Page 71 of Fated In Forever (Nocturne Vampire Clan #4)

RIORDAN

I spent the rest of that day following Evangeline around Crimson House, and everywhere she paused, something new appeared, like magic. A window that overlooked a spectacular part of the gardens, a quiet nook with plush seats when she needed to rest.

Part of me wondered if Malachi was staying close by as well, watching her like I was, cloaked in his glamour, desperate to gift Evie her every last desire, knowing he was living on borrowed time.

“I know you’re there, Rohr,” she finally said, fingers stroking the tasseled edging of the thick velvet curtains. “I hope you’re not angry,” she snuck me a shy look. “Because your house is different now.”

“Angry?” I shook my head. “I could never be angry over something that brings you joy.”

“But this was your home, ever since you were a child. You have memories here.”

How could I put into words the hatred I had for these stones? How could I ever forget the horrors that had taken place within these walls? No, Crimson House was unrecognizable, and I was glad.

“This is…” I stopped beside her, waved a hand at the views of the lake, the sweeping hills and forest behind them.

“I was never happy here. But Crimson House was my sire’s pr ide and joy,” I admitted softly.

“So after he was gone, I let this place fall into ruin. I liked watching everything rot, little by little. Like time was undoing what I couldn’t. ”

Evie reached out and took my hand and that small contact made my throat constrict. I was worn to the bone, exhausted from the weight I was carrying, yet knowing I would carry this burden as long as I had to.

Keeping her safe—keeping them all safe—was my duty.

My honor .

“I killed Domonic Graves, and no matter how hard I tried, I was never able to erase his ghost. But the years were doing their job well enough, and watching this place decay around me felt like a quiet kind of revenge, I suppose.”

“How…how did he die, Rohr?” She gently ran her thumb over mine, questions burning in her eyes. “You don’t have to tell me, but…we’ve never talked about your sire, and…”

“It happened after Cassmira died.” Blake was outlined by the doorframe, strong arms braced wide, his eyes glowing faintly from the shadows. “After we uncovered the full extent of Tyrell’s corruption and how deeply involved in that filth Domonic was.”

I sighed. “My sire kept a list of names from Tyrell. Enemies of the kingdom, those who had slighted him, the weaker lords he could leverage through intimidation, that sort of thing. But there were also the stronger royals who threatened his power, the ones he wanted dead.”

“I happened to find this list during a routine recon.” Blake admitted, without batting an eye.

“You mean you were snooping,” Evie countered, and my fingers tightened around hers. If my sire had known of her existence back then…I shuddered, glad I’d killed him when I did, glad they had never crossed paths.

“Snooping, recon, same result.” Blake shook his head and stepped into the alcove.

“The point is, I knew Domonic was too weak to rule and Tyrell was done pretending he wasn’t the one actually running the kingdom.

As far as I was concerned, Cassmira’s death put the final nail in Dominic’s coffin, and Riordan… ”

“I decided my father had to die before he destroyed this clan. But Tyrell couldn’t be allowed to take power. I had to kill him myself, and because of our antiquated laws regarding primogeniture, all I had to do was make sure I didn’t die in the process.”

“Who was on this list?” She asked quietly.

Tell her. Blake urged. My sister’s death was the match that lit the flame, but that list…that had been the tinder for the fire of our rebellion.

How many times had I wondered—if I’d only walked away and left my sire and Tyrell in charge—would we be here now? Fighting a war against an Elder, trying to stop our world from being swallowed up by a hellish rift?

Probably not.

But I never would have met Evangeline. Never known a love like this even existed, and realized…I wouldn’t have changed a single thing.

“House Dracon, namely Fiona and Eldric.” Blake met her eyes. “Lord Romaric from House Hawkmere, plus his entire bloodline, Lord River and his sons from House Valarian. And that was just the start.”

“My father meant to exterminate half the clan. So his death wasn’t really a choice, as much as a necessity. I killed him myself,” I loosed a breath, hating those words coming out of my mouth.

I’d had a decade to get used to them, yet somehow…I never had.

“I offered.” Blake said quietly, coming to crouch down beside Evie, who couldn’t help but reach out and brush her delicate fingers down the length of his scar.

“I would have gladly finished that fuck off, so you didn’t have to live with the memory.

I know…” he swallowed, gaze narrowing as he studied my face. “I know you still have regrets.”

“No regrets.” I firmed my shoulders, resolve hardening inside me. “None at all. Not now. Not knowing how everything will turn out.”

Evie gave us both a sad smile. “You have no idea how this will turn out.”

I raised our clasped hands to my lips, pressed them against her warm palm, closing my eyes and offering up a prayer. “I do know, because I have found my queen. You and I will rule side by side, with Blake and gods help us, Malachi, too.”

Blake snorted, then rested his forehead against Evie’s. “I will protect you both with my life. Rohr and I swore a vow to each other once.” He and I traded a look, the same promise we’d made each other on that fateful night, to always guard each other’s back. “A vow I mean to keep.”

“We swore to make our kingdom into a safe haven for everyone,” I explained.

“One where everyone is equal and everyone has a say and there are no executions or mock trials. No corruption or back room deals or threats. That is what we set out to do, and once Ravok is gone, we can finally build our kingdom.”

“You sound sure we can beat him.” Evie looked between us. “How?”

“We know he’s going to make a move, so we’ve rolled out the welcome mat, so to speak.” For the last few nights, we’d planned and strategized, then finally decided not to waste precious manpower chasing the bastard down.

“We all agreed on one thing.” Blake explained. “Sooner or later, he’ll return to France. That pool, that round chamber will draw him like a magnet. All we have to do is wait.”

“We’re running shifts at the ruins and we’re taking turns keeping watch.

The moment Ravok or Romulus appear, a warning will go out.

We have a full contingent of Kightsguard on site, overseen by either Finn and Nash.

But Malachi is the key. He’s confident he can take Ravok on and win, and we mean to let him try. ”

I paused, watching her face as she processed this.

“He’s the one who suggested we carry out a multi prong attack. He takes on Ravok. Blake, Finn and I take down Romulus, Nash and the Knightguard concentrate on the thralls. The less of those he has to draw power from, the weaker they both will be.”

“If he brings more thralls to France, he’ll use them like a living shield,” she pointed out softly, worry shining in her eyes.

“Not going to happen.” Blake’s smile turned positively cruel. “We shut down Vincent Valentine’s little partnership with Ravok, and evacuated Thorndale, cutting off his supply of warm bodies. No more students, no more thralls, no more power.”

“And Vincent?”

She sat up straight, a tremor of disgust pinching her mouth and I felt a vicious thrill of joy when I said, “Blake and I took care of Vincent ourselves. He’ll never hurt anyone ever again.” I pressed her hand between mine. “We should have finished him off long ago. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not like I didn’t leave him alive. But good, I’m glad he’s dead.” She looked between us. “Providing Ravok doesn’t bring his contingent of thralls, what’s the plan for France when he does arrive? ”

Blake smoothed his hands down his thighs, “Nikolai and Fiona will stay here, in reserve, while you, my love…” My mouth went dry as her expression darkened, but all Blake did was chuckle, his shoulders shaking.

“Don’t fret, mate. You’re going in with us, Evie. In the first wave. Fully armed, well rested and ready to kick ass, if you think you can manage that?”

She gave us a queen’s smile, swift and sure and touched with vicious anticipation, as if she was remembering everything Ravok had done, and everything he was owed.

“Oh, I’ll be ready, and this time, he’s not leaving that mountain.”