Page 20 of Cruel Vampire King (Honeyblood Vampires #1)

Thessa’s lips parted, and a dribble of blood trickled down her chin. Her eyes were wide as she stared down at the sword piercing through her body. I yanked it out, gasping at the sick, squelching sound it made. Am I ready now, Emily? My former mentor would be watching. What would she think about this? Would she be proud of me?

It made me sick to think of it.

Thessa’s hands moved to the wound in her chest, trying to stem the bleeding. Her dark eyes moved to my face, pain, and betrayal written in them. For half a heartbeat, it seemed as though it was only her and me in this arena.

Thessa slowly sank, as though she knew she was going to fall and was trying to get it out of the way. Her eyes remained locked on mine as she went to her knees. The color rapidly drained from her face as she crumpled backward, dropping to the ground. A loud, harsh ringing buzzed in my ears.

At first, I thought it was the shock of my own actions, but after a moment, I realized it was the winner’s anthem being blared throughout the colosseum. All around me, vampires were on their feet and cheering. Others looked disappointed, clapping idly. A few even tore up betting tabs with frustrated expressions.

I dropped to my knees next to Thessa, my heart in my throat. I pressed my hands over hers, firmly pressing to stop the gush of blood. Her eyelids flickered, and her pulse beat in her throat. I needed to speak, but my mouth didn’t work.

Everything seemed to be moving slowly around me. Even Luken walking toward us. His footsteps sounded harsh and loud, even louder than the buzzing of the stadium all around us.

“And we have the betrayer,” the stadium announcer yelled into the microphone. “This year’s winner of the Blood Trials, Elara Tideborne!”

I pulled Thessa into my arms. She was losing blood too rapidly. She wasn’t going to last long. My breathing became ragged as I tucked her head under my chin. I wanted to say I was sorry, but my voice still wouldn’t work. Luken came to a stop next to me, and I looked up at him. His dark eyes were expressionless as he held his hand out to me.

“You’ve won,” he said. “It’s time.”

Snarling, I knocked his hand away. “I want my one wish!”

My voice came out in an explosion. I’d broken through the cold and shock, and all the fury I felt toward Luken returned in a rush. So he hadn’t killed my family. So he had told me the truth. He was still the reason I was still here. He was the reason Thessa was bleeding out and why Ysara and Kael were dead. He was the king, the most powerful man in the kingdom.

If he really wanted me that much, he’d have to prove it. Otherwise, I’d finish the job his brother started and drive a stake through his heart next.

“I won,” I screamed, and my voice tore at my throat. “I want my wish! Heal her.”

Luken’s dark eyes bore into mine as the colosseum fell silent.

“The rules of the game are that she can’t be healed,” Luken answered, his voice flat.

I sucked in a quick breath. Thessa’s heart was slowing. I felt it, weak and jerky, beneath my hand. “Then change her. Turn her into a vampire. Then, her life is done. She won’t be able to go back to where she was. Turn her.”

Luken only stared at me.

“I’m going to need a bodyguard if I’m to become your personal blood donor,” I hissed between my teeth, so quiet only he would hear. “And this is the last time I make that offer. Save her, or I swear, I will kill you.”

He looked unmoved.

“What’s this?” the speaker said into the mike. “She’s claiming her prize before completing the final trial? What an arrogant bitch this year’s winner turned out to be!”

I ignored him, my eyes locked on Luken.

“Well, we can see what she wanted from the start now,” the speaker continued, his words in a rush. Desperate to turn the crowd against me. “She’s used the Trials to trick us. And now—”

He fell silent as Luken lifted his hand. The gold of his rings flashed in the sunlight. “What is the place of a king if he cannot show mercy to one who deserves it? We’ve all watched the panther. Can any of us truly say her crime is so terrible to suffer such a fate?”

