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Bella dropped her head to my shoulder. “So you felt how much I wanted to kill those vampires?” she whispered.

“That wasn’t you, Bella. It was the Monster.”

“But the blood is still on my hands.” She lifted her hands in front of her face, sighed, then dropped them again.

“After what I saw—after what I felt—I think I finally truly understand why you left,” I admitted. “I get why you’re so reckless, so desperate to end this curse. I understand why you would do almost anything to be rid of it.”

“That was spectacular!”

The Night Prince galloped into the room, dressed in a red and gold silk tunic-and-pants set. It looked like a fancy pair of pajamas. The matching beaded slippers on his feet were encrusted with real jewels. Greed, eager and undeniable, shone in his dark eyes when they fell upon Bella. He’d witnessed her fantastical display—and he wanted to bring out the Monster again.

Bella wilted under his hungry gaze. She rose from the bench, turning away from him. She focused all of her attention on Gin, who was just beginning to stir.

The Night Prince followed her. “You’re so much more than just a witch, aren’t you? I thought you were so soft and innocent,” he said, his laugh a smooth purr, “but beneath those pretty curls and that sweet smile, you’re a vicious animal, aren’t you?”

“No.” Bella blinked back tears.

“Don’t be so modest,” he said silkily. “Your performance was exemplary. The Red Prince didn’t know what hit him. He was completely shocked when you singlehandedly massacred his entire team of vampire warriors. You really must do that again.”

“I save lives. I don’t end them,” Bella muttered over and over again.

The Night Prince glanced at me, brows arched. “She’s not quite right in the head, is she?”

I flashed him a faux smile. “I assure you, Bella is as sane as I am.”

He laughed. “Well, that’s not saying much now, is it?” He lifted his hand, shooing me away as he turned to face Bella again. “I never knew you had so much talent.” His shook his fists in obvious jubilation. “So much power! So much rage!”

Bella didn’t say anything. Not that the Night Prince seemed to care. This was anyway nothing more than a monologue.

“Your talent was wasted as a healer.” He nodded, obviously to himself. “And so, my lovely ravager, I’m going to put you into the field, where I know you will spread destruction and death.”

“This curse isn’t right,” Bella muttered. “It ruined everything.”

“I think I’ve found my new favorite star.” The Night Prince wetted his lips, looking upon my sister like she was a shiny newweapon he’d just pulled out of his armory. “And I know just what to do with you next.”

CHAPTER 15

THE VAMPIRE KING

‘Next’ proved to be a very big disappointment for the Night Prince. He entered Bella into a one-on-one match against an ill-tempered giant named Steve. She barely survived the encounter. And I barely resisted the urge to punch the so-called prince in the face.

“What happened!” the Night Prince shouted at Bella as she limped back into the Cell after the match, dripping a trail of blood after her.

It was her blood this time. The match had taken place in the dead of night, so the Monster hadn’t come out to play. The Night Prince had waited until she was unconscious—and then a little longer—before finally conceding the match.

Did I mention I really wanted to punch him?

“What’s wrong with you?” he growled at Bella, his lips buzzing with fury. “Last time, you took out six vampires in seconds.”

Bella pressed her lips together. She couldn’t explain the Curse. If she told him that her special powers only came out when the sun was up, he would use that against her. He’d enter her inonlyday matches.

“Well?” the Night Prince demanded.

“Maybe I’m not as good of a fighter as you thought,” Bella muttered as I wrapped her wounds in bandages.

“No, that’s not it.” The Night Prince’s gaze panned from Bella to the rest of us. “You can fight. You just require sufficient motivation.”

I didn’t like the calculating gleam in his eyes.