Page 127 of Clash of Kingdoms

“All of whom I’ve treated like shit…”

“Forgive and forget, Aurelias.”

I gave a subtle shake of my head. I had more to say, but it wouldn’t come out.

“We’ll always be your family. But you have another family across the sea now.”

I couldn’t look at him.

“It’s where you belong…and you know it.”

The ache became unbearable. “You’ll lose me in the blink of an eye, Kingsnake.”

“I can’t pretend that doesn’t hurt…because it does.” He swallowed. “But I’d rather watch you smile in a single lifetime than be miserable for all of eternity.”

I finally found the strength to look at him.

His eyes were pained, just like his heart. “It’s okay.”

“I think a mortal life is what I deserve, after I killed the man who blessed me with eternal life.”

“No,” he said. “This is how I see it. You lived fifteen hundred years to find Harlow. And now, you can live the mortal life you were supposed to have—just at a different time. And when this life is over, you can still be with her…in whatever comes after this.”

The pain was worse than ever, but somehow, it felt right.

His hand moved to my shoulder. “This wasn’t the right decision for Larisa and me. But I believe it’s the right decision for you.”

I realized a horrible truth, a horrible truth I’d known since the moment I’d arrived back here. “If I stay, I’ll turn into him…Father. Bitter and angry and spiteful… I’ll become withdrawn and unforgiving. My humanity will fade, and there will be nothing left but shadows and despair. I’ll do terrible things…and feel nothing as I do them.”

“The fact that you realize that on your own…is the reason you aren’t him.” His hand squeezed my shoulder before he let it go. “Let’s figure this out and get you home.”

“Kingsnake.”

“Yes?”

A forced smile moved on to my lips. “Is this all a ploy to get rid of me? So you can take my place as King of Vampires?”

He stared for a second before a smile spread over his lips. “You caught me.”

I took the lead, riding my stallion west, farther away from Crescent Falls and the rest of the Kingdoms. We’d never traveled this far west because it was only remote villages and mountains and other creatures.

It took several days to arrive in the small village, their buildings made of black stone and their main street made of dirt instead of cobblestone. My father had captured a witch and released her when she was of no use to him. She’d told us the name of her village, and that was where we headed.

When we arrived, we questioned the inhabitants until they told us about the cottage at the top of the hill. It was small, made of wood on top of a solid foundation, surrounded by willow trees. We took the path to the top and left our horses under the tree. It was sunset, so green fireflies were visible.

Kingsnake knocked on the door and waited for an answer.

Cobra came to my side. “You think you’ll still be hung when you’re human?”

I gave him a playful shove in the arm.

“You don’t want Harlow to be disappointed, you know?” he asked. “If you come back to her with a small dick, she might not want you anymore. All I’m saying…”

“Cobra.” All Clara had to do was say his name, and he backed off like a well-behaved dog.

Larisa came to my side. “Your dick will be fine, Aurelias.” She rubbed my arm. “Any second thoughts?”

“I’ll always have second thoughts.”

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