Chapter 33 #2
Nearing my home, I creep toward the edge of the building.
The windows in the kitchen, dining room, and Peylin’s bedroom are all lit.
Through the window, I spot Peylin sitting at the table, head down, looking at the papers in front of her next to a goblet of wine and a plate of food.
I adjust my position to get a better view, but she’s the only one in the dining room.
I wait to see if there are any guards making rounds, keeping count of the minutes that pass.
Twenty minutes later, I’ve memorized the patrols. I cross the plank connecting the buildings and slip into the rear window of my house.
The hairs on the back of my neck rise, and a nervous chill spreads down my spine. Magic still pulsing, I silently open each bedroom door and check if anyone else is here.
Keep it together.
“Peylin!” I call out her name from the top of the stairs as I head downstairs.
“I’m in the dining room. I have some food if you’re hungry.” Her voice is steady, and I relax.
Too soon, because I freeze when I turn the corner into the dining room and see who’s staring back at me.
“Hello, Bryn.”
I outwardly keep my composure when I find my father sitting at the table with her. Internally, terror courses through me, and I immediately erect the wall I’d built so long ago to block out Mikael.
He doesn’t need to sense anything wrong, or he’ll immediately come find me and compromise everything.
I lean against the frame, keeping my movements casual.
“General,” I say flatly, then add as contemptuously as I can, “Did we fail your inspection?”
“No, not at all. In fact, you’ve kept this city of yours perfect. You pay your crown taxes on time and train your guards well.”
“Then to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” Without breaking eye contact with him, I can tell how stiff Peylin is, how uncomfortable. She hasn’t said anything since I walked in. I know she had nothing to do with this.
“Crown business.” My father crosses a foot over his knee, back straight as he assesses me with his signature cold and measured gaze. The one designed to make me break. But now, I know it for what it is: simple intimidation. It used to work when I was younger.
That was before I destroyed our land and myself, became the disappointment he couldn’t stand. But if I don’t want him to think anything has changed, I have to turn back into that woman.
“What, is this some new training regimen?” I cock my head, brow raised as if I could care less. “I’m sure you can find somewhere else to do that. As you said, my guards are properly trained.”
“Well, you’re the only city that allows vampires. Although, I’m not sure why.” He leans forward, disgust written all over his face as he shakes his head.
“Because not all of them are the same.” I keep my voice steady and uninterested.
“You always did love them.” He snarls.
“One. I loved one. But that was a long time ago.” I stand up straight and take a step further into the room. “What do you want? Enough of this small talk.”
“That’s no way to talk to your general.” He rises, walking around the table.
“Does it bother you that much that I’m no longer your dutiful daughter?” I question, curling my lip, wishing I could spit at his feet.
He huffs out a breath. “It’s time.”
I look at Peylin and she mouths, I’m so sorry.
My hands are pulled behind my back, and I instinctively jerk away, but whoever is restraining me holds strong. Cool metal slides around my wrists, and my magic is dampened. A face enters my periphery, and a whisper fills my ear. “You used to like when I did this.”
Rage engulfs me as black shadows swirl around my body. Erik. Oh, I’m going to kill him.
No, I’ll let Mikael have the pleasure of draining him.
“Where is he now?” Erik can barely contain his satisfaction, as if he’s won some sort of prize.
Has he always been this petulant? I’m disgusted at myself and curse under my breath. Peylin’s constant warning coming back to bite me. I assess him, pondering my choices. I liked his face and enjoyed using him and his shadows for my own pleasure.
Simple, really.
But still a poor choice.
“You’re pathetic.” I seethe, fixing him with a sharp look. His fists ball at my words, knuckles turning white from how hard he’s trying to hold back his temper. “And a fool.”
“Bryn still loves him.” Erik proudly proclaims to my father, like he uncovered my deepest secret. “She invited him back into her bed.”
“All the more reason that Mikael will come for her,” my father says, glaring at me with hate in his eyes.
“You’re using me as bait?!” I scream at my father, my composure fracturing at his brazen disregard for me. I’m not sure why it surprises me, but it’s still like a knife to the gut.
“And you,” I say, contempt lacing my words. “You jealous fucker.”
I slam my foot back, connecting with Erik’s knee, the bone cracking from the force of my vengeance. He cries out, his hold on me loosening, and I spin around.
Red, fiery anger coats my vision when I see the uniform he has on. He sold me out for a position in the king’s army.
I lift my foot again, but Erik snatches it. My back and head slam into the wooden floor.
Pain explodes as white starbursts fill my vision and my constricted lungs gasp for air.