Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
SILVANUS
Threads of golden hair wove through Hal’s brown beard, dusting his buzzcut, hinting at my ex-lover’s presence within him.
“You…” I said, stepping back.
“Me, Silvanus. Back again.”
The sight of his golden eyes stopped time for a moment, tricking me into thinking we were back in Selene Haven to dance and show off like we used to. To cause a scene as we twirled across the dance floor, allowing ourselves to be the talk of the ballroom.
Wrong ballroom, wrong time.
Enraged, I lunged for him.
He dodged me as he spoke his intent to repel me, and fired off a spell, telekinetic energy shoving me away.
“Now, now,” he said, “don’t be too hasty.” He licked his lips, fixing his stare to me. “I’m tapped into this mage’s power. Remember that before you try attacking me again. Your people will thank you.”
My guards surrounded us, Vaughn by my side.
A radiant desire to protect them passed over me. “You can’t kill them.”
He pointed at my chest. “I can through that.”
The Heart of All pounded with fear, retreating deeper. “I won’t—”
“Spare me!” he yelled, cutting me off. “I killed one king, and I can kill another.” He brushed dust from his shoulder, smirking as he did.
I held back from attacking again. “So, you’re possessing this body now, are you?”
“The other one was too smelly,” he answered. “But don’t worry, darling. You will soon see me restored to my former beauty to drool over again.” He winked.
Don’t you dare call me darling! “I’d rather pluck out my eyes for eternity.”
He chortled. “That can be arranged.”
My hands balled so tightly my knuckles cracked in a series of loud pops.
“So tense, darling,” the filth said.
He always called me that. Back then, I loved to hear him say it, in the foolish days of loving him. Now it rankled, contributing to my hatred.
Watch for a weakness, then strike.
If Hal was dead, then he’d have to find another mage to possess. And I’d spill all the mage blood in the world if it meant stopping him.
Would you?
I bared my fangs at him, my fury scalding hot. “I’ll tear you apart.”
He nodded. “I understand, darling. I really do. You’re hurt, you’re angry with me. I would be too, if I cared enough.” He scratched at the bushy beard. “But I won’t apologize for being smart enough to seduce you and end your brother.”
Those words were enough to send me at him, anger a drum in my chest.
He threw me back with a quickly spoken spell again.
“Shut your mouth!” I hollered, my disgust a mold on my soul.
Menace swam over Hal’s features. “Your survival is an irritating complication. An error on my part for not digging deeper into the lore of vampire monarch succession.”
Lucius naming me successor saved my race from extinction.
“What do you want?” I demanded, holding onto myself by a thread.
“That’s your question?” He shook his head. “Dominance, obviously.” He cleared his throat. “Anyway, I just wanted to say hello. I shall now take my leave.” His grin was wicked. “I’ve just been talking with Paris on that island of yours. What a charming elf he is.”
His name increased the flame beneath my rage.
He knew.
He knew.
He knew.
“You’re a lucky vampire,” he added. “Maybe one day I’ll get to savor elvish lips.” He brought a finger up to Hal’s. “Hold on, I already have.” Aidan threw his head back, howling with laughter. Golden light wove around his body, fringed with shadow. “Until next time, darling!”
He vanished.
The storm crashed outside, mirroring the turmoil of my inner thoughts. Aidan and Paris, two men who’d upturned my life, both fuel for my desires and my wrath in equal measure.
Vaughn said something, but his voice was a muffled sound through my rage.
What had they been talking about on the island?
Me? Plotting their next moves together? After all, Paris spent his life devoted to the deity.
Truth of Aidan’s lies aside, the elf’s loyalty wouldn’t be so easy to break free from.
His love for his god would morph into something new, transforming Paris into a different kind of acolyte.
Yes. They were conspiring against me. Two thorns to be removed, to be cleansed from existence.
I heard my name again while my body tensed, while fresh desire for violence flared.
Paris knew this attack would happen and didn’t tell me. He needed to be punished.
You’re being irrational, my mind warned.
Maybe I was, but when rage took the wheel, wrapped in heartbreak, it wasn’t easy to find the brakes.
“I’m coming for you,” I growled.
Vaughn spoke again, but I charged across the ballroom, launching myself out a broken window.
I’m coming, Paris Raine…
It didn’t take long for me to reach the house, overcome with anger, soaked to the skin from the heavy deluge.
Take a moment to calm down…
But I kicked the door down instead, thunder booming behind me.
There he was, on his feet. The shining elf, the most beautiful creature my eyes had ever seen.
You knew…
“Silvanus?” he said, his voice an exquisite melody.
You knew…
“What—”
I ran at him, grabbing him by the throat with my damaged hand, the skin flushed pink with healing.
“You knew,” I growled.
He kicked his feet, digging his fingers into the soft sinew of my healing forearm.
“Silv—”
I crushed his windpipe, the Heart of All hungering for his end.
His death meant half my freedom. When Aidan followed him, the shackles of these men would be gone for good.
Yes, I’d kill him. No thrall-making this time, only death.
I had to be free of him.
This is the end.
This is the end.
This is the—