“I could show you, if you’d like. Just stand in front of the cage. I’m sure I could summon another heave just from looking at you.”
His lips pulled back in a snarl, the rage in his eyes almost…funny. Maybe I was going insane.
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes and sit back, fisting the handkerchief tightly in one hand, while the other went to my stomach. Still had that bloated feeling to it, but it suddenly felt a little firmer.
My stomach rolled again, but this time, there was nothing left to puke up. Maybe the cramp hadn’t been a sign of somethingwrong, but a sign of the spell working.
Dante chuckled, though the dark glint in his eyes didn’t fade. “When we created the spell, we weren’t aware that you would be having twins, so it’s working a lot slower than we anticipated. But you’ll start feeling the effects now.”
My lips curled in disgust. The taste of vomit was stillstrong in my mouth, so the only small act of rebellion I could muster was spitting what was left at Dante. Not as powerful as actually puking all over him, and not as effective.
But to my great delight, the mage flinched. My spit landed on his perfectly pressed jacket sleeve, which he stared at in disgust.
“You bitch,” he hissed, jumping up again from his throne. “I knew humans were pathetic, but?—”
“How are you planning to handle two babies who are only ever going to spit up on you, Dante?” I asked, smiling.
He said nothing, sneering as he shucked off his suit jacket. It was odd that he didn’t just use magic to clean it. Instead, he handed it off to one of his guards, a mage I guessed, who made it disappear without a word.
I knew Dante was lazy, but that…That was something else. The male threw himself back onto the throne without a word, instead waving a hand, which somehow indicated to the demon running the show to start.
“The fight you’ve all been waiting for. Our very own brute, a warrior who has proven himself time and time again. Versus the beast that should not exist. A creature that shifts into something we’ve never seen before!” The crowd made its excitement known, their shouts ringing in my ears.
The demon went on to talk up the fight, but I couldn’t bring myself to pay attention to anything else he said, especially not with the knots forming in my belly. Not when fear spiked in my heart at the thought of having to watch my mate fight to the death against a creature who only wanted to survive.
Beside me, Dante laughed, a manic kind of cackle that had me turning towards him. “What?” I snapped.
The false king lazed, throwing his head back as he continued to laugh. “Oh,” he said finally, looking over at me as he did, “this is going to be delightful.”
My lip curled as I shook my head. “No, this is just unnecessary violence. I don’t know why your soldiers don’t see that.”
“Because they followme,” he growled. “They don’t need tosee anything unless I allow them to. I’m not a benevolent King, Ivy. I’m a force, a true vessel of the Gods. He who came before me wasweak. He let himself get killed. But me? I am the epitome of greatness. Iamthe true king. And they will all see that in due time.”
36
Xerxes
Iremembered nothing after seeing her on that bed with the female witch standing over her, pouring magic into my fated’s abdomen.
There was blood on my hands, though. Dried and old. In flashes, it came back to me slowly; tearing into my handler as I shifted. The soldiers who tried to hold me down, to keep me away fromher, dying as I ripped their heads off with no remorse. They’d tried to protecthim. Their false king, who stood by while I slaughtered them. Who only stepped in when I went to save my mate.
Then, there was only darkness where my memories should have been.
My mind was still covered in a deep, thick fog that made it hard to break free of. The sound of cheering cut through the ringing in my ears from the poison used to keep me compliant.
The bars of the cage emitted a soft glow, a pungent smell coming from somewhere behind me. I could barely lift my head, the chains and collar so heavy it made moving difficult. My vision was blurry, but I could faintly make out the stands of the arena, as well as the thousand or so soldiers from around the compound surrounding me.
I recognised the bear’s hulking frame and dark fur from theold village. I remembered fighting him there. He was locked in a cage like my own across the arena.
If I understood the words ringing through the air now, then I would have to fight him.
The fur on the back of my neck prickled, an unfamiliar sensation washing over me. The brand from the small female burned. It felt like it was sinking deeper into my flesh.
But it wasn’t painful. I expected it to hurt, the feeling to bring an ache, but neither came. Instead, I felt stronger.
It shouldn’t be possible, but the faint pull of my magic was there.
My heart raced as I tried to lift my head again. My body was still weak with whatever the false king had done to me, but I could just see above the cage across from me.
