Page 12 of Gua rdian of Blood and Shadow

I followed her line of sight, finding Javier standing beside the bed, his hands fisted at his sides and his face an unreadable mask.

“She’s stable now that she has emerged from the vision’s grasp,” Isador said.

Javier’s gaze locked with mine, and he clenched and unclenched his jaw.

“Let me just—” Isador reached out, gently tracing a sigil in the middle of my forehead with the tip of her index finger. Pressing her palm flush against the invisible sigil, she closed her eyes. Her lashes fluttered as scenes from the nightmarish vision flashed through my mind’s eye. Was she seeing what I saw? Was she experiencing the vision that had all but imprisoned me?

Gasping, Isador jerked her hand away, her eyes wide with horror. She paled as the blood drained from her face, and she swallowed roughly. She had seen my vision, and it was just as awful to her as it had been to me. Her reaction confirmed it.

“What does it mean?” I asked, my voice small. I was afraid to know.

“It’s an omen,” Isador said, then pressed her lips together and shook her head, like the vision hinted at something too horrific to even speak aloud. “Sent by the goddess herself.”

“Please.” I reached for her hand, but she pulled away, hastily scooting to the edge of the bed. “Please,” I repeated, pushing myself up onto one elbow as she stood. “Tell me.”

Isador’s gaze skittered around the room. She was clearly rattled. Finally, her attention returned to me, and she licked her lips. “A storm is coming, something dark and truly vile. That the gods showed you this vision means you have a chance to stop it—and also thattheycannot.”

“How? How do I stop it?” I asked, my brow furrowing. “Whatisit?”

“The blood and fire were symbolic, but the demons—” Again, Isador shook her head. “I can’t be certain without doing some research and consulting the ancient queens, but I believe it means the Shadow King is once again attempting to pierce the barrier between worlds, and if he does…” She trailed off, her stare filling with an ominous warning. “You must train, child. Learn all you can. Become as strong as you can be—and do it quickly.”

“But you said—”

“I know what I said,” Isador snapped.

I sucked in a breath, startled by her harsh tone.

“But we’re facing the end of days, and we no longer have the luxury of educating you the right way,” she said. “You will train, day and night. You willcommunewith your consorts and learn as much as you can to increase your power until you’re the strongest High Queen who has ever lived, or the shadow will consume the earth, and we will all perish.”

7

Iswallowed—orIattemptedtoswallow—but my throat remained dry, my saliva having turned tacky and glue-like.

Isador looked at Javier. “Move her into the bath to warm up.” She swept across the room, heading for the bedroom door. Though she wore tailored slacks and a soft sweater, I could easily picture her in a regal gown. “I must prepare for her first lesson.”

I sat up the rest of the way as I watched Isador leave, Bastian rising with me and curling a protective arm around my waist. The more experienced queen disappeared into the sitting room, and moments later, I heard the door to the hallway open and shut. I peered around the bedroom, taking in the tense postures and grave expressions of my immortals.

Ash stood on the opposite side of the bed from Javier, Thane at the foot, all three vampires as still as statues. Bastian shifted closer on the mattress, like he could shield me from the horrors of my vision with his body alone. His heat seared into my icy flesh, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t protect me from what was already inside my head.

Shivering, I hugged my middle, only now realizing I was in Ash and Thane’s bedroom, covered with a blanket but still naked from ourcommunion. “Who, exactly, is the Shadow King?”

Javier blinked, seeming to revive before my eyes. “Come,” he said, extending one hand toward me. “I’ll tell you about the Shadow King while you warm up.”

I placed my hand in his and scooted toward the edge of the bed, Bastian pushing gently against my back to help me along. I felt weak, like I’d just finished some strenuous physical task, not like I had just awakened from a nap.

“Prepare some food and bring it to the High Queen’s study,” Javier told Bastian. “We’ll meet you there when she’s finished here.” He looked at Ash, then at Thane. “Check on the restoration progress in the royal wing. Our queen’s training will be arduous, and she’ll need her own space to recover—a space that allows her to communicate with the past queens and other spirits. I want the High Queen’s bedchamber ready for her by the time we arrive.”

Ash and Thane started for the door.

“Oh, and bring the boy up, as well,” Javier said, prompting the other two guardians to pause on either side of the doorway’s threshold. “She’ll want him nearby.”

“Micah?” I asked, perking up at the mention of my son. He was more like ayoung manthan aboy, but compared to these immortals, I supposed he was still a relative child. Just as I was to Isador. Regardless, I was desperate to see him. I had been planning on heading down to check on him after binding Thane, but clearly that hadn’t worked out as I had intended.

Javier nodded, again clenching and unclenching his jaw, and I wondered how much Bastian had told my Prime Consort about Micah’s origins and my time on the street with Wes and the other boys. Enough, clearly, based on the rage simmering in his eyes.

I glanced at the other two vampires. Had Bastian filled them in as well? My stomach turned at the thought. When nobody else knew about my unsettling time on the street, it had been easier to pretend it never happened. Now, unexpected shame bubbled up inside me.

My eyes swept over all my consorts. They would sense my disquiet. Would they guess the source? Goddess, I absolutely did not want to talk about this with them, and I was terrified of how they would react. Would knowing my past change the way they saw me? Would they pity me for what had been done to me? Or be disgusted by the things I had done to survive?

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