They are my family, and I will find a way to keep them safe, no matter what.
We’re escorted down several halls, but I’m too on edge to pay attention to the details of this place beyond the directions. Our steps echo through the cavernous spaces that make up this castle. It’s an ominous sound that sends a rush of adrenaline through me. I do my best to catalog the lefts and rights we take. I can tell by the looks on the faces of others in my group that I’m not the only one.
Large black lacquered doors swing open, and we’re led into a very long empty room. At the far end of the massive space, there’s a large throne with three smaller thrones positioned on each side of it. A boom echoes around the vast space as the doors are closed behind us, and the black clad guards immediately separate to line the outside walls of the room. I recognize one of the guards as a guy I stabbed in the fight earlier.
Everyone is silent. Suryn looks pissed off, and Ory just looks bored as he cleans dirt out from under his nails with a dagger.
“All hail Sovereign Finella, Leader of the Marked, Ruler of Tierit, Blood Savior, Walker of Realms and Gate Keeper,” a voice bellows out in the room, his announcement bouncing off the cream stone walls and ramping up my unease.
I hear the telltale sound of synchronized marching first, and then I spot the guards as they perform some synchronized stepping bullshit either meant to impress or intimidate. It does neither for me. They part to reveal an older woman, maybe late fifties, who is so fair she almost looks albino.
Her white hair is sleek and straight, the gold ornate crown on her head reflected in the sheen of her tresses. She doesn’t look our way as she strolls up to the biggest throne. I’m shocked that the Sovereign is a female. I don’t know why that sends a spark of hope through me, and I try to dismiss the irrational relief.
Beth was a woman, I remind myself as I take in the Sovereign as she seats herself. Her sleeveless gown is red and more revealing than I’d think a queen would be down for. Slits up the side of the gauzy fabric reveal milky white, toned legs. A plunging neckline reveals cleavage that’s not as perky as it probably once was.
I spot four runes on her shoulder, four runes running horizontal over her left breast, and one between her eyebrows. I’m surprised by the lack of markings other than those. I figured the leader would be even more decked out than I am. More figures are led in behind her, but they’re hidden by the guards as they do their synchronized entrance thing. The guards eventually part, revealing a man.
His dark skin is a surprising contrast to his unusual eyes and pure white hair. His pupils are the lightest shade of purple I’ve ever seen, and I’m mesmerized by the one of a kind color. He watches me curiously as he moves toward the thrones. I look from him to the entrance and catch sight of the other person behind him. Acrid rage burns through me. How is this possible? Golden red eyes meet mine, and everything inside of me screams with blistering fury.
How the fuck did Adriel get here?
I claw at my neck needing to make sure there’s nothing there. But I don’t feel any relief when I just feel my skin under my nails. I watched that piece of shit turn to ash in front of my eyes. This doesn’t make any sense. I call on my long sword and take a step forward before I even know what I’m doing. Growls and statements of shock ring out around me from all of my guys, and Becket quickly falls into step next to me as we both begin to sprint toward Adriel. I’ll fucking make sure the piece of shit stays dead this time.
12
“Vinna, no!” ricochets off of me, but I don’t care. All I see is red. All I feel is the need to fucking end him once and for all. Shouting fills up the chamber, and the shields from my runes activate to keep orbs from touching me.
Adriel’s eyes widen with surprise. Satisfaction percolates through my acrimony and bloodlust.
“You better fucking be afraid,” I shout at him as I close the distance.
Someone tackles me from behind, and I thrash to get out of their hold. I need to fucking kill him. I scream as I fail to break away from whoever has me. Chaos erupts all around me, and the sounds of fighting hit my ears. Fangs sink into my shoulder, and pleasure courses through me, battling for control with the need for vengeance raging through my veins.
“Vinna, focus,” Siah demands, and then he bites me again. I groan from the sensations his bite sends flooding through my system and whimper because I don’t want to be feeling them right now. I want to be feeling Adriel’s body turning to ash in my hands.
Siah licks at my neck, and I try to buck him off of me.
“Vinna, listen to me,” he orders and then flips me onto my back. I release the long sword in my grip, not wanting to hurt him, but I’m fucking pissed.
“Get. The. Fuck. Off. Me,” I snarl, ignoring the clanging of weapons now sounding off all around me.
“Vinna, think it through! How did Adriel survive?”
“I don’t know!” I scream at him, panic and anger bleeding out of my tone.
“You watched him die, Vinna. He turned to ash right in front of you. What else would make more sense here?” Siah demands, his eyes pleading with me to get something, but I have no fucking clue what it is.
“Siah, if you love me, you will get the fuck off of me right now!” I shout into his face, my demand cracking with frenzied emotion. It’s like everything I’ve been feeling and battling inside is leaking out of me in this moment.
“It is because I love you that I can’t let you up, not until you understand, my mate,” he whispers softly into my ear, and I can hear the grief in his voice. “That is not Adriel.”
Siah’s declaration and the hurt that I know he’s feeling by doing what he’s doing to me right now smash through my need to kill. I blink, stunned, as I try to wrap my brain around what he’s saying.
Adriel’s voice fills my head as I think back on the things he told me while holding me prisoner.
“He shouldn’t have been Chosen; it should have been me!”
“Who shouldn’t have been Chosen?”my voice demands as the memory echoes in my mind.
