Page 85 of Petals for Vicious Secrets

Hope tilted her head. She couldn’t think about anything that could worry such a being.

The Core Cardinal continued, “She who remains in the deep sleep we forced her to is awaking. She who should be contained for many more years might rise before it’s time.”

“You are worried,” Hope said, blinking.

“You should be too, my dearest. She was strong enough to try to possess the snow child and to take him to the last place he belonged.”

“Is the child harmed?” Hope said, frowning. She didn’t wish harm to any infant.

“The child lives because she couldn’t invade him. When she wakes, she will find you.”

“Who is she?” Hope asked.

“The Cardinal Queen.”

Hope nodded, silently. She wasn’t sure if she was ever going to wake up. But if she did, and she remembered this conversation, then maybe she would worry about said queen.

“You were born for this, Hope Nevada. We have been waiting for you for a long, long time,” the Core Cardinal smiled, emotion filling her red eyes as she swallowed proudly. “There is no such thing as limits. Everything you wish, you can accomplish.”

Another voice, an angry one, seemed to bounce against the whiteness, but she wasn’t worried. She was safe here. Protected by the Core Cardinal herself.

The Core Cardinal that was nowhere to be seen.

Another voice seemed to come from afar, but this time, she heard it. It sounded like home. Like the pine woods of her home.

“You made your mother a promise, Hope. Vitam tradere. Please, open your eyes. You must come back.”

She felt something on her lips, even if there was nothing in front of her.

Vitam tradere. A life for a life. She remembered, now.

Her mother had traded her life, and her father would have to pay with his.

So Hope walked towards the path of dark green sparks and opened her eyes.

56

Lenna

“What a disappointment if she dies before even getting started,” Jake said, his voice almost bored despite Lenna noticing the small tension in his biceps.

“Wanted to share daddy with little sis?” Theon said next to him, smirking.

Lenna didn’t have time to tell him that today was not the day to push it, because Jake’s hand was already on Theon’s neck.

“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Jake’s voice was lethally calm. The hatred in his eyes made Lenna wonder if this was not only about Theon’s question but also about how Jake had found both of them in her chambers.

“Someone pointing a blade at your royal balls, mate.” Theon smiled, his voice barely able to come out as Jake tightened the grip on his throat.

“I don’t share,” Jake growled. Yes. Definitely about the finger-licking situation from a few weeks ago.

Jake’s spare hand was moving, and Theon’s blade was Taken. The mouth Lenna had been savoring was now grinning, even though his eyes were pure cutting, lethal silver. This man was fucking scary. That somehow made him hotter, if that was even possible. Another flicker of a hand, and Theon’s pants were gone, his face getting blue by the second as his source of air was still cut off. Another flicker, and ten sharp blades were floating and approaching Theon’s balls.

“Fucking Cardinals. That’s enough, Jake. He’s my friend,” Lenna snapped.

“Your friend better learns how to talk respectfully and how to keep his hands to him-fucking-self,” Jake glanced at her, but relaxed his grip on Theon’s throat and allowed him to inhale desperately while trying to not move his feet or legs at all to avoid being stabbed down there. Lenna Took the blades away and Gave some pants to Theon without looking at his exposed legs.

As if Jake knew a damned thing about talking respectfully, or keeping his hands to himself, for Cardinals’ sake. She’d have a conversation later with him about the absolute no need of being a territorial prick. Even if it had heated her blood. But she had to pick her battles tonight, especially since at the other end of the alley, Hope’s limb body in Ciaran’s arms was not limp anymore.

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