Page 23 of Omission: Part 2

“How are they connected?” Theodore asks. He steps up to the still-unharmed vampire and kneels so they’re eye to eye. “Tell me, Giulio. You have my word your beloved will be spared and no harm will come to your bloodline.”

“My Lord…” The man named Giulio breaks off into sobs then, shame and repent in his every word. “I’m so sorry. They begged me to help, and when I denied them, they threatened my beloved and?—”

“Is she safe now?”

“Yes, my king.”

“Then tell me—what connection do Chiara and Silla have?”

Beside him, the two I’ve injured protest, making what complaints they can, but I help the noise level drop when I take what’s left of the one in the middle’s head, and with a solid twist, rip his head off. His eyes are open wide and set on me, but that changes when I toss the cranium toward a pyre started by my sister.

When Gabriella arrived, I have no clue nor do I care, but I appreciated the thoughtfulness. Find her antics amusing as she flicks the lighter in her hand on and off without a care in the world. Not worried the least bit about being hurt herself.

The head rolls and then sizzles, burning to ash within seconds of meeting the fire. His body follows the same demise, a useless creature killed for its stupidity and greed. Because I have no doubt they’d been promised money and a higher rank within their world, but what they didn’t account for was me.

For how much I love the beautiful little fae who fell asleep in my arms with tears rolling down her soft cheeks.

“Answer him, Giulio. Don’t force my hand.”

The scared man swallows harshly, eyes brimmed with red tears that will never fall. “She’s Silla’s daughter. Hers with General Veltross.”

8

LEONARDO

“She’s Silla’s daughter. Hers with General Veltross.”

What. The. Fuck.

That’s…

My eyes meet my sister’s, then flick to her mate, and they are each wearing the same murderous expression. It vibrates through them, a volatile and unhinged hatred only that name—the piece-of-shit family—can bring forth.

“Will you ever have children, Aunt Silla? I want a little cousin,” I say after entering the kitchen, finding her at the sink, and looking out the window. She’s pensive, has been for a few days now, and jumps when I tap her shoulder. “Did you hear me?”

“I’m sorry, piccolo. What did you ask?” She lifts a hand and pushes my red locks back from my face before cupping my chin. “How was your training today, my young king.”

“Good, but I’m exhausted.”

“Thirteen summers and growing, you’ll get there, kid. How about a snack?”

“Please.” Leaning closer, she kisses my cheek and then turns to serve me one of her bombolone with a cup of hot chocolate, adding a little cinnamon to the top. Just how I like it. “But what about kids? I’d love a little cousin.”

“You want a cugino?” Her tone is off. Almost shocked.

“Yes. They’d be another sibling.”

A touch of sadness flashes across her face, but it’s gone before I can ask. Her smile is back as she places my snack on the counter next to me, bumping her shoulder with mine. Elbowing me playfully, too. “Let me talk to Uncle Roberto about it. Who knows, I might just surprise you one day.”

Fuck her. She did. More than, actually.

I’m angry. Fuming.

Every member of that family has been a problem, and it seems Brice and Ruben were right to warn me that a snake in the grass has many friends. Those who are willing to help and corrupt nations over the preconceived notion that the world owes them when nothing could be further from the truth.

Their mistake. From the fallen general of the vampire army to his daughter Elise, and now the last descendant in Chiara: a tribrid.

Part witch, fae, and vampire.

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