Chapter 29
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
MAX
Leaning against the dining room wall, I watch the cordial feast turn into a debauchery of drunken Fae lords and ladies, most of which have decided to use the palace as a brothel.
As most of the events go, this turned quickly. With wine, blood, nectar, and other substances flowing, the Fae turned from discussing war to what colored undergarments one particular lady was wearing. From there, it grew rather untamed.
Swirling the wine in my glass, I ignore the calls and screams, watching as partners pair off. Reid is in the corner, one male’s head in his lap, a woman rubbing his shoulders, and another kissing him.
So much for always being together.
I can’t help but grin at his happiness, his ease, though. It lightens the fear that’s threatening to drown me.
Zelos is making plays for me while Kaden is gone, but I don’t think he counted on me being so resistant. Not with Fee, Reid, and Oslo preparing me. Not under their watchful eyes.
As much as this is brazen, it’s all calculated. Everyone makes a move on the board, hoping to surprise their opponent. Only I’m the prize.
Fee leans against another wall, lips curled in disgust, watching the events unfold. Her silken gown is as black as mine, with a forgotten glass of wine in her other hand. Her hair is pulled high, sharp eyes scanning the crowd, looking for a threat.
I know because I’m here, she’s watching for me. Pushing through the crowd, I ignore one lord who looks at me like I’m a dessert he wants to lick.
“See anything important?”
“Besides fornicating lords and ladies?” There’s a few breathless laughs and moans coming from the back corner, an orgy beginning.“Servants are stealing the silverware.”
“Is that normal?” I drink from my glass, the dry, red wine painting my lips the same color.
“Unfortunately,” she mutters. “The Shadowlands are not as wealthy as one believes. Zelos tends to use the allocated funds for the villages, here.” She lowers her voice. “Another reason for Kaden’s plan. The people are suffering.”
It’s clear that Kaden cares for his people. Why else plan for a coup, against his father, a ruthless tyrant, if there wasn’t an important reason?
He moved up his timetable for me. He’s doing this all for me.
My heart pangs as adoration rises up in my belly.
If I didn’t already admit to being in love with Kaden, I would now.
“You’re quiet,” Fee whispers after a stretch of silence, the room turning even more depraved. Clothing is tossed aside, piles growing at our feet. Two lords come close, smiling something obscene before Fee growls at them to leave.
“What do you know of Heartbonds?” I ask suddenly, mind spinning. At Fee’s confused gaze, I shrug. “Taylay and Cully were said to be Heartbonds. They’re meant to marry soon. But I’m not sure if the Dark Fae believe in the myth.”
“Kaden asked me the same,” she muses to herself, shoulders digging into the wall.
“I told him the same that I’ll tell you.
Dark Fae don’t get Heartbonds. We’re a violent people, selfish, and the Gods forsake us long ago.
Having the hope of a Heartbond when it doesn’t exist, is just cruel. ” She shifts, staring at me. “Why?”
I wrestle with my secret, and decide on keeping it. It wouldn’t be fair to tell her and not Kaden.
“Just curious.”
She cuts me a hard look. “Right.”
Fee scans again and sighs, mouth pinched. I elbow her, drawing her attention. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t see Uncle,” she answers, looking again. “He should be here.”
“Is he busy elsewhere? Something with Kaden?”
She shakes her head. “No. He wouldn’t have chosen him over leaving you defenseless in this room. This was too important.”
I hear the worry in her voice as my heart warms. It still never amazes me how these people, enemies of the Coven, are choosing to protect me.
But my mind turns to her words. If Oslo isn’t here, where he knows he should be, then something has happened. Possibly to him.
“Did you find him earlier?”
“No. And that’s what worries me.”
It worries me too.
“Reid said you killed a guard trying to take you,” she murmurs, voice low. “Now, Uncle is missing. Zelos is up to something. I don’t know what, but you need to be ready for anything.”
