Page 50 of Omission: Part 2

“I’m going to stop you right there. You’re not here to help anyone, but to answer my questions in exchange for a life in a secluded cabin with no outside communication until the day you cease to exist. That was the deal: total honesty, and I’ll allow you to continue breathing.”

“Yes, Queen Anaya.”

“I will not correct you again. Tell me everything, or I’ll let Theodore rip your throat out. I’ve promised him more than one prey today, and I plan to deliver.”

“Please don’t kill me.” Pitiful, yet I won’t deny her distress tugs at my heart. I’m not a cold person, it’s just not who I am, but I also can’t put those I love at risk. “It started before Gabriella and King Astor met. Veltross made comments of wanting to overthrow the vampire ruler, and word got back to King Larue. They met a few times, made plans, and brought together greedy coven leaders—my family being one of them. Moreover, it didn’t take long for them to be tempted by the golden trap swinging right in front of their eyes.” Pausing, she squeezes her fingers together. Digs them into her lap. “For them to kill our former king and priestess.”

“Where were you during that time?”

“Here.” At my perplexed expression, she continues. “I was kept in a room on Larue’s wing while the attacks occurred. The backup plan needed to be secured, that’s why we integrated ourselves after the fact. Because we truly were out of the country.”

“Are there any more members of the Veltross family alive?” Her eyes shift to the woman on the ground. “Not anymore.”

“Who was she?”

“A cousin.” She didn’t elaborate, but Chiara screamed as Gabriella pried open her lips and ripped out a piece of her tongue, helping to jog the old woman’s memory with the use of fear. “She’s a second cousin. Her name is Bianca, and she was overeager, from the times we spoke to her. Bianca didn’t believe in the intermingling of the species and hated her queen. Was a little jealous of her, even though her mate, Giulio, was a good guard. She contacted Silla to help.”

“Did she not know Chiara’s a tribrid?” An explosion of anger comes from Brice, and I click my tongue; I don’t like being interrupted. He’s cursing, trying to buck my mate off, and I just want to be done with them all. To never see this abhorrent bunch again, and for once in my life, I take a page out of my father’s playbook.

Rising, I grip the legacy opal dagger on my lap and walk down to my mate. He’s watching me with an arched brow but doesn’t ask me any questions. “Lift his head.”

“As you wish, precious one.” Grip firm on Brice’s head, he extends his neck back, exposing it to me. Puts his in a position to meet my stare. “Is that good enough?”

“Yes.” The blade glints in the room’s lighting, and the blue tones within the opal are vibrant as I cut my palm and then swipe the sharp metal across the sanguine drop. I’m feeding the blade so it recognizes its owner, but also to make this just a little more insulting.

They’ve wanted our blood for their sick purpose, but now he can wear it for the rest of his life. Not that he has long; Brice must die.

He’s a threat to my family. To my mate and baby.

And because my child likes to make an entrance, they chose that moment to let their presence be known. They’ve done this a few times, quiet themselves all day—when we’re around others—but the moment we’re alone, his or her heart beats strongly.

Athump, thump, thumpthat never fails to bring a smile to my face. Like now, amidst this chaos, here’s my beautiful little one showing me the way.

“You’re pregnant? You fucking cu—” Brice is cut off mid-insult by the tip of my blade slicing through his skin from chin to tongue, and I leave it at that. There will be no greaterinsultto him than being silenced by me. “I am with child, yes. But that’s not what’s important. Tell me, did Larue know you weren’t of pure fae blood?” Hushed whispers start in the courtiers’ section, words of outrage at my audacity, but none of them stand up or demand I stop. Their fear doesn’t allow it. “The blade seared your flesh, Brice. Your blood isn’t tinted blue like mine and that of every fae here. So I wonder…what are you? Maybe half-human.”

Not a question. This misogynistic purist is a liar, and the proof is in his blood. The scent, thickness, and color all point to him having human traits.

“Silla, please! Stop this!” A little garbled from the missing chunk of tongue, but her words were clear. Words I agree with.Yes, please. Show your face.“You promised we wouldn’t be hurt. You swore you’d protect me.”

“Goddess, you don’t get it yet, do you?” Lena deadpans, body visibly shuddering. “Even when Silla was pregnant, you were accepted as nothing more than a spare. All parties knew it’d be useful to have a fall-back planjust in case, but Elise was always the first choice.” At the mention of the older Veltross daughter, Gabriella takes what’s left of Chiara’s tongue and tosses it at Brice’s head. It lands on the top and then slides down his temple, leaving another bloody mark left behind. “She was to seduce King Astor, but Chiara would be for Leonardo. Marsilla has always been adamant about that union. She cares for King Moore.”

20

LEONARDO

End him.

Anaya’s voice filters in my head, and it’s the sweetest demand. I’ve been holding back for her sake, keeping the bloodlust—the desire to cleanse this room with his life’s essence—at bay, but no more. The opal dagger embedded a few inches deep, not enough to kill, slides a little deeper when I lower his head down to the ground again.

This asshole will never have the pleasure of seeing my beautiful mate again.

He doesn’t deserve any dignity.

Yet before the blade passes an inch past the roof of his mouth, I remove it altogether and smash his face into the marble floors. There’s a sickening crunch that follows, more blood smearing the once-clean floors. “You can confirm before I slit your throat. Are you half-human?”

The bang of the doors being shoved open calls everyone’s attention to the entrance, but I saw his nod and so did Aya. Silla’s standing there, and she isn’t alone. General Francois is behind her and nudges the woman I once considered family forward. She’s lost a bit of weight since the last time I saw her, but the smile reserved for me since I was young is ever-present.

“Put the knife down, Leonardo. This isn’t you, piccolo.”

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