Chapter 40 #2
“Are you nervous?” I ask as we move down the hallway in the direction of the grand hall. He shakes his head.
“I wasn’t sure if my mother was going to choose to stay at first, but now that I know she is, I have nothing to worry about. It’ll be an honor to serve Karius for another century.”
I smile at him. His loyalty is unwavering.
“I’m not sure if I’ve told you this, but you’re a good friend.”
He pauses for a moment as his lips tug up into a cocky smile.
“The great Adina Barron is calling me her friend. I’m honored.”
I roll my eyes. “You’ve been spending way too much time with Finn.”
“True.” He smiles. “I’m just thinking back to that first night when you tried to escape. There was pure hate in your eyes whenever you looked at us. I wasn’t sure it would ever disappear, but then who can resist my charm?”
I start laughing.
“Seriously, I mean it. You helped me to get Willow back, and I’ll never forget that.”
His eyes soften. “I’ll always have your back, Red.”
“I know.” I suck in a breath. “So, how long does it usually go on for?”
He shrugs. “An hour tops, it’s all pretty formal. There’s a lot of exchanging blood to seal the bond, but once that’s done, it’s all about the celebration.”
He seems way too excited about that. I’m not sure if he senses my nerves, but the rest of the journey is spent in a comfortable silence. When we finally reach the stairs that lead down to the hall, I hold up the skirt of my dress, taking each step carefully.
Two guards stand at the door, their red eyes piercing into me as we arrive.
They bow their heads to Ajax and then open it.
I almost gasp at the transformation. The hall is set up almost like an old temple, with rows of chairs on either side and a gap in the middle, with a long red carpet laid out.
At the top of it is a large dais with a gold bowl on it, and at the head of that is Karius.
I feel his eyes piercing into me as I enter, and I cannot help but look up, yet that familiar tug seems dimmed as I search for it.
It almost feels like we have been slipping apart since that night, and I’m not sure why.
Then my eyes land on Celeste, and I remind myself that, mate bond or not, he’s not mine.
He has sworn himself to her, and they will marry despite our bond.
With her standing next to him on the stage while I remain below with Ajax, he has made his intentions abundantly clear.
I feel a soft squeeze against my arm and am thankful that I’m not alone in this.
I straighten my back, lifting my head high as Ajax walks us to the front of the hall.
I hear the hushed whispers even over the soft lull of the music being played in the background, but I keep my head straight.
I will not give them the satisfaction of knowing how truly hurt I am.
My finger brushes against my leg, and I find comfort when the outline of my dagger presses into the pads of my fingers. It’s like a constant comfort in a world that has changed so much.
“Here,” Ajax says, stopping when we reach the front row.
He guides me to my seat, and my steps falter when I spot Willow in the seat next to his.
She smiles at me, and I can’t help but return it.
I’ve missed her. She looks healthier than the last time I saw her, her cheeks flushed with color again, and her eyes a little wider.
I curse myself for missing out on spending time with her and make a promise to change that after this ceremony.
I sink into the seat next to Ajax and try not to look up at the dais, but my eyes can’t help but wander to the stage, despite my burning need to look away.
Karius steps forward to address the crowd. A strange smile twists his face, but it’s gone before I can even register it, and a part of me wonders if I imagined it. As he steps up to where the golden bowl sits, the entire room falls silent.
“I wish to welcome you all to this century’s blood vows ceremony. As the crown prince of this court, I am honored to see so many of you willing to pledge your allegiance to me for an entire century.”
A tall male with slicked-back hair and olive-colored skin steps from behind him, making his way to the podium. Karius bows his head to him, and a smile passes between the pair. The man looks to the crowd, addressing us directly.
“The history of the blood vows is that of a sacred bond. One where we bind house and power as one. May the forging of a new bloodline be blessed even with the gods lost.”
“With our blood we honor,” the crowd sings out in unison.
“Let no person step onto this dais with a doubtful heart, for this is a commitment of true faith.”
“With our blood we honor.”
“And finally, blessed be the hand that shares of life and magic,” he finishes, turning his attention back to Karius.
“With our blood we honor.”
