Epilogue
Luther
Sweat coated Luther’s forehead as he struggled to maintain his composure.
How many times had he tried this spell, and how many more times would it take to get it right?
The vial in his hand started smoking. Luther’s roar of frustration sounded seconds before he threw the vial into the stone wall of the dungeon.
He had been tasked by his queen to perfect every one of the spells in that god's forsaken book of magic. He was no spell master, nor did he have the inclination to be one. His forte lay with dark alchemy. It was one of the things that had drawn Vivian to him. Still, he had some successes, some brilliant ones, actually. The devious grin that split his queen’s face the first time she took in one of his creations had sent a spark down his spine. She was deliciously evil.
It had been an improvement on the mood she’d been in right after he’d returned from Gleann.
He had barely escaped his attackers, and all but a handful of his guards had been killed before they’d even made it out of those tunnels.
The rage she’d flown into when she first learned that Alexandria, who was most definitely not dead, had taken the new heir and fled, was terrifying.
Vivian’s rage was unlike any he had ever experienced.
Deadly in most instances. Luther had known better than to intervene and had patiently waited it out.
Erik and Jackson’s lives hadn’t been at risk, but they’d still scurried away from her as fast as he’d ever seen either of them run; two man babies scared of mommy dearest. The citizens and attendants who got in her way were not so lucky.
The news of Rivka’s possible death and the underground tunnel system had been the only things to dampen her rage.
She had sent out several scouts to map where the tunnels went.
None had returned thus far. Although they weren’t the only ones missing.
Prince Tristan had still not made an appearance, not that he had expected him to.
Luther had told his queen everything. Of how Tristan had fought against him and allowed that woman to abscond with his child.
Vivian had assured him that it was all for show, but Luther couldn’t shake his doubt.
The addition of the strange assassins complicated things further, but Vivian had not been overly concerned.
They were mere pawns of Alexandria and posed no threat to them at all.
He’d divulged as much information as he could remember, and a new plan was crafted.
Alexandria would come, and they would be ready.
His queen would not accept failure. Vivian would have what was rightfully hers, an heir to rule Diathan.
The prophecy would be fulfilled. That baby would be hers, and Tristan would be the one to deliver it to her.