“You think you're so important, and that all your feelings come before everyone else’s, hm?” He stood. “You don't even think about what's good for the kingdom. You missed my announcement, but this isn't for me. This is for the world. For vampires. I'm starting a war with all of them.”
My heart fell to the floor. My eyes shifted to Vesper, and the dread in them told me everything I needed to know.
“This whole time you've been searching for a purpose afterDaddyrefused to name you heir,” I said as I took one step forward. “You want to make yourself important. You want your name to go down in history to make up for the fact that our father didn't love you.”
He let out a growl.
“He never loved you either.”
I let out a laugh. “Unlike you, I spent my entire life here. Do you think that is new information to me? More importantly, do you think I care?”
People were making way for us, slowly moving to the sides of the throne room so that they weren't impeding the Royale.
I wanted to look at them. Wanted them to see the person that was going to take down this monster. But I didn't dare because he was suddenly in front of me, his hand grabbing my neck.
His grip was so hard and fierce that he easily picked me up off the floor, holding me up. His claws pricked my skin, drawing blood.
I struggled against him, grabbing his wrist to try to push him away, but he just smiled as if he found my struggle amusing.
“I had big plans for you.”
“You're not the only one,” I spat. “But you will be the last.”
I buried my hands in his hair, pulling with all my might, and then used what little leverage I had to ram my knee into his face. He underestimated me, and it was enough to catch him off guard.
In his shock, he let me go, and I used my chance to lunge at him and throw him to the ground, grabbing the crown off his head and stabbing it into his face.
He let out a yell, his hand catching my wrist and prying me away. Pain shot through me, his force almost enough to break my bones. I could feel them threatening to crack beneath his hold.
Something was happening in the bond, a trickle of an idea, just enough to call my attention to…
“Aurelia!”
It was the only warning I had before Vesper threw the Castle family sword at me with an almost incomprehensible speed.
I grabbed it in midair and, without hesitation, brought it down straight into his chest.
My brother's eyes widened. His mouth opened, disgusting, dark blood pouring out of it. I couldn't help but feel it was my mother's and all those other vampires he had stolen from. That was why it smelled so disgusting and looked rotten.
He shocked me by laughing. A full-force, crazed laugh that showed just how far gone he was.
“You really don't get it, do you?” His hand shook as he pulled the sword out of his chest without so much as a flinch, and then he sent me spiraling.
I turned around and got to my feet, trying to get some space between us, but he pierced my dress with the blade, stopping me in my tracks. I was quick enough to rip it and scurried back, missing a blow that would've meant his fist in my face.
I punched him, but he blocked it before it even got close. He was like a machine. Blood was pouring from his face and chest, but there was no stopping him.
“You can't kill me,” he growled and grabbed the corset of my dress. “But now, because of your idiotic actions, I have to kill you. Can't say that I'm sorry.”
My chest heated. I could smell magic as it shot through the air.
“What the?—”
Light burst from underneath my dress, and my brother was sent flying backwards.
The necklace Vesper gave me. The one with the bird feather she used Cedar’s magic to create.
It saved me.
