Tempting Raven (Curse of the Vampire Queen #1)(25)
My mom chews on her thumbnail, something I haven't seen her do since word first started spreading about the rebellions. "Well, that's not how a normal vampire should feel, but for you-the queen-that's a normal reaction, unless you drink the right kind of blood."
"The right kind of blood? Wait … Do I have to start drinking a different kind of blood now?" I wince, hoping to all hungry vampires that I don't have to start drinking, like, pig's blood or something similarly disgusting.
Her gaze flits to Rhyland then back to me. "From now on, after the blood boost clears from your system, you'll have to start drinking the king's blood straight from the vein. If you don't, you'll never get your powers, which means you won't be strong enough to save our vampire world from self-destruction. And the world needs you, Raven-we need you-to restore order before everyone winds up dead."
Blood roars in my eardrums.
No, this can't be happening!
This can't …
Drinking his blood … ? Drinking any vampire's blood straight from the vein is too …
It's too intimate. Too sexy.
I don't want that with Rhyland!
How can this be happening? After spending years friendless, practically all alone and missing out on almost every fun high school experience, I finally start living life, start being able to dance with guys and having them try to give me my first experience of a bite, and now I'm being told that will never happen? That Rhyland gets that.
Tears sting my eyes. I shake my head, refusing to look anyone in the eye. "No, I won't do it." I scoot to the edge of the sofa, debating all the ways I can bolt out of the room. I don't know where I'll go or what I'll do. Only that I need to escape. To think. To do something other than be in this room.
Trapped. I feel so trapped.
My mom clutches my hand, either in desperation or because she senses I'm about to run. "Raven, you have to. If you don't … you'll never be able to become queen."
"I don't want to be queen," I whisper, my body trembling.
"I know you might not want to," she says softly. "But you were chosen for it, which means you were meant for it."
"All because some stupid Eternal Readers said I am," I bite out. "If they knew me, knew how useless I am, they would've picked someone else."
"You know that's not how it works," my mom says. "The Eternal Readers only pass along the messages from Fate. And Fate knows what it's doing, knows that the rebellions are getting too powerful, and that pretty soon, they'll be the ones in charge, ruling over us."
I hear what she's saying-I really do-but a rage so potent is roaring inside my chest.
My veins warm with power, sending adrenaline coursing through me and giving me the courage to jump to my feet. "Well, screw Fate. It made the wrong decision and needs to pick someone better."
My fangs slip from my gums, and in one swift heartbeat, I shove my dad out of the way and bolt out the door.
I've never moved that fast in my life before. My heart sinks, knowing what that most likely means.
I really am queen.
The revelation sends more fear pouring through me.
I turn to run down the hallway, but the vampire mafia are now standing near the staircase, blocking my exit route.
Cam, who seems to be the main vamp in charge, notices me before anyone else does. He doesn't look very surprised to see me, as if he expected me to run.
"Raven." He approaches me cautiously, moving for a gun in his shoulder holster. I wonder if he'll shoot me or if the move is only threatening. "Take it easy. It's not safe for you to go anywhere alone right now."
Will it ever be again?
I step back toward my mom's office, unsure of where to go, but knowing I have to go somewhere else besides here where the walls feel like they're closing in.
"I knew you were going to be a pain in the ass," Kingsley's arrogant laced voice sails from over my shoulder. "You always are."
Trapped.
I'm trapped.
Panic soars through my body as a female vampire from the vampire mafia, along with a male, move beside Cam. Then the three of them start toward me.
No, I can't be trapped yet. I just can't.
Find a way out.
I glance up and down the hallway, then my eyes dart to the ceiling. The ceiling made of glass. And a couple of those windows just happen to be open.
Jackpot.
Can I make it?
Sucking in a huge breath, I don't give myself time to think. I spring on my toes and push up, sailing for the window.
I sail up …
And up …