Her head reeled back as if she’d been slapped. “Your mother was too soft on you. You’d be a weak teddy bear if you’d have been left with her.”
“If you let her live, you mean?” Luka’s voice was absolutely venomous.
The crowd gasped at his declaration and Morgana stilled. “I would never. My own sister.” But her voice shook a little when she said it.
“But you convinced my father, didn’t you?” His voice could cut glass, and as I sifted through his emotions, I felt that he’d wanted to ask her this for so long. Wanting to know. I wanted to know what Morgana convinced his father of, that much was certain.
Did this woman kill his mom and force change him to make him into some strong vampire?
“Cut her heart out!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, and the crowd roared their approval.
Luka smirked, and then all hell broke loose.
The two vampires ran at each other with so much force and speed that the mats slipped and shook like an earthquake were erupting under their feet.
He had no weapon, and yet I felt through the bond that he had enough to kill her with his anger alone. He wore that fury both like weapon and shield, and I’d never felt prouder. Years had led up to and culminated to this point, and he was finally going to get peace over it. I felt everything he felt, like he was purposefully opening up and sharing it with me.
When they crashed into each other, there was a tumble too fast for my eyes to track, and then Morgana’s sword fell away from her, clattering outside the ring.
When they stopped moving, Morgana was on her knees, face red, Luka stood behind her with her neck clasped in his hands. He was going to rip her head off. The realization hit me and I flinched, preparing for it. Just as his biceps flexed to yank her head right off, she opened her mouth.
“I submit!” she wheezed.
Pure unbridled rage flooded Luka’s face and his grip tightened as he twisted her head slightly, adjusting his grip. Holy crap … I thought he wasn’t allowed to.
“Luka Drake!” one of the elders suddenly stood and screamed. “You will honor the Sire-Fledgling pact or you will have no place as king!”
Luka took three deep breaths, which was saying a lot since vampires didn’t need to breathe, and then he released her head.
The crowd went absolutely crazy, clapping, cheering, throwing people and objects into the air.
The announcer pulled the microphone to her lips and grinned. “May I introduce your new king, Luka Drake. Long may he reign.”
“Long may he reign!” the crowd shouted, and then broke into chants.
Morgana stood, a smug smile at her lips, and limped over to where her husband was seated.
Luka was still, his side wound and arm still weeping, slowed by the silver that was imbedded into the weapons. He wore an unreadable expression, and I wasn’t sure if he was proud of his accomplishment or saddened by it.
Shaking himself from his stoic appearance, he plastered on a smile and raised his hand into the air, which set the crowd off into another fit of cheers and throwing people and things. They were frantic, maniacal.
‘Bring Liv so it’s not suspicious and meet me in the feeder room,’he told me, and stepped offstage to be kissed and cooed over by Cassara.
I grasped Liv’s hand and motioned to the exit. “Feeder room,” I told her.
She nodded, totally getting my meaning.
Demi was wearing a grin. “I’m going to spread the good news to Sawyer. I’ll meet you back at the guest house.” Clearly she was overjoyed by the win, as I should be, but I couldn’t get over the sadness I felt that Luka was unable to take Morgana down and avenge his mother or whatever had happened to her.
Liv and I made quick work crossing the hallway and stepping into the feeding room. I slipped into Luka’s little closet while Liv waited outside. He opened the door on the adjoining wall, which I now saw was linked to the locker rooms we’d been in the other day. Seeing a glimpse of the showers made me blush.
The second he closed the door, I shoved my wrist in his face. “Drink. You’re hurt.”
He shook his head. “I drank from you right before. I’ll be fine.”
I frowned. “No,I’llbe fine. Drink.”
He shook his head. “I just wanted to see you.” He reached out and trailed his finger down my cheek and into the curve of my neck, causing goosebumps to race down my spine.
