“And I’m bored now,” I said flatly. “Still calling that corpse the king?”
His jaw tightened, tongue swiping across the metal in his lips as his red eyes gleamed. “That’s what he is. Unfortunately.”
“He’s an abomination.”
King Draeven isn’t just a vampire; he’s a monster, having turned himself into something sinister from all the experiments. I will never let him have my little witch. I’d carve my way through the kingdoms, set the skies on fire, and drown the realms in blood before I let him near her. She is mine—my salvation, my madness. The world can burn as long as she’s safe.
“Can you get back to Velmore?”
“I have an idea,” I replied
I clapped a hand onto his shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. “Try not to die, yeah?”
He nodded. “You look after her. And for fucks sake, don’t tell me about the depraved shit you do with her.”
I grinned, all teeth. “No promises.”
I was gone, vanishing into the shadows to see my little witch and finally break the spell that locked the full strength of hermagic away. I can’t wait to see how truly powerful she was meant to be, and then she can take over and become the fucking queen she was born to be.
And I’ll be right by her side, every step of the way.
Chapter 22
RAVENA
The sun was setting in Velmore, and I knew we didn’t have long until the whole Veilguard would start their search, hurting and questioning innocents in search of me. This entire realm is in danger with Vespera ruling it, and technically, I would be next in line, as my mother is dead, which gives her another reason to want me dead if she were to find out that I survived.
I couldn’t waste any more time; leaving was my only option. Darian had told Vespera that the Whispering Woods were clear, so I could go back there, away from everyone, until everything calmed down and Malrik came back.
Ronan won’t like that he can’t see me once he learns I’m gone, and it hurts that I won’t be able to be with him, but it’s for the best. If anything ever happened to him because of me, I wouldn’t survive it. I’d rather tear myself apart than risk a single scratch on him or the others.
I picked up my clothes in a rush, shoving them into a bag. Voices echoed from the hallway outside, and when I glanced out the window at Vesperas' castle in the distance, a mix of anger and fear coiled in my chest—not for me, but for the people I’d let in.
“Raven.”
I stopped at the sound of Xarothar's voice, instantly feeling at ease to know he was okay.
“Xarothar, you have some explaining to do on why you have been gone for so long.”
There’s no way in hell that I want him back in Velmore—not now, not with Vespera sending out a hunt for me. And knowing that she was the one who wiped out the dragons was another reason he couldn’t come back here. If she ever found him, he would be dead in an instant, and I have lost so much. I will be damned if I let her take him, too.
I can still be pissed that I have no idea where he is, and he’s been radio silent.
“You can lecture me when we see each other again. I am worried about you. You’re drained, and your magic is different.”
I rubbed my temple; he wasn’t wrong, though. My body felt like I had been stomped on multiple times, my head was pounding, and I felt sick to my stomach. The only time it ever went away was when I was with Ronan. I can feel my magic buzzing, wild and unstable, trying to escape my body. If I let it out, I’ll be dead.
“I’m handling it. Now tell me where you are.”
He huffed, dramatic like always, followed by a low growl.
“Tell me you're close to unlocking the rest of your magic, and I’m not in Velmore.”Sarcastic ass. He’s hiding something.
“Just waiting on Malrik and what realm?”
“You will know when it’s the right time. Not a moment sooner. Try not to get yourself killed, Raven; it would be terribly inconvenient.”Then he was gone again, and I was nowhere closer to knowing where he was hiding, but maybe that was for the best.
Daleyza appeared at the doorway, her brows pinched with worry, and I turned to give her a soft smile. She was easy to care about. Fierce when she needed to be, especially when it came to dealing with her brother's shit, and yet still soft where itcounted. Honestly, I had no idea why anyone would ever want to hurt her. But if they tried again, I’d be first in line to rearrange their faces.
