Page 88 of Bound By Blood

“What do you mean?” Elena asked. “Kaitlyn’s home safe. It’s over.”

Zack glanced at Sherrad, but said nothing.

“It is not over,” Drake said quietly. “It will never be over so long as Nadiya lives. She must be punished for her treachery. And Lucien, as well.”

“What do you mean to do?” Elena asked.

“I mean to confront them both.”

Elena stared at her husband, her lips pressed tightly together.

“I cannot let this go,” Sherrad said, seeing her disapproval. “The Fortress has been governed by the Sherrad family for thousands of years. My grandfather and my father fought to defend it. I will not surrender it without a fight.”

“We can leave here,” Elena said. “Go somewhere else. To America. Or Canada.”

“You and Kaitlyn will be no safer there than you are here as long as Nadiya wants revenge. Next time she might vent her hatred on you. We were lucky to get Kaitlyn back alive. I will not risk her safety again. Or yours.” He looked at Zack. “Have you nothing to say?”

“I think you’re right. I’m not sure how you plan to do it. Two against twelve wasn’t so bad. Two against Nadiya and Lucien’s army? I don’t know. That might be a stretch, even for me.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Lucien sat in what had once been Drake’s chair on the dais in the council chamber of the Carpathian Fortress, his hands gripping the arms as he stared at the two men before him.

“Where is Drake now?” he asked curtly.

Gavril, the taller of the two, shook his head. “I do not know. We were lucky to get out of there alive.”

Lucien’s gaze shifted to Emilian. “Do you know where he is?”

Clearing his throat, Emilian shifted from one foot to the other. “I left shortly after Gavril.”

“And the girl?” Lucien asked. “Where is she?”

Emilian shrugged.

Lucien leaned back in his chair. Why had he ever listened to Nadiya? What had made him think they could pull this off? They had been safe only as long as Drake believed his daughter’s life was in danger. All bets were off now.

Nadiya appeared as soon as he dismissed Gavril and Emilian. “It seems we need to come up with a new plan.”

Lucien shook his head. “Why should I listen to you? You had the Sherrad heir and you lost her. I doubt we will get another chance at her.” He stood and began to pace the floor. “I thought you were going to kill her,” he muttered, talking more to himself than to Nadiya. “But it is better this way. Sherrad will be angry, but since his daughter is unharmed, he might …”

“Stop babbling, you coward!”

“This was a stupid idea from the beginning,” he snapped. “I never should have let you talk me into it.”

“You wanted this place as much as I!”

He stopped pacing. “I say we get out of here while we still can.”

“And I say we stay!”

Lucien shook his head. “Sherrad has his daughter back, but he will not just forget what we have done. Sooner or later, he will return and demand retribution.”

Nadiya took several slow deep breaths. “And you will give it to him.”

“Are you out of your mind? You do not expect me to meet him in combat? One-on-one?”

“Of course not,” she said, smiling. “I will make sure you have plenty of backup.”

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