Chapter 44 - Lennox
LENNOX
The camp was up and bustling before dawn, packing up the tents and getting ready for the long day of travel ahead.
My leathers kept the winter morning chill from seeping into my bones, but still, I shivered.
I knew war didn’t bow to our whims, but it would have been much more convenient to be fighting this battle in the summertime. I’d even take late spring.
“Are you ready?” Luka appeared at my side as I looked out at our army, our fucking army.
“As ready as I can be.” This was what I had been trying to avoid, asking my people to go to war with me, for me. But here we were. Readying to march toward the Blood Court with battles looming on the horizon.
What did I know about war? Only what I read in texts and what was taught to me over the last few weeks.
I wasn’t equipped to lead these people into battle.
“I can feel you overthinking.” Luka pulled me into his side, kissing the crown of my head. “We can do this. They believe in you, in your mission. They are going into this willingly.” He let out a huff of air. “Well, as willing as anyone goes into battle.”
“I’ll never get used to it—people being willing to die for me.”
“I don’t think anyone should. It keeps you humble, it makes you a good queen.”
I wrapped my arms around his torso, learning further into him. “I’m glad I have you by my side. I couldn’t do this without you.”
His fingers flexed on my hips. “You could do this without me, we all know that Lennox. But I’m glad you’ve allowed me to be at your side.”
“You’re an equal part of this monarch. You’re the High King. You’re more than a pretty piece of arm candy.” His laugh rumbled against my chest. “Although I’m sure the troops appreciate having something nice to look at.”
“Have I told you I love you?”
“Not in the last five minutes,” I said into his chest.
“I love you.”
“I love you, Luka Rossi, and I am so stars damned lucky to have you alongside me.”
“Who knew turning you into a wife would make you so sentimental?”
“Fucking prick.” I pushed a hand to his chest, attempting to push him away, only for him to pull me right back in.
“And that’s why you love me.” He caught my lips in a kiss, dipping me as he held me. I was so fucking lucky. I couldn’t ever forget that—take it for granted. I could have been doing this all alone, but I had him at my side. As my partner. My husband, my mate.
I could do this on my own, but I didn’t have to. I didn’t want to.
And that was okay.
He made me stronger. I needed him in these moments to remind me who I was. Why I was doing this.
For him.
For all vampires.
For all of Lethenia. For my people.
The sounds of screams forced me to tear my lips from his. The heat flooding my body disappearing in a flash.
Luka’s hands remained on my waist as we looked out into the valley, scanning for where the screams were coming from.
“What was that?”
“I don’t know.” I tore my sword from its sheath. “But let’s go find out.”
Luka and I took off down the hill, where our army waited.
Something was wrong. I could feel it. My magic pulsed, the hairs on the back of my neck rising as I urged myself to run faster.
A growl tore through the air.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!”
Anger swelled inside me as another scream tore through the air, followed by the growl of a Dhampir.
“I’m so fucking tired of these Goddess-damned abominations,” Luka swore.
I halted, Luka almost running into me at my abruptness.
“Fuck.” My stomach twisted.
It was a Dhampir alright, but its fangs were only slightly longer than a normal vampire’s, extending an inch outside its mouth.
Its eyes were still that unsettling red color and its eye sockets hollowed in. Black veins spread along its skin, but the rest of the Dhampir—it looked normal.
As normal as a mutated creature could look.
They were getting closer.
I took off toward the monster.
Dozens of them had made their way into our camp, our soldiers battling against the beasts. I couldn’t say I had envisioned what our first battle would look like, but it wasn’t this. It wasn’t fighting these abominations for the umpteenth time.
I thrust my sword through the Dhampir’s chest. Its eyes went wide, and it snarled, blood from it would seeped into his white uniform as he fell to his knees. I brought my sword down on his neck as his body hit the ground.
“You kill them so easily, what fun is that?”
Ice slithered along my veins as I turned to face Adreona. Luka was still behind me, fighting off more Dhampirs as they continued to appear.
“Do you like my present?” She smiled, the gold ring in her nose glistening in the early morning light.
“You call this a gift? Descending your monsters on my army? Killing innocent people?”
“It’s good practice for battle, don’t you think?”
“What do you want?” I spat.
“Keziq, you remember Keziq?” The scars on my back pulsed in time with the throbbing in my head.
“She’s been busy working on a project for me these past weeks since you made your escape.
I’m thankful, really, because, with you gone, I had to make an alternative plan.
