“I’m well aware of what you’ve done for our coven,” I say as I pry his hands away. “You remind us every day of this miserable existence.”
Yes, Egor, I know your secret. I know exactly why you’ve been so desperate to get me to take another Familiar. I know all of the reasons why you want the magic back at its full capacity in our realm. As if he can hear my thoughts, Egor’s eyes narrow and I brace myself for another assault.
“Enough of this.”
My father’s tired voice carries over the commotion. My gaze shifts to see him pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Egor, you know that our magic is weak. Knox and I were with you when you went above ground to get rid of the woman. There is a possibility that since we are so close to the time of the ritual, your compulsion has weakened. It’s no secret that my own powers are waning. When the family of witches cursed us to live underground, they made it clear that an eternity of darkness with only one night every fifteen years to harvest the mortals above was our price. The magic that strengthens us is waning, Egor. You’re not the first to suffer and you will not be the last.”
I try to hide my surprise. My father is actually going along with what I’m saying? Has it begun to snow outside as well?
Egor huffs and returns to his seat. When my eyes meet my father’s, his gaze hardens as he examines me. He knows I’m keeping something from him. I can only hope he will understand my reasons for it.
I can’t tell him about Danni being my mate. Fathers have killed their sons for a lot less in our realm, and his love for me will never surpass his love for power.
“Egor, just to be safe, tell us again what happened that night.” Damon’s voice cuts through the tension; his brows furrow, deep in thought as he takes a long drink from his goblet.
Egor closes his eyes and tilts his head down in exasperation. That egotistical mask slips for just a second, revealing how tired he is, how weak. A shell of the powerful man he once was. I revel in it, despite knowing that we are all feeling the effects ofmy handiwork, thanks to the ritual not being fully completed for decades.
I’ve worked so hard to get them all to this point. I hate that I have to throw it all away on some girl.She’s not just some girl though, is she?I push the thought away; letting it in makes it that much harder to conceal my truth from the others.
We’re monsters and we deserve to die. Danni will be giving them all the elixir of life once she becomes my Familiar. Everything will go back to how it was.
Egor begins his retelling of the events that took place that night, but I only half listen. A hollow ache begins to carve itself deep in my chest, an ache that takes the shape of the woman who wants to kill me.
The woman who may or may not be my greatest enemy.
22
Danni
Betty’s cold and clammyhands wake me from my deep sleep.
“Miss Danni, you must wake up. Your training is about to start, you are very late!”
What the fuck?
I open my eyes to find myself back in Knox’s bed. His stupid scent keeps fogging up my brain and lulling me into a false sense of security. I will need to scold him later for putting me in here instead of my own bed. The bond hums happily inside my chest. I take that to mean it’s happy I’ve spent the night close to him again.
“What do you mean, training today? Knox never—” But I’m cut off by a very high-pitched voice that should never be heard so early in the morning. Great, it’s Celeste.
“Knox isn’t very good at communicating. Besides, he’s been busy cleaning up your mess from last night. Now get your assout of bed before I drag you out!” Blondie rips back the sheets, earning a disapproving look from Betty as cool air stings my skin.
I groan at them both. “What do you mean, my mess? Where is that asshole anyway?” I swing my legs over the side of the enormous bed and pad my way over to the bathroom.
“Asshole? Aren’t you supposed to be under his spell?” Blondie chimes in as I splash my face with ice cold water to wake myself up.
Ah, fuck…
I shouldn’t be allowed to speak before a cup of coffee.
“Well, yes, I’m head over heels, but that doesn’t make him any less of an asshole.” I can tell I’m doing nothing to rectify the situation.
“Oh, yes, he’s definitely an asshole. But you’re going to have to do better than that if you’re going to impress The Five with your act.”
“By the way, why do they call themselves The Five when I only met four last night?”
I stare at my reflection in the mirror. My skin is even paler than yesterday and the bags under my eyes are starting to become more prominent.
