Chapter One
Kyella
“I’ll not bow to any of you.”
I was sure I would relive this moment over and over again—in my waking thoughts and hopefully in my dreams—replacing the nightmares of the past that visited me while I slept. I hoped it would chase away the darkness that often plagued my consciousness.
This was a memory that I would welcome with open arms.
It was the moment I was able to look someone who had tormented me for years in the eye, and for the first time, not feel an ounce of fear while doing so. To convey as much confidence and strength as I could while my wrists were bound behind my back and I was on my knees as a prisoner once more.
I had to force my smile to fall, to hide my fangs as they lengthened. My captors hadn’t seemed to notice the sharp points when I’d grinned, and I was damn thankful for their lack of observation.
Now that a plan started to form in my mind, I couldn’t risk them finding out my secret just yet.
What made this moment all that much sweeter was the flicker of apprehension in Holmeth’s eyes as my voice rang out. There wasn’t a trace of the Kyella he knew present within my words.
Of course, there was no doubt that version of myself still existed somewhere inside of me. I couldn’t simply shed my skin and become a whole new person overnight, but I could transcend the fear. I could put one foot in front of the other—pushing myself continuously forward—every time the terror and panic associated with my memories crept in. No matter what, though, I wouldn’t let fear paralyze me ever again, no matter how heavy each step forward felt.
“Oh, really?” Holmeth sneered, bringing his face within inches of my own, and the sensation of his hot breath fanning across my skin repulsed me.
He trailed the back of his fingers along my jawline with a featherlight touch, and unease trickled down my spine. Alarm bells rang loudly in my mind, and I found myself taken off guard at the vampyre’s movement. I hadn’t realized he was capable of touching someone gently like that, and a nearly overwhelming sense of dread filled me.
“Because you’re on your knees for me right now, Thrall, and with those wrists bound behind you…” He trailed off, his voice softer, yet the underlying threat in his words made it more lethal than before. He wanted to strike fear into me, to cause me to tremble and beg for mercy.
I wouldn’t.
My nose wrinkled as his scent assaulted my airways. The mixture of sweat, salt water, and mold clung to him like a second skin as his breath filled the space between us. My stomach churned. I kept my gaze pointed just past his shoulder, lips thinned as I stared at the wood encapsulating my prison and did my best to not look suspicious as I tried to clear my mind. I needed to figure out a feasible path out of here before I broke free of my bonds and dashed for freedom.
It seemed that the only way out of here was the one I could plainly see: the creaky staircase these wretched individuals had come down. Lifting my gaze for a brief moment to look through a small hole in the warped plank above us, I glanced at nothing but blue skies. There was no giveaway to what actually awaited me on the top deck if I were to escape. If I made it up there, I’d be flying blind.
While I couldn’t feel if the ship was moving through the water, the gentle rocking of it was slow and rhythmic, making me hopeful that we were anchored. It felt different from the gliding sensation as water slapped against the front of the boat that I had gotten used to on my journey to the Tridian Empire. I didn’t have much experience with ships other than my initial journey, but I was trying to deduce information the best I could in this situation. If we were anchored, I had absolutely no idea how far we were from the shore, though.
Could I swim the distance? Anxiety clogged my throat at the thought. I’d never had a reason to swim much in the past—I’d only ever really played in a few rivers as a child. I’d always been allowed to stand in shallow banks, so my confidence in my ability to swim any long distance in the ocean was slim to none.
Holmeth’s fingers trailed to the back of my neck, making my skin crawl. He squeezed down painfully onto the sides of my throat, and I heaved in a deep breath just in case he was trying to choke me into unconsciousness. Instead, he shoved my face into the dirty floor in one swift movement, catching me completely off guard. My cheek seared with pain, and I gritted my teeth tightly, forcing myself to take deep, even breaths to calm myself when his fingers loosened. I could have used my strength to stop him, but that would blow any semblance of a plan I had.
While I was aware my fangs were venomous to these vampyres, without my daggers, I was unsure of how I’d be able to get close enough to them to use my fangs in the first place. It seemed an impossible feat to accomplish without them capturing or injuring me further with their own weapons in such close quarters.
Sure, I could likely get to Holmeth quickly enough, but there were still two other vampyres to account for, each holding a dagger of their own. I didn’t doubt that there were more weapons hidden on them. While I didn’t know them, there was no way they were chosen to accompany Holmeth on this mission unless they were just as ruthless as him, which meant they were likely prepared for a fight at any moment.
My best bet was to wait for them to leave before finding a moment to break free and escape, coming up with a plan on the fly once I could see above deck. They had no clue I could shred the rope binding me in a second, and I was finding it increasingly difficult to not do it right now. Especially as I pictured my fangs ripping into the big bastard’s throat and watching the smug satisfaction in his eyes morph into the realization that his death was coming, and by my hand—or fangs. I could practically taste a sense of victory and pride at the idea of doling out his death.
Taking someone’s life wasn’t something I ever thought I’d be capable of doing, but when it came down to me over them…I would choose me every time. Despite the bloodlust raging through me, I knew that staying cool headed would be the difference between getting back to my men or being dragged to Malakai.
Suddenly, Holmeth pressed my face into the wood with renewed pressure, and I barely swallowed my desire to tell him to go fuck himself. I knew my ass was in the air in a compromising position, though, so maybe telling him that wasn’t the best move. I had no intention of drawing out their ire until I was ready to fight.
“You sure look like you’re bowing,” Holmeth goaded, making me bite down on my tongue hard enough to taste a metallic tang of blood flowing from the bite. It was all I could do to keep from spitting in his face.Bastard. “What do you think, Gregory?”
I think all of you can fall into the ocean and drown—thanks for asking what I think.
The pain that pulsated in my knee from being kicked had dulled quickly, but I knew there was an advantage in playing up my wounds a while longer. These men thought of me as the weak Thrall who once occupied the same castle as them, and that was fine. Their overconfidence and pride would be the reason they failed now. I’d make damn sure of it.
“Mmm,” the vampyre standing behind me—who I assumed was Gregory—spoke in a low baritone. “I’m not sure if she’s bowing or begging to be fucked in this position, Holmeth.”
I’m begging myself to have the patience to not give up my advantage so I teach every one of you manners in the moments before your death.
His words didn’t surprise me, and I couldn’t help the huff of indignation and disgust that came from me.
