Page 79 of The Fate of Eternity

I chance a look at Cassian and Kryll, who are now propped up against the wall again, hands in metal cuffs with their eyes fixated on our girl. Our unmoving girl.

I can sense the worry oozing from them, but I keep my mouth shut.

Drummer steps forward, baring his teeth as he crouches in front of Raiden. “My brother was a fool. He never could live up to me. Now, he definitely never will. I’ll make sure to thank that bitch before I slaughter her,” he bites, making Raiden tug at the cuffs holding him in place.

His stare spins my way for a split second, silently pleading with me to undo my magic, but it’s too late now, and it’s probably for the best. It makes this all look more real and appealing to them.

As if sensing my thoughts, Vallie laughs, tossing her head back as she holds on to her uncle’s shoulder for support. “Don’t talk about the little half-breed like that. You’ll make my Raidy all mad,” she says with a fake pout, wagging her finger in Raiden’s face as she speaks.

Her taunting is unbearable. I couldn’t tolerate it in the dining hall when Addi launched at her. Now, it’s even worse.

Give them the upper hand. Give them the upper hand.

Addi’s words repeat in my mind, holding me in place as I trust in her plan.

If our girl can hear the shit being said, she does nothing to react, which is better character than I expected because I was sure she would charge at her the second this dumb bitch opened her mouth.

“What do you want, Vallie?” Raiden asks, pushing up to his feet as the chains clang together. Vallie takes note of the metal in place, a smile spreading across her face.

“I want you, Raiden.”

“Really? Right now?” Cassian grunts, earning a death stare from the wicked vampire herself, but her attention quickly snaps back to Raiden.

“Uncle, let me keep this one. The rest can perish,” Vallie states, fluttering her eyelashes at the man as her grin spreads from ear to ear.

“Vallie, I?—”

“I’d rather you kill me first and feed me to the fucking vermin that runs rabid in our kingdom than have to spend another fucking second in your presence,” Raiden interjects, every word etched with truth as he looks at her with utter disdain.

Vallie rears back, a gasp on her lips as her hand lifts to her chest. The demure action quickly turns rotten as her hands ball into fists and her teeth extend into sharp points.

“Fuck you, Raiden. You never deserved me,” she lurches toward him, nails ripping into his t-shirt as she pulls him closer.

She opens her mouth unbelievably wide, inching closer to his neck as I start to panic. I turn to Addi, hoping the magic has worn off, but she’s out cold.

Fuck.

I yank at my chains, muttering the chant under my breath to undo what I did, getting the same sense of panic from Cassian and Kryll too. I mutter faster, the chant burning my tongue with every pass.

A flutter of a breeze is all the warning the room gets before a bright light fills the space. It’s blinding, mesmerizing, and fucking stunning. A scream rips from Vallie’s chest as the projection of light narrows to Raiden and Addi launches herself through the air.

Barreling into Vallie, they fall into the far wall with a thud. Drummer lurches back, crouching as he shields himself from the blinding light. He’s already stood on the other side of its shine; he knows the abilities that can accompany it.

Yanking at my chains again, the metal gives no freedom for me to move, turning my chants faster as stress starts to rise through my bones.

“Let them think they have the upper hand by giving them the upper hand. If my magic sees one of you in danger, it will bubble to the surface to protect you. That will catch them off guard and we can decimate them.”

A plan. A solid-yet-uncertain plan, depending on how you look at it. And right now, it’s not looking great.

“Come on, Brody,” Cassian grunts, dealing with the same issue as me. I don’t answer, though; I can’t break my spell, otherwise, it will take even longer.

Movement out of the corner of my eye pulls my attention as my chants continue, and I turn just in time to see Addi gain the advantage, slamming Vallie against the wall with rage.

“Get this fucking mutt off me,” Vallie yells, hysteria echoing off the walls as she snaps her teeth threateningly at Addi.

My nostrils flare with anger as I remember the time Vallie sank her teeth into my woman. The rage it creates inside of me is like an inferno for my magic, and a moment later, the metal splits at my wrists and falls with a clatter to the floor.

Charging toward the pair of them, I forget about Drummer until it’s too late. His arms hook around my legs, toppling me to the ground. I manage to catch myself with my hands, saving my face from disaster, but the second I take to compose myself is used against me.

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