At the center, Zelos stands, drawing attention to those still lucid. Most have broken off into hidden spots for trysts. Fee and I stand straight, Reid gently pushing away his guests, one eye on us, the other on his father.
“Friends, allies. We gather to witness a dawning of a new age.” He raises his glass, body covered in golden glitter and rogue teeth marks.
“We have drawn our agreements—the Fae kingdoms are united in this! Soon, my son will return with the information we seek about the Lone Human King and we will attack. But first.” He stops, staring at us.
Reid slowly stands, shirt undone, leather pants low on his hips, swerving through the Fae to come closer.
“I promised a demonstration of the weapon I have procured.” He practically oozes sinister delight.
My lungs stop working, anxiety and fear exploding in my gut.
Me. He’s going to show them what I am. I can’t breathe, and suddenly, the room is too hot, suffocating me as my feet stick to the tile.
Fee’s hand clamps on to my wrist as if she can physically restrain me. Reid makes it to my side, kind amber eyes glaring at his father. It’s the first time I’ve seen such disdain from the younger royal.
“You can’t,” she whispers, harsh words stirring my hair. “If you try to pull your powers, you’ll fail.”
“She has to, Fee,” Reid argues, looking to his sister than me. “If she doesn’t, Zelos will take it as an excuse for disobedience.”
The word shakes the princess and I frown. Seeing the strong female falter spurs me into action.
“I have an idea.” It’s a long-shot, but it’s better than nothing. I take my dagger, slicing my palm, the smell of fresh blood and the tantalizing feel of it on my fingers, stirring something within me.
My magic. It rises like a wave, ready to take.
“You’re going to use your own blood?” Fee’s nose wrinkles.
“Will it work?” Reid asks, worried.
The crowd starts to part as Zelos calls me forward, a devilish feline smirk gracing his lips. “It has to.”
It must. If it doesn’t, the entire room will turn into a frenzy from rage and alcohol, and I’ll be thrown back into the dungeon—or worse.
Slowly, I hold my bleeding hand to my chest, weaving through the lords. They inhale, scenting me, my fear, my blood, but I focus on keeping my steps steady. Physically, I look fine, but my lungs burn. There isn’t enough air to breath and there is no Kaden to buffer me from the king.
My other hand holds my dagger tighter.
“I sent my son into the Human realm, to the Lone Human King’s palace, in search of a weapon, to destroy his force.
” His eyes fall to me as I stumble to his side.
Nauseatingly, he smells like sweet fire peonies and musk.
“A weapon that will give our kind the freedom, we so desire. No, deserve. That’s where he met Maximillia. ”
He turns, circling me like a predator to prey. The hair on the back of my neck rises, my magic thrashing against my poor control to defend. “A small thing, unassuming, but the holder of the greatest magic our world has ever seen. Take note of her lips—a trait only one Coven is known to possess.”
Murmurs sound around us, picking up speed and intensity. The crowd sees my red lips and knows it’s a Blut Coven trait.
Standing straighter, I feel their scrutiny turn harder, deeper. They’re peeling back the layers, gauging my power, my worth. It’s the same feeling as the Coven elders judging me to be in their village. I will not bow to it.
“I give to you, the last blood summoner of our continent.” His smile turns edged, dark and wicked. “Our greatest weapon.”
Clapping his hands, he stops behind me. Two guards come forward, neither of them in armor, but simple leathers, a sword on their hips. They’re faces are devoid of emotion, simple statues, looking to their master, awaiting commands.
It’s unnerving how listless they seem.
“Now, the demonstration.” Leaning close, his lips brush my ear and I shudder, revolted at the intimate touch. “Control them, my dear. Show them what you can do.”
Fearful eyes turn to Fee and Reid, searching for guidance as they shift. Do what, exactly?
I glance to the guards, as my magic comes to me, reacting to my fear and the drying blood on my fingers. It’s demanding, as it searches for those who are upsetting me. I’ve only scratched the surface of what makes it work with Oslo. Mediating is slow and tedious and I’m too impatient.
