Page 96 of Tortured Royals

“I thought I’d have to drive this into her, but we’re connected, even more so now that our bond has been corrupted. Reselle will feel the power of this blade, just as I will.”

“No, you can’t!” I rasp.

“Know daughter, that I couldn’t be more prouder of the ruler you will be, and I am sure your mother feels the same. Remember, never surrender.” And he pulls his hand back, pushing the blade into his heart.

“Noooo!” The scream that tears from me is unnatural, coming from a place so deep within me even my birds feel it, cawing like they feel my pain.

Reselle cries out as well, her dark eyes snapping wide. “What?” Her mouth gapes open as she grabs at her chest, looking for a weapon, though it’s not there.

I can hardly speak, but I rush over to Dad, catching him before he falls. I hold him up, staring at the demon king as his breathing becomes more labored, and my mates form up around us protectively.

Tears well in my eyes. Dad pushed me to my limits, always putting me through strange challenges, but I see them for what they were now. Trials to make me stronger. In his weird, messed up way, Dad has always cared.

The demon grabs the handle of the shadow blade and wrenches the weapon from his chest. “Here,” he rasps, holding the dagger out to me. “While she’s distracted.”

Ignoring the weapon, I press my hand to the wound, trying to stop the blood leaking from his chest.

“It’s not healing,” I say, panicked. “Why isn’t it healing?”

“Take it, Blake,” Dad says insistently, still holding the blade. “This is the only thing that will rid us of Reselle. The realms need you now.”

Tears streak down my cheeks. “But I needyou.”

His lips form a soft smile, his gaze going to my mates before returning to me. “No, daughter. All that you need will be here even after I’m gone.”

“Blake,” Dante’s voice is gentle as he comes up behind me. “The king is right. This might be our only chance.”

“We need to take the bitch down,” Alaric growls.

“Let me do it, my mate,” Mason says.

I shake my head. “No,” I say, hardly able to get the word out. “It has to be me.”

“Go, daughter,” Dad says, and I blink back my tears as I finally take the blade from his hand. Dad leans against the chimney, and I release him, stepping out to face Reselle. My mates move with me, though they give me space.

Reselle is still grabbing at her chest, screaming, and I don’t give myself a moment longer to think about what I’m going to do. I launch forward while her gaze is diverted, and I plunge the shadow blade into her heart.

Reselle jerks her head to the side, and her eyes darken as she grabs hold of me, but just when I think she’s about to toss mefrom the roof, her eyes shoot wide with surprise. Her gaze flicks to where Mason is now holding Dad up, and then she peers at me before looking down at the blade. “Damn you,” she says, those thousand voices crying out at once, and her head snaps back as she opens her mouth and lets out a pained wail that goes on and on, the air whipping around us.

“Blake!” Dante shouts, grabbing my arm, but I stay where I am.

Slowly, the sound grows weaker, and when it cuts off all together, my mom’s head falls forward and she drops to her knees. I fall with her.

The air grows still, and my mates move close around us.

“Careful, gorgeous,” Nate warns, but I already know Reselle is gone. I can feel the release of her power over the land.

Mom’s chest rises and falls with ragged breaths, the blade still buried in her chest, but when she slowly opens her eyes they’re a bright gold, the color so similar to that of my own eyes.

“My Blake, my daughter,” she rasps, her hand reaching up to my face, and the moment the words leave her lips, tears spill from my eyes.

Dad stumbles toward us with Mason’s help, and he drops to his knees beside us, a harsh rattle sounding in his chest when he breathes.

“You did so well with her,” Serafine says, smiling warmly as one of her hands goes to Dad, and he leans into her, his head resting against hers. “She’s incredible.”

I struggle to breathe, my chest feeling as though it’s capsizing. Pain spreads from my heart like I’m the one who was stabbed with the blade.

“I’ve missed you, Sera,” Dad says to Serafine, a tear tracking down his cheek as he presses a soft kiss to her lips. When he pulls back, she lifts her hand, brushing the tear away.

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