Page 88 of Hot Vampire Next Door: Season Five

Lethea gave me one of her blades to help round out the costume. I hold my fingers over the hilt now, itching to pull it.

This could all be over.

I could reclaim my throne.

But I promised Arion I’d wait for his arrival so he could have his revenge.

But we never talked about this scenario.

What if they’re still far off? What if we miss our chance because I sat back and waited?

I will never forgive myself if I fuck up the opportunity to end this war and reclaim my throne. I’ll just have to ask my brother for forgiveness.

“Be quick about it,” Sam says.

I pull the blade from its sheath.

The queen fights against her bindings, her eyes watery with tears. I imagine her beginning me for mercy but the words are unintelligible.

“You destroy everything you touch,” I tell her. “I can’t let you keep hunting me down. I can’t let you hurt the people I love.”

I sink the blade into the queen’s chest.

She gives a lurch and tears spill from her eyes.

I feel sorry for her, for just a minute.

But I have to harden myself to it.

She doesn’t deserve my empathy.

Blood seeps from the wound and soaks through her shirt.

She fights against the bindings, groans around the gag.

The air around her shimmers bright gold.

Is she trying to use magic on me? I don’t feel anything.

Her face is obscured by the shining light and when it breaks, horror washes through me.

Because the queen is no longer the queen.

She’s Sam.

Episode One Hundred Three

YOU’VE HARMED THE LAST

“It’s ironic, isn’t it?”

Her voice sounds behind me and I whirl around.

Where Sam stood a second ago, now stands the queen.

“Did you think you were the only one clever enough to use a decoy? To use illusion magic?”

“No,” I say, but it’s a desperate cry. I don’t want to believe my eyes.

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