Page 9 of Crown of Blood and Vengeance

Petar had materialized behind Gianna, his sword pressed against her throat. “Stay back or I’ll splatter your clothes with your mate’s blood.”

My heart stuttered. Gianna. The sword at her throat made my hands shake with helpless rage. The smallest mistake and her blood would coat these walls. As the king’s enforcer, her protection was my sworn duty. More than that—she was family. And I was about to watch her die because I’d failed again at the one thing I was meant to do.

Dimitri pulled back his lips, the light glistening off his sharp fangs. “Let her go, Dad.”

“I don’t think so.” Petar had his back up against the wall, using Gianna as a shield. “Everyone here now works for me except for the damn housekeeper. She wouldn’t conform so I had to make an example out of her.” He pressed the sword deeper into Gianna’s throat, nicking her flesh, a line of blood dripped down her throat. “Stay back or she’s dead.”

Dimitri’s eyes suddenly turned black, his fangs dropping as he took a step forward. I grabbed his arm before he could get any closer—even a twitch and Petar would slice through Gianna’s throat.

Tears glistening in her eyes, Gianna stared at Dimitri. “Dimitri, please save Elena.”

“Let her go.” Dimitri strained against my grip, his muscles coiled to strike.

My fingers dug into his arm. “Control yourself or you’ll get us all killed,” I muttered in his ear. Once his breathing steadied, I shifted toward Elena. She swayed in the chair, her wrists raw from the restraints.

“Please don’t harm her.” Elena’s voice cracked as a tears slid down her cheek.

I moved toward her, keeping Petar in my peripheral vision. My fingers worked at the bindings, feeling each knot give way. The rope was slick with her blood where it had cut into her skin. Behind me, I could hear Dimitri’s controlled breathing—a predator barely restraining himself.

“Almost there,” I murmured, glancing over my shoulder at Petar. His eyes tracked my every movement, calculating. I knew that look—he was waiting for a moment of distraction, a split second to strike.

The final binding fell away. Elena’s arms dropped limply to her sides, and she slumped forward. I caught her weight, helping her to her feet while keeping my body between her and Petar.

“Go, Elena,” I said, guiding her toward the door while maintaining my defensive stance. “Now.”

“No. I won’t?—”

I brought her close to me and lowered my voice to the barest whisper against her ear. “Go toSangue Reale. Wait for my signal.” The thunder of boots in the hallway set every instinct on edge. “They’re coming.”

TheSangue Realewas Angelo’s houseboat hidden deep in the bayou. Not many people knew about it, and I doubted Petar would immediately think to look there.

“Run, Elena,” Petar smiled. “You’ll soon be dead anyway.”

Elena hesitated at the doorway, her hand gripping the frame as she looked back at Gianna. When she finally turned away, her sob echoed through the room. The sound of her footsteps faded toward the back door.

A fleeting sense of relief washed over me. At least Elena was safe—one small victory in this endless night. I allowed myself one deep breath, my shoulders dropping slightly as I turned back to Gianna. Now we just needed to get her out too, and then we could put this hellish place behind us.

The moment shattered as black-eyed guards poured through the doorway like a tide of shadows. I met Dimitri’s gaze for a split second before the first blade swung at my head. We’d fought together enough times to know we weren’t leaving this room without Gianna.

But Petar backed toward a hidden panel in the wall, dragging Gianna with him. “One step closer and I’ll end her.” Blood trickled down her neck where his blade pressed deeper.

“Dimitri, go,” Gianna whispered. “Please. I’ll stay. Just save Elena.”

Three guards rushed me at once. I slammed the first into the wall, but the second’s blade sliced across my ribs. Dimitri was surrounded by four more, his movements becoming desperate as he tried to reach Gianna.

Petar yanked her through the panel. “Come find me when you’re ready to kneel, son.” The wall sealed shut with a terrible finality.

“No!” Dimitri’s anguish shout shook the room as he fought to reach the panel, but more possessed guards kept flooding in.

Every instinct screamed against retreat, but we’d be no help to Gianna if we died here. I grabbed his arm. “We have to go. Now.”

For a moment, I thought he’d fight me too. Then his shoulders slumped, and we ran, plowing over every guard in our way. I threw bodies left and right, hearing them crash against walls and crumple to the floor as I carved through them. Dimitri matched my pace, his rage leaving its own path of destruction. Petar’s laughter followed us through the halls of what used to be my home.

Chapter

Five

Serenity

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