Why, why, why?
The questions swirled in Vivienne’s mind, and she was so distracted that she barely avoided the set of claws attempting to disembowel her.
This was too much. Too hard. Fighting these creatures and watching over Marius was like dividing her heart in two. She wasn’t built for this.
She could see the royals across the clearing. They were still battling their monster, but every so often, the queen’s gaze flicked over to Marius.
Like Vivienne, she couldn’t keep her eyes away from the prince.
And for good reason.
Marius and the First were engaged in a dance that could only lead to one thing: death.
It was evident in the way the ancient vampire had spoken to Mariusthat she thought she’d kill him easily, but the prince was well-trained. Pride warmed Vivienne’s chest as Marius evaded the First’s attacks with a soldier’s ease.
He was fighting well. It seemed he’d learned a thing or two since the last time they’d gone up against the First because he was holding his own.
But how long could he last?
That was the question that had Vivienne tightening her grip on her sword.
They had to end this now.
A shriek pulled Vivienne’s gaze from the prince, and her eyes widened as another one of the undead creatures dove straight for her.
Gods. She was really starting to hate these things.
This woman was one Vivienne hadn’t fought yet. Long blonde hair streamed behind her back, and crimson, blood-soaked fabric that might once have been a dress clung to her skeletal grey frame. A necklace hung from her neck, the jewelry shockingly similar to one Aurora, Vivienne’s mother, used to wear.
Vivienne hesitated.
Gods-damn it all, but something about this creature felt more real than the others. As if a piece of life was still attached to her that the others lacked.
Vivienne sucked in a breath, searching for a hint of humanity in the other woman’s eyes.
They were bottomless, empty pits.
There was nothing there to save.
Vivienne’s hesitation only lasted for a moment, but it was one moment too long.
The creature’s claws swiped across her chest. Fire ran through her, and she screamed as she stumbled back.
Burning.
Red-hot flames consumed her from the inside out.
Gods above, it hurt. Curses ran through her mind, and her body urged her to fall to her knees as blood poured from her wound, but she refused. She couldn’t give up. Not now.
Pushing past the burning pain, Vivienne spun on her heel and swung her sword, catching the monster in the upper thigh. Her blade sliced through flesh and hit bone. Her arm screamed as she tried to wrench the blade out of the creature.
It was stuck.
Vivienne grunted, digging her heels into the ground and yanking. The sword didn’t budge.
Icy dread spread through her limbs, a stark contrast to the flames eating her up from the inside out, and she could barely breathe.
No, no, no.