Was he going to save her? Tears burned against my eyes as I stared at him. The anger and harshness melted away as a slow, approving smile came onto his face. He didn’t speak as he knelt beside me and carefully pulled Thessa slightly toward him. He waved his hand at something—the cameras, maybe?

“Well done. You’ve found a loophole,” he murmured to me.

His fangs lengthened in his mouth. They moved forward, like the fangs of a snake, and glistened translucently. A red liquid pooled in them, and then he plunged them into Thessa’s chest. Her back arched, pushing her upward into his bite. The fangs pierced through, sinking to the gun into her body. Her eyes flew open, and a scream ripped from her lungs.

I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, keeping her still as Luken worked. My lungs heaved, and the buzzing was back in my ears. The vampires watching us were all silent, and I didn’t spare a glance to see the emotions on their faces.

When Luken finally pulled back, blood dribbled down his chin. No, not blood. It was as red as blood, but seemed thin and watery. Vampire venom? Was that how they changed the other species into vampires? Luken wiped his chin off and stood.

“Marissa, prepare a room for the new blood,” he ordered.

Thessa moaned. Her eyes fluttered open again. Pain was written on her face. “El-ara?”

“I’m here,” I said, holding her closer. “It’s alright. You’re going to be alright.”

A spike of panic shot through me. What if she wasn’t? What if she didn’t want to be a vampire? I’d made that choice for her. I hadn’t stopped to think that Thessa might rather die. What waited for her now that she was a vampire? Would they send her back to the temples? Had I, in trying to save her, condemned her to a fate even worse?

She let out a slow moan. “So… thirsty…”

She lunged suddenly, fangs blossoming in her jaws. I yelped, but before she could bite me, Luken was there again. He whisked her out of my arms and deposited her into the waiting embrace of a tall, muscular man. This man folded Thessa’s limbs into a tight ball and trotted out of the colosseum as Thessa let out a wail.

“Wait!” she screamed. “I’m so thirsty! Wait!”

Luken watched her go, then turned back to me. He held out his hand, and I hesitated, staring at it.

“Is it a trick?” I asked him doubtfully. “I didn’t finish the Trials…”

He chuckled. “You’ve proven your self-discipline, again and again, Elara. How many people do you think can resist me as much as you have?”

I tried to remind myself that I didn’t have proof, only his word, that he really did want me. But I couldn’t stop my shoulders from slumping in relief. This one triumph was more than I’d started to believe I could have. The question still was, though, how much could I trust the vampire king?

“I didn’t kill them,” Luken’s voice was low, serious as he stared into my eyes. “You do believe that, don’t you?”

That one question was so… vulnerable. It made tears come to my eyes. I nodded. Gratitude swept through me as I pressed my hand into his. It was over. I found a loophole to save Thessa. And with Luken on my side, we would also find a way to save Darcie. I was certain of it. I wanted to bury my face into his chest and seek all the comfort I’d been denied for four years.

My family wasn’t killed because I said no. All the blame I’d laid on myself wasn’t justified at all. It was all because of the pettiness of someone I’d never even met, trying to overthrow the king!

“The celebrations will be held as usual,” Luken declared, his hand big and firm around mine. “In the meantime, you’ll have to excuse me. I have something I need to do.”

He grinned at me, his eyes hot with lust. A thrill washed through me. He was going to drink from me. And then I would give him my virginity. I had no reason to hold back now. My blood simmered as I let my gaze move down his pleasing form. How would it feel to finally give into what I’d wanted for years now? The memories of the hot spring were vivid in my mind, but the feel of his skin on mine paled in comparison to the coolness of his hand in mine at this very moment.

A smile started to cross my face when movement near Greyson’s body caught my eye. At first, I thought it was the wind blowing his shirt. Then his hand lifted.

“Luken—” I called.

Too late.

Greyson shot upright, yanking the knife out of his eye as he did so. A chill went through me, but even as Luken turned, Greyson’s arm snapped out. The knife flashed through the air.

And hit me dead center in my chest.