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“You will pay for that, Elysia. With your heart.”
Why would Mordere attack this close to the blood moon when you’re strongest? It makes no sense!I storm inside his mind, shoving my way into his fortress, sensing his dark force binding all around me.
Neo angles his head to mine, upper lip curling back to display a warning fang.Unless Mordere knows something I don’t. Let’s find out, shall we?
We?
I wish you to be present, Elysia. I wish to remind you of how I deal with my enemies.He digs his fingers into the small of my back just after those words, and I resist the urge to take flight. Instead, I steel myself, clothing my body in fresh Halo currents that respond with a lightning bite to his shades in an ebb-and-flow battle. Still, his hand does not retreat from my back, not even when we descend crisscrossing diagonal staircases far beneath the surface where only Neo’s flames and my gold ripples light the way.
Dozens of knights trail us, but Neo regards them as no more than the ends of his black robe.
All along the walls to my right are Tenth Court designs sculpted into the stone. Thanks to silver blood tech fused into them, the fire roses and vines glisten like teardrops. At one point, we pass a rocky outface where a silver blood-fall trickles into a river.
Power dampener, Neo explains upon noticing my reflections.The silver blood is derived from mine, synthesized—so it carries my essence. Surrounded by my destruction, none may use their powers in my dungeons but me, he finalizes, trenching those fingers even deeper as if goading, daring me to.
Angling my neck, I stare up at him, keeping my lashes low, eyes sultry just before I poise my hand and flick it once to conjure multiple orbs that blaze in the darkness. A second later, Neoptolemus destroys them, capturing my hand and warning,Do not interfere, Elysia. Do not test me. Not here.
Why would he bring me here in the first place? Shuddering as he leads me across a great arching bridge teaming with that silver blood essence, I wonder what sort of example he’s referring to. I’ve seen his destruction on his own citizens, from reducing them to ash to taking their wings. What else could he possibly do in these depths?
From beyond the bridge railing, deep pits hollow into the ground, into the boundless rocks. At a shrill scream somewhere below, I leap back, startled at the woeful sound. Behind me, Neo’s hands come down on my wrists, shifting me back around and prompting me to walk. I shiver while part of me reflects, questioning whether or not he wants to just throw me in a pit and be done with me.
Sighing, Neo removes his outer robe and drapes it across my bare shoulders, then thumbs my chin, tilting it toward his face.It’s a tempting thought, but no, Elysia, I have no desire to lock you away…yet.
I cast my eyes down a little and smile softly. It wouldn’t last. I’d just make myself a Halo key.
Yes, you’d undoubtedly form hundreds to release every last prisoner.And that would be a mistake, I guarantee you.
The bridge leads to a stone walkway flanked by spectral trees. Truly spectral since the trees have been formed of skeletons, fused with the same silver blood essence, eerie and powerful. I linger closer to Neo’s side, welcoming his arm around his robe to frame my waist as the walkway spills into a rotund throne room similar to the Inner Circle of his Court. Except there are no statues of the Father. Here, Neo is not under his Father’s eye and only answers to himself: the Prince of Destruction. At the end, on the far wall, is Destruction’s throne. No blood-ruby finery or luxurious diamonds are necessary. This is the Throne of Destruction: of skeletons twisted and tangled together with silver blood essence and robed in his shades and flames.
There are no other chairs, no lower thrones. Only the ascending steps leading up to the dais. I pause, but Neo strengthens that arm at my waist, nearly drags me up the staircase, lowers himself into that calamitous throne, and hauls me onto his lap.
“Bring forth the prisoners,” he commands in a grim voice, dismissing the rest of the knights to guard the bridge—well away from peeping eyes.
“What are you doing?” I whisper as his hands pin my hips to his lap. It has to be more than wanting me to view the display. Everything Neo does is intentional, and a suspicious voice preys at the back of my mind, a subtle reminder:He plays his games, but he will destroy you. Run and hide, little Elysia…
Neo sinks his lips low to my ear and alerts me, “I’m cashing in on one of our deals, Princess. After all, it is after nightfall. And you look so lovely in my Court O’ Destruction. Prepare to sup, Elysia. I will feast tonight.”
Here? Now?
You want to be a helper, Elysia. A strong Ezer. So, help. We are going to send a message to Mordere.
That’s not—I’m not—
Without another word, Neo coasts his fangs along my neck and destroys my gown. In seconds, I’m clothed in nothing but his robe and quivering against him. I suck in a deep breath, my spine turning ramrod straight against his chest, but Neo divides the robe just enough to grant him access to the smooth panes of my stomach. Sliding his hand up between my cleavage, he captures my throat in a collar of dark skin to my starry gold.
You want to harness my power, Princess?Do it tonight.His eyes brutalize me with the dare. This is just another game. Destruction’s games of raising me higher to drag me lower. Here, he holds the ultimate power while I am a spectator, a pawn of fantasy for him to use and display. This is Destruction’s mask.You believe you can upstage me in my true Court? I will show you otherwise.
He wraps his shades around my neck to act as a dark collar.
Don’t do this, Neo,I plead with him, shifting against those shades that feel like cold iron.Not after everything that’s happened. This is not what Ezer means.
Steady, Elysia…
I’m reminded of the times he prevented me from acting in his Court and the worst time in his suite when he brought me to my knees. This is just another level of low.Myhusband,myNeo played games…but not like this. More than ever, I wish I could battle that heart inside him, that faux heart that belongs to Lux. How can he claim she is his saving grace and his love when his heart seems blacker than ever?
When the knights deposit two bitten vampires into the Inner Circle—chains bound around their naked fronts and their backs to tie their wings down—, Neo slides his hand into his robe to rub the skin of my hip. Before addressing the prisoners, he barks an order for food from one of his knights. As he does, I battle that dark energy at my neck, incensed by the invasion biting my skin.
I am not your property, Neoptolemus!I snarl inside our bond, hearing him chuckle and lower that thumb to my pelvis, finger slow to curve along the bone, following a line to its underside, reminding me of that night he pushed me against the Chasm wall.
