Chapter 28
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
MAX
Days later, limping back to the bed chambers, I feel the oozing of various cuts on my back and legs beneath the leathers I wear. Fee wasn’t gentle with her lessons today, instead using me as a proverbial punching bag.
Between her and Oslo’s lessons, I’m so exhausted, my eyes can barely stay open.
The only bright side to the whole situation was it gave me less time to think on Oslo’s theory.
Was I meant to break Kaden’s curse? And what of the darkness that’s supposed to awaken? Will it occur if I break the curse or has it always been there?
Shaking my head, I turn down the hall, just steps from my door after Fee darted away. Reid is alone and we both know the trouble he can get into without a chaperone.
“Go to your room and lock the doors. No one goes in,” Fee commanded me before rushing off. I didn’t have the energy to fight her.
It can’t be me who breaks the curse. I’m a blood summoner, but even the Mad Witch didn’t know what I would do to this world. Save it—or destroy it. Did that have to do with Kaden’s curse; would it destroy the world if I didn’t break it?
Rubbing my head, I fight back the headache forming. This is too much.
A tickle of awareness caresses my neck like cold fingers as my ears sharpen, body jerking to stop. It’s the slightest relief, a barely audible thump that vibrates down my spine.
A drum, a heartbeat. Longing so intense rocks me and I still, body tightening with what this means. My magic, my abilities, they’re awake. Finally. No longer a distant hum, or a buzzing that wants to explode.
I haven’t heard anything since my talk with Fee and I practically weep with relief.
My magic writhes like a lethargic snake under my skin, begging for release. It wants out of its cage and so do I.
Glancing over my shoulder, I don’t see anyone, but I know someone is there. My magic doesn’t lie. There’s a heart, one it wants to use. And I’ve learned in my short time in this palace that my magic is protective. It wants to harm those who would harm me.
I never trusted in my magic before. But now? I do.
Waiting a few more seconds, another thump echoes in my ears. My magic is weak, tired but it’s trying. It cannot pinpoint where only one person darkens this hall and they’re stalking me.
Fee and Reid’s warnings echo in my mind: there are enemies everywhere.
Grabbing one of my daggers, I take three more steps before that thump echoes again, coming to me as if submerged under water.
It’s enough of a warning and I brace as hands grab my elbow, spinning me with a hard shove. My head cracks into the rough stone wall.
Black eyes stare down at me. A guard, dressed in all black armor, pins my arms to the wall, but doesn’t remove the dagger in my grip. He doesn’t need to, because he sees me as weak.
Stupid mistake, really.
“He said to be careful,” he breathes, blood soaking his tongue. At least he just fed. “That you were powerful. You’re nothing but an inbred Witch parading as a queen.”
Fear tries to weigh down my limbs but it’s the ball of anger in my gut that I latch on to. How dare this guard try to hurt me, insult my species. Insult my station.
Just like the Humans who thought I was only a woman, meant to warm their beds, this Fae thinks I’m beneath him in the chain of species superiority. He thinks I’m fragile, easily subdued. He thinks I can’t be a queen.
He doesn’t know how wrong he is.
Remembering my trainings with Fee, I grip the hilt and twist my wrist. Flicking it upward, I nick his skin, my curved blade doing deep damage as the smell of blood overwhelms us. The smallest surge of magic rises with the scent, hungry for more.
The dagger falls from my grip, to my free hand and I kick him back.
“This inbred Witch doesn’t go without a fight,” I mutter. He stumbles, a hand to his chest, surprised. He didn’t expect it.
“On Bel’s name, I’ll show you—” He lunges for me but I move, spinning out of his reach. At least with this guard, I’m quicker. He crashes into the wall and I stand in the middle of the hall, dagger at the ready.
“Who sent you to get me?” I ask, sizing him up. He wipes his nose, a smear of red coating his cheek. His wrist is quickly healing which puts me at a disadvantage. “Was it the king?”
The guard smiles, fangs glinting in the shadows. “What the king wants, he’ll get. You’re his to be used soon enough.”
A shudder of disgust graces my body, bile sloshing in my gut.
His hands dart out, going for my throat, but I’m already moving, dagger slicing one palm as I kick his shin with my sharp heel.
He falls to one knee, cursing me at the impact.
“You would take your prince’s mate?”
“I will follow my king’s orders,” he groans, narrowing his gaze on me.
“Let me guess. He’s done this before?” I slam my thigh into his face, pain radiating throughout as the guard fall to his back. Hopefully, Kaden is too far away to feel the effects. “Send a guard to take something he wants for himself. People, money. Whatever he wants, he gets, right?”
Laughing, he chokes on the blood dripping down his throat, speckles of red coloring his face and chest.
“In this world, Zelos controls all. Soon, you’ll understand that. Just like the princess did.” Blood falls to the ground, a red puddle that so slightly calls to me. “You may be claimed by his heir, but it means nothing. You’ll be his soon enough.”
I straddle the guard, my knee pressing against his forearm, dagger poised at his throat. A thin line of red blooms, and I grin as my magic thrums through my veins, buzzing like a swarm of angry bees.
It’s not enough to do any damage but just feeling it again, my soul heals a fraction more.
“I am claimed by the heir. Only he will have me,” I spit, words flying out before I can think them clearly.
I’m a woman possessed, a rage so black it coats my tongue like ash.
“I could forgive your transgression against me.” Not really.
“But you brought up my sister-in-law who I care for very much. And that won’t do. ”
The dagger cuts into his throat quickly, blood spilling onto the floor. It stains my hands, coats my fingers and I almost cry, relieved at feeling it once more.
