I knew instantly when we entered the room; I could feel the change. The sun warmed my skin through the sheet. The electric sense of anticipation in the air was palpable. Voices murmured.
“What is this, warlock?” The tone sounded like that of a young boy, one on the verge of a tantrum.
“I thought the covering would add to the grandness of the ceremony, Your Majesty.”
Frustration laced the next words. “Not the sheet. I don’t care about that. However, I was very clear that my bull was to be left alone.”
“I did not bring the redheaded merman, sire.” Finn was able to keep his timbre steady and calm. I was surprised.
“I am aware of all of my mers, warlock. There is only one that is of this size.”
Without warning, the sheet was yanked from me and sunlight blinded my eyes.
“Explain or die, warlock.”
Blinking, I peered up into a young teenager’s face. Though angry, he had no real reaction as he looked down at me. His gaze traveled down my body, taking in my legs. No other emotion than anger.
I’d expected the room to explode into chaos when Finn at last removed the sheet and I grabbed the closest vampire and lit it up like a torch. Instead of fear, the only emotion the vampire radiated was fury. I guess a vampire king didn’t have much to be afraid of.
Instead of answering, Finn released his spell, turning me upright and letting gravity take over.
Acting as quickly as I could, my hands ignited and I grabbed for the king’s face.
A clap sounded as my hands closed on nothing. Then I was flying across the room and came to an abrupt halt as my body slammed into stone. I crashed to the hard ground, a tangle of vines snagging at my arms as I attempted to right myself.
I looked up just in time to see a dark blur rush toward me. Before I could react, another shape collided with it. The projectiles crashed into the wall next to me, and I scampered away, stumbling as I stood.
Finn was directly in front of me when I managed to get my footing. His mouth was open, ready to call out to the others, but he gaped instead. I turned to see what had caused his reaction.
The entire room was frozen in place. Even the vampires out in my peripheral vision didn’t move. Every being stood enthralled by the scene.
They remained there, feet entangled by the vines that been ripped down from the wall.
Genuine hurt was etched over the young king’s face as he stared at Sonia. “You betray me?”
Instead of responding, she whipped her head around, looking past me, toward the door. “Now!”
Her voice still echoed through the cavernous room when she turned back toward the king, her claws slashing at his throat as she whirled.
The king’s speed was so great that I didn’t see him move.
Blood spurted, covering his face.
Unable to make sense of what I was seeing through the blur of motion, I didn’t cry out until Sonia’s body crumpled at the king’s feet. Her throat was ripped open, back twisted at an impossible angle. Dark blood jetted over her black hair, splayed across the pink marble floor. Her eyes bulged wide, lifeless.
I flew at him, my body crashing into his as his foot arched down toward Sonia’s head.
The king only took a step backward at my impact, as his hand clasped around my neck and lifted me straight above his head so my feet didn’t touch the floor.
His nails pierced my throat, and I let the fire rush up from my core.
Another black blur collided with the king, ripping him away from me and sending my body reeling once more.
Even before I could turn to look, the wolf’s body was also flung away from the king.
A hair’s breadth from a bone-crushing impact with the wall, Shane froze in midair. With a gentle downward gesture from Finn’s outstretched arm, the wolf landed with all four feet on the ground.
Both Schwint and Newton zoomed past my head, their wings beating in a blur as I turned back toward the king.
