Chapter 73
Chapter Seventy-Three
APRIL
All hell breaks loose in the throne room.
The Guardians swarm through the doors, killing everyone that stands in their way.
Blood sprays like someone throwing buckets of paint in the air, the coppery scent making my fangs throb in my gums. Shrieks and roars create a cacophony of sound, replacing the soft music that played not long ago.
My eyes stay locked on Khan. He hasn’t moved from his place, his face still twisted in a grimace that is, I’m assuming, supposed to look intimidating.
Tilting my head to the side, I scrutinize him.
Or maybe he is constipated. He does look a little pale.
“Not feeling well, tesoro?” I can feel Sebastian at my back, jerking like I’ve slapped him at the word.
He knows nothing of my history with Khan.
But he will. “Oops…I didn’t mean to kill your whore.
Forgive me?” Batting my eyelashes innocently, a smug smile stretches my lips.
“It’s a shame, really. She did help you kill me, after all. ”
“Vincenza.” From the corner of my eye I see my old friend Eshe. She calls out, rushing through the fighting bodies, throwing people like dolls left and right in her hurry.
“It’s April, my friend.” Grabbing her arm when she reaches my side, I still don’t look away from Khan.
“Vincenza died centuries ago. She was a little too soft hearted for the likes of those like him.” Pointing my chin at Khan, I hear Eshe laugh softly.
“She also had poor taste in men, I must say.” This time Eshe laughs out loud, and I chuckle. “April fixed that little problem.”
Reaching behind me, I grab hold of a still-stiffened Sebastian and pull him next to me. Without looking, I flick the mask off his face. Eshe laughs harder. I wonder if she will do it for much longer after I say my piece.
“You see Sebastian.” He turns his face to me, his intent gaze like a caress on the side of my face.
“Khan here was my consort centuries ago. I bet all the scrolls and texts never revealed that little detail. He is too smart to have that just lying around.” I can feel the muscles on his forearm turn to granite under my hand.
“It wasn’t all of them together that killed me and cursed my blood.
It was him and his mistress, Irina. Piercing my heart with a wooden stake carved with runes.
They took everything from me and cursed you all, humans included, to this existence.
” My gaze finally swings to each of the others sitting stunned on their thrones like the dumb puppets they are.
“And he planned to kill all of you tonight. Isn’t that right, Khan?
How did you put it…Ah yes!” Mimicking his voice, I still don’t pull off the crazy edge in it.
“‘I will get rid of all of you tonight. It’s a new era, and it will be mine.’ Did I get it right? ”
“She lies, trying to turn us against each other.” Finally snapping out of his trance, he waves his hands when the rest of them jump off their thrones. “Don’t you see she’s the disease that we must get rid of?”
“I sense no lies in her words.” Niklas squares off with Khan, his glass blue eyes glinting angrily. “You, however, reek of it.”
Kali throws herself at me like a whirlwind.
Sebastian materializes between us, intercepting her with a loud crash of bodies, both of them taking the wooden cross down from the force.
I turn to look for the woman only to find her gone.
Good, the two Guardians did the job I gave them well, taking her to safety.
The screeches and roars are lessened with each passing moment.
A yellow blur comes my way, but Eshe steps in the way, coming face to face with Elizabeth.
With a grin, Eshe attacks, sinking her fangs in Elizabeth’s shoulder.
I guess everyone is busy with their own favorites. It’s time I deal with mine.
Walking up to the thrones, Niklas moves fast, showing up in front of me with his claws extended and fangs bared.
His eyes bulge out of his head when he jerks abruptly to a stop with my hand wrapped around his neck.
Grinning, my hand sinks in his chest, and he blinks stupidly at me when I rip his heart from this chest. Opening my fingers, it plops at my feet, and still looking at his astounded expression, I sink the thin heel of my sandals in it.
“You almost got me when I was saving Sebastian.” He turns to dust, and I wave my hand in front of my face to clear the air. “I didn’t like that very much.”
Facing the three remaining Council members, I smile.
“And what shall we do with the three of you?” Guardians have surrounded them, keeping them seated while their bodies tremble with rage and the need to attack me.
Tapping a finger on my lips, I feel the blood dripping down my chin.
My tongue sticks out, cleaning it off my lips.
“Whoever survives between the two of you can join me,” I tell Abraham and Sharif.
Without a second to even think about what I’ve said, they turn, ripping at each other.
How disappointing. Glancing around, I see the Guardians have cleared out the throne room.
Body parts litter the once sparkling-clean floor, everything covered in sprays of red like a masterpiece.
Eshe and Sebastian stand close, also covered in blood.
A shiver runs down my spine at how sinful Sebastian looks, disheveled, his intense eyes glimmering.
Abraham lifts off the dust that used to be Sharif.
He looks at me expectantly. Searching the room, my eyes lock on Marcus.
I nod, and the next second, he is behind Abraham, his hand bursting through the front of the Council member’s chest.
“Loyalty can’t be taught,” I tell Abraham evenly before he evaporates.
When only Khan is left, I stand there watching him. The idiot doesn’t even try to run, or bargain. I definitely expected a deal from the sleazebag. He keeps staring, madness swirling in his dark eyes. The silence is too loud in the room.
“Stand back, Sebastian. I’ve waited a very long time for this.” A humorless smile lifts my lips. “I guess it’s you and me, Khan. Just like the old times.” With a roar, he slams his shoulder in my chest.