I should feel guilt, shame at killing, but I don’t. It was either him or me, and I’ll choose me every time. Because to choose me, means choosing to keep Kaden alive.
Another weak thump thuds in my head. Head snapping up, I look into the shadowed halls, not seeing anyone but I feel it. Someone is coming.
Standing, I don’t bother to hide the guard.
Let them see what I’ve done, a hellcat finally let out of her cage and striking her enemies down.
Hurriedly, I dash through the hall, back to the bed chambers, body aching.
Locking the door behind me, my panic spikes as cold fear clamps a hand around my heart, feeling my blood race.
I need to barricade the door, try to slow down the attackers, but how?
Rampant terror curses through my body and my hands shake as I throw a side table in front of the large door. It won’t stop much, but it’s better than nothing.
Body no longer sore, adrenaline surging through my veins, I shake out my hands and search. Like in the forest, in the Human court, I had only my instincts to survive and right now, I need to trust them.
Including needing more protection. My eyes land on the chair.
Grabbing the plush back, I throw my shoulder into it and shove the chair beside the table with all my might. My heart hammers in my skull, mind focused but body trembling. A horrible mixture that pools into my belly, and I bite back the urge to vomit.
I need more. These few things won’t stop a Dark Fae guard—or Gods above—a king.
Running to the bedroom, I dart into the entrance, slamming the door behind me. I shove the dresser, the monstrous item so heavy it barely goes a few inches, into the path to stall whoever is on the other end.
My chest heaves, shaking with each breath. I refuse to die like this but my body is stuck between running to hide, or standing my ground. Do I know enough to effectively fight?
I shake my head. Now isn’t the time to second-guess my abilities. It’ll be the only thing that keeps me breathing.
Darting to the far back corner, I hide behind the door. A charcoal vase sits on the edge, and blindly, I grab it. With it in my hands and my daggers on my hip, I hunch and wait.
The table in the sitting room moves, a horrendous screech chilling my blood as bile burns my throat. I hold my breath, willing my heart to slow. Dark Fae can hear such things and even as my fingers redden, the magic doesn’t come. It won’t defend me here, now.
A body throws itself into the bedroom door as the wood splinters. Horrible grinding of hinges breaking assaults my ears and, in my panic, I toss the vase at my would-be attacker.
He ducks, a blur of clothing before Reid’s wide eyes appear in my vision, a sword high in the air. My daggers rise above my head and we both exclaim at once.
“Max!”
“Reid!”
“Yes, me,” he huffs, shoving the sword into the sheath, eyes wide.
“What the hell is going on? Fee found me and sent me here to check on you before she ran off to find Uncle.” He pushes the dresser over, easier than I did.
“And there’s a dead body in the hall. You were alone for five minutes. Was that you?”
I don’t think, flinging my arms around his shoulders, hugging him tight as my eyes water. On Cella and Ger’s brow, that was close. Zelos almost had me.
“Easy, Max,” he soothes, rubbing my back. He smells like smoke and pine and I inhaling, stilling my heart. “It’s alright, I’ve got you. You’re safe.”
“He tried to take me.” Pressing my face into his shoulder, I exhale. “Zelos. That guard was sent to get me. I killed him.”
“Shit,” he curses, pulling me back. He inspects me, a critical eye taking in the cuts, the fear, the smear of blood on my clothing. It’s so similar to Kaden that my heart breaks anew. I miss him, my mate, fiercely. “Did he hurt you?”
“No.” I wave a hand over the cuts and bruise forming at my jaw. “This is all from Fee.”
He smirks at the irony, rubbing his cheek. “Well, this comes at a super bad time, but we’re expected at a dinner in a few hours.”
“Are you kidding me?” I shrug him off, stalking across the room. I trip over the edge of a tile, stubbing my toe. “I can’t go to a dinner and pretend everything is fine. Not after this.” Not without Kaden.
I’m a capable woman, but I’d feel better with him at my side. Especially here.
“You have to, Max,” he explains. “I don’t like this anymore than you do.
In fact, I downright hate it. I’ve never been a fan of my father and how Kaden has the patience to wait for as long as he has?
” Reid shakes his head, frowning. “But I do know what Kaden would want. He’s still gone.
We’re still here. You are here. We can’t give Zelos any reason to distrust us.
And I won’t allow him any reason to hurt you.
So, if playing with a bunch of royals, getting drunk, allowing my father think he’s won does it, then we’ll do it. ”
Cursing, I cross my arms, fear still pulsating through me. I was almost killed in these halls, taken to a king who would use me. My mate is gone, and now, I’m expect to play like a thankful guest, as if nothing is amiss.
“Zelos is already trying to take me. And we’re expected to just act as if it hasn’t happened?”
Reid licks his lips, apologetic. “Unfortunately, yes. We’re so close to having the numbers to succeed. If we don’t continue this, innocents will die.”
“And if he tries again?”
“Don’t worry,” Reid calms, hand grabbing my shoulder, preventing me from pacing. “Zelos only tried because of one miscalculation in our schedules. From now on, we stick together.”
It’s a vow, a promise. And I hunker into it like it’s my salvation.
Sighing tiredly, I nod once. “Fine. But if I’m killed, I’ll ignore Seti’s call and haunt all of you until you die.”
“That’s the spirt.” He laughs, clapping my back. Gliding to my closet, he riffles for a moment, coming out with a thin, black silk dress. “Now hurry up. We have a crowd to wow.”