Page 23 of House of Mages and Raven

“I have a suggestion, Your Majesties,” the herald chimed in. “We shall brand the Accused as a warning.”

Rage swelled in me, making me see red.

Let them try to brand us.Sy flexed her claws.We’ll slash open whoever comes to brand us, spilling their insides on the spotless marble floor before we come after the chaos king and his bitch. If he and his army come, we’ll drain Kingdom of Chaos.

And that was our promise.

Not even Killian could stop me. I didn’t want to harm his kingdom, but his father and stepmother didn’t deserve to sit on their thrones. They should’ve heeded the warning from Cade about not prodding the hornet’s nest.

“Brand the abomination!” Queen Odette screamed.

“That’s extreme, Queen Odette,” Cade said.

“Make it so,” the chaos king barked.

A rush of dark power rolled off me, spreading through the entire court. Other than Killian, Rock, Cassius, and the other princes, no one could breathe. My power couldn’t subdue Queen Lilith either. The kings and queens in their holographic projections were also immune.

The herald clawed at his throat at the tight pressure, then the chaos king and his bitch queen followed suit.

Killian snapped his head at me, his gaze locking on mine, urging me to let go and promising that he wouldn’t let any harm come to me. His dark lightning increased in volume on his fingertips and twirled around his forearms at his promise to me, and my power recognized it.

I swallowed. Something eased in me. I leashed my dark power, and everyone gasped for air.

“What is she?” a mage Council member whispered in awe and fear.

Congratulations, Barbie,Pucker shouted in excitement.You’ve just found another new power. Way to go!

Sy applauded.Congrats!

Sweat broke out on my forehead as I restrained my darkness. It was easier to let it out than to leash it, and I was still a novice to having all this new power, let alone controlling it.

“I petition to have Barbie removed from House of Chaos to House of Mages,” Cade announced loudly, his bright voice brimming with righteousness, “and she shall be under the protection of Kingdom of Mages.”

“Petition granted!” Cade’s father shouted, as did the mage from the Council.

The other princes tried to argue to get me into their houses instead but stopped themselves at Cade’s warning look.

“You can have that creature after she’s branded!” Queen Odette insisted.

Hadn’t she suffered the power of my wrath just now? I could just kill the stupid bitch as easily as lifting a finger.

“Over my dead body will I allow anyone to brand Barbie,” Killian said icily.

“That’s not for you to say,” his father hissed. “Remember your place, son. This is my court!”

“I stand with the heir of Kingdom of Chaos,” said Prince Silas. “Barbie is still welcome to return to my house, and no one shall brand her as long as I breathe.”

“Barbie isn’t cattle to be branded,” Prince Louis seethed. “Anyone who tries to harm her shall go through me, as I’m declaring my intention to court Barbie, the most promising bride candidate.”

“You’re not courting her, Louis, I warn you!” Silas growled at the vampire prince. “As a dormant wolf, Barbie’s very likelymyfated mate!”

A muscle jerked on Killian’s temple. Rage smoldered darker in his storm-blue eyes. Why was he so furious? I wasn’t his anymore, despite the fact that he still extended his protection over me. After all, he was a kept man, and I didn’t want to be a kept man’s kept woman.

Yet even from this far, I could feel his effort to rein in his dragon. I could almost hear his beast’s roar. I turned my gaze away, as I couldn’t bear it.

“I might not be courting Barbie,” Rowan said, breaking the shocked silence brought on by the two heirs’ declarations, “but I stand with the rest of the heirs against any harm coming to a promising bride candidate, as the law of the Brides Selection decrees.”

All the heirs had once planned on pretending to court me to bring me to my knees. Somewhere along the way, their game had shifted, so much so that now they openly declared their intentions toward me to offer their protection. I owed all the princes more debts now, and I wouldn’t leave them unpaid.

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