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I selfishly wished Zach was still here. He was the best at finding out things, but I was also glad he was away from all of this. Things were getting worse by the day. People were growing bolder, and the whispers of Olivia not deserving the crown turned into discussions. Not even Sargon could control the opinions of others, as much as he’d like to.
She dug her nails into my biceps and slowly brought her lips up. Greif rocked her in waves. Sometimes, I felt it trickle through our bond. I didn’t fully understand it yet, but I didn’t care. I just knew when she needed me.
“I miss him,” she whispered. “Sometimes I feel like I can’t breathe when I think about him. It’s killing me.”
“This will get easier. I know that’s hard to hear, but just know that it’ll get a little easier with time. There will come a day when his memory will make you smile. Wounds from grief never really heal, but we learn to live with them.” I squeezed her tighter, never wanting to let her go. “I will be with you through it all, always.”
She rested her head against me. I know she was trying to be strong, to learn everything she could from Azia and manipulate her dad against Kalon. But when she came into the room at night, I saw the exhaustion behind her smile. That’s when I held her closer, losing ourselves to each other instead of having to think about anything else. I brought my lips to her ear. “You can let yourself go around me. You know that, right?”
She nodded and ran her hands through my hair. “Tell me we’ll get through this. That all this scheming is worth something.”
I nudged the tip of my nose against hers. “We will get through this. I promise.”
“Sebastian,” she said tentatively, examining my expression. “When you talk about grief, I lose you for a moment. I know you lost your family…and all you wanted was to become mortal again.”
“Don’t concern yourself with that,” I told her, entwining my fingers with hers. “I’m happy right where I am.”
She wetted her lips. “When I met the gods, they gave me the elixir I need to become mortal again someday. When I’m ready to resign from the throne. My father has one, too, and well, I plan on taking it from him. I know this is a lot for you, but I wanted you to know that I will make sure we both become mortal again. As for the underworld, Azia said there’s always a way to get rid of things. I don’t know how, but I want to destroy it. So Erianna and Zach won’t end up there.”
I closed my eyes, and snuggled into her, stroking her hair. “You are the kindest, most wonderful woman I’ve ever met.” The thought of living a mortal life with Olivia, maybe even starting a family, set my heart on fire. It had always seemed like a dream, a fantasy that would never be fulfilled. “You are my salvation, sweetheart. But please know that I will never leave your side. Living my life with you, as your husband, is enough for me. Vampire or not.”
She kissed me, stealing my next breath. Softly at first, parting my lips with her tongue, then all-consuming. Slowly, she pulled back. “I wish I could stay here all day.”
“Then stay,” I said. “Your duties can wait a day.”
She shook her head. “I wish I could, but I can’t.”
She didn’t need to explain. We both knew the only thing stopping her from breaking completely was her vengeance against Kalon. I felt it, too—the desire to murder him was so far embedded in my core.
THIRTY-SIX
Olivia
Kalon smoothed the sides of his red, slicked-back hair, then adjusted his crown. “Good morning, niece. You look a little unwell. Have you not been eating?”
Of course, he was behind what happened. My father stood too close for me to say anything spiteful. I breathed in deeply, reminding myself that he would get what was coming to him. I just needed to be patient. “I’m immortal, so I can’t be sick,” I snapped back. “Perhaps it’s the makeup.” I shrugged him off. “Anyway, I need to go see your son.”
“Are you bored with your husband already?” he asked, feigning concern.
“Oh no, this is about other matters.” I sighed softly, pressing my lips tight. “You know, I just feel so bad.”
He arched a brow. “Why?”
“Your own son is marrying the woman you were sleeping with. I mean, everyone seems to get what they want around here—except you.” As my father moved his eyes to us, I touched his arm, feigning sympathy. “I hope you’re doing okay, truly. And thank you for the concern, too. I’m glad we’re getting along now. We have so much in common.”
He covered his snort by clearing his throat. “How so, niece?”
“No one likes me either. At least everyone pretends to your face.” My status was rock bottom. I was certain Kalon had added to the hatred building for me in court. “At least we can be there for each other.” The muscle in his jaw twitched, and I hid my smirk. “I should go.”
“Yes,” he called before I could leave. “I am so sorry to hear about what happened the other day. Did you know they found that server dead in his cell?”
I turned on my heel. “Did they?” I raised my brows, blinking three times. “How disturbing.”
“There were people who saw you going down there just before,” he said loud enough for several vampires to hear. “Don’t worry, I absolutely assured them they must be mistaken. I locked them away for spilling such treasonist claims. You would never do such a thing. As a princess, you take your role seriously, and anyone who speaks against you will end up in those same cells.”
Sargon smiled, listening in from his throne. He didn’t understand what Kalon was doing, the fucking prick. Every vampire in the vicinity was also listening, and their glares were darkening by the second.
“Goodbye, Uncle,” I said, trying and failing to keep my seething tone pleasant. I raced away, toward Niall’s ridiculous club. My father had sent me to deal with it, and from the rumors I heard, I was concerned about what I’d find behind those closed doors.
