Page 117 of A Bond in Blood

Faerie wine. A substance and drink I had only experienced a handful of times in my life. Never more than a sip or two and I had foolishly downed an entire glass.

Ulrich’s eyes were still on mine while his shadow blade tore the wrist of the woman before him. Her blood hit the dais, and I could hear it with the wine altering my senses.

The drops were ringing, mocking, laughing at the woman now poisoned and defenseless.

Bjorn ripped the back of my gown while the woman before Ulrich dropped her blood in his mouth.

“Watch that throne, princess,” Bjorn muttered against my ear. “Because you will be chained beside it when I claim it.”

Screams filled the room when Ulrich suddenly lunged, his blade slicing my cheek as it rammed into the shoulder of my assailant.

I forced my body through the haze, watching in horror while black blood splattered over Ulrich’s body.

“Treachery!” voices screamed, pointing at the twitching hand on the floor.

“Run, Brenna.” Olen’s voice was breaking me through the poisoned haze. “Get back to the bedroom,now.”

My eyes went back to Ulrich, finding his body encompassed by shadows again. His skin became translucent, his bones shining and white beneath his flesh.

Then I ran, right through the door behind the dais, a victim of my own foolish choices.

Chapter 25

The palace shook as I ran and echoing screams of rage filled the halls, seeping through every stone.

My feet moved me forward and to my relief, I found the hallway leading to a door that opened right beside the door Adie had directed me to. With the keys still laying on the ground.

I picked up the ring and ran to the door to Ulrich’s room. When I slammed it open, my hand went to my heart, touching something wet.

Blood—Bjorn’s blood was covering my sheer gown.

I shook when I lifted my hand, finding the black liquid staining my fingers.

My body trembled at the image while the palace continued to shake so violently I wondered if Ulrich would bring it down upon us all.

I made my way across the room, almost reaching the bathing room when the main doors slammed open and Ulrich stalked in. Blood dripped from his hands.

“Brenna.” His voice was cold and low.

I backed up, lifting my hands. “I didn’t know.”

My feet stumbled with the faerie wine still poisoning my blood. I’d almost fallen back, when his hands landed against my body, holding me up.

“You are foolish,” he muttered.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

He pressed my body against the wall, his eyes scanning my face.

“Are you harmed?” he asked.

I shook my head. “Not physically.”

“You fool,” he repeated. “You stupid, stupid fool.”

“What did you do to him?”

He shook his head. “We will not speak of him. Not now.”

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