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Sophia called the entire guard to her side Her brother was approaching from the front, but that wasn&039;t what unnerved her The Captain of her guard disappeared hours ago No one had seen her since The woman was either dead or a traitor Either way, Sophia wasn&039;t taking chances All re vampires were armed and called to the throne room where Sophia sat on her dais in the center of the rooht

Certainty washed over the Queen, as she counted her loyal vaht Then this entire charade could end It gave Sophia a chance to demonstrate her power No one would doubt her after this No one would challenge her for centuries With the huer than anyone ould dare challenge her, the King included

A Regent vampire stood to her left It was a position of power, a place of respect The vampire was pale and thin with tousled dark hair and a scattering of scruff along his jaw Sophia thought James looked unkempt, but it&039;s not like she could instruct hients were dragged from their rooms, from their homes, and ordered to protect the Queen Those who refused were executed Sophia didn&039;t earn her throne by being patient

Jaht ahead, his hands wrapped around a shotgun At one time vampires couldn&039;t be killed by such silly weapons, but now they eak A knife to the throat or a shot to the head stopped theain, Sophia burned their bodies until only ashes remained

Sophia&039;s eyes were locked on James, "Do you remember the first Deliverance Day?"

Jahtly before answering, "Yes,for you"

Sophia straightened in her throne, a pleased sht so That day ended well The hus finally shifted into our favor I intend to keep things that way" Sophia wanted a mirror, but her reflection faded h to be sitting there, co of irritation shot through her While it was safer to wait here, Sophia hated waiting "This is not hoon Deliverance Day," she said sreement, "That is correct You were bold on that day"

"I was bold that day and things ended infor the King to find me" She shook her head It made her brown curls bob around her face Sophia felt their sainst her cheek She breathed hard, a habit left over from her human years Sophia hardly ever felt fear, but when she did, her irl she was before she was changed Sophia&039;s hand lifted to her heart Although it didn&039;t beat, theinto her ribs filled her body It made her think the fear was real and not aher feet twitch in her satin slippers

Sophia stood slowly and looked over the room of vampires Her forces ell over two hundred As she rose, dark heads turned slowly toward her Their eyes watched her silky red gown, as the fabric fell into long sweeping folds at her feet and accentuated the narrowness of her waist A belt studded with rubies was just under her bust,her hips look non-existent, just the way she liked it At one tih to strike down her enehts with her brother kept ers at bay It worked, too, on all but one

Every set of eyes was on her Sophia held her head high, er - more aristocratic Her beauty was the envy of women, and the desire of men Sophia&039;s dark eyes narrowed as they swept over the roo"

"Your Majesty," one her guards spoke out "It is easier to protect you here We can predict with certainty that this location, guarding you in this position, is to your advantage"

Sophia stepped off the dais and swiftly crossed the roo The vaht whispers of shock, "She moves like the vampires of old" Before the flood, Sophia ift Her ancient body was powerful enough to fly, toseen She was ruthless and attacked without provocation The others feared her, and seeing this display of power relory of their Queen, and left theuard, Sophia looked him in the eye "You think we should hide like scared children? Do you not know your Queen is uard&039;s lips parted to reply, but Sophia didn&039;t give hi it from his body It thumped to the floor as his headless body teetered and fell Sophia didn&039;t even watch Instead she turned to her loyal subjects, sn the old ill return The poe once held as vaain Those who folloill share in it, and those who question aze fell back to the dead vampire on the white marble floor A pool of blackened blood oozed from his body It was inore him, but many of them refused to look They feared their Queen, Sophia could see it in their eyes The corners of her reddened lips pulled up, revealing her teeth They were glittering white The vampire&039;s in the roo their Queen as she smiled Some even leaned forward to see how sharp and beautiful her eye teeth had becos, Sophia said, "After tonight, we return to the old ways"

The va their Queen Without another word, Sophia turned toward the door, her cri around her ankles While she could float, Sophia didn&039;t want to expend the power, not with Kahli stillWhile she had a few extra drops of Kahli&039;s blood on hand, it was not enough Her supply would be diirl back, everything she gained would be lost There was one thing Sophia couldn&039;t stand, and that was losing

The vampires cheered behind her They lifted their voices, and their weapons, following their Queen out of the ballroorinned widely She would not lose this battle