I gasp for breath, the sting of the loss burning like nothing I’ve ever experienced, deeper and harsher than Lou, as a station leader goes down in his Hunter form.
My step falters down the top step of the dais, and Grace’s face flashes with alarm.
“Ned is down!” I yell, slashing through another vampire.
Our focus shifts to the other side of the dais, where Ned lies at Longton’s feet.
Master Hull leaves Sam, racing to help Longton as vampires take the opening.
The legion fights harder and moves faster as my magic communicates the loss, and the anger within us boils into fierce action.
And as if the sword went through my own neck, I sense another Hunter from the Eastern outfit die, his magicwhispering away in the antechamber, as a tear slides down my cheek, my soul bruised with a wound that feels like it will never heal.
Pain stacked upon pain demands me to carry a profound burden.
Swinging my sword, I take down two vampires running up the stairs, corralling my focus on a single task, begging my heart to hold on.
“Papa!” Grace screams over the mayhem.
Another round of agony shoots through my chest, unbearable and ruthless.
My gaze jerks to the sword through Master Hull’s heart, searing into my memory.
He smiles at us before he collapses, and his magic leaves this world.
CHAPTER 21
VEYA
Present Day
WELL, WHAT’S the throne-winning secret?” Emmanuel pushes, a chunk of rusted metal flying across his cell from the lock withstanding continued knife practice.“Nerian is prideful and ruthless, but he’s also a coward,” Del says, his chest flexing as he leans forward, elbows over his knees.
My eyes catch on his calves and the strength in his thighs, and I beg myself not to be distracted by a long-ignored need.
Emmanuel summons his knife. “That’s not a secret.”
Del glares at my assassin. “Let me fucking finish, then.”
I sigh and shift my attention from this sculpture of a male to the conversation. “Gentlemen, let’s use our privacy wisely. I doubt we have much longer.”
Del nods at me. “As with any intelligently designed castle that wewon’tbe destroying, there are hidden rooms, passageways. Places for a king to hide when he doesn’t want tobe found.” Del pauses to look me in the eye. “And I know his favorite place.”
I smile at the king’s second. A genuine, thankful grin, because it’s impossible to kill a king who can’t be found.
“Do tell,” I say.
“On one condition,” Del says, and my eyes narrow on him.
“I’ll entertain it,” I reply.
Del clears his throat. “Whenwe win this thing, consider letting me remain as second in Goreon.” He holds up his hands, muscles flexing under his movement. “Justconsider it.”
My mouth parts. And I respect him for not demanding it as a condition. But still. “Things need to be done my way, held to my standards,” I say.
“I understand, and you’ve proven yourself in that regard. However, you’d be a fool to dismiss that we would be better together, stronger. I know Goreon intimately. I can help you make the choices the people want. I’d be invaluable to you. I swear it.”
I nod. I’m not in disagreement, but Second possesses his position in my life for a reason. You can’t build that kind of trust in a week.
