Page 59 of Eternally Yours

“You insolent child,” he gritted, breaking the stalemate. Seemed therewassomeone who could crack his icy walls.

“After everything this family has done for you. After everything I gave you…” He turned from me, anger rolling off his shoulders. “This is how you repay me!” he hollered as he spun back around, hands clenched. “I should have you fed to the burning rays of the sun. Watch you burn to ash before my eyes for this affront.”

“Father, I—”

“Silence!” His voice reverberated through the walls. “You’ve disgraced this family for the last time, Nicholas. I will not allow you to continue to shame our name.” Pivoting toward the mirror, he ordered, “Throw him in the Solaris. We’ll see how long that immunity to the sun lasts.”

Fuck. Not how I’d hoped this would go.

Andres and Victoria were back inside within seconds and seized me by the arms, pulling me away.

“You have to listen to me. This isn’t about me. The Order is coming. Father, please...”

He turned from me. “You. Are not. My son.”

Regardless of all my misdoings, my father had never uttered those words to me. But it wasn’t the words that stung, but the vile disgust he let me feel through his ability as an elder to connect to me, mentally and emotionally.

His disappointment shouldn’t have cut me, it shouldn’t have robbed me of my courage to fight, but I couldn’t shake the weight that settled on my shoulders. After Elizabeth, I swore I was done with him and this place for good, yet there I was, feeling shame all over again.

Andres and Victoria hurried me down the passageways toward the Solaris, a roofless, circular room carved out of stone with walls that rose several stories to the surface. An inescapable chamber with one sole purpose—to kill a vampire by exposure to the sun.

By now the morning star had already dipped beyond the horizon, but once noon came, sunlight would hit directly above me. And if the effects of Loren’s blood had waned, I’d turn to ash before the next day’s end.

I hadn’t fought them as they’d walked me to my death, but the moment Victoria opened the door and Andres shoved me in, terror clamped a fist around my throat. I rushed toward the iron door, but they closed it before I reached it. Banging as hard as I could, I drew blood from my fists. There was no breaking through, but reason and logic no longer mattered.

The thought of dying there without seeing Loren one last time drew a pained roar that erupted from my chest and echoed up the walls. Was my father really going to do this? Had I crossed him to the point death was the only acceptable punishment? A part of me hoped this was just a ruse. A way to teach me a lesson. To scare me shitless.

He’d succeeded. He’d proven his point. But now I needed to get out of there. “Vic. Andres, please.”

The small oculus hatch on the door slid open. Andres stood on the other side, a menacing grin carved on his lips. He held up my dagger, making sure I knew he meant to keep it. “About time your father grew some balls. He should have fried your ass a long time ago.”

Fucker. I always knew he had it out for me. But this wasn’t the time to settle any scores.

Victoria stood behind him, eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she looked at me over his shoulder. “You shouldn’t have come back,” she muttered.

“You’re all in danger,” I said, glancing between the two of them. “You need to convince my father. If we don’t rescue Loren, the Order will use her to destroy the coven.”

Andres drew closer to the oculus. “I will enjoy scooping up your ashes tomorrow and dumping them in the river.” He turned and walked away, leaving Victoria behind.

She was my last hope. “Vic, please. I need to get out of here—”

“I’m so sorry, Nicholas,” she replied, her gaze sullen. “You know I can’t disobey your father’s orders.”

Although her eyes dimmed with pity, they were also hard with resolve. She wouldn’t help me get out. We’d known each other for centuries. As part of the Iron Guard, we’d trained in combat together. Victoria was a perfect soldier. It’s why my father picked her to be in his guard. But I was the one who got her through the ranks.

“I’d like a last word with my father. You owe me as much.”

She lowered her gaze, acknowledging the debt. “I don’t think he’ll come, but I will tell him your last wish.”

“Thank you. It’s all I ask.”

Before closing the oculus, she added, “Nic…”

“Yeah?”

“It was a pleasure serving with you.”

“Likewise.”

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