“You’ll need to make a formal greeting,” J.L. warned him when they reached the double doors to the palace. “If you don’t show your respect, it’ll be taken as an insult.”
Russell snorted as he heaved open one of the doors. He didn’t mind being polite to Rajiv, but the prince was another matter.
“Don’t speak until you’ve been spoken to. Follow my lead,” J.L. whispered before stepping quietly into the throne room.
Russell followed, trying not to recall the awful events that had happened here. Right over there, he’d killed his brother. And there was the spot where he’d realized Jia was gone.
The room looked different now, bright and sparkling with candlelight. Tall brass candelabras were positioned between each of the red painted columns, and two more flanked the throne that sat on the dais at the far end of the room. Candlelight gleamed off the golden tigers that decorated the ornately carved wooden throne.
Along the perimeter of the room, red silk banners hung from the ceiling, each ending with a golden tassel. On the banners, embroidered tigers were either crouching or leaping. On the floor, a series of low tables had been lined up to make one long banquet table. A red silk table runner with gold tassels extended down the length of the table, although it was barely visible for all the food. There were enough platters of meat and bowls containing vegetables and sauces to feed twice the number of guests present.
Rajiv, dressed in a purple silk robe, sat on a floor cushion at the head of the table. His long black hair had been pulled up into a topknot, encircled with a gold ring and pierced with a long hairpin in the shape of a golden tiger. Twelve guests were at the table, six on each side, all sitting cross-legged on red silk cushions.
To Rajiv’s right sat a young man with a gold crown on his head and an entitled smirk on his face. That had to be the prince. Russell fought an urge to wipe the smugness off his face, and not with a silk napkin. The rest of the people on the right were probably his entourage. The last in line was a woman. Russell assumed that the further down the line a person sat, the lower his rank. Behind the seated guests, six men in black silk robes were standing and eyeing him and J.L. with suspicion.
Russell smirked. How many bodyguards did the prince need? He had to be a wimp.
To Rajiv’s left sat his uncles, Rinzen and Tenzen, plus four more elderly gentlemen. All the guests had stopped eating to look at the intruders.
Russell felt a tug on his trouser leg and noticed that J.L. had knelt. So this was the formal greeting? With an inward groan, he knelt. Then, to his surprise, J.L. planted his hands on the stone floor and bowed forward till his forehead touched the ground.
Damn. No way was he prostrating himself before Jia’s fiancé. He glanced at Rajiv, who looked tense but was keeping his face expressionless. There was no help for it, Russell realized. Rajiv was a future in-law, so Russell couldn’t embarrass him in front of his own kind. Gritting his teeth, Russell bowed low.
“I bid you welcome,” Rajiv said.
“Your kindness is beyond measure, Your Eminence,” J.L. said. “Please forgive our ill-mannered intrusion. We merely wish to pay our respect.”
Russell rolled his eyes. Enough with the groveling. He started to stand but noticed that J.L. was still sitting on his knees, so he followed suit.
“Allow me to introduce you to my esteemed guest.” Rajiv motioned to the right. “This is Prince Kim Mi-nam of South Korea. Your Highness, these gentlemen are Wang Jin Long and Russell. They are both Americans.”
The prince sniffed. Russell was tempted to cure the prince’s sniffles, and not with a tissue.
Rajiv gestured toward the Vamps. “Would you care to join us?”
The prince stiffened and set his chopsticks down with a loud clunk. “You intend to share this table with vampires?”
Rajiv gave him a conciliatory smile. “Don’t worry. They won’t be eating any of the food.”
“That is not the point,” the prince growled. “They’re loathsome, filthy creatures.”
Russell gritted his teeth. He was tempted to wash out the prince’s mouth, and not with soap.
Rajiv’s hand gripped his chopsticks so hard that his knuckles turned white. “These are my dear friends and trusted allies. Perhaps you have heard of our troubles? For over forty years, my people have been plagued by Master Han and his three vampire lords. Many of my people were hunted and slaughtered, including my parents and the parents of your betrothed.”
The prince shrugged. “We have heard the horror stories of Master Han and his three lords, but that sort of loathsome behavior is hardly surprising for vampires.”
Rajiv’s smile looked forced. “Then you may be surprised to learn that there are good vampires. Jin Long helped me kill one of the vampire lords, Lord Qing. Russell killed Lord Ming, and just recently, he killed Master Han. With that one brave act, he succeeded in doing what my people have been unable to do for forty years. And by killing Han, he stopped an army from attacking my village. To me and my people, these men are heroes.”
The prince grunted and regarded Russell and J.L. with disdain. Russell met his gaze, giving him a look of challenge. Which would you like first, Prince? A black eye or a broken nose?
Rajiv lifted a hand, and a servant approached. “Please bring two cups and a bottle of Blissky for our new guests.”
