The queen shook her head. “No. But I’m rather curious to see how the bite spreads.” Thalia’s head whipped up, pure terror flooding through her as the queen gestured Reina forward. “Unmask it, but watch out for its teeth.”
Reina did as she was told, unscrewing the mask from around the bitten’s face. As soon as the metal left the Vampyr’s skin, she lunged, teeth exposed. The two soldiers holding her tightened their grips.
“Please,” Thalia choked. “Don’t do this. You have what you wanted.”
The queen frowned. “I thought you would be pleased, Thalia. After all, weren’t you the one who wanted to kill him in the firstplace? Weren’t you so eager to go into Vaccarium to seek revenge? To stir up discord and watch the courts fall into ruin?”
Thalia’s head whipped to Cassius, her heart threatening to swallow her whole. “Cassius.”
He shook his head, eyes blazing. But not at her—not at her secret mission now revealed. His hatred was pinned on her mother, who watched the whole thing with an amused brow.
“Reina, if you please.” The queen waved a hand.
Thalia struggled more, but Kamith’s grip was iron. She cried, tears streaking down her cheeks, as the bitten was dragged closer and closer to Cassius, spittle flying through the air.
Cassius jerked, trying to fight his restraints.
“Please,” Thalia begged. “Please. I’ll do anything.”
The queen’s brows narrowed further with displeasure. “But, my dear, you’ve already done enough.”
Thalia screamed as the bitten lunged, its teeth sinking straight into the strong column of Cassius’s throat.
Thalia watched for what felt like a lifetime as the bitten gorged itself on Cassius’s blood. His face grew deathly white, his muscles tight enough to snap.
Finally, the queen waved another hand, and Reina and the guards pulled the bitten off. Blood leaked from Cassius’s neck, the front of his shirt soaked crimson.
“How long does it take?” the queen asked, eyes darting between them. “For the sickness to set in?”
“Fuck. You.” Cassius’s lip curled.
The queen flashed a viper smile. “Lock him up, and let me know when he starts … reacting.”
The soldiers shuffled, ready to drag him out. But Thalia caught Cassius’s stare, through the pain, through her own horror.
He mouthed the wordsTrust yourself.
Cold resolve steeled her spine. Cassius started struggling, creating the distraction she needed—
She slammed her boot down hard on the inside of Kamith’s foot. Kamith started, and she flung her head back, smashing against his nose.
Thalia used the same maneuver Reina had taught her as she twisted out of Kamith’s loosened grips.
Then she pressed her dagger to his lifeblood.
“Move, and I slice his throat,” Thalia snarled.
Everyone froze.
The queen slowly rose, eyes widening. “Thalia—”
She tightened her grip on Kamith, pressing the dagger hard enough that blood welled. “I mean it. Take one more step, and you’ll watch him bleed out.”
The queen held up her hands, her face slowly hardening. “What do you want?”
“Unchain him.” She jerked her head to Cassius. She could have sworn pride shone in his eyes as the queen jerked her head. His chains fell off.
“Everyone back off,” Thalia growled.
