Chapter 6 The Contract
~Silver's Pov
A sharp knock at the door made me flinch.
"Silver, we need to talk."
Arthur's voice cut through the room, and my blood went cold.
"Now."
I sat frozen in bed, hands still gripping the silk sheet. How much time had passed here? Hours? Days? Had anyone noticed Silver's body lying unconscious? Or had nothing happened at all?
Another knock. Sharper.
"Silver."
I forced myself to move. Swung my legs over the side of the bed, silk nightgown twisting around my thighs. My bare feet hit the cold floor.
Think, Sarah. Think.
What was the last thing that happened before I vanished? The interrogation with Raven. Arthur was in the hallway asking if I still loved him.
Right. So he probably wasn't here to apologize.
"I just want to talk," Arthur said through the door.
I smoothed down the nightgown and tried to compose myself. Whatever was dragging me back and forth between worlds, I needed to figure it out. Later. Right now, Arthur was on the other side of this door, and from the tension in his voice, he wasn't going away quietly.
I crossed to the door and opened it just wide enough to see him.
Arthur stood in the hallway, still in formal attire from what looked like yesterday. His golden hair was disheveled, like he'd been running his hands through it. Dark circles shadowed his eyes.
When his eyes met mine, something flickered across his face. Relief? Confusion?
"What is it?" I kept my voice level.
"I..." He glanced down the hallway, then back at me. "May I come in?"
"No."
His jaw clenched. "Silver, we need to discuss—"
"Discuss what, exactly?"
He took a breath, like he was gathering patience he didn't have. "I'm representing Father at a diplomatic summit next week. In the eastern territories. I need you to accompany me."
Need. Not want. Interesting choice of words.
"Me?" I raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"We're married," he said, like I'd forgotten. "Married couples attend these functions together. The alliance between the crown and House Noir—"
"How traditional of you." I leaned against the doorframe. "Unfortunately, I'm busy. Find another accessory."
I started to close the door.
His hand caught it. Palm flat against the wood.
"Silver."
I waited.
He stared at me. His mouth opened, then closed. Like he'd prepared words that no longer fit.
"You didn't ask what the summit was for," he said finally.
"Should I have?"
"You usually do." His brow furrowed slightly. "You usually ask... everything."
I said nothing.
The silence seemed to unsettle him more than any argument. He studied my face—searching for something familiar, maybe. Finding less than he expected.
"Are you unwell?"
"No."
"Then what's—" He stopped himself. Jaw tight.
"What's what?"
He shook his head slowly. "Nothing. Forget it." He pulled his hand back sharply and turned away. "Just... forget it."
He paused at the end of the corridor.
"One more thing. Your brother arrives today."
Vincent. The name surfaced from my memories of the novel. Silver's half-brother. They'd been close as children before her marriage. And one of the Male lead of the novel.
Shit.
"Why?"
"My father requests his presence," Arthur said. "Just wanted to let you know."
Right. Vincent was one of the King's shadows—the network of agents who did the crown's dirty work. He wasn't here to see his sister. He was here on official business.
"I see." I kept my voice neutral. "I'll be expecting him."
Arthur walked away without another word.
I closed the door slowly and leaned against it, mind racing.
Vincent, the half-brother of Silver, Someone who might recognise immediately that I wasn't her.
This just got a lot more complicated.
\~~~
I moved to the wardrobe and pulled out something more practical than a nightgown. A deep blue dress with silver embroidery.
I was halfway through unlacing the silk when a voice spoke behind me.
"You look different."
I spun around, nightgown slipping off one shoulder.
Raven leaned against the wall near the window, red eyes gleaming like he'd been there the whole time. Watching.
I didn't bother fixing it. Let him look.
You don't knock?" I grabbed the dress and moved behind the changing screen. "Or is spying a vampire tradition?"
"Oh, forgive my intrusion," he said, looking away.
"How flattering—an ancient vampire begging forgiveness." I stepped behind the changing screen. "I thought you were still in the cell."
"I was never truly imprisoned." His voice held dark amusement. "And you know it."
I pulled the dress over my head. "So what is it?"
"I wanted to see you." His tone gave nothing away.
When I emerged from behind the screen, Raven was examining the portraits on the wall. Almost gentlemanly, if you ignored the predatory stillness and glowing red eyes.
He turned to face me. "I came to discuss our arrangement. You promised to resurrect her. I want to know how."
"That's my concern, not yours."
"Everything about this is my concern." His voice dropped, dangerous. "You claim you can bring back someone who's been dead for two centuries. Yet I can't sense any magical powers in you."
Here it was. The question I'd been dreading.
"I sealed my powers." I smoothed the dress, keeping my expression cool.
It wasn't entirely a lie. Silver had sealed her powers for the Prince, trying to gain his trust. The problem was figuring out how to unseal them.
Love is a beautiful thing, isn't it?
Now he moved closer, red eyes studying me. "Sealed your own magic?"
"Precaution."
"Against what?"
"Reasons best known by me."
"You're lying."
I shrugged. "So what if I am? You want me to prove it?" I leaned against the table. "Believe me or don't. Your choice."
His eyes narrowed, searching for cracks in the story. I didn't give him any. The silence stretched.
Finally, he nodded slowly. "I do."
"Good." I crossed my arms.
"What is it you want?" he asked. "In exchange for bringing her back."
Here it was. The real negotiation.
Raven was always vulnerable when it came to his loved ones. I could use that.
"I need to kill someone," I said. No point dancing around it. "Someone very important. And I need your protection while I do it."
His eyebrows rose slightly. "You want me to kill someone for you."
"No." I shook my head. "I want to kill them myself. Your job is protection."
He circled closer, predator assessing prey. "If you're capable of killing this person yourself, why do you need my protection?"
"Because I need someone loyal. Someone I can trust not to betray me when things get complicated."
"You know you can't trust me," his voice was soft, dangerous. "Not if you know my kind."
"I know exactly what you are." I didn't flinch. "That's why I'm proposing a blood contract."
The room went completely silent.
Raven stopped moving and stared at me like I'd suggested we burn down the palace.
"A blood contract," he repeated slowly.
"Yes."
He laughed. The sound died when he saw my expression.
"You're serious."
"Yes I am." I leaned forward. "I have everything to lose after helping you. What's stopping you from killing me the moment I resurrect her?"
His expression shuttered. "I wouldn't—"
"You don't know what you'd do." I cut him off. "You've spent centuries mourning her. You'd burn the world to have her back."
He said nothing. Because I was right.
"The contract protects us both," I continued. "You help me survive. In exchange, I bring her back."
"And if you can't?" His voice was barely above a whisper.
"Then you'll have lost nothing but time." I met his eyes. "But I won't fail."
He stared at me, red eyes searching for deception. I let him look.
Two centuries. He'd searched for two centuries and found nothing. I was his first real hope in lifetimes of disappointment.
And he knew it.
Finally, slowly, he dropped to one knee.
The gesture was so sudden, so unexpected, that I froze.
An ancient vampire lord. Kneeling before me.
This was really happening.
"I accept your terms." His voice was low, reverent.
I stared down at him, my heart pounding. Something in me said this wasn't right. But another part—a darker part—knew it was exactly right. This was power. Real power.