Vampire Court: Black Pawn: Vampire Court, #2

By Ingrid Seymour

Nyro lives in Acedrex, a city ruled by two vampires: the White Queen and the Black King.

No one can leave or enter Acedrex and, for the majority of people, that is fine. It's a safe place, far better than the outside world.

Unless you're a Trove.

The curse runs in Nyro's family. His father was a Trove and his willful eight-year-old brother, Timotei, is one too. Their blood can make a vampire powerful enough to walk in sunlight.

Nyro works hard to keep him safe. He promised his now-dead parents he wouldn't let the vampires find him. But when Timotei is captured by a member of the Black Court, Nyro joins the King's ranks in hopes of protecting his brother from within. There, he finds himself in a world of intrigue and machinations that promises to steal more than his family.

The King wants Nyro to be his Pawn and tries to take the last thing Nyro thought he might lose.

His soul.

 

A vampire tale like no other.

 

If you love fantasy with spellbinding world-building, this COMPLETE series is for you. The action, romance, and intrigue will sweep you off your feet and leave you wanting more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ingrid Seymour
• Release date: Oct 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201992279

Ingrid Seymour

Ingrid Seymour is a USA Today Bestselling author. When she's not writing books, she spends her time cooking exotic recipes, hanging out with her family and working out. She writes young adult and new adult fiction in a variety of genres, including Sci-Fi, urban fantasy, romance, paranormal and horror. Her favorite outings involve a trip to the library or bookstore where she immediately gravitates toward the YA section. She's an avid reader and fangirl of many amazing books. She is a dreamer and a fighter who believes perseverance and hard work can make dreams come true. She lives in Birmingham, AL with her husband, two kids, and a cat named Ossie.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

She was here, in a red dress this time, her brown hair falling in loose curls around her shoulders. Her lady-help walked beside her, carrying a weaved basket for their purchases.

For the past ten minutes, I’d been watching her from behind one of the market stalls, memorizing the curve of her hips and imagining my hands around her narrow waist, getting myself sick with lust.

Holy Gambit, she was beautiful.

Beautiful and totally beyond my reach. And yet, she had noticed me. I’d caught her looking at me more than once the last time she was here, her dark eyes darting back and forth as she tried to disguise her interest. Would she notice me again?

Nonchalantly, I stepped out of my hiding place and strolled toward the cheese vendor, closer to the beautiful young woman.

The market was crowded as usual, even at this early morning hour. Mostly, it was lady-helps and cooks with their kitchen maids, but a few ladies were also sprinkled in. It was easy to tell by the quality of their dresses and the elegant way they carried themselves.

The scent of fresh cheese and herbs hit my nose, making me hungry. I jiggled the few Chekes I had in my pocket, but I couldn’t buy food with them, not when rent was overdue. Besides, I couldn’t eat when my little brother needed the nourishment more than I did. He was a growing boy, while I’d already grown as tall as Father. Of course, I’d had the advantage of regular meals while I was growing up—no such luck for Timotei.

I turned toward the cheese vendor and smiled to myself when I felt her eyes on me. She had noticed me, almost immediately. If only I had better clothes to wear, more Chekes in my pocket, I might approach her, talk to her, and maybe...

Don’t be stupid, Nyro.

Still, I couldn’t help but daydream. Especially when her lady-help distracted her with questions about the apples from one of the vendors, and she looked annoyed at the interruption.

May I inquire as to your name? I imagined myself asking.

It wouldn’t be anything like Helga or Simona. It would be beautiful, appropriate.

As she talked to her lady-help, I moved along past the honey and jam vendor, past the sacks of potatoes and yams, and stopped at the baker’s.

Appearing annoyed at her lady-help, the young woman in red searched for me, her eyes roving around the different stalls. When she spotted me, I focused on the rhubarb tarts, my chest filling with satisfaction.

A lady attracted to the likes of me. How scandalous.

How much are the tarts? I asked the baker’s assistant, a boy of about fifteen.

He held up five fingers, as I’d expected.

What about the rolls? I pointed to the other end of the stall, taking the boy’s attention away from the tarts and quickly slipping two of them into the old leather bag I carried slung across my chest.

One Cheke, the boy said.

I couldn’t glance back to judge Lady Red’s reaction, but it wasn’t hard to imagine. I didn’t know what sort of twisted defiance drove me to let her witness my thieving, but it gave me pleasure to cause her surprise, to make her feel something other than the boredom her life must entail.

Looking beside herself, she turned to her lady-help and spoke something in her ear. Her companion looked displeased with her. I smirked. So Lady Red wasn’t as prim and proper as she was expected to be. I liked her even more for that. Still smiling to myself, I turned to leave.

I’d taken but a few steps when someone tapped me on the shoulder.

Excuse me, a refined voice said.

Fearing I’d been discovered, my head snapped back. Lady Red was standing behind me, a haughty expression on her face. Her presence shocked me for an instant, but I recovered quickly.

Yes, milady? I said with a smile and a bow.

Her dark eyes sparkled as she examined my face. I examined her in turn, taking the opportunity to drink in her every feature. As I admired her smooth skin, long lashes, and perfect nose, I found myself enthralled. My smile deepened.

Something passed between us. I couldn’t explain what, but it made my chest feel strange. Judging by a slight blush on her cheeks, I knew she felt it, too.

How... how can I help you, milady? I asked, trying to sound confident, even though having her this close gave me an unexpected, nervous knot in my stomach.

Drawing a deep breath, Lady Red straightened and donned her haughty attitude once more as if it were a costume for one of the masquerade parties the gentry normally attended.

I have a simple request, she said.

And what, pray tell, is milady’s request? I said, adding a wink for good measure.

Her eyes widened, and she looked appalled by the simple gesture. I almost laughed at her outrage, but I managed to keep a straight face.

Take this, she said in a commanding tone, jutting out her hip and extending a closed fist in my direction.

I frowned, wondering what she could possibly wish to give me. Overwhelmed by curiosity, I extended my hand to receive her offering. Ten Chekes dropped into my open palm.

"Pay the boy for the tarts you stole," she ordered.

I flinched, stunned by her audacity. What made her think she could order me around? I stared into her dark eyes, trying to understand her purpose. Had she done this as an excuse to approach and talk to me? I wanted to believe that, but perhaps that was just my ego talking.

She stared right back, tempting me with her sudden wildness, a certain fire that burned deep in her eyes and promised passion.

"The boy is likely an apprentice, thief, she said, breaking me out of her spell. And when he gets back, he’ll have to explain to his master why he’s short on change. It will, without a doubt, cost him his post, his livelihood."

I narrowed my eyes.

"And you care about that?" I asked, wondering if this was the true reason she’d come to me.

She narrowed her eyes back at me and, after a moment’s pause, she said, "I care not to have thieves wandering about Acedrex, my city. And I’m sure the White Queen and Black King don’t either."

I clenched my fists. She was a sympathizer of those monsters? But what had I expected? She was a well-off lady who wore dresses that could feed Timotei and me for weeks. Of