee shouted, propping Ianthe up at the bars. Between us stood a Helios-Ra agent with a loaded crossbow aimed at my back. She looked young enough to have been in the same year as Kieran. As soon as I had the time, I’d worry more about Lucy being in that school.

Right now, ducking was a priority.

The arrow missed me but caught the Host behind me in the side. He doubled over, hissing in pain. I grabbed the crossbow before the Hunter had time to shoot again and slid it to Lee and Ianthe. Lee grabbed it, contorting so he could stick his arm through enough to shoot it. One of the vampires who’d captured me exploded into dust. Frankenstein shouted. Ianthe knocked the Helios-Ra girl off her feet.

It was enough of a distraction to help get me to the exit, but not enough to get me through it. Someone tackled me and I went down, cracking my head on the wall as I fell. I saw double. I blinked furiously, holding my bruised head in my hand as I struggled to get back up. I stumbled, dizzy, and tried to push through.

No such luck.

I was pinned between a Huntsman and a Host. Lee managed to fire one arrow but the shot went wide. The Hunter smashed it out of his grip with his boot, breaking his fingers. Lee grunted but didn’t yell. Ianthe slumped, hissing as she tried to find the strength to pull Lee back into the relative safety of the cell.