We came upon a room that had two open double doors with a vampire guard at each side. Again they bowed, and Luka took my hand into his and waltzed inside like he owned the place.
The second we entered, my eyes flitted about the room, taking in its occupants. Along the far wall sat the elder vampires. They leaned back casually in their high-backed chairs and stared at us with unreadable expressions.
Standing front and center in the room was a female witch. She wore a black cloak and had long, silky, dark hair that cascaded over one shoulder. Her dark cherry red lips were pursed as she looked at Luka and I, but when I got to her eyes, I saw a kindness there.
“King Drake.” She bowed her head slightly in respect.
Luka tipped his head back to her. “Where is the rest of the council?”
“Dealing with another issue. Today I am your judge, jury, and possible executioner.” If not for a playfulness in her tone, I would have pissed myself. How could she joke about a thing like this?
He extended his hand. “I assure you, I’ve done nothing wrong.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Eager.”
“I have more pressing matters to meet with my elder council about,” he informed her.
I blushed. He was talking about us getting married.
“I see.” She nodded curtly. “Please unclasp your hands so I can read you one at a time. I would like to read the lady first.”
Nervous energy thrummed throughout my body, but I nodded.
Dropping Luka’s hand, I reached out to the woman. I flinched, every muscle in my body preparing to be electrocuted, but when our skin touched there was no pain. The moment she took my hand, I felt a presence invade my mind. It was the weirdest thing. It was like my brain was pinched tightly for a second, and then a slithering feeling slipped through it.
“Show me the night Cassara Drake was killed,” she commanded.
My thoughts went to the night Cassara slipped into my bedroom and roused me from sleep, and then suddenly the far wall lit up with the images. It showed me in the bed, Cassara with her hand over my mouth. I gasped at the shock of seeing my own memories played out like a movie.
“Wake up, little bitch,” Cassara’s voice echoed throughout the room and the elders shifted nervously in their seats. I swallowed hard, a shiver running down my back. She cracked me over the head and then the screen went black for a moment. Next to me, Luka growled possessively.
The wall then opened up to the scene in the castle room where Cassara had me tied to the chair. I whimpered as she drove the knife into my gut after I’d confessed being bonded to Luka.
“Bonded!” one of the elders shouted to us.
Crap.I hadn’t thought about that secret coming out here.
‘Don’t worry,’was all Luka told me.
Staring at a moving image of yourself with a knife sticking out of your own gut was beyond traumatizing, but then the scene shifted to where Luka barged in.
“She’s my bonded feeder,” Luka’s voice rang out from the movie screen, “By attempting to kill her, you’ve attempted to kill me. I hereby sentence you to death as a traitor.”
I winced at the gruesome scene of Luka killing Cassara all over again.
The screen faded and the witch released my hand. “Thank you, Aspen.” There was a kindness to her voice, as if we’d shared something intimate and she was respectful of that.
I liked her.
Holding her hand out to Luka, she looked at the elders. “I will make sure their versions align. That no magic was involved to trick me.”
They just nodded.
Rather than the scene play out again, the witch just peered at Luka, her eyes going glassy. Her brow furrowed and mouth turned down before lifting back up. It was as if she was living through a lifetime of memories in that one moment. Tears lined her eyes and I suddenly knew she was looking into more than just that night with Cassara. I wanted to know what she saw. Was it true Luka killed his own father? Had he been there when his sister and mom died? I wanted to know it all and I didn’t. After a moment, she dropped Luka’s hand and blinked back tears.
“Thank you, King Drake.” Her voice was filled with emotion.
He cleared his throat, as if he were suddenly emotional as well.
