Page 76 of Her Blood Revenge

Even when she found a strangled maid at the foot of his bed when he was fifteen, she loved him!

And even when he befriended that strange little fire witch in the fire coven, and the two would spend hours catching critters and burning them alive, she loved him.

But over the years, she began to fear him and found him repulsive, knowing that he loved to watch things suffer before they died. No one could get through to him. No one could understand why he was the way he was.

She did.

He has no soul whatsoever. He was born defective.

Monster. She made a monster in her womb. And now he has killed her.

What she fears now as she lies in her pooling blood is what he plans for the kingdom. And why he has the fire witch she forbade him to see standing at his side, free of her confinement and without a nullifying bracelet.

‘You and father are the weak ones,’ he sneers at us. ‘I told you. We should not contain the witches. We should weaponise them. The world is endless, and this kingdom so small.’ He leans down as I feel her struggle for her final, blood-choked breath. ‘Rulers don’t negotiate. They take. Just as I havetaken the throne from you both. And now, I will take the lands beyond these borders.’

‘Witches can not… be … trusted…’

He backs away from us, shaking his head and laughing before turning away without another glance. He steps over the already dead king as if he is nothing but a pile of dirt he needs to avoid.

‘Send for the witch killers and their whore of an earth witch,’ the prince instructs the guards standing by the door. ‘Tell the Blood Queen that we will have the girl secured by daybreak, just as agreed. And tell her that we will keep the way clear so she can go to the earth coven un-hindered by The General and his men.’ He stops by a young girl with jet-black hair and pale blue eyes. His finger traces down her cheek. ‘Finish her off, love.’

He doesn’t look back as the young woman walks towards us. I hear each gentle footstep and watch with terror as flames spring to life on her palm.

The queen watched her husband burn slowly. She heard his screams as he choked on the smell of his burning flesh.

‘W-why?’ I manage to speak, looking at the sweet young girl who smiles so kindly.

‘You won the battle,’ she coos back. ‘The witches shall win the war.’ She giggles. ‘Your bones will look so lovely at the palace gates.’

Fire shoots from her fingertips, and I feel them smother me.

The heat bites at every nerve, and the pain of the stab wounds disappear, replaced by this agony.

I have been hung. I have been crushed. I have been cut. Now Iburn.

I burn, and I scream.

When I reopen my eyes, I’m on the floor of the great hall, surrounded by the three guys who face the guards.

The guards are ready with their swords as they encircle us. The guys only have their powers, which they have so far concealed from the court.

My skin still feels hot. I taste her burning flesh, and the heat of her death lingers in my throat.

‘Just give us the blood witch,’ the prince sighs as if bored. ‘Your fate will be far kinder if you do.’

‘You will not touch her,’ Dorian states firmly.

‘We will. And if you fight us, we will make her suffer far greater than if you just step away.’ The prince’s eyes flick in my direction, and that smile turns cruel. ‘Did you see her?’ he asks, looking around him. ‘Do you see her still? You screamed as she screamed. Do you burn still, blood witch?’

Dorian crouches down. His left hand reaches for me as he keeps his focus on nothing but the threat surrounding us. He helps me to my feet and I need to lean against his broad back to keep myself up. Their backs surround me as they face our enemies together.

‘Talk, Pixie,’ Shaw says in a low, gruff voice. ‘What’s happening? What did you see?’

‘The king and queen are dead,’ I manage, my voice still hoarse from the contact with her spirit. ‘The prince has killed them.’

Dorian’s hand tightens on me.

‘This is a trap,’ I continue. ‘The prince wants us out of the way so Neve can do something to my old coven. He’s made a deal to capture us for Neve. We have to goto my coven.’

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