Page 26 of The Broken Prince

He toppled over, the fire leaking from his body and charring the stone underneath. I stared at his body, saw the way his eyes hardened as death took him. But the smoke wafting from his cuts persisted, like his heat source continued even though he was no longer alive.

I turned to help the others, but they didn’t need my assistance.

The three of them took out the final one together, and another one dropped to the ground, smoking in the same way.

Kingsnake examined the unusual blood on his sword before he wiped it clean on the enemy’s clothing.

Cobra grabbed the woman by the arm and asked if she was okay.

I stared at my brothers, unable to believe they were really there, right in front of me.

Kingsnake returned his blade to his scabbard as he approached me. He took off his helmet too, tossing it on the ground so his features were on display. The others did likewise, walking up to me, sweaty but unharmed.

When Kingsnake reached me, he gripped me by the shoulder.

I was still winded, so I breathed hard as I reciprocated the affection, gripping him in the same way.

Then he pulled me in for a hug.

I hugged him back, grasping him harder than I ever had. “You saved my ass.”

He pulled away, a slight smile on his lips.

“You bet your ass we did.” Cobra grasped me too, squeezing me hard. “You’re welcome, by the way.”

I turned to the woman, seeing her brown hair and green eyes, a woman I didn’t recognize whatsoever. “Who are you?” She must be Cobra’s new general for the Cobra Vampires.

“So, it’s kinda a long story…” Cobra said. “But this is Clara…my wife.”

My eyes widened as I stared at her, taking a moment before I looked at him again. “You got married. You?”

“Like I said, it’s a long story,” Cobra said. “Kingsnake and Larisa got married too. But we’ll need to have that conversation after we have a more important conversation, which is…what the fuck is going on?” He threw his arms up. “You’re fighting monsters for humans? Aurelias, have you lost your fucking mind? You hate humans.”

“It’s—it’s a long story.” I couldn’t get into all the details now, not when Delacroix was still under attack and the queen might die.

“We have a lot to catch up on,” Kingsnake said.

“Where is Larisa?” I asked.

“I asked her to stay back,” Kingsnake said. “She’s in the forest.”

“Aurelias.” Harlow rushed between Cobra and Clara and ran straight into my chest. “Are you okay?” Her arms wrapped around me, and she squeezed me hard.

My hands automatically caught her and brought her close. “I’m alright. What about you?” I pulled away, seeing the bruise around her left eye where she had struck the ground. Other than that, she was in good condition.

Her bottom lip started to tremble from oncoming tears, like there wasn’t an audience of vampires just inches away watching our interaction. “You saved my mother…”

“Is she okay?”

“I sent her away with Pyre. She needed a healer…”

“You told me you inherited her healing abilities. Perhaps she’ll heal herself.”

“She—she can’t breathe.”

My heart clenched into a fist, thinking about my mother’s final moments…when she was burned alive. “I’m sorry…” I could feel the turmoil inside her tiny body, the terror of losing the person she loved most. “You should have gone with her.”

“I’m Queen of Delacroix now—so my duty is to protect our kingdom.” Her heart broke as she said it, a physical crack right down the center.