Page 208 of Dark Souls

“The king of all supernaturals wears sweats?” I lifted my brow at Ilaria, showing my amusement.

“He’d live in a tracksuit if it was up to him.”

“But it’s not up to him?”

“Have you met Ruby?” Neve smirked, folding her arms across her chest.

“Come on. Get dressed. Everyone is waiting for us at the palace. Are you ready to face Mitchell and Belladonna or do you need more time?” Ilaria asked softly, running her fingers down the side of my face.

“After everything, I just needed you. To be with you. Feed from you. Fuck you. You may rely on me now, love, but you are also my source of strength. So, yes. I am so fucking ready.”

A slow, vicious grin appeared, matching hers perfectly.

Ilaria took my hand in hers and leaned into my arm, running her other hand up and down my forearm. I stared down at our entwined fingers, realising that this was the first time we had held hands in public. In fact, this was the first time we didn’t have to hide who we were to each other. I lifted our hands and kissed the back of hers, which made her radiate with that glow that I couldn’t get enough of.

“Are you ready?” Ilaria asked.

I looked over my shoulder at the incredible palace of glass and marble that the royals lived in and noticed men at various points throughout the lobby, watching us with troubled expressions. The moment they each caught my intimidating glare, they looked away sharply.

“Ignore them. They are just guards from my father’s pack. I mean, my brother’s pack. Lorcan has just taken over Blood Moon. They are here for safety, that’s all.”

I huffed, rolling my tense shoulders and turning my gaze back to the huge double doors we were about to walk through to face all her family and my captors.

“It’s their safety they should be more concerned about if they keep staring at you like that,” I growled.

“They aren’t staring at me. They are staring at us. I am a royal princess, Luka. They have watched me grow up here. Even though I am not a wolf, they protect me like I’m one of their own. And this is the first time they have ever seen me with a man and not to mention one that looks like you. They are bound to be a little wary and intrigued.”

I clicked my neck to the side, fighting down my irrational irritation. I was going to have to get better at being around people. I knew that. But fuck was it hard. I hated everyone until they gave me a reason to like them.

“You don’t have to be anyone other than yourself in there, okay?”

I nodded, and she reached forward to open the door. We stepped into a gigantic room of domed glass ceilings, exquisite art and huge marble pillars lining the room that led up to a raised platform where two thrones sat regally. But instead of Ilaria’s parents sitting upon them, there was one left empty while my sister occupied the other.

Hana beamed at me, looking every inch a queen in a beautiful satin dress that swayed to her feet and her red waves styled over one shoulder in a braid. Her green eyes shone as they met mine and my lips curved upwards at seeing her safe and happy. Ronnie stood beside her, leaning one elbow on the back of her throne and nodded to me with respect.

“What is this?” I asked bluntly when Ruby and Ezra stepped forwards from the side of the room where the rest of Ilaria’s family were standing.

“This isn’t a trial. This is a ruling. Normally, we give prisoners the chance to confront their crimes in front of the crown before we give our ruling, but this is no normal situation. It is you and Hana who deserve to look into their eyes and determine their punishment. We support whatever you both decide,” Ezra explained.

“Plus.” Ruby smirked. “Nothing will shock them more than seeing two Demonski Upirs sitting on the thrones of the human realm.”

Ilaria squeezed my hand tightly. Giving a quick nod of gratitude to her parents, I sat beside Hana, feeling strangely nonchalant at what was about to unfold. Ilaria attempted to step away from me and stand with her family, but I yanked her hand and pulled her onto my lap. She wrapped her arms around my neck as I gazed at her beautiful face.

“Where do you think you’re going, love? None of this would have been possible without you.”

She smiled, leaned in and kissed my lips just as the double doors opened, and two people walked into the room. Hayes strolled towards us with an enormous smile on his now much healthier and fuller face. His long, shaggy hair had been cut and styled, and he’d shaved, making him look much more youthful. His blue eyes sparkled like a man in love. My gaze trailed over the girl who was holding his hand, staring at the floor as she walked in with her blonde hair hiding most of her face and visibly shaking next to him. Belladonna’s daughter.

I thought I might feel instant hate for the girl being the offspring of my mortal enemy, but honestly, I felt nothing. When they finally reached the front of the platform, they stopped.

“You’re like a cat with nine lives,” I stated, fighting the smile that wanted to match my cave buddy’s. I thought Belladonna had killed him, so this was a pleasant surprise. The kid had grown on me during our time together.

“Thanks to our women coming to the rescue and saving our sorry asses, yeah, I’m still alive,” Hayes said, casting his gaze over Ilaria. “Thank you, Princess.”

“You’re welcome, Hayes,” Ilaria replied politely before her eyes narrowed on Hayes’ soulmate. There was a weird tension in the room that I was picking up on. I thought Lia might be shaking uncontrollably because she was terrified of me, but I realised it may have been for another reason.

Ruby stepped forward and shed some light on the situation. “Lia requested an audience with the Royal family before her parents’ sentencing. She has been cooperative and, because she had zero knowledge of what her parents were doing regarding your captures andThe Underground, she will not be facing trial or prosecution. Lia, the floor is yours.”

“Thank you, Queen Ruby,” Lia responded meekly, finally lifting her head and looking at everyone. When her eyes drifted to Ilaria and me, she exhaled a shaky breath. I noticed the subtle way Hayes squeezed her hand, giving her the courage to continue.

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