Page 101 of Blood Curse

“Then don’t hurt yourself.”

“Wonderful advice from you.”

The familiar edge in her voice made several people breathe again.

The silver-haired guard tried to open her fingers. The command forced them closed around Mara’s wrist. Elias caught the guard’s forearm and eased the pressure without pulling her away.

“I’m not fighting you,” he said. “Let me keep your hand from breaking hers.”

The guard gave one sharp nod.

The dark-haired man couldn’t answer. His jaw had locked, and his grip kept tightening. Another vampire moved behind him and braced both arms around his chest.

“I’ve got your weight,” she said. “Stop trying to throw yourself forwards.”

He sagged against her as far as the order allowed.

The court wasn’t attacking the people under command. They were carrying them.

The Crown hated it.

Heat burned across my scalp. Its hold on my mouth slipped for half a breath.

“I—”

My voice vanished.

Stellan came closer. “Again.”

I forced air against my throat. The Crown had to keep the guard’s hand closed, the dark-haired man’s body moving and Mara’s neck turned. It couldn’t seal every part of me at once.

“I…”

The sound reached the room.

“She’s taking her voice back,” Stellan said.

The Crown made my body step towards him.

He didn’t move away.

I took another step. My legs belonged to the Crown, but my finger kept tapping into his palm.

“I’m here,” he said. “You’ve proved it.”

He moved with me until we stood beside Mara. Her bare throat was inches from his mouth.

Stellan turned his body. His shoulder blocked my view of her neck, and his free hand covered the pulse under Mara’s skin.

He protected her without pushing me away.

The Crown forced my face into a smile.

Stellan’s gaze stayed on my eyes. “I know which part is you.”

My finger tapped again.

The black points in my hair burned hot enough to bring tears to my eyes. The Crown’s anger filled my mouth with the taste of iron.