The vampire, to my absolute shock, places its hand over mine and pushes the stake into its own heart. It crumples to my feet, and I turn to Riot, my eyes raking over the destructionof the bar—blood spatter, broken glass, and headless vampires everywhere.
“Fuck!” Riot screams and throws his sword on the ground and then a table at the wall. The wood splinters in a hundred directions, his Hunter strength still warping and whipping at his edges.
Shocked Hunters and smashed furniture I’ve sat in for a decade rip a stark pang through my chest.
Our normalcy is shattered.
Sobs snag my focus.Lou.
My heart wrings. This man meant the world to me.
Grace rushes past, spinning in the center of the bar, her expression wild.
My brow scrunches. “Grace?”
Her panicked eyes meet mine. “Where’s Sam?
CHAPTER 5
VEYA
Present Day
WE PAUSE THE CARRIAGES at the massive gates of the Northern Wall, and while the guards unlock the series of barriers, I climb the stone steps of my ramparts to greet my people. A queen does not just pass by those who serve and protect—she gets out of the fucking carriage andhonorsthem.
I step onto the landing of the wide wall, a frigid breeze sweeping past and into my bones. Males and females stand at attention under flaring torches as far as the eye sees. Cloaks billow and eyes flash red as I stride down the line of devoted soldiers who fight for the Night Kingdom with their entire heart.
They offer a bow as I pass.
I walk the entire wall, acknowledging every warrior, and it takes over four hours before I snap back toward the gate.
Time well spent and time we planned for in our tactical session yesterday. Ideally, we should have been resting, and I have no doubt Nerian is enjoying the thought of our discomfortfrom the moment his letter reached me and what it would take to get to him in a timely fashion.
And if this visit to Goreon results in war, I need to see my warriors one last time before hell rains down on us.
“Queen Veya, it’s an honor to see you this evening. I just got your note an hour ago,” Officer Holton says at the top of the steps, voice unusually tight with his concern.
My admiration for this male ignites my smile as I gaze up at the officer in charge of the Northern Wall. “How has the last week been?”
He shoves his hands in his pockets. “Nothing abnormal, no change.” His deep laugh floats between us. “Outside of winter setting in. Always makes life at the wall a bit unpleasant.”
Second steps beside me. “I don’t miss living up here,” he adds jovially.
I jut my chin.
Not helpful.
Second clears his throat. “As our correspondence stated, we hope our time in Goreon is no more than two weeks. But we’ll send word if it’s going to be longer than that.”
“Understood. And we’ll attack as planned if we don’t hear from you.”
“Good,” I say, a shiver clanging through me as the wind whips around us. “Thank you.”
Officer Holton looks down at me, eyes flashing red. “You’ve built a kingdom worth protecting. We will always bleed for it, Queen Veya. And no one will get past this wall.”
Warmth weaves through me against the nipping chill. “We’ll see you in less than two weeks,” I say firmly.
Holton steps aside so we can pass. “See you then, my queen.”