The crowd’s chant echoes through the room as the male bows in front of Karius before taking his leave. Karius and Celeste return to the front of the dais, both of their eyes on the crowd.
A petite human girl hurries toward Karius with a golden blade balanced on a crimson-colored cushion. As soon as he takes it and bows his head to her, she scuttles off to the back, sinking into the shadows as though she were never even there.
Next to Karius, Celeste stands like the dutiful wife, and I cannot help but imagine thoughts of plunging the very dagger he’s holding straight through her heart. My attention is taken as he begins to speak again.
“May the blood of my line bond with yours, creating a binding of unbreakable measure.”
“With our blood we honor.”
The entire room full of vampires says the words in unison as he slices the blade across his hand, allowing the drips of red to fall into the bowl. Excitement seems to skitter around the room, though a strange tension pulls at me from within.
“I invite House Blackwood to make the first pledge of allegiance.”
Celeste steps up, and a flurry of whispers fills the hall.
“My father has asked that I pledge in his place, and I am honored to spill the blood of House Blackwood in honor of binding our bloodline to that of the royal Kayn one.”
He hands her the blade, and just as he did mere moments ago, she slides the sharp edge against her hand, letting the droplets of her blood mix with his in the bowl.
“With our blood we honor.” The words are repeated as she hands him back the knife.
The ceremony continues with Karius calling up each noble house.
Only nine of the original houses remain, as two accepted offers to merge with other courts.
In their place, four new houses from neighboring courts have joined.
The ceremony stretches on for far too long, and I fight the urge to close my eyes, only realizing how tired and sore I feel after a week of training, but after the fight with the impures, I didn’t want to miss a day.
“Now, I call upon the heads of each house to join me once again.”
I sit up straighter, my attention piqued as twelve individuals rise from the crowd and make their way to the dais to join Karius and Celeste.
The human girl returns, this time with golden cups that she hands to each of them.
I watch in anticipation as they all dip their own cups into the bowl before raising them to their lips.
Iza lifts her cup to her mouth, but her wide eyes meet mine in a desperate plea that I don’t understand.
“With our blood we honor,” is repeated seconds before they all drink the contents of their cups.
If I hadn’t experienced the intoxicating effects of Karius’s blood for myself, I may have turned up my nose, but my stomach knots for an entirely different reason when I see Celeste smiling up at him.
My fists clench at my side, and I search for Athriel’s voice, but just like it has been for the past two weeks, it remains silent.
Suddenly, all their heads tilt back as though a hand tugged at them, and shadows shoot from their mouths, creating a thick black mass that meets in the air above them.
The shadows twist and merge, moving through one another at dizzying speed, forming a massive cloud of darkness before splitting apart and retreating to their sources.
All but Karius gasp for air, as if he’s intimately familiar with his own power, while the others struggle to grasp it.
A huge smile fills his face as the nobles begin making their way back into the crowd. As Celeste goes to join them, he grabs hold of her hand, pulling her back toward him, as two human guards block Iza’s path. What the hell?
“Not you, my betrothed.”
She smiles at the endearment, but confusion fills my gut.
Karius eyes the crowd, his gaze darting around like a feline searching for prey.
“I know that you all are so eager to begin the festivities now that the ceremony is complete, but I wish to begin them here.”
The members of the crowd hum their approval as excited murmurs pass through the room.
“You all have no idea how long I have waited for this moment. Centuries have come and gone, and I could only envision the day when I would take my rightful place.”
Silence ensues as everyone begins exchanging confused glances. Ajax shifts uncomfortably next to me. Karius’s eyes fall on me for a second, and he smiles at me oddly. There is something in the expression that I recognize, yet it feels strange.
“What’s wrong with him?” I whisper to Ajax, but he shakes his head as his eyes remain on Karius’s tall figure.
“It amazes me that you all claim to know your precious prince so well, yet I have slipped in and out for so long, and you have been none the wiser.” He turns his attention to me. “Not even you, his dear human mate, could see it.”
A chorus of gasps rings out across the room as I feel the weighted stare of eyes upon me.
“You don’t know me,” he says, addressing the crowd. “In fact, you were created to destroy what came from me.”
He laughs at this.