Page 70 of Queen of the Crimson Throne (Queen of Blood and Stardust #2)

70

LUKA

Ice slid along my veins as Adreona’s words processed. We aim to rid Lethenia of vampires.

Not cure vampirism. Rid the world of them.

“How? Why?” Lennox stammered.

“The why is for another time”—She waved a pale hand dismissively—“but in simple terms, vampires are nothing but bloodthirsty monsters. They are a danger to themselves and others. They are a curse upon our continent. I believe it is my destiny from the Goddess to rid our world of them.”

Lennox scoffed from beside me. “I can assure you, Astria has done no such thing.”

“You dare to question my destiny?” There was a steely edge to her voice.

Lennox was silent. Not the time to fight this battle. Lennox would have words with Astria later that was for sure.

Our attention turned to the door opening behind the throne.

“Kara.” Lennox ran to her sister, throwing her arms around her as Kara stood motionless.

“What is this?” Lennox gestured to the chains encircling Kara’s hands.

“A precaution. They will be removed once you leave the building. I still need to ensure you cooperate.”

Lennox snarled at the female. “Release her now.” The guard behind Kara pulled her close, keeping her near as Lennox stared down Adreona.

Flames flickered at Lennox’s fingertips as she removed her sword from her side. The whine of metal echoed through the empty room.

Adreona laughed, the sound cold and cruel. “Be careful young Queen. I hold all the cards here.”

“Are you sure about that?” Before Adreona could open her mouth Lennox was rolling across the floor, her legs kicking out beneath the guard holding Kara. He fell to the floor and she climbed on top of him. Her knees pinning his arms to his sides as she pressed her sword to his throat.

Her hair fell in front of her face as she looked up at Adreona. “If you’ve heard rumors about me, you know I won’t hesitate to kill him.”

“Oh, I know.” She smiled. “Do it, he’s useless anyway for letting you disarm him that quickly.”

Lennox hesitated for a moment before she slid her sword across the male’s throat. She stood, as the guard gurgled, choking on his blood as Lennox returned to my side, sword still in hand.

“I’ll burn this whole fucking building to the ground if you don’t let her go,” she snarled.

“Would you? You’d kill all the innocent people in here? Your friends?”

“We would make it out,” she countered, I knew she was calculating a plan in her head as I was. Trying to find all possible exits, how we’d escape once we grabbed Kara. Our best bet might be out the way we came. If we could let loose some of the Dhampirs on our way out they’d be a good distraction.

“But would they?” Adreona gestured behind her, as the door opened, revealing Nico and Luce, escorted by two guards, their hands tied in front of them.

I could feel Lennox’s magic festering. She clenched her hands into fists, breathing hard through her nose.

“I’ll kill her,” she murmured under her breath. “I’ll slit that bitch’s throat for this.”

Panic flared in Luciana’s eyes as she took in Lennox.

“Lennox no!” The witch warned, but she was too late. Lennox flung out her arm towards Adreona, a spear of ice flying through the air.

Before the ice could touch the female, it melted to a puddle on the floor. Lennox’s brow wrinkled, but she tried again, only for the same thing to happen.

“If only you would have listened to me, you insolent child,” Adreona growled. “Your magic is useless against me.”

Despite Adreona’s warning, Lennox tried again, throwing out her hand, but nothing came from her fingers.

“This place puts a damper on your magic, rendering it all but useless.”

We all turned at the sound of the door opening behind us again. Guards filtered into the room, each of them guiding a restrained Dhampir into the chamber.

There had to be close to twenty Dhampirs being led into the room. Dread settled low in my gut.

“I’ll make you a deal, High Queen.” Her voice slid down my spine like a snake. “Make it out of here alive and I’ll let you all go.”

“Fuck,” Nico swore.

We knew how to take down Dhampir, but this many, without any magic…

For the first time, I thought we might not make it out alive.

“The deal was I bring you the journal and I get my sister back.”

Adreona raised a dark brow, “I have the journal and you have your sister back. I never said anything about you making it out of here alive.”

I looked at Lennox, but her gaze was fixed on Adreona, determination written across her features. I squeezed her hand three times before she looked back at me.

“We can do this,” I said, trying to reassure her as well as myself. “I love you.”

She smiled softly. Squeezing my hand back. She opened her mouth, but Adreona’s voice rose over the room before she could speak.

“Release the Dhampirs.”

Chaos erupted as the guards released the Dhampirs. The guards ran, filing back into the doors they came from as the Dhampirs roared and took off toward us.

“Help!” I turned my head toward Luciana and Nico as they screamed and ran toward us. “Our restraints!” They bellowed as they ran toward us with wide eyes. The guards had abandoned them, left them for dead with their hands still restrained. I rushed toward them, and Lennox toward the Dhampirs.

“Do you still have weapons?”

“They only took the ones they could see on us,” Nico said as I slashed my sword through his bindings.

The moment he was free he shifted into his wolf form, whatever magic was diluting our elemental powers didn’t tamper with his shifting abilities. He wasted no time ripping into a Dhampir that rushed him.

I turned my attention back to Luciana, I had never seen her look so panicked. “It will be okay,” I told her as I cut off her ties.

