“You see, this is the problem with keeping humans as pets. They take and take. Their entitlement and boldness grows like a weed until, well.” He sighed and gestured to me with raised brows as I marched down the stairs, never slowing my pace.
“Let my people go and leave this place,” I commanded through gritted teeth. Eryx became taller with each step. I was a feral cat taking on a mountain bear. He was bigger, but I was cunning…and he underestimated my claws.
“Your people?” Eryx laughed to himself. “You have no power here.”
The cruel regent began to stride toward me and Vaspar fell in line at his flank.
“Andyou’llhave no power at all if you don’t leave now,” I threatened.
Now close enough to strike, I lifted Dommik’s blade and attempted to drive it up into Eryx’s navel but he pivoted and I stumbled forward from my momentum. The crowd tittered with Eryx’s amused expression. Vaspar grabbed my wrist and squeezed until I screamed and released the blade. Its hungry metal sang as it fell away from my grasp.
Vaspar wrapped me in a disarming stance, one of his hands acting as a bind for my wrists behind my back and the other gripping my chin. He ran his nose up the length of my neck, inhaling, savoring. I writhed fruitlessly beneath his grip.
A mangled scream leaked from Dommik.
Eryx stepped closer and tipped his head. “Now what?”
His smile fell as mine widened. Metal scraped along the top of the terrace. I may have been captured, but all eyes had been on us. And it had given Cova enough time to make her entrance. And she wasn’t alone.
In her hands, she held the ends of dozens of shadow leashes. At the end of those swirling, misty ropes were dozens of translucent, vengeful shades. Their hungry, glowing eyes flitted from vampire to vampire below as if identifying their marks.
The smug expression of victory fell from Eryx’s face. And while hecomposed himself in my sister’s direction, I could tell his cool demeanor had cracks. Hope and fear swelled in my chest.
“What’s this then?” the regent addressed my sister, the shade wielder.
“Oh, just taking them for a walk,” Cova said cooly and my pride for her was immeasurable.
Eryx scoffed. “Why don’t you lock them back up? Before someone gets hurt.”
Vaspar tilted my chin to the side and let his fangs out, threatening to bite.
“Loose!” Eryx ordered. An arrow pierced the night sky and my breath caught in my throat. But Cova had shielded herself. The arrow met her magical barrier and fell to her feet.
“Last chance…” Cova warned for the second time in as many hours.
“Do NOT. DROP. THOSE CHAINS,” Eryx bellowed.
My sister looked down at me. I strained against the power of Vaspar’s grip. He was ready to twist, ready to end me. I tried to nod against his hands, but he held me still. In a final attempt, I sputtered, “Do it.”
Cova retracted her shadows and the shackles fell from the vengeful entities.
“NO!” Eryx roared before fleeing into the maze of the Moon Garden.
The shades did as they were told, attacking each vampire with the red token of the Northern Hive. Vaspar turned violently, using me as a shield against passing shades.
Cova approached, walking calmly through the chaos. Her fury was beautiful and terrifying.
“Call off your monsters and I’ll see her freed and let you live,” he shouted over the screams, his words drenched in panic. Around us, Northern Hive guards were running for their lives as shades devoured their immortal flesh.
My sister didn’t deign to raise her voice as she plainly said, “Free her and I’ll consider it.”
Vaspar hissed as a shade flew overhead, tackling a guard to the ground. He was surrounded. Beaten. His regent had abandoned him and his allies were dwindling by the moment.
“Give up, filth,” I croaked beneath his clutches.
“You—you need me—you’ll need my help because Eryx will see revenge for this.”
Cova retrieved Dommik’s blade and when she stood, pointed the tip at Vaspar. “Him!” she shouted.