And it appears like my alternative plan is working much smoother. ”
I thrust out my sword as a Dhampir leapt for me, slicing through its chest, its body fell to my feet as Adreona continued.
“As you experienced, Keziq has a unique skill set. When she took hold of your mind, not only did she see the memories of you and your vampire mate, but all your memories.”
She reached beneath her cloak, holding a leather-bound book between us—my stomach twisted.
Astria’s journal. She had Astria’s journal.
“At first, I was upset when I realized this journal, too, was missing a page. But someone had to rip out that page—and my guess is that someone was you.”
“Even if it was, I’ll never tell you what it said. You know that.”
“Oh I, know, but like I said, Keziq’s skill set continues to come in handy. She saw you with the family, with the journal in your hands as you read through it.”
“Your memories visiting with the Galtain family were so sweet, you were so kind to them. What a shame you didn’t have the guts to burn this when you had the chance.” Keziq appeared from behind Adreona, smiling widely as she spoke.
My legs trembled. I was free. They couldn’t touch me again. Even if they did, I’d fought it once, I’d fight it again.
“Lennox.” Luka’s hand snaked around my waist, bringing me back to reality, grounding me. He was here. I’m safe.
“Nice to see you again, vampire.” Keziq’s gaze slid from Luka to me as he settled at my side, the blood of the Dhampirs he slayed dripping off the blade he still held as his hand around my waist tightened.
“Don’t worry, Lennox. I burned what you were too weak to.
” Keziq examined her nails. “Their screams were delicious.”
“You didn’t.” Luka’s voice sliced through the clearing.
“Oh.” Keziq smiled. “I did. The father, Silas was it? Put up a good fight. I made him pay for it. He watched his family burn first before I killed him.”
“You’re lying.” I lurched toward Keziq, but Luka blocked me with an arm across my chest.
“If you don’t believe me, you’ll have to see for yourself.”
My breaths came in my pants as my magic pushed against my fingertips.
“They were innocent people.” Luka spoke while I was incapable. The words lodged in my throat.
“They harbored secrets from the rest of Lethenia, I’d hardly call that innocent. Now, if you don’t mind, I’ve got work to do. With the real journal in my hands and your memories to help me, it will only be a matter of days before I perfect the spell.”
Keziq cocked her head to the side. “Better get ready to say goodbye to your mate.”
I lunged for her.
My magic flung from my palms. The earth beneath Keziq crumbled, swiping her feet from underneath her.
She recovered quickly and threw out her hand.
I sputtered as her wave crashed over me, soaking me from head to toe.
I brought flames to my fingertips, quickly drawing heat to my skin, the water evaporating as quickly as it soaked me.
“You’re going to have to do better than that.” I brought a ball of flames to my hands.
Keziq’s face paled, the first chink in her armor I’d seen since I’d had the displeasure of meeting her.
I let out a crude laugh. “Is water all you have?” I threw a ball of flames at her.
She dodged it at the last moment, the fire singeing her sleeve.
“What a shame to only have one element.” I threw out another ball of flame, she dodged it but didn’t see the ball of air I sent careening her way. The burst took her to the ground, drawing the air from her lungs.
“You see, I have all four. It appears this fight has gotten unfair quite quickly.” I prowled towards her. She clawed at her neck as I squeezed my hand tighter, further restricting her oxygen.
Her lips moved, but nothing came out.
I loosened my hold so I could hear her last words.
“Your memories showed me one more thing.”
I closed my fist, no longer interested in hearing what she had to say, but then she was gone.
The space she had occupied was empty, nothing but a dent in the snow and dirt remained.
“Luka!” I turned in a circle, trying to see where he and Adreona had ended up.
Keziq appeared out of thin air. She gripped Adreona’s arm. Luka charged at them, but in a flash, they were gone.
“What the fuck,” Luka swore.
“Fuck fuck fuck!” I clenched my fists. “She saw in my memories. She learned about the spell Luciana uses to transport us. Fuck.”
I spun in a circle, the rest of the fighting had stopped, the Dhampirs either dead or having retreated in their master’s absence. “Now they can travel as quickly as we can. They can appear anywhere.”
“It’s better that we have the information, right?”
“I suppose, but—” I screeched to a halt. “The Galtains—do you think—”
The color leached from Luka’s face. “There’s only one way to find out.”
We tumbled through the magic, landing in the woods outside the Galtain’s cabin.
What had been the Galtain’s cabin.
Nothing but ashes remained.
I fell to my knees and wept.