Chapter 14 #2
I fold the last of my items into the small satchel Lissian provided for my journey. I didn’t even hide the sneer on my face when I snatched it from him. His big mouth landed me in this position, and it’s not as if there’s anything he can do to me now that I am the prince’s property.
Even just thinking the words makes my stomach sink.
This could be a good thing.
How in the realms can anything about this be good, Athriel?
You need to kill the prince, and now you have all the time you need.
I laugh at this.
Yeah, inside his heavily guarded palace. It sounds fantastic.
It will be easy if you are cunning enough. Now you have the time to plan ahead.
I’m not waiting. The prince is dying tonight, and then I’m getting out of that place to find Willow.
I do not think that is wise.
Honestly, I don’t care what you think.
A loud bang rattles the door, and Cora stumbles toward me. The moment she reaches me, her arms wrap around me.
“I just heard what happened.”
She steps back, looking at me with reddened eyes.
“He killed them all. Like they were nothing.” I let out a breath. “I thought…I thought he was going to kill me.”
I finally let out the thoughts that have been plaguing me since the prince announced I would be leaving with him. Why did he kill all of those innocent purebloods? Why choose me? Their cold stares still haunt me, drawing my mind back to Tori’s twisted body.
“Perhaps he took a liking to you?” Her voice is hopeful, but I kill it with a simple shake of the head.
I hold out my wrist where the crest no longer sits.
“He made Lissian remove it, but he didn’t replace it.”
I see the worried lines mar her skin at the realization. The prince did not seek full ownership of me by replacing my mark, which means he doesn’t intend to keep me. Perhaps only long enough to teach Lissian a lesson. I need to kill him before that.
She takes a step closer, lowering her voice to a whisper.
“I know people at the palace. They can help you. As soon as you get there, you ask fo—”
“Cora. I believe you have work to attend to.”
We both whip around at the sound of Amabel’s voice, and instinctively, I step in front of Cora. Amabel only laughs.
“Please, this is my place of business, don’t be so foolish, girl.” A crooked smile touches her lips, and I reach for the dagger that is no longer there. I silently curse the prince for taking what is mine. One thing is for sure, I will be getting it back. “The prince is ready to leave.”
I turn to glance at Cora briefly, not wanting Amabel to know how close we truly are. I have no intention of her killing anyone else in order to spite me. I follow her out of the room, trailing behind her as the weight of the bag on my shoulder presses into my skin.
“I must say this is a twist I did not see coming. The prince’s taking a liking to you.” Her words carry a hint of jealousy that makes me feel sick.
“He didn’t take a liking to me. I’m simply Lissian’s punishment.”
“If that is what you believe.”
We continue the rest of the journey in silence, me following behind as we move down the flights of stairs to the entrance.
With every step, my chest tightens. I can’t help but wonder whether I will even be able to kill the prince.
I’ve never seen power like his before, and if he catches on to what I’m doing, then I will be dead before I’m even given the chance.
As we reach the doors, Amabel pulls them open to reveal a large wooden carriage waiting outside. A female vampire sits at the front, wrapped in a thick cloak that shields her from the night breeze—but there are no horses to pull it.
I take a step forward, but a hand on my shoulder gives me pause.
“Remember your job, Adina. You have been strategically placed to achieve what you have been tasked to do.”
I move to turn, but she tsks, and for some reason, I freeze, my eyes locked on the carriage.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I hear the soft lilt of her laughter carry through the wind.
“Oh, but you do.” She moves her mouth right next to my ear, her breath a warm contrast to the cold bite of the wind. “Who do you think gave Julian the idea to take Willow?”
I freeze at her words.
“Do what is expected of you, and you have my word that you will be reunited. Don’t and…well, you already know.” A flash of Tori dead on the ground fills my mind.
“Then why not just give me the donor spot in the beginning?” I spit.
“I had my reasons.”
Before I can ask more, the door to the carriage opens and she steps back.
The prince steps out, the dark strands of his hair blowing in the wind.
His eyes fix firmly on me as he waits for me to move, but I’m immobile.
Amabel orchestrated this entire thing, and I don’t understand why—but she made one thing perfectly clear: if I don’t kill the prince, she will kill Willow.
I straighten my back and, without a second thought, I move down the wide steps toward him.
He has slipped his hands inside his pants pockets and leans casually against the carriage in a relaxed manner.
So different from the male that slaughtered a room full of innocent humans a mere hour ago.
