“Oh, Cassie,” she said, pity lighting those abysmal eyes.
My hands shook, anger and hurt flaring, my skin growing hotter. I didn’t know which would be worse: if I’d lost my friend, or if she’d never been my friend to begin with.
“When you and your parents moved to town, I felt it immediately. I quickly sought you out to convert you, but you were so young, and you had no memories or use of your magic. So, I waited.”
That last sentence nearly broke me.
My best friend… she’d never truly been that. She’d found me simply to use me.
“Why didn’t you just convert me when you found me in that alley?” I bit out, tears threatening to fall. I wouldn’t do it, wouldn’t give her the satisfaction but, God; I couldn’t bear this, couldn’t bear the thought of Kat—
She’d never been real.
Melantha’s eyes narrowed. “That was the original plan. I hoped encountering my darklings might somehow trigger your memories, that your powers might resurface.”
I ground my teeth together, my hands clenching into fists at my sides as a coy grin formed on her lips. I couldn’t stomach the sight of it. It washersmile, that smart smile she’d always made when she was eager to cause trouble or tease me. It was tarnished now, a smile that was once part of so many fond memories, was now a smile that would haunt me.
“Sadly, there was no magic, not even a hint. So, I encouraged you to join your long-lost mate. Surely, your other half would be enough to bring forth those memories and the powers lying dormant. To my disappointment, nothing happened, and when I had Marcus try again, nothing changed.” She shifted her weight, and the darkness swirled in her eyes. “There was no point in converting you without your magic. You would’ve just become another darkling.” Her annoyance painted her tongue as she said, “a weaker one at that.” She let out a breath. “So, I had Marcus take you, rough you up a bit, put you in danger.”
I winced as the mention of it brought forth memories; the blinding pain I’d felt as he’d forced his way into my mind, the markings he’d carved into my body, the scars he’d left. She’d done this, orchestrated it all, and then looked me in the eye when I’d returned to my parents’ house as if none of it was her doing. I thought I might be sick. She’d hugged me that night, shared how relieved she was that I was alive, had made me tea. My skin crawled as horror surged within me. She’d been with my parents alone.
She huffed a laugh, my skin crawling at the sound of it. “And what do you know, it worked. Your memories began to resurface, the soul rising to defend its host, and your magic bloomed.”
My eyes shifted to Cole, whose black eyes remained on me. He looked tired, his tawny skin pale and dull. He didn’t speak, simply stood at Melantha’s side, as if he were a willing soldier waiting for his orders. He looked nothing like the Cole I’d known.
“Is that really you standing there, Cole? Or is your mind corrupted?” I asked, and a cruel grin formed on Melantha’s face. Cole didn’t respond, didn’t even react, and my stomach dipped.
“You like my handy work? He was the first. He didn’t display the results I’d hoped, but that’s okay. He was the beginning of my... experiments,” she said as she pushed herself up to her toes to trace a claw along his jawline, her tongue passing over her serrated teeth. “It’s taken time to perfect, but just wait until you see my newest projects. They’re far closer to what I’d hoped he’d become, more than simple puppets.”
Cole’s eyes flickered for a moment before he returned to that stonelike glare. What did she mean by projects? Unease settled into the pit of my stomach as my gaze briefly switched to Cody. My heart twisted at the sight of him, at the utter heartbreak marring his face.
“Sadly, very few immortals we’ve taken have survived the trials,” Melantha started, and my heart lurched.
“The innocent immortalsyourdarklings kidnapped in the night? You’re using them for some sick experimentation?” I asked, anger flaring. The poor immortal female who’d been bitten flashed across my mind, her agonizing pleas echoing across my thoughts.
“Those exact ones,” she said, coy grin remaining on her face, her head tilting to rest against Cole’s shoulder.
My chest heaved as I stared her down. I had to let go. I had to push past the building agony. This wasn’t Kat. Kat never truly existed. The woman standing before me, whose black eyes lingered on Cole as if he were some prized piece of art, was a monster. She’d ruined everything, killed thousands. My mind spiraled, every memory of the cruelty Damien and I had faced at her hands resurfacing; the healers, countless immortals, and humans who’d been killed during the battle of The Fall of Kingdoms… Marcus, who’d been corrupted and manipulated… Vivienne… Lydia and Aurelia, who’d had to lay their mate and father to rest…
Barrett…
“You’re the reason for all our suffering,” I said through gritted teeth, my blood boiling, my skin growing hot. “You took Barrett from us.”
Her grin widened, her gaze heavy against my skin as she watched me from the corner of her eyes. “Yes, I did. It was supposed to be you, though.”
It was like a punch to the gut.
It should’ve been me. It should’ve been me.
“We’d come for you that night, but no, someone had to go and be a hero,” Melantha scoffed, as if Barrett’s sacrifice were a mere annoyance. My skin turned molten, anger rising to the surface in the form of flames begging to be released. “You should have been mine the night Moonhaven fell.”
I stiffened.
She inspected her black claws as she continued. “I wasn’t yet strong enough to fully control them, and they were too driven by their hunger. They killed you before you could turn.”
She’d been around when Moonhaven fell? I thought she’d first appeared before The Fall of Kingdoms. Did Damien know?
“I don’t understand,” Cody muttered, and my gaze snapped to him as he took a step forward. “We watched you.Iwatched you.”
