AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You did so well.” She told me again. Her shadows vanished to leave us alone.
“I did?” I ask with wonder.
“Yes, between the blood and pleasure I’m more than topped off, but the mating bond has me buzzing. Now all we have to do is wait.” I knew exactly what she meant. My whole body tingled as she led me to her bathing chamber, we both took turns using the lavatory before she directed me toward a clear chamber with a lever. As she pulled the lever it began to rain.
“What is this?” I ask in wonder. Pulling back when the water was boiling hot.
“It’s called a shower, I forget how much you missed in the last 100 years,” she said, stripping us both before pulling me in behind her. There she began murmuring praise as she brought me to ruin once more before cleaning me thoroughly. I leaned against her strong and soft frame, grateful as she massaged the sore muscles I’d collected over the last few days.
She then took me to her wardrobe, putting on a purple gown before dressing me back in the servants dress, though the shadows had sewn up the slit and any other issues. When I put it back on, I found the entire thing was lined in the silk of her shadows. Something she couldn’t do to her own gown without drawing attention.
“So what now?” I ask.
My answer came in the form of an earsplitting explosion shaking the building, Ravensford’s signal.
“Now we move.” She said, like she’d had everything timed to the last second, grabbing my hand and towing me into the smoke-filled hallway.
Twenty-Three
Whatever drugs or hypnotism might have gripped the castle’s minds had loosened its grip in the threat of fire. Everyone was running in random directions, save for a handful of both vampires and humans who were vomiting black bile. I felt a twinge of guilt at that, if I had known the signal would put these possibly innocent at risk I wouldn’t have incapacitated them. Before I could get too upset about it I saw a handful of vampires wearing masks had spotted us across the crowded chaos. Mara swept me in her arms before beelining up the staircase I’d taken earlier. With each turn I felt my skin tighten from the increasing heat. Before the last turn she set me down to weave a door of shadows.
Our pursuer’s muffled shouts followed us into a balmy room bathed in flame. Torches were set every few feet along the wall in addition to three ornate chandeliers. Their blaze animated the occupied throne of gold flame.
As he sat immersed in the flickering metal I had the strangest moment where I forgot Drago and the Sun God were the same. He greeted me with open arms, his smile reflecting what I previously might have believed to be the flames of the sun. I felt an undeniable nostalgia, as if to say I was safe and he was my home. The comfort of the familiar was an all too tempting trap, but I knew now that’s what it was. I touched the mark on my neck as he beckoned us closer, never leaving his throne.
“Brenlyn, what a pleasant surprise. Have you come to beg forgiveness? I see my suspicions were correct. You’ve gone quite astray.” He looked disdainfully at Mara, who bore her fangs in a hiss.
“I’ll not be begging forgiveness. Although you can feel free to begin at any time.” I said, stopping short of his outstretched arms.
“Brenlyn, I am your God. You’ve made oaths to me, promises that can’t be broken.” His arms dropped as his voice turned severe, a threat.
“You are no God of mine, and I will not be held to an oath based on deceit.”
“What deceit? I meant every word.” He lied smoothly still unaware of the star’s power.
“Do you even notice when you lie anymore? Or do your own words become your reality as soon as you say them?” I spit.
“What do you plan to do then? Run away? Leave your family to rot? You can’t kill me, you lack the power. Worship me again, drink from my cup and I will forgive this misadventure. We all make mistakes, but I swear to claim you once more.” His face was calm, as he gestured to a large goblet at his feet.
“I am no pawn to be traded between Gods. I am power itself. I will not be wielded by you again and should I have to spill rivers of ash and blood to get my wishes, I will.” I said, letting my hand fall from my neck to show the mating mark.
“You would truly turn your back on me and your people for a pair of golden eyes?” He raged, looking between me and Mara with enough emotion for his mask to slip. I could see clearly the reptilian slit in his blue depths, see the cold truth of his heartless husk.
“You have blinded any that looked upon you and called it a gift. But I see it now for what it truly is. A veil of deceit that benefits few beyond yourself. I cannot and will not allow myself to be detached from my own power. My own destiny. And if that scares or angers you then perhaps you were never much of a benevolent God to begin with.” I state cooly, feeling a stirring in my chest as I looked at Mara. She had stood to the side, allowing me my moment without interference.
“You will pay for this disobedience, you and your kingdom.” He swore to me, looking between Mara and I once again, as if he couldn’t decide which of us angered him more.
I felt that tug in my chest again, and this time looked down to see the spirals of thorns circling his feet. I ducked behind Mara, as if now my speech was done I was too timid to advance, all the while encouraging them to circle him in his throne.
“I’ve waited too long to avenge my fallen, Deceiver. Make your move Dragon, and then we will see… who is immortal and who is alive.” Mara challenged. All the while I was thickening my vines, imbuing them with my will.
He made to shift and I screamed, forcing my vines to clamp onto his legs and grow. Grow and tear and keep him still. Trapped and suffering as he had kept me and my people.
“Fitting a druid should be your fall, Fae-killer,” Mara spoke, glancing at me with pride before calling the shadows from beneath my dress to form a spear. She aimed it at his eye before asking, “Any last words?”
“Yes actually. You think you want my death more than anything, but you’re wrong. I have what you truly desire.”
“There’s nothing I want more.”
