Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
SILVANUS
The lights of Hurlock Island twinkled in the night like a scattering of jewels. A comforting sight, Hurlock Town clinging to the sloped isle, my onyx palace crowning its summit. Moonlight glinted off the eight scarlet spires, winking as if welcoming me back.
Of my eight palaces, this one always felt the most like home. The place where I’d made Paris my thrall, and where my life changed exponentially.
Goodness me. The elf occupied too much space in my mind, plucking my anxiety like harp strings.
Paris Raine. Oh, Paris Raine.
Was he alright? What was he seeing in his vision? If I simply changed direction, I could be back there holding him again, calling to him, seeing those magnificent cornflower-blue eyes sparkle once he returned to himself.
What if he doesn’t? What if he’s trapped and not coming back?
How ridiculous. Of course he’d come back.
I shook off my negative thinking as I landed on the balcony of my chambers. Elio, my elf thrall, waited there. His hazel eyes were wide and tired, his tawny complexion pallid with fear.
Potent sadness scratched down our bond.
Behind him were two vampire guards in their uniforms, awaiting my command, their hands over their hearts in respect.
“Your Majesty.” Elio bowed. “It’s so good to see you.”
He wore his uniform of green leaf-brocade jacket, white lace shirt, green leather pants, and emerald choker at his slender neck.
Where I’d once beckoned him into my arms, I now moved back a step, my body rejecting a man I once found solace in. He was a beautiful creature, for sure, but now he left me cold.
He’d shot at Paris and Medusa. Yes, I knew his bullets were meant for the executioner when he’d been enemy number one, but he could’ve hurt my serpent friend. By rights, I should have him arrested and thrown into the dungeons.
Elio kept his head bowed. “From the bottom of my heart, I apologize for my actions.” He went to his knees, rocking back and forth with his hands clasped.
“I did it for you. I saw Paris alive when he should’ve been dead and I…
I thought he was going to hurt you.” He sniffled, his eyes closed. “I was so afraid.”
I didn’t have time for this. “I understand, Elio. But you have been reckless.”
His gaze found mine, tears running down his cheeks. “I have no right to beg for forgiveness.”
“Then don’t.”
My response surprised him, his mouth hanging open.
“I’m in no mood, Elio,” I said, my tone as cold as the ocean breeze. “I have enough to worry about, which doesn’t include your sniveling.”
“Maj—”
A surge of fury propelled me forward. “Stand up.”
My fingers itched to wrap themselves around his throat, to punish his windpipe. Take away his capacity to suck up, make him bleed, relish in him choking for air while I squeezed.
He obeyed, wisely keeping his mouth shut, imploring me with his big hazel eyes to show him mercy.
Yet that was my problem, wasn’t it? Being too lenient.
Like my passiveness with the rebel vampires currently locked up below, and with a deity who’d killed my brother and somehow drove me into this world.
Violent urges sloshed inside me, searching for a crack to seep through. But I held them back, giving the command for the guards to arrest him.
“Majesty!” the elf squeaked.
The vampires seized him in seconds, bending his arms behind his back.
“Lock him up,” I commanded. “I’ll deal with him later.”
They did as I asked, Elio sobbing as they took him away.
The elf had been loyal to me for so long, always here to offer his comfort.
I recalled my brother speaking fondly of his closest friends, a shard of memory glinting in my mind.
“It’s important to surround yourself with loyalty,” he’d said one night in the forests of Selene Haven. Snow crunched underfoot as we walked, winter’s touch in its full, chilly glory.
A returned memory, one that didn’t need Paris to sing for me to see.
His long blond hair billowed in the wind, his keen scarlet eyes constantly searching the trees for the humans we hunted for blood and to keep our realm safe.
Such a wicked race, a plague on my home world, born of shadows and cruelty.
“Why are you telling me this?” I’d asked, that version of me long dead.
A more hopeful vampire. More carefree. More vulnerable, especially when it came to matters of the heart.
Brushing the memory aside, I summoned Vaughn to me. A loyal friend through and through. One of the few people I could trust, other than Medusa and Layla.
Layla’s dead because of Paris…
A portal opened by my bed, Medusa’s head jutting out of the doorway.
“He’s awake,” she said.
A weight lifted off me. “Thank goodness. Is he alright?”
“Yes. He’s having a shower.”
Hot water cascading down a magnificent body… “Good. I’m glad to hear it.”
She regarded me with irritatingly knowing eyes. “We need to get some phones so I don’t have to keeping popping up like this.”
“You don’t enjoy such popping?”
She scowled at my smirk. “Funny.”
“I’ll sort us some phones,” I said.
“Fabulous. Bye.” She disappeared.
Another memory crept up on me, one of rough sex with Aidan. I batted it away like the insect it was. I didn’t have the energy for memories right now.
At least Paris was awake again.
I’ll be back with you soon, shining elf…
Vaughn announced his arrival with a soft knock on the door.
“Come in,” I called out.
He entered. His usual cocky aura had dimmed tremendously, sorrow in his features, coming at me in sickening waves.
He was a dear friend, and a formidable warrior in the war. I hated seeing him so diminished.
I opened my arms to him. He came to me, grabbing me in a tight hug.
“Silvanus,” he whimpered.
I held him back just as tightly, a port for him in this storm of remembrance. “I’m sorry I sent you away earlier.”
Before I went to Hawthorn Isle, he’d come by my chambers to speak with me. I’d turned him away, not prepared to deal with him.
Curse my selfishness.
“Talk to me,” I said gently.
He lifted his head and took a step back.
He wiped the bloody smears of his tears from his dark brown complexion.
