Vampire Court: Black Bishop: Vampire Court, #8

By Ingrid Seymour

Nyro can't trust anyone—not even Bianca.

Lies and intrigue surround Nyro at every turn.

His hope of ever freeing his little brother dies a little every day, and things never appear as bleak as when the woman he loves fights against him.

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: Nov 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201601584

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

The sound of my own breaths was deafening in my ears.

I jogged down the dark streets of Acedrex, bloody images slashing before my eyes. A string of curses flew out of my mouth as I tried to force them away.

I was a coward. I’d left the White Palace, left Bianca behind. I should go back and face the consequences with her. She had killed for me, and if she hadn’t come into the library when she did, I would be dead. The Decapitator would have chopped my head off to present it to her Queen, a trophy, an example of what happened to those who dared come into her lair uninvited.

Bianca had killed for me. Two Knights: one, her own superior officer; the other, mine. What would happen to her now? Would she come up with a convincing lie to explain it all away?

Not for the first time, I halted and faced the White Palace. I took two steps in its direction, tempted to go back to her. But no, I couldn’t. Clenching my jaw, I froze. Bianca had made me promise I would escape. And that woman, Loretta, she had said Bianca would be fine, but how could she be certain? Mind reeling with indecision, I clutched a gas lamp post that bathed the street with warm light.

Sweat dripped down my brow. I wiped a hand over my face and discovered I was still wearing the fake mustache that had been part of the disguise I’d worn to sneak into the White Palace. I tore it off and threw it to the ground.

The horse I’d rented had stayed behind. The Queen’s stablehands would find it eventually. Would it raise their suspicion? Or would they assume the owner had been too drunk to care and had left the party without it?

The people who had rented me the animal would not get their beast back. It would hurt their business, their livelihood. But what could I do? Guilt racked me. I was causing so much damage in my quest, even to unsuspecting, innocent people. Yet, in all my selfishness, I was glad Jigsaw was safe and not at the Queen’s compound. I loved that horse and didn’t want anything bad to happen to him.

The silent night engulfed me, the streets and their stillness feeling stifling, making me want to shout in anger.

I shook myself. Get yourself together, Nyro.

What was done was done. I couldn’t sit here second-guessing my decision. Bianca knew what she was doing. She had survived the White Court for as long as I had survived the Black Court. I needed to trust her.

Taking a short inhale, I let go of the lamp post and walked toward the inn where I’d left Jigsaw. All I could do was retrieve him, head back to the Black Palace, and trust in Bianca.

After getting my horse, I changed back into my uniform in an alleyway and tossed the suit I’d bought for the disguise, leaving it next to a garbage bin, well in sight of any passersby who might have a need for clothes. Six months ago, I would have been incapable of such waste. The brand-new pants and jacket had cost good Chekes, and I discarded them more easily than if they were old rags.

Perspective was everything. Chekes had mattered when Timotei and I were hungry and needed food. Now, money meant nothing—not even barrels full of gold could make our lives better. Only freedom could, and it couldn’t be bought.

Twenty minutes later, after leaving Jigsaw with one of the Black Palace’s stable boys, I entered the Knight’s dormitory. When I closed the door behind my private quarters, I exhaled in relief. It was well past midnight and silence and calm surrounded me, unless I considered the echoes of struggle that still rang in the back of my ears, reminding me of the awful events of the night.

Wishing to wash away the guilt and restlessness, I peeled my clothes off and walked into the washroom. Forsaking the hot springs pool, I opted for a cold shower. It would clear my mind and help me accept that I’d done the right thing. If I’d stayed, things would have been worse for Bianca. Without me there, she would be able to come up with a lie that would explain everything to her advantage. There had been no witnesses, no one to contradict her. She would be fine.

After scrubbing my body until my skin felt raw, I shook my head, dislodging most of the water from my hair. A towel around my waist, I walked to the bed and collapsed on top of the blankets. I stared straight up, the image of Bianca’s stern expression and bloody uniform playing before my eyes without pause.

I wouldn’t have thought myself capable of sleep, but soon I drifted away, maybe because what waited on the other side were the vivid nightmares I deserved.

I didn’t know how long I slept, but it was still dark when someone yanked me out of bed and threw me down to the floor. I crashed with a thud, then slid across the wooden planks and collided against the fireplace, hitting my head at the edge of the stone hearth. White flashes of light exploded before my eyes as I tried to get my bearings. Before I could blink away the confusion, my attacker was on top of me, grabbing me by the shoulders and pulling me