Chapter 13
How Handy
Cora
“What have you learned, little dove?” I stared at the gold floor beneath my knees and contemplated the question presented to me.
He’d finally asked.
What had I learned? I’d learned that blood magic was dangerous and involved much more than I’d bargained for and now I had no idea how to make the dreams stop. That’s what I’d learned. However, telling Keres that wasn’t an option—that much I knew.
I cleared my throat when I heard his breathing increase in volume, a sign that anger was surely on its way. “He’s quite devoted to those he views as his family, Master. He hasn’t been all that… forward with information. I need more time.”
He barked up a laugh, causing a slight jump from my body.
Grinding my teeth together, my nails dug into my palms leaving behind small half-moons that I knew would draw blood if I weren’t careful.
I refused a single other reaction to be seen by this male’s eyes.
He needed to know I was stronger than that or I’d never get it all back.
I wouldn’t be able to protect her again.
So, I said nothing more. I just stared at the floor and let out a breath slowly through my nose.
“I received an interesting letter this morning, and I’m inclined to allow it. Simply be done with the entirety of it all.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “Look at me, Cora.”
My gaze slowly lifted to meet his and I wished with everything in me I hadn’t. That I’d somehow ignored his wishes and just continued on my way. As if that were even an option.
“The ruler of the Court of Shadows, Raiden.” He drew out his name with a hint of disgust. “He’d like his…
bird back. Claims he’s a member of the court and I’m…
inclined to allow it. Offer in good faith and an avoidance of further bloodshed, for now.
” He shrugged and I knew he was watching me for a reaction, but I wouldn’t be showing anything.
Not now. I was prepared for his eyes this time around. “Any thoughts?”
“I know you’ll make the best choice for the court and all of us here, Master,” I replied gently.
He nodded, slow and calculating. “Good answer. He’ll be here within the next moon.
Get whatever else you can from the bird before he goes.
” I rose to my feet, turning to leave the room before he began speaking again.
“Oh, and Cora? Ensure whatever you learn is worthy of you allowing him to defile your body in such a way. It would be a shame to lose one of my prized possessions with no return for the matter.”
I nodded without looking back over my shoulder at him, forcing my feet to carry me out of the throne room.
I swallowed the panic, burying it all deep behind the mental wall I’d crafted for myself.
I simply didn’t have time for the feelings that were brewing in my gut—the feelings that once Cedar was gone, so was I.
What use did he have for me if not to produce an heir for him?
To extend his line, the line of his father that he coveted so dearly.
I was back in my own chambers with the door shut firmly behind me, my back leaned against it as I took in the sight before me.
The one place in this Fates-forsaken castle I could just be.
I’d foolishly hoped that knocking the guards out while I saw to Cedar would be enough to keep Keres from knowing about our… meeting. I should’ve known better than to hope for such a thing.
He knew everything, had eyes everywhere.
A foreboding sense slid through my veins, whispering that something was amiss.
I did a quick survey of my room, the light gray blocked stone walls and floors, the ceilings high with exposed beams crafted from a darkened wood.
Two open windows faced me that allowed me to look out over the city of Whitbourne—the city perpetually covered in snow and ice.
My bed at my side, the frame made from the same darkened wood as the beams above me—small birds, snowflakes, and flowers carved into it.
A few sconces were placed along the walls, tall thin candles sitting in each.
My wardrobe in the far corner, made of the same wood and design as my bed frame, but it was the hidden compartments in the bottom that my entire life was hidden in.
An array of candles, herbs, crystals, and handwritten journals were kept there.
Among many other odds and ends that I needed to keep close.
No one here had any idea what was there, my magic keeping it away from prying eyes.
Much like I did with the contents atop the small wooden desk opposite of my wardrobe.
Currently it contained a few blood magic books that I’d been devouring the last few mornings in an attempt to further figure out how to break this dream bond I now had with Cedar.
That hadn’t been part of the plan at all.
The plan had been simple. Exchange blood while chanting the spell.
Once I had his blood in my system, the spell would further entice him to drink mine as well.
Thus, a magical link would form, allowing me to emphasize any magic I used on him.
