Immortals After Dark 12 - Lothaire

occasionally felt like a circus freak—with her eyes growingblack and her fangs sharpening for seemingly no good reason—being a vampire wasn’t too bad.
    On occasion, she even liked being this strong. Such as when pummeling mouthy Valkyries.
    Ellie had forgiven him for a lot of the things he’d done, once she’d realized that what Lothaire said and what he did didn’t always mesh.
    Though he’d mocked her for being a lowly mortal, he had tried to burn himself to death in order to save her life—and she’d been mortal at the time.
    Their last day together, he’d behaved like a tyrant, ridiculing her; yet in the hours before, he’d made love to her as if he cherished her.
    When he’d said they weren’t equals, that didn’t necessarily mean he thought she was stupid or worthless. He’d told her, “Bullshitting Dorada? I couldn’t be prouder, Lizvetta.”
    Again, she’d kind of been mortal still. . . .
    At times, Ellie would dream the briefest taste of his memories, seeing their night of lovemaking from his point of view. Or she’d experience some kind of intense connection to him.
    But his thoughts and emotions were always so frenzied, impossible to unravel for a novice like her.
    All she knew was that she missed him so much, that it felt like grief—
    “It’s for the vampire!” someone yelled from downstairs.
    Ellie shot to her feet. From Lothaire? Who else?
    Light-headed, giddy, she traced down to the crowd, throwing elbows to get through to the center.
    There was just no other way to deal with Valkyries.
    Did Lothaire want her again? Was he even now trying to free her? “Let me have it!”
    With a casual hiss, one of the younger Valkyries surrendered it.
    The elegant packaging was stamped with some royal-looking seal, addressed to her from Lothaire Konstantin Daciano, Sovereign of Dacia, the Realm of Blood and Mist .
    Ellie tore open the box, casting everyone an excited grin. Off went the top—
    Her fingers went limp. The package dropped to the floor, jostling its contents. A bloody black heart tumbled out.
    When it settled at her feet, she shoved her palm over her mouth to keep from vomiting. Why would he do this? How . . . ?
    The crowd parted for the steely Cara, Nïx trailing in her wake.
    “Read the note, vampire,” Cara ordered.
    With shaking hands, Ellie collected the crisp parchment.
    Elizabeth,
    With my compliments.
    You will never get your claws into another one of mine.
    Rot in hell,
L
    Nïx clasped her hands over her chest, sighing, “He gave you his heart. That’s so romantic. So much better than a candy heart. Those get stuck in the fangs, you know.”
    “He’s not coming for you,” Cara said in a disbelieving tone.
    Ellie shook her head, numb. “No, he’s not.”
    “Then you’re not leverage.” Cara’s violet eyes flashed. “Your usefulness has ended. Nïx has advised me not to kill you. So you’re on your own.”
    “You’re freeing me?” You’re kicking me out?
    “Why should I keep you here?”
    Because I have nowhere else to go! Ellie couldn’t live with her family. She had no close friends but for Thad and Hag, and their loyalties were first to Lothaire.
    Ellie had become a vampire . . . for no reason . She’d be all alone in his world. He didn’t even want to talk to her, to discuss what had happened, much less to work on their relationship.
    He’d abandoned her to . . . the Lore. After he’d taken her from her family.
    At that thought, all her rationalizations about him disappeared. That bastard! Gonna live in this world, Ellie? Then get hard, get mean .
    Take care of your own business.
    Lothaire had told her, “It takes bold strokes to live in the Lore.”
    She could be just as crazy as all these freaks. I’m Appalachian! She would go mountain like they’d never seen!
    Ellie whirled around on Nïx. “Can I get a package back to him?”
    She saluted Ellie, chirping, “I’ll see to it myself.”
    Driven by searing rage, Ellie faced Cara. “Give me a blade.”
    Whatever Cara saw in her expression had her tossing a knife. Ellie clutched her fist around the hilt.
    Then, to the sounds of a shocked chorus of Valkyries . . .
    —“Oh, come on, the vamp won’t actually do— DUDE! She fucking did it!”
    —“Ellie’s my best friend.”
    —“I liked her before I even met her—you hate her compared to how much I like her.”
    —“She’ll never pay cover in the Lore again.”
    . . . Ellie made Lothaire a heartfelt gift of her own.

    “Is