33. Rae
RAE
A man and a woman in warrior garb hauled a howling Bernard across the marble floor to the doors. The crowd parted for them as if terrified his traitor status might be catching. No one stood up for the man. No one questioned if it was necessary. Everyone simply watched idly.
I looked at Rhys and Kian. “Why?” My word was more croak than a fully formed syllable.
That muscle along Rhys’s jaw fluttered wildly. “Because it was necessary.”
“He’s right, Butterfly.” Kian’s voice was gentler, more placating. “We can’t let hate like that fester. It puts you at risk.”
My stomach churned, and I reached for my drink, gulping some down. “He was drunk. Don’t you think you should’ve given him a second chance? Talked to him when his mind was right?”
“My brother can’t allow for that weakness either,” Ayden snapped. “He’s already far too understanding. If someone had insulted me that way, I would’ve taken their head.”
The queasiness was back, stronger now at that gruesome image.
“Well, you have always had a thing for gore and theatrics,” Rhys muttered.
Ayden examined his nails. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
Rhys merely scoffed.
“Not going to lie,” Kian began, “you two have a fucked-up way of bonding.”
I didn’t disagree.
Ayden ignored Kian and focused on his brother. “I sent word to Demilune for any new fated to come forward.”
Rhys arched a brow. “Was it really worth losing a man to the Cruel King just in hopes of getting us out of here?”
Ayden shrugged. “My warriors know there are always risks.”
“The Cruel King?” I parroted, a shiver running down my spine.
“The King of the House of Demilune,” Kian explained. “Onyx Bellerose.”
“Nyx is known for his cruelty and lack of mercy. But I guess that’s what happens when your entire family is killed by demons and you’re taken and tortured by them,” Ayden muttered.
“I heard he’s incredibly scarred,” Zenia cut in.
Ayden chuckled. “Well, when you basically have to fight your way out of a demon den, it’s understandable that you might be scarred—and a little paranoid.”
“And you sent one of your guards there?” I choked out.
Ayden’s hazel gaze cut to me, his eyes going hard. “What does it matter to you?”
I blinked a few times, trying to clear my head. “Rhys said they could be killed.”
“Again, I ask, why do you care?” Ayden inquired drolly.
I gritted my teeth and jutted out my chin. “Because no one should die for a message, and no one should die for me.”
He laughed, but the sound was hollow. “Your act is good. I’ll give you that.”
The tension in my jaw intensified as I gripped the edge of my chair. “Or maybe I just care about others. I know it’s a novel thought, given that you clearly only care about yourself and your power.”
Anger flashed across Ayden’s face, but he covered it quickly. “You’re forgetting about wealth. I care quite a bit about that, as well.”
Strong hands landed gently on my shoulders, and I felt Kian behind me, even though I hadn’t seen him move.
I was starting to realize that the buzz I felt when he and Rhys touched me was slightly different.
With Kian, it felt like tiny pinpricks beneath my skin.
With Rhys, it was like minuscule burning sparks.
“We’ll just have to wait and see if anyone responds to the call from Demilune or my kingdom,” Kian assured me.
I looked up at him. “I almost forgot you’re from a different House.”
Kian chuckled softly. “Don’t worry. I didn’t.”
Rhys huffed. “How could you? When making a deal with the ruler of the underworld gave you more light and resources.”
Kian’s hands slipped from my shoulders. “Perhaps you’d like to say that again a little louder.”
Rhys rounded the table, getting up in Kian’s face. “You know you sided with those who treated us as animals to be slaughtered in their defense. Your whole family did. You just don’t want to deal with the repercussions.”
“And you know what you did,” Kian snarled. “Ripping a child from her family, her friends, her life.”
“I saved her life,” Rhys snapped.
Their argument continued, growing in fervor, so they didn’t even notice when I slipped out of my chair. I wasn’t an idiot. There was nowhere for me to escape to. I didn’t even want to go anywhere in the castle alone, given that someone had just been talking about beheading me.
