Page 30

30

V eris led us deeper into his stronghold, each step carrying us farther from escape and closer to an endgame I supposed I had been running from in one way or another for thirty years, since fleeing from the Moon Sanctuary.

The corridor widened into a vast chamber that could only be described as a war room. A massive circular table dominated the center, carved with an intricate topographical map of the Olympic Peninsula—the location of the Sun Keep—with various places marked by small, engraved medallions of polished metal, gleaming like dark pewter with subtle silver undertones. Manganese, if I wasn’t mistaken, though it was impossible to sense any shadow taint within the small pieces of the metal when surrounded by the expansive manganese deposits in the earth.

Arched windows lined one wall, but instead of glass, they displayed a view of a rough rock wall, deep gray cut through by streaks of dull, metallic manganese that caught the light like veins of tarnished silver.

Several shifters stood around the table, their military bearing marking them as commanders. Their watchful stares tracked us with predatory focus. One woman nonchalantly pulled a cover over the three-dimensional map, only making me more curious about the places marked by the medallions.

“Please, sit,” Veris said, gesturing to chairs across from his ornate throne-like seat positioned in front of the manganese wall. The fake politeness made my skin crawl, a parody of diplomacy in a room designed for conquest. Had he given the order to attack the Moon Sanctuary from this room? Had he sentenced my mom and sister and countless queens to death from right here ?

I remained standing, Javier a solid presence at my back. Through our bond, I felt him cataloging every threat, every weakness, every escape route. His knuckles grazed my spine, a gentle touch Veris and his minions might not notice, but enough to assure me I wasn’t alone.

“I didn’t come here to chitchat,” I said, my voice sharp enough to cut.

“No,” Veris agreed, his smile cold and practiced. “You came for your consort, I’m sure. That’s the deal you offer, is it not? You’ll attempt to break the curse in exchange for your servant. How predictable.” He settled into his chair and flicked his fingers at a commander. “Bring the corpse.”

Those three words made my heart turn leaden and sink into my gut. Frantically, I reached through my bond with Gavin, and I felt him, very much alive. Or rather, undead . But not corpse dead.

Javier lowered his head, bringing his lips close to my ear. “ Corpse is a derogatory term for an undead vampire,” he whispered, his voice barely audible, just for me.

“While we wait,” Veris continued, studying me like a collector eyeing a rare specimen, “perhaps we should discuss terms. You want your consort. I want the curse broken.” His amber eyes gleamed with covetous hunger. “A simple exchange, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Simple, but incomplete,” I replied . “You’ll release the captive queens as well.”

Veris leaned forward, his massive hands splayed on the throne’s armrests. “Break the curse that has limited my people for millennia. In exchange, I will release your consort and the remaining queens.”

A side door opened. Gavin’s presence crashed through our bond—aware, just barely. Exhausted. Pissed off.

His scent hit me next—dried blood and an undercurrent of foul corruption, like the shadow taint had seeped into him during his imprisonment, but beneath it all was a mouth-watering aroma that was intrinsically Gavin . My chest tightened painfully, and my nails bit into my palms as I fought to maintain even a shred of queenly composure.

When they half-dragged him in, something inside me cracked. They’d chained him, iron shackles around his ankles and wrists, and a dull iron mask covering his face; mere slivers cut into the metal for his eyes, nose, and mouth. Not iron, I realized. Manganese. This was the source of the foulness tangled with his scent. This was why Javier hadn’t carried the same lingering shadow taint after spending so much longer as a prisoner here. They were poisoning Gavin with corrupted bindings.

I clenched my jaw. Did they know? Were they aware of the taint corrupting their precious metal? The taint they had spread to the manganese through their own corrupted magic? Or was this just a really shitty accident?

Javier placed a hand on my shoulder, steadying me as I took in the sight of my powerful guardian—the vampire whose calculated grace had anchored me when my carefully constructed world turned upside down.

Gavin’s short, black hair was matted with dried blood, his clothes torn and filthy, skin ashen where it had once glowed with vitality. The bond mark on his neck had dulled to a faint shimmer, barely visible through the dried and crusted blood staining his skin. But the mask undid me, hiding his distinctive silver eyes. Erasing his identity. Turning him into a walking blood bag for the queens.

“Gavin,” I whispered, his name catching in my throat. Guilt hit me like a physical blow, tears welling instantly. While I’d been wrapped in pleasure with my other consorts, Gavin had been suffering alone in the darkness. “I’m so sorry.”

“Touching reunion,” Veris intruded, examining his nails with exaggerated boredom. “But we have business.” He gestured to the guards flanking Gavin. “As you can see, your consort lives. For now.”

“Remove his bindings,” I demanded. “I won’t agree to a single thing until you get those chains and that ridiculous mask off him.”

Veris smirked, smug. “His bindings come off when mine do.”

I stepped forward, and Javier’s hand slipped off my shoulder. “He poses no threat in this state. Remove his bindings,” I repeated, taking another step. Moonlight pulsed inside me, my will straining for release. “Before I make you .”

“You think you can?” Veris barked a laugh. “You think you’re stronger than the great High Queen Diana with a full harem fueling her power and centuries of experience using it?” His laughter expanded, filling the space. “Your mother tried to use her will on me.” He leaned forward, menacing. Mocking. “About three seconds before I ripped her throat out.”

I reared back like his words held physical weight. “I am not my mother.”

