Page 121 of The Reign of Blood

Relief floods my bones as she blinks her eyes open. She’s disoriented for a moment, but when her eyes peer at mine, she’s a lot more present than she was earlier.

The door swings open behind me, and I turn to give Raiden the good news but fall short when it’s my father I see instead.

“Excellent, you’re all here. Follow me.”

45

ADRIANNA

Ifeel delirious. None of this can be real, but unfortunately for me, it is.

Brody takes my hand and Kryll stays pressed against my other side as Cassian leads the way.

I press my lips together nervously, feeling the weight of the gem in my pocket, acutely aware that it’s not where they think it is. I just have to hope they don’t go searching for it because there’s no way in hell I can get it back in place without crying in pain.

We’re led down the corridor to a large open room at the far end where Raiden already waits. His head is hung low, defeat oozing from him as he stands with his hand pressed against a globe. It’s only when I get closer that I realize he’s chained to it.

“What’s going on?” Cassian asks, pulling me from my head. That’s when I realize Raiden is not the only person in the room.

Brody’s father, Councilman Orenda, stands beside Vallie’s father, Raiden’s mother, Professor Holloway, and Cassian’s father, Kenner.

What the fuck is going on?

There are four other stands placed strategically in a circle, just like the one Raiden is attached to. Before I can considerwhat they’re for, Brody, Cassian, and Kryll are dragged to three of them. The magic in the room is heavily charged, and I can feel it even more without the kiss of amethyst weighing me down.

“What are we here for?” Cassian grunts, his voice getting hoarser the longer he waits for a response.

Vallie’s father grins from ear to ear, turning his attention to me as he ignores Cassian’s question. “I’m going to assume my daughter played her part perfectly?”

“Youorchestrated this?” Raiden snarls, anger vibrating from him as he glares at the councilman in question.

“You threatened to break the agreement,” he retorts like a petulant child, giving Raiden a pointed look.

He scoffs in response. “I didn’t threaten, I promised. Besides, your daughter is not in the best condition right now. That might be where you need to aim your focus,” he snaps back, and I watch the color drain from councilman Drummer’s face.

“See to it that this is sorted,” he snarls. “I will not sacrifice my daughter for this,” he adds before rushing from the room.

“Why am I here, Mother?” Raiden asks, turning his attention to her, and she shakes her head in disappointment.

“Because you threatened everything we’ve worked for.”

“I don’t really understand what you’ve been working for,” he snaps back, and Councilman Orenda scoffs.

“Please, you’re telling me Brody didn’t share the facts with you?” he questions, and everyone’s gaze snaps to the man in question. Puzzled looks consume Cassian, Kryll, and Raiden as they stare in confusion at their friend. “We’ve been researching and translating an old mage book that whispers of fated mates.”

What the fuck?

“What does that have to do with us?” Cassian snaps, turning his attention to his father, who remains impassive.

“It means we worked at forcing the four of you men together and connecting you to one woman to create a connection, a power stronger than anything this world has ever seen.”

“You want to connect us all to Vallie?” Kryll grunts, his nose scrunching in distaste as my gut clenches at the entire thing, but more so that it would be with her of all people.

“Over my dead fucking body,” Cassian bites, anger burning in his eyes.

Brody remains quiet, his chin pressed to his chest. Why wouldn’t he share this with his friends? I don’t understand, but it seems there’s a lot that’s been kept from me.

“What the fuck is going on?” I grumble, exhausted, my body aching. I can’t take all of this crap as well.

---