As the maidservant rushed off, Rajiv gestured to the food. “Please enjoy the meal. Let me pour you a drink.” He lifted a teapot and filled the prince’s cup.
The were-tigers started eating again. Russell and J.L. scooted to the end of the table, where they sat cross-legged. Russell watched everyone carefully and noticed that Rajiv’s gaze was drifting often to the pretty young lady in the prince’s entourage. She was quietly focusing on her plate in front of her.
The maidservant placed two cups in front of Russell and J.L., then filled them with Blissky, a mixture of synthetic blood and whisky.
“I must say, I am terribly disappointed that Lady Jia is not here,” the prince grumbled. “Surely she knew we would be arriving soon.”
“I apologize,” Rajiv murmured. “It couldn’t be helped.”
“Why will you not tell me where she is?” the prince demanded. “I could have my men fetch her.”
Rajiv smiled. “I appreciate the offer, but that will not be necessary. We hope to have her back soon.” He exchanged a look with his uncles. The other men on his side of the table shifted uncomfortably and fiddled with their food. Obviously, none of them wanted the prince to know where Jia was.
“A toast to Lady Jia.” Russell lifted his glass, and everyone drank. “So, Rajiv, can you tell me who everybody is?”
Rajiv looked relieved to have the subject changed. “You know my uncles.” He motioned to the four older gentlemen. “These are esteemed members of my Council of Elders.”
“I have already introduced my entourage, but I will do so again.” With an annoyed look, the prince nodded to the people on his side of the table. “My father’s secretary of state, the leader of our Council of Elders, my personal secretary, my head of security, and Lady Yi-soo.”
“If I might be so bold as to inquire, why is there a noblewoman traveling with you?” Rajiv’s gaze lingered once more on the young lady.
Prince Mi-nam waved a dismissive hand. “Her title is merely honorary. In truth, she is little more than a servant.”
Lady Yi-soo kept her head bowed, but her cheeks turned pink.
Rajiv’s jaw shifted. “Then I am even more curious as to why she is here.”
The prince glanced down at her with a scornful look. “My father insisted on it. She is to serve as Lady Jia’s personal bodyguard and tutor. Lady Yi-soo is skilled in martial arts and fencing. And she will be teaching Lady Jia our language and glorious traditions. Surely Lady Jia will not wish to be an embarrassment to our royal court?”
Rajiv gritted his teeth. “Of course not.”
Russell wondered what the prince would look like with his golden crown wrapped around his throat.
J.L. cleared his throat. “Then Lady Yi-soo can understand us? She speaks Chinese?”
“Of course,” Prince Mi-nam answered for her. “She is fluent in several languages. She was allowed to attend school with the other royal children.”
“Other royal children?” Rajiv asked.
The prince shrugged. “My father has sired over fifty children, but they need not concern you. I am the eldest legitimate son and therefore heir to the throne. The illegitimate children inherit nothing, so you needn’t fear that Lady Yi-soo will be a threat of any kind to your cousin. As my wife, Lady Jia will become the Grand Tigress and receive all the honor and wealth due to her station.”
Rajiv’s eyes narrowed.
Russell amended his vision. Instead of wrapping the prince’s golden crown around his neck, he imagined cramming it down the bastard’s throat.
“Are you saying Lady Yi-soo is illegitimate?” Rajiv asked quietly, glancing at her.
She set her chopsticks down as her cheeks bloomed a brighter pink.
The prince snorted. “Is this really worth discussing? Do you wish to cause her further embarrassment? Believe me, she already knows her place.”
Rajiv hissed in a breath.
Russell slammed his cup down on the table. “Is it one of your glorious traditions for the Grand Tiger to be unfaithful to his wife?”
The prince huffed. “My father’s private life is hardly any of your concern.”
Anger simmered in Rajiv’s golden eyes. “It is our concern if you intend to follow in his footsteps.”
The prince gave him an incredulous look. “Your Eminence, surely you understand the true nature of an arranged marriage. My betrothal with Lady Jia has been enacted for the sole purpose of creating an alliance between our two kingdoms. It is a political union, nothing more. Like my father, I will look elsewhere—”
With a growl, Russell jumped to his feet. “You bas—”
“Stop,” J.L. hissed in English as he grabbed Russell’s arm. “Let Rajiv handle this.”
Russell pulled away. “I need to clobber him.”
The prince cleared his throat. “I understand English, too.”
“Then understand this,” Rajiv announced. “I will not allow my cousin to enter into a faithless marriage. She deserves better than that.”
Prince Mi-nam snorted. “Come now. You’re a Grand Tiger just like I’ll be someday. We’re not allowed to marry for love. It is only natural for us to—”
“I realize I will have to marry according to my position,” Rajiv interrupted, “but I will make every effort to ensure my marriage becomes a union based on love. I will treat my wife with respect and honor, remaining faithful to her each day, so that in time I might earn her love.”
