Page 85 of Queen of Vampire Hearts

Phoebe stepped closer to lay a comforting hand on my arm, and I caught the flash of the ring on her finger. I winced, realizing what I’d interrupted. I pulled Phoebe into a hug and kissed both her cheeks. “Congratulations. I’m sorry if we ruined the moment.”

Marriage wasn’t exactly athingbetween mates because they could end. Would my queen want a wedding? That was just another unanswered question about my mate, one I’d likely never know the answer to. Lucien had waited ten-thousand years for his and oh how Fate had rewarded him. But I wasn’t Lucien, and I knew I had done nothing to earn my mate. My crown was handed to me by Lucien, and I had failed my family time and time again. Agony tore through me as I imagined Alaric on that altar.

Phoebe smiled brightly. “It wouldn’t be home if you didn’t feel welcome, Erik.”

I flushed at the sentiment. Phoebe was too warm and affectionate for an immortal. She was melting the icy castle, along with its king. “You both are welcome at Völsung.” It was an invitation never extended to a non-lycan, not even Lucien.

Phoebe sent a glance at Lucien before saying, “I have a feeling we will find our way there.”

EPILOGUE

The Realm of Mortals.

Întuneric Castel, Romania.

I WAS BACK IN THE ROOMI’d discovered at Întuneric, this time with Lucien at my side. The man had not let me out of his sight for an instant, and I was pretty sure he wasn’t sleeping either. I kept waking up to find him staring at me like he was making sure I wasn’t a mirage or something. I wouldn’t admit that I was enjoying his attention. It reminded me I’d made the right choice.

Within one of my newly recovered grimoires, I found a spell to help me navigate the mystical part of Întuneric, proving to Lucien that our home was very much enchanted. It stunned him to realize that even though he’d lived there for so long, the castle never spoke to him as it did to me. I comforted him, pointing out that since we now shared power, the castle might show him things too. When I’d winked and added,just remember, I’m its favorite,my sass had gotten me a spanking we both enjoyed.

“Okay, what do you see?” I asked, standing in front of the annoyingly persistent and powerful illusion. It flickered, the runes powering it glowing slightly. Even Lucien’s library could produce no translation for the symbols.

“I see the wall of a room I did not know existed,” he answered, pulling me into his arms and resting his chin on my head. He was constantly touching me, kissing me, and maybe one day I would mind. But it wasn’t today.

“It’s an illusion. There’s more to this room.” I extracted myself from him and, holding my hand up to the illusion, showed him how my hand froze, meeting unseen resistance. The illusion quivered and warmed but didn’t break. “Lucien, I think there’s something here.”

His eyebrows rose, and he held his hand up next to mine. “All I see and feel is a wall.”

Our power share only went so far. This illusion was powerful enough to trick even his senses.

“The last time I opened up a rift here, I ended up on another plane.” I pushed against the illusion, trying to break it, but there was no give. “I found a temple, which had all the ancestral lineages carved into the walls. It was the first time I saw the name Regina.”

“You went to another realm without me?” he murmured. “What if it trapped you there? Or you were hurt?!” His voice was low with concern, but I waved away his worry. It was best not to tell him a shadow monster chased me out. Some things should remain secret.

“I was fine. Queen of Witches, remember?” I reminded him, but his dark brows remained down over his emerald eyes. Despite being able to incinerate immortals with my mind, Lucien still treated me like I needed protection. I loved him for that. I also knew he wouldn’t stop me from kicking ass if the occasion called for it, so long as I brought him with me. He was my roots, and I could finally grow with my vampire at my side. “The realm was shrouded in mist, and there were a ton more temples nearby.”

“The temple you were in—was there a statue in it?” he whispered, paling more than I thought possible. There were lines of strain around his mouth as it tightened.

“Yes, of Hekate. Why?”

“It was not a statue. You were in Ethereal.”

I’d stumbled into the land of the gods? I’d stood before my goddess? “Why would a rift open to Ethereal? I thought that was impossible.”

The land of the gods was supposed to be closed to visitors, especially accidental ones. The gods were vulnerable as they slept, which is why the realm was created in the first place.

“You said you saw runes on the ground. Can you draw them for me?” he asked. His frantic vibe was making a chill of unease shoot down my spine. The only other time I’d seen him like this was in the cemetery. Even now, a flash of hurt at the memory shot through me.

I nodded and conjured fire with a short chant, drawing the runes for him, leaving them suspended in the air. “Do you recognize them?”

“I—That is my—” He gaped, his mouth opening and closing as if trying to find the words. “The reason you cannot break those runes is that they were made by the one thing with more magic than you.”

“What does that mean?” I was the most powerful witch ever;no onehad more magic. Except... “The illusion…the gods made it?” The rift opened to Ethereal and Hekate’s resting place, where she still slept, conserving her power because she was powering the illusion.

He grabbed my hand, trying to pull me from the room. I dug my heels in, but it did little good. “If there is an illusion here, you are not breaking it.”

“You’re not curious? What if it’s dangerous?” He stopped, trying to pull me away, turning back to face me.

“When it comes to the gods, you do not meddle.” He grasped my shoulders, his emerald eyes shining. But I felt the call. Whatever summoned me here, showed me this room, and sent me to Ethereal was still here. I could feel its power humming in the air expectantly, waiting for something.

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