Page 9 of A Book of Royals and Deities

“Why did…he…do this to you?” I bite out the words.

“I think bringing me back to life was his way of giving a gift to you so you might go back to him,” he quickly finishes. Fear spreads through my blood, and for a moment I freeze, trapped in the memory of pain and suffering at Emyr’s hands. Ziven strokes my back with his thumb, bringing me back, and I wipe my wet cheeks. “I’d rather die again than see you back with him, Tory.”

“If he comes here, I will greet him.” Ziven’s eyes flash with protectiveness and pure vengeance. “The prince is a dead vampyre walking, and when I’m done, there won’t even be moon dust left.”

“He’s rather intense, isn’t he?” Kyrell asks me, rubbing his chin. His fangs, pure silver, drop a little more, and I’m not sure I will ever get used to seeing them. Seeing him as a vampyre. It hasn’t sunk in yet. “As for the fucker prince, he’s not in the magic barrier that appeared. He was going to see his father, from the rumours I overheard in the city. I’ve been hiding there for a while.”

“Do you know where your mum is and maybe mine? I know you said you couldn’t find her before, but are they in the city?”

“I sent my mother away, where everything went wrong, and I personally never found your mother. She is not in the breeding camps anymore.” He looks away and silence drops between us. “I would like for someone to explain to me who the intense hot fae male is and where the hell dragons have come from?” He looks at me from head to toe and smiles. He smiles so brightly, even like this, and my heart warms. “But first, it’s me, Tory.Look at you, standing there, brave and head held high. I saw you riding a dragon, and I knew everything I said to you was coming true. Believing in you was easy for me, even when you stopped believing in yourself. I believed in you since the second I saw you, and I knew, I absolutely knew, if anyone was going to burn this world down, it would be Story fucking Dehana.”

I grin at him, smiling like I haven’t in a long time. “I’ll start from the beginning.” I tell him everything that’s happened in the time he has been gone. Ziven doesn’t move from my side, but he does let Kyrell come in and sit on the sofa as we carry on explaining. Ziven adds things here and there that I forget until eventually both of us are seated in pure silence.

“He has to leave.” Ziven nods to Kyrell. “We can’t have a vampyre in here. I am sympathetic to the fact he’s your best friend and he saved you, but…he can’t stay. He’s a danger and we’re at war with the vampyres.”

I pull away from Ziven and stand, staying next to Kyrell and raising my eyebrow. “He stays or I go with him.” I wave at the door when Ziven doesn’t lose the stubborn look on his face. “I will get my dragon, and we will leave together.”

“Storm…”

I put my hands on my hips. “Ziven.”

“I feel like I’m watching my mum and dad fight, and I’m really confused about it.” Kyrell rises. “But I agree with Ziven. I’m only going to put you in danger, Story.”

“I’m already in danger, Kyrell. It turns out I was born before as some kind of Twilight princess that locked everyone in here with a magic spell from a magic book. Part of breaking that spell was my death. I nearly died, and that’s why the magic broke aroundthis mansion, but the magic seems to have expanded around the city and caused that barrier now. There are a list of fae dragon riders who want me dead in here.” I wave a hand. “You are likely a safer bet than they are.”

“I won’t let them hurt you,” Ziven growls. “For fuck’s sake, he is a vampyre.”

“I’m well aware, but he is also my best friend and family to me!” I retort. “And I have lost so many people. I’ve had everything taken from me and even in here, the people I trusted betrayed me, so I’m not giving him up.”

Ziven grits his teeth, looking at Kyrell. I see the moment he gives in, and it’s purely for me. “Don’t make me regret this. Welcome to the Moon Dynasty, Kyrell. You have my protection.”

Kyrell bows his head. “I won’t and it is an honour…so, where’s this magic book, then? Maybe it has the answers to how we fix the magic so we can leave and get far away from the vampyre royals. He’s looking for you.”

I freeze, knowing exactly who he is talking about. Ziven does too now, and his voice drips with hate. “Let him come and try to touch her. I’d enjoy hearing his screams.”

I glance at Ziven, knowing this king is damn good at keeping me here. “Daegan has it,” he answers. “He took the book and locked it away with sun magic before Mazzis or I could make a claim for it after his brother died. His brother was the first owner of the book.”

“He’s the one that tried to kill me.” I catch Kyrell up and Ziven looks ready to murder Daegan again.

“I hope you killed the fucker.” Kyrell looks between us when we don’t agree.

“I would, with pleasure, but he’s the king too. The killing of a king would cause a riot between our people. They don’t see me as the good guy. They see me as the villain. The fae here see Daegan as a fucking angel sent from the deities to save all of them. No one here would fight for me, but they would fight for his memory in a heartbeat. I don’t usually do the right thing, but I have a reason to right now. I’ve already killed a Sun Dynasty royal, and it cost me.” He looks at the fire. “There are not many of the Moon Dynasty left, and we will need to work on Daegan by keeping him alive for now. I have a plan.”

“A plan you’re going to tell me about?” I question, already knowing the answer. Ziven smirks and I shake my head. I sigh and turn to Kyrell, still not believing he is in front of me. “I want to show you everything here. I want you to meet Catherine. She’s become my best friend too. I’ll show you the library—deities above, the libraries they have here! I want to show you everything that we lost as fae to the histories. We were not always slaves, and the people out there need to know. We have royals, we have leaders, and Ziven…he isn’t the bad one.”

“Excuse me, why the fuck is there a vampyre sitting on a couch in our chambers?” We all turn to Calix, who is casually leaning against the door and swinging a sword around in his other hand.

Kyrell runs his eyes up Calix before whispering to me, “Tell me this one is free and into men?”

“He is more complicated than anyone else I’ve met,” I whisper to him and then answer Calix next. “This is Kyrell. He’s not a threat.”

“Kyrell is under the Moon Dynasty protection,” Ziven adds in. “And we have plans to discuss.”

“Hettie okay?” Calix questions, pulling his eyes from Kyrell, even when I’m sure he has a hundred questions. When Ziven nods, he straightens. “We’ve got a problem. A bigger problem than a fucking vampyre being in the protection of the Moon Dynasty.”

“Spit it out, then. It’s been a long fucking day, Cal,” Ziven tensely warns.

“Thousands of fae are filling the forest, and they are on their way here. They fled out of the city, and they’re coming here for help, guidance or fuck knows what. They are following the tracks of the dragons. Most of the city is unlivable, and we are about to have a big problem if they try to flood in here. They’re going to need someone to speak to them.”

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