My mind whirls, trying to figure out the trigger. It only rises when I need help—when I need to fight. Right now, it’s a cresting wave, my fingers stained a black-red as the knuckles begin to twist.
They react when I need protection. Maybe I can tap into that, exploit it?
Drops of blood fall to the ground, blending into the black tile, as I bite my lip.
Will it be enough?
Digging deep into my belly, where I feel the slithering magic ripple, I grab hold of it, willing it to flood me. It fights against the hold of the drug, rising into my chest, brash and bright.
I keep it there, envisioning it as a ball of blood but the image switches. Turning into a red hazy mixture like red shadows. It’s a manifestation of my soul with Kaden’s essence, deep inside me, two halves, now one.
Breathing, I hold my hand with the dripping blood. My magic stirs harder, thrashing, but manageable.
How can that be?
I look to one guard, focusing on his chest. I’m not sure if this is what Zelos wanted but it’s what I can do. The blood in my hand calls to his, seeking it, begging for it, wanting to make him submit. The very real fear that I will be hurt if I don’t bend his life force strikes me.
He twitches, a slight jerk and I inhale, relieved. It’s working.
Control. I can control this. Tame it. This magic is mine and I can bend it to my will. I don’t have to fear it, run from it, or wish it away. I can harness it.
The sense of pride floods me, wrapping around the need to fight as I pull harder, straining my ears to find his heartbeat. It’s featherlight but I find it, hold it close.
The beats continue rapidly. Tap, tap tap, tap, tap tap… adrenaline pummels through him, dread in his belly as my ears narrow in. He doesn’t look it but he’s afraid of me.
My magic purrs, enjoying his fear like it’s a delicacy. I smile.
Splaying my fingers, they move and bend at odd angles. I release a broken, soft sob, relief so strong I nearly fall. It’s familiar, the way my fingers wave and it’s beautiful; a gothic mess that’s wholly mine.
I latch onto the heart, the invisible strings only my magic can see and pull. The guard lurches forward, body arching. I don’t stop, not even when Zelos commands me to do so.
No. This is my magic, my gift. It calls to me to kill those who would hurt me.
Zelos grabs my wrist but the fingers don’t break. They continue to bend, unnatural but unique.
Quickly, my hand closes and the heart implodes. The faint pop echoes in the quiet chamber and my hand moves as if it can still touch the deflated organ. The guard shouts, falling to his knees and blood gurgles up his throat. No one moves, no one breathes as he collapses.
Zelos releases me, throwing me away as if I burn him. Real fear shines in those amber eyes and I fall to my hands and knees, body spent.
My stomach sloshes with guilt. This is the power I’ve missed, implored to return. But I forgot how consuming it could be; how demanding it was. That was why I needed control—why the royals needed me to harness it before it returned.
I didn’t listen. And now, Zelos sees me as the threat that I am. I’ve made myself a target.
Blood splatters on to the tile before me and I swipe at my nose.
Standing, I look back to the siblings. They’re stone still, staring over my shoulder at the king. I can feel his gaze, the heat of his anger, but the flicker of his fear is still there.
“That’s enough,” he growls, turning to the crowd, perfect mask back into place. “As you can see, my son’s mate is quite powerful. Drinks!”
I escape back to Fee’s side, body trembling. The power still surges under my skin, only held back by sheer willpower and the dark shadows that float inside me. As she wraps my palm, Reid puts an arm around us both, holding us to his side.
Killing is something I’ve done, but it’s never gotten easier. Especially this kill. It was done for sport, for a demonstration. Did the guard matter? Or would he have hurt me if Zelos asked?
Though we want to leave, we remain in the chambers, far in the corner. We wait until the party dies down, keeping Zelos in our sight at all times, before the siblings return me to my chambers. At the last moment, they both decide to sleep in the sitting room.
They say it’s for me, but I think they’re just as worried as I am. Zelos is coming for me, and I don’t know if I’ll survive.