“I’m not so sure.” She let out a deep sigh before setting her shoulders, her eyes scanning the room. “I need a sword.” Her gaze landed on the guard lying dead on the floor. “Cover me?”

I nodded. Luce palmed the daggers strapped to her thighs before breaking into a run, me at her heels.

“On your left,” I warned Luciana. The Dhampir pounced, its claws clamoring for Luce. This one looked like the first one I encountered after the market, its face less human than the recent ones we had encountered. It was worth a try to see if a blade to the heart would be enough to kill it. Luce kept running, I embedded my blade in the beast’s chest from behind. I didn’t look back to watch it fall as I continued after Luciana.

We made it to the guard, Luciana grabbed the sword, turning back toward me, her eyes going wide. “Look out!” She warned.

I ducked in time as a Dhampir lept for me. It met Luciana’s sword as it leaped, falling to the floor dead. “Thank you,” I breathed.

“Anytime.”

We made our way back to the fray, taking down any Dhampir that crossed our path.

As another Dhampir fell at my feet, I kicked it aside, scanning the room for Lennox. Nico was still in his wolf form, his silver coat splattered with black blood, Luciana had joined Delcan and they fought back to back against a horde of beasts. They kept coming. No matter how many I killed, more kept coming.

But still, I couldn’t find Lennox.

Or Kara.

Where was Kara? Wherever Kara was Lennox was.

I scanned the room. Adreona still sat on her throne, a satisfied smile on her face as she surveyed the room. A guard stood by her side, still holding Kara hostage. I searched the throne for Lennox. Where was she? I turned my attention back to the area surrounding me, searching for any sign of blonde hair among the bodies of the Dhampirs.

Nothing.

Another Dhampir descended on me. I kicked it in the chest, giving me a moment to prepare before it struck again, shoving my sword clear through its throat.

The Dhampir gurgled as I removed my sword.

I made my way through the room, searching for Lennox .

A Dhampir swiped out with its arms, its claws coming dangerously close to my arm as I pushed my sword through its heart this time.

The dead Dhampir sagged to the ground as I removed my sword. I turned my attention to the throne, once again searching for my wife.

There.

There she was, climbing up the back of the throne.

Adreona’s gaze met mine. Fuck.

I looked away quickly, but not quick enough. Adreona’s gaze searched the floor, searching for Lennox. Her eyes widened with panic, but she was too late.

Lennox stood behind the ice throne, holding her sword to Adreona’s throat.

That’s my girl.

The sounds of fighting faded; I looked over my shoulder as my friends slayed the last of the Dhampirs.

“I’ll enjoy watching the blood drain from your body,” Lennox drawled as she pressed her sword into Adreona’s throat. Crimson dripped down the female’s pale neck.

“If you kill me your sister dies,” Adreona rasped.

I turned my attention to Kara at the same moment Lennox did, my throat going dry at the sight of the guard holding a dagger to Kara’s throat, a mirror to Adreona and Lennox.

Lennox was deathly still behind Adreona as she watched the male move with her sister. Her eyes fixed on that dagger.

Without hesitating, Lennox removed her sword from the female’s throat.

“Smart girl,” Adreona crooned.

“Why are you doing this?” Lennox pleaded as the male continued to hold the blade to Kara’s throat. She moved away from Adreona, making her way down the stairs of the throne to my side. “I gave you the journal. What more do you want from me?”

“Do you think me stupid?” Adreona spat. She stood from the throne, wiping the blood dripping from her neck with the back of her hand, but the wound continued to bleed. She flung the journal at Lennox’s feet. “There are several pages ripped out. Where are they?”

Lennox’s gaze stayed fixed on Kara. “I don’t know. I received the journal like you asked and came straight here.”

“Liar,” she hissed. She gave the guard a nod. Kara whimpered as the blade pressed into her skin, a thin line of blood dripping down her neck.

“Please,” Lennox pleaded. “Don’t hurt her. She did nothing. Let her go. Take me.”

The female’s eyes flashed.

“Lennox,” I warned.

“Take me in her place.”

“And why would you think I’d want you instead?”

“I’m the queen. You could use me as a bargaining chip. I’m a skilled warrior. Use me to kill your enemies. I don’t care. I’ll do anything if you let my sister go.” Panic constricted my chest as she continued to plead. She couldn’t do this.

The gleam in Adreona’s eyes made my stomach churn. “I did find something interesting while your sister was here. She possesses witch magic. Do you possess this same magic?”

Lennox swallowed. “I do. Mine is stronger.”

“Perhaps you could be of use to me. I require a willing witch to help with my experiments, my current one is of little use these days.”

“Lennox, no,” I pleaded. “Don’t do this, we will find a way.”

She took a deep breath. “Release my sister and we can talk.”

“Lennox, don’t do this.”

Adreona nodded to the guard. Kara sagged as he removed the dagger and Lennox let out a shuddering breath.

I took Lennox’s hand in mine. “Lennox,” I warned. “Please.” She looked over at me. Her eyes were lined with tears as her face contorted with pain. She squeezed my hand.

“Trust me, Luka, please trust me.”