Sex hadn’t been part of my plan at all. I needed to get close to him, of course, but sex was…
well, it just wasn’t what I’d anticipated.
I walked over to the desk, my fingers grazing the tops of the leather covers when I heard a small click of a door.
I turned to see Camilla walk out of the bathroom, a smirk on her face.
“I’ve been waiting ages for you to come back.
” I knew before she even spoke how this would end, but who was I to deny her, her time to shine.
“I’ve been trying to find proof for ages of whatever shit you’re doing behind our master’s back, and I finally have it.
Blood magic, Cora? Truly?” she scoffed and rolled her eyes.
“Once he sees all of this? What you’ve been doing with that bird?
He’ll let me take your place in no time. ” A smug smile spread across her face.
“Well, you did it now,” I muttered as I leaned against the desk, unleashing a fraction of my ice as I watched it spread across the stone floor towards her.
She stared for a moment before taking a step backwards.
“Ah, not so fast. Come here,” I demanded, instilling a bit of influence into my voice, thankful this one was caught off guard.
She had no true idea what I was, and I fully intended to use that to my advantage.
She listened, of course; all the weak-willed ones did.
“Now, how to take care of you? I have a male to go see and a very long to-do list to accomplish once that’s finally checked off, including breaking this damn bond,” I muttered to myself.
She started to open her mouth, and I wasn’t sure if she was going to scream or beg me.
I wasn’t interested in either. “No, none of that. Do not speak.”
Her mouth closed and now she was truly horrified. I could smell the anxiety rolling off of her in waves.
None of that mattered to me though. I’d kill her, kill the guards, kill everyone who got in the way of me getting the information I needed. I heard my mother’s words flow through my head. Protect your sister, whatever you do. And I would. No matter what it cost me, I’d always protect Silv.
“What you didn’t know before walking into this room and meddling in things you know nothing about, Camilla, is that I’m also a witch.
Mind you, it’s been hard the last four hundred years to hone my craft in the way I wish, but I’ve been doing some fun exercises lately.
So no, you won’t be going anywhere or telling Keres anything.
In fact, you’ll never speak to another person again,” I said with a shrug.
We locked gazes, her dark eyes staring back into my own, and I reached behind me in one of the desk drawers she wouldn’t have been able to pry open. Pulling out a small glass vial, I took a step closer to her.
“Open,” I demanded. As she did, I uncorked the glass and dumped the contents down her throat.
“Swallow.” She did, gasping, her lips parting in a failed attempt of a scream as the poison flowed down her throat.
I watched as she finally crumbled to the ground.
Blood flowed from her eyes and down her ears, her heart slowed, and she was silent.
She wasn’t dead, of course. Even a disintegrated brain wouldn’t kill a vampire.
However, it would make her shut the fuck up while I figured out how best to dispose of her.
Times like this I wished for shadow magic like Silvana’s mate. A few shadows and she’d be a pile of dust like Viktor. How handy that would be. As it was, I didn’t have that ability.
I had a few options, though only one felt like a real enough one. I smirked as I walked over to the window and looked down below. My room was in one of the towers, not terribly high up, but enough to crack a skull wide open when it hit the icy stone below.
Grabbing her ankles, I dragged her over to the window, taking a moment to be thankful for my vampire strength as I hefted her over the windowsill and pushed her out. A few screams into the night as she smacked the ground, but that wasn’t really my problem.
I had a male to bring blood to.
I strolled into Cedar’s cell feeling as if I’d won some sort of contest. The thought that maybe I should feel guilty flitted through my mind, but I shoved it away. I’d been looking for a reason to rid myself of Camilla for longer than necessary, and I’d done just that.
If anyone asked, I had full intentions of telling them she’d been depressed from her lack of affection and attention lately, and maybe she’d had enough.
“What do you want tonight, Princess?” Cedar asked from his small cot. The sun would be rising soon, so chances were that he’d be trying to find rest.
“Information,” I replied.
I could see him roll his eyes from where I stood against the door, but I ignored the action.
“I have nothing to offer your master, Cora. Fuck off.”