His eyes widen with shock and he gives a strangled gasp.
His legs give way, his weight suddenly dropping onto my hand, which only takes my claws deeper into his chest.
He falls to his knees in front of me.
Both of us are now kneeling, facing each other.
I can tell he’s gasping for air, but even now, his focus flies to the feathers at my waist. He’s close enough to grab one of them and ram it into my heart.
His right hand moves, but my left hand is quicker. Despite its trembling, my aim is accurate, my claws driving forward through the back of his wrist and pinning his hand to his chest.
At that moment, my ears clear and sounds rush in.
He’s gasping for air, just like I thought, but he’s also speaking.
“…tell you whereThe Book of Old Magicis. Let me live…”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Why would the location of that book matter to me?”
“It can save… your keeper…” Black blood bubbles between his teeth. “Let me live… I’ll tell you… where it is…”
I exhale a quiet breath. “LikeThe Book of Dark Magicwas supposed to save my mother? No, thank you.”
With a terrible snarl, I rip my claws in opposite directions, cutting across my father’s chest and arms, tearing his body open before I let him fall to the floor.
The life fades from his golden eyes, the light in them becoming dull until they turn a washed-out yellow color. No longer golden. No longer powerful.
Just like that. He’s gone.
I rise to my feet, standing over him, conscious of the gore on my chest and arms and… well, it’s pretty much all over me.
“Anyone else?” I ask.
The room is silent.
I turn to cast my gaze across each of them, taking note of their faces. Strange seeing these faces for the first time today, and yet they are the faces of my future. Supernaturals who form this empire I came to claim.
I wait another moment, but nobody moves.
“The Nostra Empire is mine,” I say to them, my voice level and calm.
Still, nobody moves or speaks.
“I will not rule the empire like my father did. I have new rules.” I pin each of them with my gaze. “You may not like my rules, but if you follow them, you will have my protection. If you contravene them, I will mete out punishment in the form of death.”
I point at my father and then at the gargoyle king. They are my examples and I’m certain the images of them will be burned into the memories of these leaders for years to come.
“Do not challenge me. I will kill you,” I continue. “Do not come for my pack or my family. I will kill you.” I lift my chin and allow a smile to touch my lips. “Obey me and you will thrive.”
I extend my claws and growl at them. “Now choose: Fight and die. Or bow and live.”
The thick silence around me quietly breaks.
Whispered footfalls sound as the leaders and their generals step forward, forming lines on each side of the table.
In unison, they all take a knee.
The gargoyle woman raises her head first. “Ultima Nostra,” she says, her voice clear and strong. “Long may you reign.”
