Page 117 of A Monarch's Fall

A slap so loud, like gunfire, resonated around the room, and Selene’s head snapped to the side as the King towered over her.

“Speak to me in such a way again, and I will have you defanged,” he warned.

Defanging was a painful and humiliating punishment. Fangs could grow back, but it was also a painful and long process. I couldn’t believe that he had hit Selene, his own daughter. My father had never lifted his hand in violence toward me.

Selene spat blood.

The sight caused my throat to constrict. The way she lifted her gaze to stare at her father frightened me. I knew what he was capable of. He had already struck her violently, and I didn’t doubt he would follow through with his threat. I gripped the back of her shirt in fear.

“Don’t,” I whispered against her back.

Selene straightened and took hold of my wrist again as she walked towards the door.

“You did well to listen to your pet. I hope you continue to do so. I’m getting sick of all the trouble it causes around here,” he said as Selene opened the door to his office.

I turned as she dragged me out of the room to look back at the King. His glowing silver eyes met mine.

“It would do well for everyone to remember that I am a man of my word,” he said, and I knew what he meant; he was reminding me that people would start dying if I didn’t do as he instructed.

Chapter twenty-nine

There’s Something About an Angry Vampire.

Percy Flores

Selene was silent as she dragged me back to her private wing and room. She was so visibly furious that none of her guards greeted us as she passed.

In her room, she slammed the door shut and released my wrist, turning on me.

“Percy,” she growled low. Her eyes were still glowing, and her right cheek was a stinging red.

“Selene, I…” I stopped myself from speaking, from apologising, from mindlessly taking it all back.

I raised my hand to soothe her injured cheek, but dropped my hand before I touched her. I couldn’t. Simply looking at herso distressed made me want to crumble to tell her everything, but her injury was proof enough that there was no line the King would not cross. I wasn’t only risking everyone I ever loved or even knew; I was putting Selene at risk, too.

“What has happened to you?” she asked, and I couldn’t tell if she was angry or hurt or just some awful mix of pained. “I am informed of your return after all this time, and this is how you greet me?” she asked.

I looked away.

She gripped my jaw and turned my face to her.

“Look at me,” she demanded. “Do you have any idea how much I have worried for you? How much I have struggled to find you since I awoke? Of the toll your absence has had upon me?” she questioned. “Explain to me now, what has happened that you would return to me only to reject me.”

“Selene, I…” The image of Edward bleeding, dying flashed through my mind, and any words I had were killed in my throat.

Selene inhaled deeply.

“What are you so scared of?” she demanded to know.

“You,” I whispered, lying.

She released my jaw and stepped away from me, and I watched as she attempted to calm herself.

I noticed then how thin she looked; her clothing sat too loose on her frame.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to scare you. I am overwhelmed,” she said, her voice wavering as she turned away from me.

I couldn’t stop myself from walking towards her and wrapping my arms around her from behind and pressing my face against her back.