They still could, if we didn’t get off this train. The rest of thestrygaknew we were here. The scent of spilled blood would make them come running.
“Arthur, we need a portal—” I began, but I was cut off by the sound of another voice speaking.
“I don’t think so.”
That voice. It made a cockroach skitter up my spine as I recognized it. I had to be insane from the loss of blood, because this couldn’t be true.
I recognized her blonde hair, though her eyes had changed to silver. Besides that, her features still resembled her own… although they looked false in a way, as if someone had reconstructed them from magic. Her head, which I’d watched roll from her neck from my executioner’s strike, had been sewn back onto her corpse. The stitching made a thin scar as she approached me with her fangs elongated.
“Chastity,” I snarled. The sight of my ex-girlfriend, raised from the dead, made my lip curl.
“I’d say it was nice to see you again, but I’d be lying,” Chastity hissed. The smell of Ozzie’s blood was heavy on Chastity’s form, and redness lined her mouth. She’d been the one who’d attacked him.
“How is this possible?” I took a step in front of Arthur, to protect Kalina. Chastity wasn’t getting anywhere near her.
“Well, youdidkill me in a violent way, if you so remember,” Chastity replied.
“You deserved it for trying to poison my wife,” I replied harshly.
“I should’ve finished the job,” Chastity sneered. “My parents are loyal to Queen Gabriella. She gave them the necessary materials to raise me from my grave. Although, I have to say, my life’s beenmuch bettersince I’ve been dead. Or, undead, rather. All thanks to you.”
“They cursed you.”
She laughed. “You think being a vampire is acurse? I’m stronger than I ever was. I’m faster, more beautiful, and I’ll live forever. I can hear every stupid thought that’s echoing through your head.”
“It’s no exchange for being in the Great Hunting Grounds with the gods.”
“What a pathetic way to think. Iama god now. And this world is my paradise. I no longer need to worship anyone. I have the power to give myself whatever I want. Now hand over the baby.”
“Why do you want her?” I growled. As we spoke, morestrygabegan filing in behind Chastity from the doors that led into the illusion room— dozens of them. They filled the area, watching us with hungry eyes. I would’ve collapsed in fear, if not for the instinctto protect the child behind me. I’d die for her if I had to, and it could possibly be this night.
“She’s remarkable. You really have no idea, do you?” Chastity asked. “Whatever. You don’t need to know the details. You’ll be dead in a minute. I’ll be sure to make your death just as terrifying as mine was. You never deserved to be king, Ethan. The greatest joy of my life was watching your reign fall— secondary only to what I’m going to do to that little bitch wife of yours once you’re out of the way.”
Chastity snapped her fingers, and thestrygasprung. Alexei lifted Kiara into his arms, and Arthur had seconds to create a shield as we began running in the other direction. Thestrygaslammed against the shield, creating cracks. Their claws tore at Arthur’s magic as we escaped the room through the back door.
“That shield won’t last forever. We need a new plan!” Arthur cried. He jostled Kalina, who was crying harder than ever.
“Then make us a portal so we can leave!” I shouted.
“We can’t portal out of here,” Arthur stated. “Even if we do, thestrygawill come right back to the estate, or tell Droga where we are. We have to kill them all.”
“How? There are too many of them,” I panted.
“They can’t do anything if they’re nothing more than ashes.” Alexei opened a pocket inside Kiara’s bag, and my jaw dropped as I saw several potion vials lining the inside.
Explosives. Thank the gods for Kiara. “The fire from the explosives should kill them.”
“Yeah, and us, if we don’t get off this train!” Arthur yelled.
“There’s no time to wait for the train to stop. We’ll need to jump. Get to planting those explosives,” I barked.
“I can set them all off at the same time once they’re placed,” Alexei said. “But we need to have an exit. If we make a portal they’ll just follow us through.”
“We’ll have to leap off the back of the train, and hope we don’t break our necks,” Arthur said.
“Can’t we fly off?” I asked.
“At the speed we’re going, the wind will catch our wings and send us smashing against the train, or into the ground,” Alexei said quickly. “We’ll have to fall on something soft.”