The prince rolled his eyes. “We can live for hundreds of years. How could you remain faithful for centuries?”
“How could I not be faithful when there is love?” Rajiv asked. “My grandfather was faithful to his wife. My parents were faithful to each other. That is our tradition. My cousin will not accept less.”
Prince Mi-nam huffed with indignation. Russell was ready to punch the prince’s lights out, but he felt a surge of pride over how well Rajiv had handled the matter. Obviously, he and Rajiv felt the same way about marriage. And it looked like Lady Yi-soo did, too. She was gazing at Rajiv with tears in her eyes.
A sudden flash of light filled the room, and Russell turned to see Briathos materializing by the door.
“What the hell?” Prince Mi-nam scrambled to his feet and rushed to stand behind his bodyguards.
Russell snorted. He was a wimp, all right. “Not hell. More like heaven.” He turned to the God Warrior. “Any news? How is Jia?”
Briathos bowed his head. “Greetings, dear souls. An hour has passed since—”
“You mean six days!” Russell yelled.
“Yes.” Briathos gave him a wry look. “We are aware of how much time has passed on Earth.”
“What has happened?” Russell demanded. “Did Lucifer let her go?”
“Lucifer?” Prince Mi-nam asked.
“It’s a long story,” Russell growled, then asked Briathos, “well?”
The God Warrior shook his head. “Lucifer has refused to release her. The archangel Gabriel is gathering an army of five hundred God Warriors. We have permission to invade hell.”
Russell nodded. “I’m coming with you.”
“Hell?” Prince Mi-nam asked, his voice rising.
Russell shot him an impatient look. “Yes, hell. When I killed Master Han, the God Warriors came to banish the demon Darafer back to hell. Unfortunately, he took Jia with him.”
“Lady Jia is in hell?” the prince asked, an incredulous look on his face. “That’s impossible! People aren’t taken to hell.”
“Oh, really?” Russell gritted his teeth. “I’ll take you. You can help us rescue her.”
The prince scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not sure I even believe this ludicrous story.”
“It is true,” Rajiv told him. “Lady Jia was kidnapped by a demon and taken to hell.”
“We will assist with her rescue,” Tenzen said, motioning to his twin, Rinzen.
“Me, too,” J.L. added.
Briathos regarded them sadly. “Your courage is to be commended, but I must warn you once again of the grave danger. If you are killed in hell, you run the risk of your soul being trapped there forever.”
Russell nodded. “I understand. I’m still going.”
Rajiv walked down the length of the table to join Russell. “I will go with you.”
“But Your Eminence,” one of Rajiv’s elders protested. “You mustn’t go. It is too dangerous.”
Rajiv rested a hand on the elder’s shoulder. “Before we leave, Jin Long will teleport my brother here. If something happens to me, Raghu will be the new Grand Tiger. He and his wife just had twins, so the line will be secure.”
The elder nodded sadly. “Please be careful, Your Eminence.”
Russell glanced back at the prince, who had turned pale. “Well, Your Highness?”
Mi-nam gulped. “I—I could send some of my bodyguards.”
His bodyguards stiffened with horrified looks on their faces. One fell to his knees. “Your Highness, please—”
“I will go,” Lady Yi-soo interrupted.
Rajiv gasped. “My lady, no—”
“Yes!” The prince waved a hand at her. “She can go. She should go! After all, she’s Lady Jia’s bodyguard.” He clapped his hands together as if to make her decision final. “Lady Yi-soo will represent our people in the rescue of Lady Jia.”
What a worm. Russell glared at the prince. He would let a woman take his place on a dangerous mission?
“My lady.” Rajiv moved to her side. “There is no need for you to endanger yourself.”
She rose to her feet. “I have lived my entire life trapped in one wing of the palace. I wish to do this. I need to.”
Rajiv stepped closer. “Then fight by my side. I will do my best to keep you safe. You have my word.”
Her mouth curled up. “I am an excellent fighter, Your Eminence. I might be keeping you safe.”
Smiling, he took her hand. “You have a deal. Although I would prefer taking you somewhere other than hell.”
She returned his smile, her cheeks blushing. “Well, I’ve always wanted to travel . . .”
“When do we leave?” Russell asked the God Warrior. “What weapons should we bring?”
“Your weapons will not work on demons or the inhabitants of hell, for they are already dead,” Briathos replied. “But fear not. We will equip each of you with a sword of fire.”
“Awesome,” J.L. whispered.
Briathos gave him a wry look. “The enemy will be using similar weapons on you.”
J.L. winced. “There’s always a downside, isn’t there? But it could be worse.” He grinned when Russell gave him a dubious look. “We could be on the wrong side.”
Russell snorted, then asked Briathos again, “When do we leave?”
“Gather your men. We will meet you in the courtyard in three of your Earth hours. From there, we will take you to the gates of hell.” Briathos’s form shimmered, then vanished.