I can sense terrible things in her scent and magic: the allure of death.
Nebet licks over her busted lip. “You’re a feral creature. A beast. But I will train you to channel that rage. You will become my best assassin.”
Assassin?
I am a prince.
I’ll tear out my enemies’ hearts and devour them but I won’t become a tool for someone else. I especially won’t work for this priestess who would take me from my brother.
My gaze blazes.
Nebet leans closer.
Her ribbons strangle me for a terrifying single moment, before easing the pressure.
My neck aches, and I painfully swallow.
Nebet’s red lips graze my ear. “The Scarlet Temple worships pleasure and death. They are both primal desires. Youaredeath. The only Shadow Vampire with The Power: animalism. You’re a little monster but you will becomemymonster. I petitioned that you be executed at birth, but the King begged on his knees, such an adorable sight, weeping for mercy.This…what happens tonight…is that mercy.”
I bite harder on the ribbon in my mouth.
Nebet’s lips pinch.
She touches her fingers to my forehead. “The priestesses have the ability of visions. Shall I show you what happened to your ancestors who were born with The Power?”
I attempt to struggle and shake my head, but she presses harder with her fingers.
…the agony of burning flames…peeling skin…gasping for breath as my head is pushed under water…weeping as I am knocked to the ground, and the soldier raises his mace…beingbent over an ornate silver altar that sears my skin, while a blade rests against my throat and then slices…
My scream is muffled by the ribbons, as I blink back into my body.
I am staring at the red veil of the High Priestess, shivering in the cold night air.
I am shaking. I can’t stop. The spirits of the tomb feel more alive than they ever have, whispering mournfully in my ears.
That’s what was done to my ancestors simply because they were born with The Power…? Because they were Bloods who could shift and control animals?
I’ll avenge them. Somehow.
Nebet thinks that I’m just a weak child — a little fang — who she can scare into obedience through these visions.
Yet I’ve never been just a child.
Just a Blood.
Just anything.
The Power lives in me alone. And now I know what has been done to my people, my bloodline, Nebet has lit a fire in me that will never go out.
I glare at Nebet.
Her lips curl into a snarl like she expected to break me with the visions and is disappointed with my reaction. She wrenches her hand back, raising it to backhand me.
“Anything,” Lazarus pleads, pulling himself to his knees. “I will do anything, as long as you don’t hurt my brother.”
I wish that I could see Lazarus.
At least, if he could see me, I would be able to tell him toshut his fanged mouth.
