Page 34

RUNA

Though the eveningbell had rung hours ago, Victor’s cot on the other side of our shared room remained empty. No doubt, he’d found some harlot willing to open her thighs along with a vein for him.

An image of his lips pressed to Milani’s throat came to my mind unbidden. I’d spent little time in the company of vampires thanks to my over-protective brothers, who were certain every creature we met either wanted to eat me or screw me. Sometimes both.

Milani's acceptance of her fate as the leech’s dinner intrigued me. Given her lusty groans, I imagined she even found it…pleasurable. Watching them, I couldn’t help but be curious.

What would it feel like to have the vampire’s arms wrapped around me, trapping me in his dark embrace? For him to hunger for me and no one else. I trailed my fingers along the curve of my neck, imagining that it was his mouth on my flesh. His fangs inside of me—taking.

When I realized the direction mythoughts had taken, I jerked my hand from my neck. What was I doing? This place. This prison. It was messing with my mind.

I should have been relieved to have the room to myself, free of the vampire’s suffocating presence. Instead, sleep eluded me. I was vulnerable and exposed. No weapons, no magic, no brothers. Strangely, I had little fear of the vampire, confident he wouldn’t attack me in my sleep.

Why that was, I wasn’t certain. Just some strange gut instinct.

I desperately needed to rest. Exhaustion would get me killed in the pit. It was important that I save my strength for the battle ahead. Whatever that might entail.Flarking trials.While I might have blamed the vampire for our predicament, it wasn’t entirely his fault.

Raelynn could have spoken up for me, demanding her mate release her only sister rather than stare at me like I was a bug beneath her silken slipper.

When we were younger, she had often bemoaned her life as a peasant. When we’d journey to the market, she’d stare off at the castle in the distance with a dreamy expression on her face. Once our chores were done, she’d often pretend she was a princess in a fairy tale, swishing through the meadow, waving to her adoring citizens.

One horrifying night, turns ago, King Idris made Raelynn’s dreams come true while turning my life into the stuff of nightmares.

Memories stirred, smoke filling my nostrils. Screams of the past echoed in my ears. My vision blurred, and I spotted Father’s fallen body, cut down while defending his family. We were exhausted and stressed from running. Always on the move after Idris destroyed our village and started hunting us.

My sister and I cowered behind an overturned wagon.

Our mother shivered beside us. Anguish hardened her palefeatures. “Hathor, have mercy. They’ve found us. Your poor father,” she sobbed.

“Then maybe it’s time we stopped running,” Raelynn snapped, tears streaking her soot-covered cheeks. “I am tired of being hungry and frightened all the time.”

Mamma’s palm cracked her cheek. Raelynn’s shriek pierced my ears. I flinched, casting a nervous glance about us, praying she didn’t bring the soldiers down upon us.

“How dare you disparage all your father and I have fought for?” Momma grated, fury and heartache in her drawn expression. “If the false king gets his hands on our magic, the whole kingdom will suffer. Not just one spoiled girl.”

Raelynn silenced her sniffles behind her clenched fist, shooting a heated glare at our mother.

“Runa, child,” Momma barked, her tone thick with emotion. “When the portal opens, you take your sister’s hand and don’t let go. You hear me?”

Portal? Now? She couldn’t be serious. Her eyes narrowed to slits, and I was quick to nod my agreement.

“I mean it. No matter what. Once I’m gone, the two of you will have to take care of each other. I’m counting on you, Runa. Carcerem is counting on you. Keep your sister on the righteous path. Don’t let her lose herself to her childish fantasies.”

“I promise,” I said naively, believing this was a promise I would keep.

I’d never seen my mother open a portal before. Had no idea what was involved. To this day, I wished I had remained ignorant.

Momma clenched the dagger she held, uttering an incantation. Purple magic whirled in her palms, and a shimmering sphere appeared. I stared in awe while Momma drew more energy from the earth. More than she’d ever taken before, making part of me ache in response. She swirled her hand,making the circle larger until it was big enough for a slender girl to crawl through.

It was so beautiful. For a moment, I forgot where I was until my mother grasped her dagger in two hands, holding it above her chest.

“Momma, no. What are you doing?” I cried out.

“A life freely given, for you, my daughters. I love you both.” With one last glance at the two of us, she stabbed the blade into her heart.

As I screamed, my mother fell to the ground. Crimson swirls wafted from her body, combining with her spell, swirling together. The shimmering circle she’d created became a mirror, reflecting the image of a quiet wooded area.

Safety.