Page 38

Chapter 37

Reality and Dreamland

Raiden

O pening my eyes was easier this time, but I immediately regretted it when I realized where I was. Lying on the ground, staring up at the opulent golden encased domed ceiling was not my idea of fun or joy. At least I’d get to see my ice queen, though, even if these versions of her were always strange, and I much preferred the version of her in the meadow.

I could almost still taste her on my tongue and feel her soft skin beneath my fingertips.

I sat up, temporarily enjoying the freedom of pain from my body. Looking around the room, I realized it was once again empty.

I sighed. “Guess I should get up and go find the fun.” Not sure why my dream self couldn’t at least bring whatever insanity it concocted to me, instead of sending me on some sort of mental hunt. But if it gave me a glimpse of my female, I’d start a hunt.

Getting up off the floor, I looked around. Deciding to start with the chambers first, not that I wanted to be back in that room again, but it was a safe bet. Pushing the door open, I was surprised to find Silvana and her sister there alone.

“You have to go, Silvie. Please,” Cora pleaded.

“I can’t leave you, stop asking me,” Silvana said firmly.

“He’s going to kill you, Silvie. I heard him. You have to leave.” Tears streaked down Cora’s face as she pleaded with her sister.

Silvana just shook her head and stared at her sister.

Just then the door opened, and both of them turned quickly toward me. I turned my head and watched as a male walked past me. Only it wasn’t who I expected it to be, it was the male who’d taken me.

Okay, brain, now we’re really meshing reality and dreamland. Lovely.

“Cora, she can’t leave. Master is expecting her,” he leered.

Cora grabbed Silvana’s arm, her eyes pleading, but Silvana just shook her head.

They walked hand in hand out of the door and he followed closely behind.

My stomach sank, and deep in my gut, I knew this wasn’t a dream. This was a memory. The dream sharing actually worked, which meant that all of the previous dreams were her memories too.

I felt ill, but I followed them out of the room anyway, knowing I needed to see this through. I didn’t think Silvana was sending me these memories herself, but the Fates worked in their own ways—I wouldn’t put it past them to be in control of this too.

We walked down the hall but away from the domed room this time. I hadn’t been down this hall yet, but it was much of the same extravagance I’d seen prior. The same golden archways, golden floor, arched windows covered in gold gossamer curtains. I wondered what he’d think if he came to visit the manor in the Court of Shadows—not that I’d ever allow him to step foot in my court, but still. The idea of his face was comical to me. He wouldn’t feel at home, I knew that much.

We came to the end of the hall, and it opened up to another domed room. Having said that, this room was completely different from its predecessor. Where the previous room was a shining bowl of gold and beige, his statue in the middle of it, and seats of comfort scattered around—this room was dark. That was the best way to describe it.

It was clear that the previous room was for entertaining while this one was for… death. His throne, the twin to the other, only it was made of a midnight black stone instead of gold, sat up on a large dais. The walls were made of dark stone, and the floors were the same dark stone as his throne. There were no seats, just an open area you walked into. One door in and one door out—which felt planned.

The sick feeling in my gut was growing by the moment. I watched as Silvana and Cora approached the dais, where he was lounging on his dark throne. He was wearing a silver shirt today, half unbuttoned, and black pants. Black boots and a black belt completed the look, his dark brown hair was slicked back, making him look even more pretentious than when I’d last seen him.

“Thank you, Viktor,” he said to the male who’d escorted them.

Viktor? This is Viktor? This is the male who led the Eternal Outcasts?

Silvana let go of Cora’s arm and pushed on it gently, forcing her to stand back while Silvana approached him. When she was a few steps away from him, she dropped down to kneel in front of him.

“You’ve disappointed me, Silvie. I hear you met with the healer, and once again, haven’t given me an heir. I expected better from you,” he stated. His tone was bored but his eyes told everyone just how angry he truly was.

Silvana didn’t speak; she didn’t defend herself. She just knelt in front of him. I wanted to walk over and drag her to her feet, kiss her senseless, and take her away from here. But that wasn’t an option.

He rose from his chair and stepped down from the dais. Kneeling in front of her, he grabbed her chin, pulling her face up to look at him.

“I expected more from a born vampire with as much power as you, Silvana, but once again you’ve given me nothing to be proud of.” He rose to his feet, and then backhanded her so hard she fell on her side gripping her face.

Born vampire .

Born. Vampire.

The words echoed through my mind. She was… she was a born vampire? No one sired her? This entire time, I’d been thinking Keres was her sire, and that’s why he had such an obsession with her. But that wasn’t it at all.

I thought back to the story she’d told Joel and me, about her parents and her sister. Keres took her, killing her family. I thought back to the mission of the Eternal Outcasts. Silvana must have been in the first batch of born vampires he attempted to create heirs with.

I tried to focus on what was happening, instead of the fact that everything about my stunning female made so much more sense to me now.

Silvana was pushing herself back up and onto her knees. She spit some blood onto the floor before looking up at him, fire in her eyes.

“Fuck. You,” she muttered, venom lacing her tone. “You’ll never get what you’re after, Keres. I won’t allow it. You can’t rule the Court of Ice forever, you’re a Fates-damned impostor. You don’t belong here, and they’ll never accept you. Not when they know. Not when they find out the truth.”

Keres looked around the room quickly before pulling out a blade and attacking her with it. I screamed, willing the shadows in my veins to protect her, but nothing came. I couldn’t help her. Blood everywhere. My vision flashed between my mate and my sister.

So. Much. Blood.

I blinked my eyes a few times, realizing I was back in the cell. Tied to a chair, my shadows writhing beneath my skin, my breathing hard.

“Bad dream?” came a voice in front of me.

I glared at him. Pulling against the bonds, I screamed. I screamed until my voice was hoarse and I had nothing left to give. The entire time Viktor just stared.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” he stated with the same bored tone as Keres.

“You took her to him, you let him try to kill her in front of everyone. You did nothing, Viktor,” I growled.

He paled. “Ho-how did you know about that? We were told she didn’t have any memories of her past.”

I felt a malignant smile curve across my face as my shadows crept along my fingertips behind my back. I realized quickly how much stronger I felt since I’d opened my eyes, as if I’d truly fed from her in that meadow.

“She is my queen. My soul-bonded mate. My female.” I let my shadows drop down to disintegrate the bonds that held me, and I stood up to my full height. “I am connected to her in every single way. Her memories are my memories, and I know it all.”

Viktor looked up at me, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly open in shock.

“Her vengeance is my vengeance, and my queen will have her vengeance,” I said. I let my shadows loose, bounding him tightly. I picked up the shadow stone blade he’d been holding and jammed it into his gut. My shadows filled his throat so he couldn’t scream. “Save those for my queen, Viktor. She loves it when they scream.”

I moved him to the chair I had been placed in, holding him there with nothing but my magic. I could hear others in the building—wherever we were. So, I set out to kill them all. Walking out into the hall, I let my magic flow free. Destroying everyone it came into contact with—easily and without fail.

My queen would be here soon, and I’d make sure we had quite the reunion.