Page 119 of Bite The Terror That Feeds

My father was silent.

How many souls had I consumed to live as long as I had? Hundreds?

“This is the way, Clara. The only way.”

I lifted my gaze and looked at him once again.

“As painful as it is, our survival is more important than anything or anyone else.”

Despicable. Fucking despicable. “Why have we declared this genocide against the vampires when our crimes are worse than theirs?” For nearly two centuries, we’d tried to eradicate them from the world, all because they desired the same thing.

“You’re a smart girl, Clara,” he said. “You know the answer.”

It took a moment for me to understand, to dig deep to find the truth. “Because we’re competing for the same resource…” We needed the humans to die in order for us to stay alive. The vampires needed to keep them alive to feed. Or worse, turn them into vampires as well…so they weren’t accessible to us.

Now it all made sense. In a single week, my world had been shattered. My life would never be the same.

“As Queen of Evanguard, it’s your duty to safeguard this secret, to eradicate our competitors from the face of the earth. Before the vampires originated, life was easy and simple. And then they emerged…and complicated matters. Only one race can live forever—and it’s us.”

* * *

I remained in my tree house for several days and never left. Most of the time was spent in bed, looking out the window or staring at the ceiling. Days later, I was still in shock from what I had heard.

Cobra tried to warn me…and I didn’t believe him.

Now I wished I had stayed.

Stayed to do what, I wasn’t sure.

My whole life, the vampires had been the enemy. I’d volunteered to join the other assassins to kill Kingsnake in his sleep. To kill the innocent woman who had the audacity to be immune to our sickness.

I hated myself.

I’d believed all the lies…for so long.

A knock sounded on my door and shattered my thoughts. I sat at the dining table with a hot cup of tea that had turned cold long ago. The window was open and the rain was gone. It was a warm day, sunshine peeking through the branches. “It’s open.” We didn’t lock the doors in Fallonworth. Crime didn’t exist, so it was unnecessary.

It was Toman. He joined me in the dining room but remained standing. “Your father requests your presence.”

My eyes stayed on my cold tea. “Did he say why?”

“He’s preparing for war.”

I stilled before I slowly turned to look at him. “What do you mean?”

“He’s departing for Grayson at dawn.”

* * *

I stepped into the throne room, where he stood with his commanders. General Therion was there, along with his wife, Ellasara. They stood together and looked at the map across the table.

“We must attack from more than one direction,” Ellasara said. “Because of their unique terrain, they can’t hold off invaders from the mountainside. If we climb over the mountain then launch our arrows and cannons from an elevation, they won’t be able to overcome that. If they try to climb up the mountain, we’ll pick them off one by one.”

“It’ll take time to position our forces,” General Therion said.

“Then we won’t attack until we’re ready,” Ellasara said.

“They’ll see you,” my father said.