Page 129 of Death Game: Supernatural Battle

I hadn’t spoken to him since delivering the news of Sandra’s death. He looked the same as ever, but that meant nothing.

“Some of us have been victims of the beasts for nearly thirty years,” he said. “Our view of the creatures is unlikely to ever change. Which, from my reckoning, is going to become a regular obstacle in our meetings even if we’re united in our overall goal.”

I waited. There was more.

“Our larger concern.” Lady Treena took over. “Is that you’ve been forced into a horrible situation. As such, our new goal with regards to these meetings is to free you from this mating ritual you find yourself trapped in.”

My anger swelled at her comment, but I tempered it as Mr Dithis spoke.

“From what you’ve told us, the end cascade will be triggered in two days. Bitter though it makes us feel, it is time to admit the game is lost. The new focus needs to be protecting you. Your grandmother would have wanted that.”

They wanted to keep me safe.

I inhaled to restore my own perspective. In their shoes, I would be thinking the same thing. They’d watched me grow from baby to child to teen and into adulthood. As they shoved away their families and severed ties to keep them safe from Vissimo, I was always here—their substitute child.

“I know what Grandmother would have wanted,” I said. “To see me happy. Safety doesn’t always equate to happiness. Look at the way she chose to live her life, fighting a more powerful race while living in daily fear. She did that because anything less would have made her unhappy.”

Dame Burke frowned. “That’s what we want too.”

“Your assumption is the belief that freeing me from Kyros will make me happy,” I said gently.

She reeled back.

I regarded the occupants of the table. “I love him.”

Lady Treena covered her mouth, the horror in her eyes plain.

Their shocked disbelief buzzed heavy around the table.

Shrugging a shoulder, I said, “I love a Vissimo.”

Sir Olythieu jolted. “What did you just say?”

“I love Kyros,” I repeated, frowning.

“No,” he whispered. “You said, I love a—” He cut off, staring pointedly at me.

A gasp fled my lips.

I shot to my feet. “Vissimo. Vampires.”

“Sundulus. Fyrlia. Ingenium!” My mouth dried as I met their stares.

I clutched my cheeks with my gloved hands.

“What’s happening?” Mr Hothen said. “Why can you suddenly say everything?”

I struggled to control my harsh breaths.

“He freed her,” Sir Olythieu said. His brows drew together.

I hadn’t felt him doing it—but Iwaskind of distracted at the time. And maybe releasing a compulsion didn’t feel the same as putting one in place.

“He must have,” I said, my voice faint.

Sitting heavily, I dropped my wide-eyed gaze to the table, my mind working frantically.

“He didn’t tell you?” Mrs Syrre asked.

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