Until I knew more, until I could access my so-called magic, I needed to play things smart. But that didn’t mean I had to sit here and listen to this. I crossed to Pax’s chair. “Would you mind taking me back to my room? I’ve got a headache.”
He glanced at Rhys and Kian, wincing. “Sure.”
Zenia looked up at me, her expression perfectly pleasant. “It’s probably for the best. It’s clear you can’t handle those two.”
I sent a smile her way. “Oh, it’s so kind of you to be concerned for me. And here I was, worried that you might be bitter because Rhys dumped your ass. I’m so glad I was wrong.”
Pax choked on a laugh as he rose. “Come on, Rae. Let’s get you to bed before you punch someone.”
I let out a huff. “I hate it here.”
He guided me through the ballroom and toward the massive double doors. “I know it’s a lot.”
“That’s a massive understatement,” I grumbled.
I breathed a little sigh of relief when we exited the loud space, but my ears still rang with the reverberations of it all. I rubbed at my temples, trying to ease it.
“I forget that you hear all of that at full volume,” Pax said with a shake of his head.
My pace faltered for a moment. “You don’t?”
Pax sent me a soft smile—a familiar one—as we headed up the stairs. “It’s weird that I can finally talk to you about it all.”
My tongue felt heavy in my mouth, like I was having some sort of allergic reaction. Because the whole time we’d been friends, Pax had held this whole other life back from me.
His steps slowed. “Is it okay? That we talk about it?”
I stopped on the first landing of the stone stairs. “I need to ask you something.”
Pax’s light-brown brows pulled together. “Okay.”
“I know you had to give me half-truths, but can you promise me that you won’t lie again?
It’s okay if you can’t give me that promise.
I won’t hate you or make your life harder—I just need to know where we really stand.
” Because I couldn’t take more broken trust from someone I’d grown to love like they were my family.
Pain swirled in Pax’s eyes. “I promise you, Rae. I won’t lie to you ever again. It killed me not to tell you the truth. But I…I just couldn’t.”
“Because of him.” I started up the steps again, needing to keep my forward progress.
“He’s not as bad as you think. What happened to his father, his sister…it changed him. This is more than he can handle. But I know he’ll come around. You’re one of the best people I know. He won’t be able to resist you.”
I let out a huff of air. “I’m not actually a person, though. I’m a witch, right?”
Pax let out a low chuckle. “Don’t let a Luminary hear you say that.”
“Fancy witch-vamp words,” I groused.
He only laughed again. “You’ll get used to it.”
“Maybe one day.”
Pax nodded to the guards at the entrance to our wing as we passed. “We have heightened senses, speed, and strength. But we can modulate our hearing.”
“Huh?”
“That’s how the music at the party didn’t bother me. We can modulate our hearing. Basically, we put in magical earplugs.”
I stared at my very extraordinary bestie. “That is so freaking wild. When I don’t want to dive-bomb into bed and sleep for twelve solid hours, I want you to tell me all the different things you can do. And the things I can, too.”
He grinned. “I’ve got my magic covered, but I’ve got no idea what you can do.”
I sighed. “Of course. I’m one giant mystery.”
“You’ll figure it out with time,” he assured me. “Want me to come in with you or sleep on your couch?”
I shook my head. “I think I need some alone time. But let’s talk tomorrow.”
“Sounds good.” He opened my door, scanning the room quickly. “Sleep well.”
“You, too.” I stepped inside, closed the door behind me, and latched the lock. Not that it would do much against a vampire unless they had special locks here. But I’d at least take the early warning system.
I tugged off one boot and then the other, tossing them to the far side of the room. Stupid boots. Stupid dress. Stupid magic.
A phantom hum began ringing in my ears, almost like a vibration. I frowned, trying to figure out what the hell could be happening now. But I didn’t have a chance.
A blur of motion flashed in front of me, but it was all I could register before I was being yanked back by my hair.
“I’m going to drain you, witch.” And then teeth plunged into my neck.