Burning Both Ends by Ally Shields Read Free Book Online Page B

request. Oliver, you will accompany us. Marcus and the werelions shall remain here, prepared to assist the wolves with this unknown peril.” The corner of his mouth twitched. “I would not want Sebastian to be endangered while his people are concerned with offering us their hospitality. Understood?” He waited until everyone nodded, then he flashed a brief smile and turned back toward the wolves. “We are ready to proceed.”
    Jerome’s whole body bristled with suspicion. He glared at Andreas, clearly thinking he’d been insulted—but not quite sure. Andreas looked back at him with studied indifference. Finally the giant wolf mastered his temper and turned away, jerked his head at his partner, and together they pulled open the double doors.
    Andreas wrapped his cool fingers around Ari’s left hand, and they entered the court chambers together. Oliver walked on Andreas’s left side.
    Ari’s immediate impression was they had transported through time and space to a high school gymnasium, poorly decorated for a Roman or Grecian-themed school prom. Walls were draped with white cloths; white columns and statues stood here and there. If it was intended to be elegant, it had failed. Tacky came to mind. The Riverdale delegation crossed a wide polished wood floor and stopped in front of a raised platform at the far end. The stage was carpeted in black velvet with a white, pillowy couch placed in the center.
    Lounging on the couch, as if posed for a photography shoot, was a squat figure clothed in a voluminous black robe, trimmed in vivid red. Sebastian, the vampire prince. Since Ari had seen him before, his comic appearance didn’t startle her, but she still had to stifle an urge to snicker. Maybe it was nerves.
    Sebastian was short and thick, with a ridiculous mustache, reminiscent of the brushy appendage once favored by Hitler. In a further attempt at dramatic effect, he’d surrounded himself with bright red pillows. Larger pillows, matching in color, lay around the floor, occupied by four human females. Ari stiffened as she took a closer look at the women. Each girl—for they were very young—was dressed in a red, low-cut gown, displaying budding cleavage. Gold chains draped from their throats, ankles, and wrists. It was degrading, but Ari didn’t see any obvious sign of pain or discomfort in their placid expressions. On either side of the sofa, and behind it, stood eight vampires.
    A bitchy-looking vampiress in black leather with a human male at her side stood closest to Sebastian and was probably his first lieutenant. The blond male next to them might have been good-looking if he’d lose the frown. He and an older male muscled like a wrestler gave off strong power vibes. Ari chalked off the two female vamps in short skirts and skimpy tops as decoration. Three additional males who looked so similar they were either brothers or clones had to be court guards. The entire group was unnaturally silent. No one spoke, smiled, or gave any indication of welcome.
    Except Sebastian. His toothy grin spread from ear to ear in a chilling parody of the Cheshire cat. “Greetings, my friends! We are delighted to see you. We so rarely have guests, especially esteemed visitors from the United States of America.” After this grandiose greeting, the Toronto prince scooted off the couch and strutted toward them with his hands extended. Ari didn’t want him to touch her and fought the urge to back away.
    Andreas dropped her hand and glided forward. “I bring you Prince Daron’s compliments,” he said, inclining his head a token amount. “Our goals are peaceful, and we ask for safe passage in your territory.”
    “It is granted,” Sebastian said, sweeping his arms in a magnanimous gesture. “Come, Andreas, why so formal? Are we not old friends?”
    “We are certainly old acquaintances.”
    Sebastian paused at the implied difference. He heaved a dramatic sigh. “Do I detect a problem? Have you come on an unhappy errand, old