Page 23 of Bitten By Chaos

Holy shit.

Facing me was my mother’s unicorn. Such a bright shade of white that it was nearly blinding. Her muscular body and shimmering coat stole my breath. She wasn’t as big as some of the horses I’d grown up with around the ranch in Kentucky, but there was no doubt she was the most impressive equine I’d ever come in contact with. A whinny sounded, and her lips sputtered in what felt like a laugh. Then she tossed her silken mane and lowered her head to show me her horn. It was probably the length of my arm and appeared to be made of a dull silver metal. Then it hit me.

“You have an iron horn?” I asked in wonder.

I swear she nodded in response then shook herself again, and the iron melted away, replaced by what looked like ivory and gold twisting around each other until they thinned out at the tip. Unbelievable.

“Thank you,” I whispered and reached out a hand which she quickly nudged her muzzle into, making me smile. The second I touched her exceptional soft head, a feeling of calm and wellbeing coated me like a warm hug.

She knelt on the ground with her front legs and jerked her head in a get-on motion. I threw a leg over her back, and she stood, taking off as fast as I could on my own two feet. She must have been what was tracking me through the forest initially. I’d thought perhaps it was a glimpse of Daria’s white suit, but I hadn’t heard a sound. This beautiful beast had stayed within transporting distance as Stan had said she would.

She carried me back through the same path we’d taken to get there, and I leaned forward, finding it easy to stay balanced. Whether it was my vampire reflexes or some unicorn magic, I couldn’t say, but either way, it was an amazing feeling as the wind whipped through my hair.

We reached the estate before two full hours had passed, and I swung down from her back as she came to a stop before the steps.

“I owe you an apple,” I promised, and she nodded eagerly with a bray of excitement as I climbed toward the building.

What I was about to face worried me, as did the queen’s order to kill Grival and bring her his heart. But the thing that concerned me most was the thought of Julian confronting me about still being in the queen’s service. It wasn’t that I’d lied exactly, as much as I hadn’t wanted to worry him and let him assume I was free when I’d returned.

The house was unusually quiet when I entered. Though vampires tended to be stealthy by nature, our advanced hearing allowed me to become accustomed to the slight creaks and scratches of footsteps on the hard floors of the mansion. Now, I heard none of it on the main floor as I steadied myself to open the grand doors just as Julian had done this morning.

When I did, I found Elsa, Julian, Merl, and my father all still frozen in place at the table which now lay overturned, probably from my hasty escape with the queen. I wrung my hands together as I released them with mind-bending.

Elsa had me by the throat in the air, kicking my feet for purchase before I could blink. But Julian was there just as fast and pried her fingers away before she could snap off my head and end me permanently.

He stepped between us, still holding her wrists in each hand, and they stared at each other, fangs extended, dark veins protruding from their necks and faces. After a staring contest of what felt like a century, but was probably more like twenty seconds, Elsa’s appearance melted back into one of a flawlessly beautiful woman and her teeth retracted. Julian followed just after and released her hands.

“Apologies,” she said, turning away from his intense stare. “I should have given you time to explain yourself, Charlotte.”

“Thank you,” I said, still unsure she’d let me live once I’d told them the truth.

Julian pulled me to his side protectively and waited. By this time, my father and Merl had joined us in the center of the empty room.

“Charlotte made a deal with the queen to save my life,” Julian said, angling himself in front of me again. “I turned her to prevent the queen from using her for her powers.” He stopped for a beat then aimed a stare that threatened to burn my father to ash. “And you just made sure that was all for nothing.”

My father’s eyes widened as the information sank in. Elsa remained preternaturally still, and Merl swallowed as he darted his gaze between all of us, waiting.

“You have a deal with the queen, and you didn’t think to inform us?” Elsa turned her own scarlet stare on me as a low grumble started somewhere deep in Julian’s chest.

“We thought she was no longer interested in that claim,” Julian spoke through clenched teeth. “There would have been no reason for her to act on it if you hadn’t decided to pursue theatrics instead of simply making the kill.”

I knew Julian had no compunction about taking a life when it came to protecting the innocent, but to hear him say it this way remained shocking.

“I think we all made mistakes.” I grabbed his arm, which felt something like a steel pole and stepped to his side again. “Now, I suppose all the secrets are out?” I glared over Elsa’s shoulder at my father.

“I suppose so,” Elsa said, relaxing her stance. “And while my theory should work with anyone of fae blood, theoretically the stronger the individual, the stronger the result. We will have to find another way to lure her out.” She turned and headed for the double doors, her train sweeping behind her in a clear dismissal.

“Wait a second,” I called, not even thinking it through. “What about the demons? Isn’t that why we’re here?”

Elsa froze mid-stride, lifted her head then swung around to face us. “The demons pose no true threat. Only two are left, and you’ve already demonstrated they can be defeated. I suggest you prepare yourself for the next time the queen calls you and find a way to rectify your mistake by capturing her or bringing her to me.”

This time the growl didn’t come from Julian, it came from my own gut, startling me even as I bared my teeth. “I don’t answer to you.”

“Don’t you?” She hissed. “You are a vampire, and I am your elected leader as you put it. Perhaps your mate should take more time explaining how your new life works and less time fucking you.”

The growl vanished, and my mouth dropped in shock and embarrassment as I glanced toward my mate. He’d never hesitated to jump in when anyone had so much as looked at me funny, but now he remained sullen and silent as though…as though what she’d said were true.

“And don’t get any notions about draining her yourself.” Elsa’s voice grew low and menacing as she stalked toward me. “I am a great ally, but you do not want me for an enemy.”

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