The female sitting at the front of the carriage seems to notice me for the first time, and she flicks her wrist, dispelling a cloud of black mass that swirls and twists in the air until it molds into the shape of two horses, their bodies made of a wispy black shadow that dances in the wind.
I’ve heard so much about shadow magic—our court’s specialism—but living in the bloodhouse, I’ve not seen many shadow wielders use it.
I hate the feeling of awe I feel as I watch the shadows move like living, breathing animals.
The sound of a neigh carries over the wind, and I watch in wonder.
The female must be a Carmella. They are one of the lesser houses, but their ability to wield shadow puppets comes particularly in handy for casting animals used for travel.
“You’re late.”
The prince’s voice grabs my attention. I turn to find him staring at me. Only then do I realize that I’ve stopped right in front of him. My eyes pin him in a stare.
“And you’re an arrogant ass.”
He tilts his head as though truly surprised. It’s stupid to test him, but he made it clear tonight that he has no intention of killing me until he has fully used me as a punishment for Lissian.
There are worse things than death, Athriel drawls.
“Sorry, I thought we were playing point out the obvious,” I say.
Yet again, he surprises me when the corner of his mouth quirks up in a smile.
You play a dangerous game, girl.
Perhaps, but something tells me that the prince likes this game, so we will play it until I get the opportunity to kill him.
I sense Athriel’s eye roll.
“Careful, human, that mouth of yours could get you into a lot of trouble.” His eyes drop to my lips, lingering there for a second too long. He holds out a hand to me, but I push past it, climbing into the carriage without his assistance.
“So stubborn,” he says from behind me. Surprise causes me to pause as I take in the silky red seats and plump cushions inside the carriage.
The dull wooden exterior gave no clue that the inside would look like this.
I toss my bag onto the seat beside me, and a moment later, the prince climbs in, taking the seat across from me.
I lean back and fold my arms across my chest as he slams the door to the carriage closed, leaving us in complete silence as though the outside world has been obliterated. I turn my head toward the small window, although I can see nothing through the dark mass that the shadows in the sky cast.
The carriage jerks forward, and my skin prickles at the thought that this is really happening.
Everything has changed. Willow is gone, Tori is dead, and I’m leaving Cora behind.
And the sad truth is that getting Willow back will never return things to how they were—and all of it is my fault.
I let my eyes close for a second as I imagine having to tell her that Tori is dead.
Will she blame me? Will she even want to speak to me?
It was not your fault, Athriel’s voice is soft.
I open my eyes and push the haunting thoughts away.
I need a clear head, and the last thing I can allow to creep in right now is guilt.
There will be plenty of time for that later.
Right now, all I can think about is being trapped in this tiny space with the monster sitting across from me.
He didn’t hesitate to wipe out an entire room full of humans simply so he could punish one of his own.
I’ve heard rumors of his cruelty over the years, but this is far worse than anything I imagined.
“Something you wish to say, human?”
I realize in that moment that I’ve been staring at him and try as I may, the words just slip out.
“You’re a monster.”
He shrugs. “I’ve been called worse.”
He leans back, watching me in a way that is too intense, and I hate it.
“Why not just kill me like the others?”
He rests his head against the cushion, crossing his arms across his chest. He yawns as though he’s just done a hard day of labor.
“Because there are other ways to hurt a person. Imagine how he will feel when he sees me parading you around at balls, knowing that you belong to me now. The embarrassment alone will kill him.”
“You’re sick.”
This seems to make him laugh.
“You do not fear me like the others. I’ve seen vampires who cower in my presence more than you.”
I meet his eyes.
“I risk death every time I extend a wrist to one of your kind. Why should I fear it anymore today?”
He studies me with a keen interest.
“As I said, there are far more creative ways to hurt a person.”
“And you intend to hurt me?” I hate the fear that I catch in my voice.
“Not if you behave and be the obedient little pureblood you were trained to be.”
I narrow my eyes at him.
“Careful, human,” he warns.
“Stop calling me that.”
“Why? That is what you are, are you not?”
I grit my teeth.
“I have a name.”
He shrugs as he leans back in his seat.
“I don’t care to learn your name. In the end, you’ll die like the rest of them.
” I pin him with a look as fire rumbles through my veins and my head pulses.
Calm down, I whisper to Athriel. I may want to kill the prince, but the mere thought of Willow brings me back to my plan.
One wrong move, and it will be her who suffers—and that’s not a risk I’m willing to take.
I avert my attention back to the window and pretend he doesn’t exist.
“You should probably get some sleep, it’s a long way to the palace.”
I don’t speak again for the rest of the journey, and I most definitely don’t allow myself to sleep.