AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I recognize you,” the king said as we reached him, and I swept into a bow. I slowly rose, then looked him up and down, recognizing him from when he'd visited the castle. He towered over me, running his hand up to a thin band of gold over a sheet of white covering his head.
His thick, black eyebrows raised half an inch.
“Your majesty,” I said, not wanting to waste the little time we had. “We have come to speak with you regarding your daughter.”
“I heard she was killed,” he said in a thick, guttural accent.
“Yes. I am sorry,” I said. “Niall here loved her deeply, but Salenia killed her.”
He shot him a look, then sighed. “So, it is true. I'd hoped the rumors were wrong.”
That’s what they were waiting for, I realized. Niall stepped forward, putting on the show of a lifetime.
Tears welled in his eyes, and he bowed, his lip trembling when he slowly rose to meet the king's gaze. “Salenia... she cut her throat.” He gulped, and I had to applaud him on his acting skills, although it was a bit terrifying how easily he faked emotions. “We don’t want a war with you. Olivia is the rightful queen, and she's not a vampire. She's still a sorcerer.”
I arched a brow as he used my actual name.
The king slid his dark stare to me. “Show me your teeth.”
I repressed the urge to roll my eyes, then lifted my lip to show my gums. “I have no fangs. I can do a spell for you, too.”
“That won't be necessary.”
The ship swayed under my feet, and I looked out over the long stretch of ocean, spotting the hundreds of vessels waiting in the wings to attack our shores. “Your fight is with Salenia.”
“No. The vampires continue to steal my subjects and those of the neighboring kingdoms. We're not the only ones who want a war.”
“That will end,” I promised. “I am not my father. I will not let things continue as they have, but right now, we are under imminent threat. Salenia is a goddess, and she can't be killed. Except by me. The gods gave me the weapon to take her down,” I said, lying about the last part. “I was mortal not that long ago. You can trust me. I didn't want any of this, but the people here, they can change just given the right leadership. If you don't help us take her down, she won't just destroy Sanmorte. She will come after every kingdom and ever mortal until there's nothing left. You won't be able to fight her or the aniccipere.”
He shuddered at hearing the name. “How do I know I can trust you?”
“You don't,” I admitted. “But neither of us has a choice. Attack the shores, today. Go after the aniccipere in the south and east. Use the guild from Baldoria to help with the attack. We will lure Salenia to the main city, and kill her there, along with the rest of the aniccipere. But we can't take them all on. We need a distraction for as long as possible. If she dies, so do the soul vampires.”
He didn't look convinced, and neither did Niall, who knew our plan was to capture the goddess, not kill her.
I cleared my throat, praying I’d said enough to convince him. “We must leave. She’s coming to find me, and it’s best I am not on your ship when she does. If you don't help us, we won't win, and then we're all doomed.”
He looked at Niall, the man who'd almost become his son-in-law. “You're both aware we will kill any vampire that comes after us, not just the gaunt-looking things.”
I nodded. “Kill anyone who tries to attack you or your men. You have a better chance now. Many have gathered in the city, preparing for battle against us.”
Niall let out a tense breath. “Just know, the aniccipere struggle with sunlight. If you attack, I suggest you do it now. Just order your men to aim for their heads. That's the only way they can be killed, or with fire.”
The king hesitated, and I pursed my lips. Niall touched my shoulder, an unspoken gesture we should leave. I bowed, then shot the king one last pleading look, praying he did the right thing. For all our sakes.
THIRTY-SEVEN
Olivia
Thepre-battlehushthickenedas we landed back in the city. Sebastian held my hand as the anticipation smothered the city, like a tangible force in the air. Above us, crows circled and called out into the stillness. My barrier struggled against the waves of emotions emanating from the crowd, and I closed my eyes for a second, finding calm in the blackness as I strengthened myself, regaining my composure. They were counting on me, and I couldn't show weakness.
We stood at the edge of the city, staring at the gates towering into the thick gray clouds. They hadn’t been closed in a century, according to Zach, but today the walls that fortified the city would be put to use.
I peered back, looking at the tall, stone buildings that stretched up, forming the ancient city. A few new buildings nestled amongst the old, as the streets emptied, many hiding in their homes, the rest falling out to fight with us.
Adrian joined us at our side. “It's done.”
Sebastian closed his eyes, guilt tugging through every crevice of the bond. “How many?”
