Page 58 of Bitten By Chaos

Her haughty sneer might have destroyed another man, but Julian just glared with scarlet eyes. I was pretty sure mine matched, since everything had that red tint that brought a whole new meaning to rose colored glasses.

His foot angled in front of me, but before I could do anything to protest, Julian slid it back to his side. Through our bond he said, I meant every word of my vows. We face this together. It is our love and trust that will see us through.

The butterflies made a surprise appearance again for a just a moment before Elsa reached us.

“You refused my help when you left the estate without a word,” she said to me. “I warned you, I’m a much nicer friend than an enemy, and now you will see that for yourself.”

“I’m not sure you know what friend means.” I shrugged. “The truth is, I find you repulsive. But since it’s my wedding day, I will offer you a single chance to walk away and stay out of our lives.”

“Or what?” she asked spreading her arms as though to demonstrate I had no leverage. “The old fairy queen may have lost her head, but I’ve drained not one, but several members of the remaining Seelie Court to make up for it. It turns out, they were just as greedy as their queen, since they leapt at the chance I might back them in pursuit of her throne. But I am the strongest now of all three dimensions. And there is nothing you can do to stop my coming rule.”

“To be a ruler, the people kind of have to fall in line.” I tucked my hand behind my back so she wouldn’t see the magic building there. I didn’t yet know what spell I would cast, but I’d be damned sure there was enough energy there to disintegrate a boulder.

“They will—unfortunately, you’ll be dead. But I’ve come to make an offer to an old friend.” She turned to Julian. “Join my new ruling counsel. We can replace SHADE easily, and with the DNA of every supe in our system, we have no need to include specimens from each. I’ve invited Dr. Devaux as well.” She indicated my father, who had silently crept up to stand behind her.

“I advised her majesty to exclude you, but she insists,” Dad said to Julian with a shake of his head.

“So, you’ll just stand by while she tries to kill me, Dad?” I asked.

He met my gaze, rolling back his shoulders to stand tall. “I don’t want you to die. I’d rather you hadn’t made such a foolish mistake and ignored my council.”

“I see. Then it’s my fault for continuing to love Julian and refusing to overthrow Elsa with you.” I laughed hysterically at the twisted logic while outing his motivations to his boss.

She barely glanced at my father even so. “Dr. Devaux knows his place. There is no way to become stronger than myself now or ever. Isn’t that right?”

“I know my place,” my father agreed.

Elsa moved closer. “I don’t have all day. Julian? I’ll need a decision. It would be a waste to kill you, but I will.”

“You can try,” Julian answered with a dangerous smile. “But I hate to get blood on Charlotte’s beautiful dress, so let’s make this fast, shall we?”

She’s drained multiple powerful fairies. She’s dangerous, I warned silently.

Which is why you must be the one to kill her, Julian agreed. I feel stronger from the sip of our chalice. I will act like I am attacking for the kill. You must surprise her.

What about my father? I asked.

I will incapacitate him.

He drained the major, I reminded him.

A sip of your blood should be enough to counter that if your findings on our shared blood are correct, doctor, and I believe they are.

If it becomes a choice between you…

I will not leave you, he promised, squeezing my hand.

“I suppose that’s my answer. It’s truly a shame, Julian. You are one of the best male lovers I’ve ever taken.”

“He should have been the best. It’s probably because he was holding back,” I said partially because my blood was boiling, and partially to see if Elsa could be thrown off balance.

My answer was a lunge, which Julian intercepted with a crack that sounded like thunder as their bodies collided. I had just enough time to focus the power in my hand before Elsa sent him flying with a burst of pink energy. My surge of magic hit her before she’d turned her head, and I continued lobbing balls of pure golden energy at her from alternating fists as she struggled to rise from the sand. Grunting with the effort, I let the rage, hurt, and betrayal flow through me, fueling me, the only intention shaping my magic, the thought of stopping her before she could hurt anyone else. I’d had enough of other people trying to control either one of us, and if that meant using the power I’d taken from Merlin and Bres, then that’s what I would do.

In my peripheral, Julian blocked my father, who was trying to get to me. But instead of going down easily, as he’d anticipated, I watched in horror as my father’s hands glowed pink, and he locked them on Julian’s arms, sending him to his knees with a roar of anguish.

“Julian!’ I screamed, forgetting all about Elsa and instead throwing the next ball of energy at my father to knock him away from my vampire.

Digging his heels in, my father skidded backward a good ten feet, a dust storm kicking up around him from the ground. Julian rose and crashed into him at super speed, digging his fangs into my father’s shoulder as the truth hit me. Dad had drained at least one or two others despite my mind-bending, likely a powerful witch and fairy in order to gain their powers. When he’d gone to Elsa, she must have dissolved all my commands like a fistful of dirt in the ocean and bribed him with a place on her vampire council. For all I knew, she fed him a fairy and or witch with enough power to make him stronger, but not enough to outdo her own abilities.

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