I shifted in my darkened cage, wondering what Elena had up her sleeve. The sounds in the great hall grew louder, more and more voices joining until the room was bursting with noise and movement. I had no doubt Elena could easily disentangle herself from the spymaster. But that still left me in the dark about the rest of the plan. I sat and bided my time until a hush fell over the great hall.

Desmerada’s voice wafted through the wooden panels. “I’m sure you’re all wondering why I’ve summoned you here on this fine evening. I have quite a special treat for all of us.”

The doors swung open and the cage began to move. I sensed a room packed with my kind, a multitude of vampires come to witness my execution. The only sound was the muffled steps and grunts of the guards as they labored through the room, lifted the cage higher, and finally perched it atop a platform.

Whispers fluttered around me as intrigue grew in the air.

“As your queen, I have always endeavored to annihilate any threats to our homeland.”

A smattering of applause.

“This is no different. However, I have now captured the biggest threat to our joy. Not even the demon Menelaus is a greater enemy. No, this is a traitor who has terrorized our peace and good fortune, haunted our very dreams, for thousands of years.”

A roar of murmurs swept through the crowd like wildfire. One word was on the air, carrying from one noble to the next. Paris.

“Silence!” Desmerada boomed before settling back into her conciliatory tone. “Even now, after all this time, I have continued our hunt for the one who would seek to destroy us. And now”—her voice rose for the flourish—“see for yourselves!”

The curtain was ripped from the cage, and the nobles nearest me backed away. A discordant rush of hisses rose in the room. Some of the female nobles clutched the jewels at their throats, and they all bared their fangs.

These were not the nobles of my father’s reign. Instead, they were the dredges left after Desmerada purged any and all who were still loyal to Priam’s line. The real vampire lineage lived in the Darkwood village. They were the last light, the last hope for the vampire race, not the adorned pretenders surrounding me.

Desmerada sat at the head table, front and center in the hall. She raised a golden cup to me, and the nobles followed suit. “To the traitor. Askenith.”

The nobles repeated her words before draining their cups. The air was thick with anticipation. Desmerada rose from her seat. She wore a crimson gown that plunged in a deep V down to her stomach. Her dark hair was coiled on her head. The crowd parted and bowed as she approached my cage.

A dozen guards ascended to the platform. One readied to open the latch while the others tensed to grab me. I didn’t fight—simply walked out and into their rough grips. There was nowhere to run. Nothing I could do. I placed all my trust in Elena. That trust wouldn’t fail me, not even if Desmerada’s sword took my life and sent me to Hades. I would never stop believing.

“Kneel.”

The guards shoved me down to my knees. I raised my gaze to meet Desmerada’s. She smiled, cruel joy on her face, as she took an ornate sword from one of her guards.

“For your crimes against my kingdom, I decree your death.” She moved to my side as rough hands pushed my head down, baring my neck for the blade.

I sensed her raising it high over her head. Closing my eyes, I envisioned Elena, her green eyes and golden hair giving me a calmness I never thought possible. She was my white queen.

The blade sliced the air, whispering death on the way to my neck.