Page 57 of Lethal Souls

THIRTY-FOUR

WILLOW

“Killian!” I run ahead, stumbling into a ballroom.

Oversized chandeliers and a roof that forms into a dome are high above. On the opposite side, standing before a throne is The Council.

Killian is on his knees next to them, but he and The Council aren’t who steal my attention.

It’s the woman seated on a throne with a crown of fire on her head. Her skin is porcelain white, her hair a fierce orange-red, and she wears a red dress with a high slit at the thigh.

Her red stained lips curve into a smile as she raises a hand and lifts Killian’s body in the air. Killian grunts and wheezes, and I realize she’s trying to drain the life from him too, just like she did the others.

“No!” I scream. “Stop!”

The Council glance at me briefly before looking away, as if they knew I’d appear. Vassilis, I notice, has a bruise around his throat and his nose is even more crooked than the last time I saw him.

The woman in red tilts her head and stares at me. I can’t fight the tremble that takes over me, but I move closer. She can’t kill Killian. I’m not leaving this castle without him.

“Well, well,” the woman purrs. “Such little things always making big demands.” She tightens her hands into fists, and Killian roars in pain.

I step closer, drawing my dagger. I know it’s no match against this woman—she’s clearly powerful—but it’s better than nothing.

“Let him go.”

The woman’s eyes drop to the dagger. She smirks. “Are you meant to intimidate me, love?”

“No,” I answer. “But he’s done nothing wrong, and he’s valuable. He doesn’t deserve to be killed.”

The woman assesses me, then her irises flare and burn a bright orange. She winces, only a bit, and drops Killian completely, but only to wrap me in an invisible grip and haul me forward.

I yelp as I wind up at the base of the altar. When I look up at her, she rises from her seat and glares down at me. It hits me then, just who she is.

There are only two other people I know whose eyes light up in colors other than silver and gold the way hers do. Hers are as vibrant as The Regals…because she is a Regal.

“Selah,” I whisper.

She says nothing as she takes the steps down to reach me. With a snap of her fingers, the grip around me goes away. With only a step to go, she sniffs the air.

“No wonder you’re so bold,” she says. “You too have the Seed of Yuri inside you.”

I frown as she walks around me, scanning me from head to toe.

“Hmm.” She pauses. “I’m unimpressed.”

I glance at Killian who is on his knees trying to catch his breath.

“Caz did it,” I say. “He woke you up.”

“I wouldn’t exactly put it that way. He was there, yes, but he didn’t voluntarily offer it to me.” Selah stands before me again. She’s much taller than I am, just like her sisters, and she’s thinner too. “You’re that little wolf’s other half. The last Cold Tethered couple there is.” She grins. “It amazes me, really, how such mortal things believe they’re invincible. You do realize with that dagger, I could end your life before your next blink.” The dagger slips out of my hand and winds up in hers. “Or that I could do this.”

A sharpness pierces through my ribs and I gasp, clutching her hand holding the hilt as Killian bellows in protest.

“Tell me, little one. How invincible do you feel now?” Selah’s teeth gleam beneath the chandeliers as she snatches the dagger out.

I drop to my knees, clutching my side now damp with blood. But just as quickly as the pain comes, it disappears and I’m forced to my feet again.

“But just as easily as I can kill you, I can restore you too.” Her eyes light up, filled with strange amusement.

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