Chapter 6: Alkan - Fated to the Night King

Hunger made my fangs lengthen, dropping down to press against my bottom lip, even as I followed Danvers out of the hidden room. He locked the door behind him and handed the key to me with a sigh. The heavy gold was warm in my palm. I closed my fist tight around it, feeling the engraved design cut into the skin of my palm.

"I don't like that we're not seeing any progress." He shot me a look and shook his head. "You need to feed."

"You worry about the tasks I've given you. I'll worry about when I feed and who I feed from."

His only response was an eye roll. "We need more samples. That's all I can think. We're missing something and without more to work with, I can't engineer a solution."

Through the solid wood of the door, I heard a groan of pain. Danvers glanced back, then moved toward the exit of the library. I pressed the lever hidden on the floorboard and the bookcase to my left slid into place. Blocking any evidence of the door's existence and ideally, what we were keeping in there. The fewer that knew the truth, the better.

The key grew warmer, almost hot, and I opened my hand to see that my own blood had seeped out through the cuts, soaking into the grooves cut into the metal. Gold and Istakarran blood were a combustible mix. A secret few knew.

Dropping the key into my pocket, I followed Danvers out of the library, back into the main corridor of the castle. It was still early for my people, night not fully fallen. Soon, the halls would be busy. All who chose to be part of the Night King's Court had jobs to do. Istakarran, Human. It didn't matter. There was always something that needed doing. And keeping everyone busy gave them less time to dream up ways to challenge me.

Busy and happy were the best ways to govern. I'd seen that in endless battle campaigns. Mutiny was unlikely when your force was well fed and well kept. The same applies to a kingdom. At least, it did to my kingdom.

"Gus is already making lists for the next Covenant Night. She asked if you want anything different this time. Anything special?"

I ran my hands through my hair, ignoring the way it trembled slightly with the movement. Hunger made my stomach cramp, the urge to feed growing stronger, and I pushed my hand firmly against my stomach. As if that would lighten my need.

"I trust her judgment," I said, aware he'd noticed my delayed answer. "She knows my preferences."

"Do you have any plans to take on a covenant partner this time?"

"No." Danvers gave me a withering look. "If I choose anyone, they could seek to curry favor among the others. Jealousy can be a dangerous thing in any court, much less ours."

He reached out and laid a hand on my arm, forcing me to stop walking and give him my direct attention.

"I understand, but as a physician, I advise you to keep your strength up. The Court runs smoothly only because you're strong enough to hold the reins. If you falter," he paused and looked around, as if there was anyone who might hear us. "If you falter, sir, I worry for that outcome. Your people aren't the only predators waiting for any hint of weakness so they can strike."

I nodded. The man wasn't wrong. Speaking out of turn, maybe, but the fact that he did so told me how important he felt this reminder was.

"Then we better not falter, don't you think, Danvers?"