“It’s all scrambled. I remember King Lucius dying, and I remember Aidan.
” He blinked in quick succession. “Did you really show him mercy?” He shook his head. “It’s not for me to question you.”
“I made a terrible mistake,” I responded. “One no amount of apologizing will ever make up for. Because of me, we’re here in this realm, unable to go home.”
This sounded like self-pity.
“But we might find the way back,” he countered. “As the memories keep flowing.”
“Potentially.” Unless it wasn’t possible. Whatever Aidan had done to Selene Haven was potentially beyond horrific.
I released a growl at the same time as Vaughn.
“Aidan,” he said.
“Filth,” I added.
“What do you want to do about him, Majesty? Other than rip his face off.”
My anger continued to churn, causing another memory to surface. One of me tearing out the spine from a Selene human.
I had to find Aidan and do the same to him.
“I still haven’t formulated a plan,” I answered tightly. “Come. Let me address the palace.”
“Is there anything you want me to do?”
I grabbed his right shoulder. “Have a live link set up in the ballroom and have everyone here spread the word as far as possible.”
“You’re making a global address?”
I patted his extremely curly brown hair. “Everyone must hear me. Tell every guard and every thrall. Even those in the dungeons.”
Vaughn cocked his head. “Really?”
“Really. It’s time to strive for unity.”
His smile brought some of his luster back to his face. “Yes, Your Majesty. But if they so much as look at you the wrong way, their heads are going into the nearest wall.”
I chuckled. “Indeed.”
Without another word, he hurried off.
I meant it. I wanted unity. No more divides, no more hate and disappointment. It served no one.
Closing my eyes, I connected with the Heart of All. Although I couldn’t directly communicate with my vampires through it, I could send them a ripple of hope.
I loved them all, even the rebels. We were bound together as a species, no matter what. And we had to find a way forward. We must draw a line under any divisions, try to heal while staying strong against Aidan’s rot.
Suffering was coming his way. I’d make sure of it.
Warmth unfurled in my core, a flush of happiness sent from my vampires. Reticent, yet joyful at the same time.
Finally, I was behaving like their king.
Quickly freshening up, I headed for the ballroom through the onyx corridors, crimson lights illuminating my way.
Paris’s honey scent trailed after me, a buzzing echo of his kiss on my lips.
I want to be back there with him…
No. This distance would be better for both of us. Which led me to ponder my next move.
He couldn’t stay here at the palace. Not in close proximity to so many who’d want him dead.
Whatever truth had been discovered, he was still the enemy.
He’d killed vampires and tried to kill me.
And for me to have him so close to the Heart of All was a risk no vampire would, or should, accept.
Having Paris here only played into the rebels’ ideology of locking me up to be a source of life while a de facto monarch ruled in my place.
I wouldn’t allow that to happen. I’d shirked my duty, lost myself to fascination and desire.
That ended tonight.
I reached the elevator leading to the ballroom. Thrall guards dressed in their red uniforms greeted me, and I thanked them for their service.
“You need to be in the ballroom,” I told them.
They glanced at each other. “Lord Vaughn asked us to wait for you.”
“I see.” The elevator opened. “Then let’s go together.” I gestured for them to enter first, going against royal protocol.
The monarch always went first.
They hesitated. “Majesty?”
Rather than melt their minds, I went first. They’d been trained to follow tradition, so why confuse them?
We rode the elevator in silence, me leaning on the wall.
How to solve the Paris issue? I couldn’t toss him aside while he played such a pivotal role in the journey ahead.
What about letting him use the island as a base? I could fly him anywhere we needed to go as we learned more, or Medusa could ferry him with her portal power. He’d be relatively safe there and I’d keep any visits to a minimum.
A strictly business relationship.
Cracks were already forming in that line of thinking.
The elevator stopped, the doors opening to an empty corridor. I stepped out, the ballroom door a few meters away, the hum of voices beyond it letting me know it was already full.
This is it. A time for mending.
Panic lanced through the Heart of All, followed by the sound of what must be helicopters approaching.
The guards moved protectively, flanking me.
I sped into the ballroom, appearing at the windows within seconds. I ignored the surprised noises behind me, my eyes on the sky.
There. Approaching from the east, were a line of warchoppers closing in on the palace. A sight we hadn’t seen here in a long time.
A human envoy? I hadn’t received word of the Human Domain’s president coming here, or any Global Order officials.
“Someone get me a phone!” I demanded.
Vaughn held one out to me within half a second. “I have the president on the line.”
I took it. “Madam President.”
“Your Majesty? What can I do for you at this late hour?” her sleepy voice asked.
“Can you tell me why there are warchoppers approaching Hurlock Island?”
“I’m sorry?”
“Are you conducting a military exercise? Testing new choppers?”
She cleared her throat. “I don’t understand.”
How could the president of this domain, its commander-in-chief, know nothing? “I’m going to need answers before there are several violations to the peace accords.”
Anger flared again, a dark flame with a thirst for hurting.
“King Silvanus, I’m telling you there is no—”
Gunfire cut her off, bullets bursting through the windows. The glass collapsed, the sound incredible, twinned with the screams of my people. Shards flew at my face, slicing my skin.
And then it was over, a silent pause closing its grip, the night air howling through the ballroom.
“Your Majesty?”
I couldn’t speak, my attention snared on a green light flickering on the warchopper’s missile launcher.
“Your Majesty?” the president tried again.
I dropped the phone, commanding my people to evacuate.
The missile wailed as it tore from its launcher, hissing its way toward the garden space outside the ballroom.
A flash of bright light engulfed everything, an incredible explosion of heat and kinetic energy sending me spinning through the air.
Curse this!