“No,” Veris said. “You’re a child playing at being queen.”

Rage boiled my blood, and moonlight seeped from my pores.

Veris sat up straighter, some of the amusement draining from his eyes.

“If I have to repeat myself again,” I said, my voice ringing with power, “then we’ll all find out how wrong—or right—you are.” I glanced at his sycophants. “I’m sure they would love to know if a child can best you. I’m sure it would make them wonder if your own child, Bastian—” I glanced at the watching shifters. “One of my consorts,” I reminded them. “—would be a stronger king.”

Veris stared me down for long seconds before flicking his fingers at the guards standing over Gavin. “Do it.” He bared his teeth at me in a mockery of a smile. “As an act of goodwill.”

I crossed my arms, watching as Gavin’s shackles were removed, first from his ankles, then from his arms. Lastly, they removed his mask. I cataloged the wear wounds on his ankles, wrists, and face, silently vowing to make sure Veris felt Gavin’s pain. When this was over. When the deals had been set and met.

“If I agree to remove the curse,” I said, each word measured and precise, “I want Gavin and all the queens released immediately. Before I attempt anything.”

Veris laughed, the sound like breaking ice. “You’re in no position to dictate terms, little girl .” He leaned back, his posture falsely relaxed. “But I’m feeling generous. I’ll release half the queens now. The rest, including your consort, remain until the curse is broken.”

“I need assurances,” I said, stalling. “A blood oath that you’ll honor your word.”

Something flashed in Veris’s eyes—triumph quickly masked. “A blood oath. How appropriate.” He extended his hand, palm up, a gesture as old as bargaining itself. “I accept.”

My mom’s ring flared hot enough to burn. I balled my hand into a fist in an attempt to suppress the pain, but I heeded the warning. The blood oath spelled danger—but why?

My lip curled, suspicion turning my stomach. “Not a blood exchange,” I clarified. “I’m not offering to bond with you.”

Veris’s smile thinned, the calculated charm slipping. “Come now, Luna. I can call you that, can’t I— Luna ?”

I gritted my teeth.

His cheeks twitched with the hint of a heartless smile. “We both know that only Selene and Eos working together can break the curse. And we both know that only a queen in her full power—with a complete harem of seven—can appeal to Selene, just as only an elemental of the original bloodline can beseech Eos.”

I exchanged a wary glance with Javier over my shoulder. That certainly hadn’t been my experience with Selene, but I wasn’t about to tell Veris that. The more I let him talk, the more he revealed, so I wasn’t about to cut him short if he was winding up to villain monologue.

“And we also both know you are a couple of consorts shy of the complete set. It just so happens I have a guest from the original Star line on his way here right now, who I’m sure would be quite willing to be bound to the High Queen of the House of the Moon. You’ll need him to break the curse anyway, so it’s very convenient.”

“Actually,” I cut in. “I have my own—”

“ And while I could order one of my people to fill your other hole , what kind of leader would I be if I asked my people to do something I’m unwilling to do myself?” His eyes hardened to chips of amber. “Your mother refused, and see how that turned out. I was good enough for her bed, but not for her bond.”

The revelation hit like a slap. My mom—and Veris ?

“You’re lying,” I said automatically, even as doubt crawled up my spine.

“Am I?” Veris’s smile turned vicious, scenting weakness. “Ask your guardian. He was there, watching from the shadows. Diana’s faithful dog, yearning for scraps while I feasted.”

Javier’s rage surged through our bond like wildfire, nearly overwhelming in its intensity. His fingers tightened on my shoulder, his silence confirming Veris’s claim more effectively than words ever could.

“My mom would never—”

“Never what ? Stray outside her harem?” Veris laughed, hollow and cold. “Oh, but she would. She came back, again and again. Power seeks out power.”

A silver shimmer caught my eye behind Veris’s throne—stronger this time. A faintly humanoid shape. Not distinct enough to make out any discerning features.

“ Lies… ” The voice that accompanied the half-formed specter, however, was clearly identifiable. “ Half-truths… ”

My mom. She was here. Not in the middle of a ritual. Not summoned by divine power. She was here . Anchored here. Trapped here. I scanned the room. This sick psycho must have saved part of her body, holding her ghost captive, intentional or not.

“ I used his weakness for flesh… ”

I swallowed repeatedly, attempting to regain my voice. “Where is she?” I asked, my voice low and laced with cold rage.

Veris cocked his head slightly. “One of the queens?”

“My mother , you sick fuck,” I hissed. “You kept part of her body. Where is it?”

Veris straightened, his eyes opening wide. He looked around, suddenly very much on edge. “She can’t manifest here. The wards—it’s impossible. He assured me—”

“You will release Gavin,” I ground out. “You will release the queens. And you will hand over whatever piece of my mom you kept as a trophy. Then, and only then, will I remove your curse.” I spat at his feet. “Take the deal or leave it. But know that if you reject my offer, I will use my will on you, and we’ll all find out once and for all if you’re stronger than a little girl. And if you’re not—if I can command you—then I will get everything I want, and you and your people will get nothing. Not so long as you’re king.”

Veris curled his lip in distaste. “Deal,” he growled. His glare moved past me to the guards standing over Gavin. “Retrieve the queens.” Veris stood abruptly. “I’ll return shortly with the other item. Then you’ll uphold your end of the deal.” Without another word, he stalked away, leaving Javier, Gavin, and me alone in his war room with his stunned commanders.