Page 78 of Sworn to Revenge
“You have all the gold and jewels in your city, and you’re picking up rusty pieces of metal?” I blurt out, snorting. Why does she keep collecting this junk? She’s not on the run anymore, and she’s got more than enough money to live a life of luxury in both worlds.
“It’s not about the money; it’s about the discovery. You never know what you’ll find,” she explains without looking at me, but I can hear the smile on her face even without seeing it. “That’s how I found Luca’s mother’s necklace.”
“The necklace that opened Pandora’s box?” I mock, “Your treasures are nothing but trouble.”
She flips me off over her shoulder. “Should I start counting all the problems you’ve caused because of your obsession with my cousin?”
I raise my hands in fake surrender, even though she’s not looking at me. “You win. I’m shutting up.”
Yeah, I can definitely feel her smirk from here, like it’s written in subtitles on her back.
Bay
“I’m sorry, Princess Bay. You’re not allowed in.” The city guard eyes my chest, now adorned with the dragon mark, and decides to give me trouble again.
Just ask, and he’s dead.The deep male voice I still haven’t gotten used to threatens inside my head, and I roll my eyes with a sigh.
Can we stop with all the death, please?I ask sarcastically. He’s been pestering me the whole way here with his ridiculous comments, like he’s looking for a buddy to chat with over coffee and pancakes.
“This is my city, Orin,” I clarify to the guard, immediately recognizing him—he used to be one of my father’s guards before I escaped. He’s replaced all his guards since I declared revenge on my parents. Coward. How am I even related to these people by blood?
You’re not related to any of them by blood anymore. You’re Black Blooded now—you’re part of me.
Great. Are you going to keep reminding me of that?I reply, my eyebrows knitting in anger. Orin seems to think it’s directed at him because he starts stammering.
“I… I… Princess Bay, you’re no longe—”
“I’m no longer what?” My voice is sharp, cutting. Am I no longer royalty? No longer worthy of seeing my family? Rage begins to build in my chest, and the familiar burning sensation flares, lighting up the dragon mark on my chest in a glowing purple light. Orin stumbles back but doesn’t lower his spear.
“You… you can’t enter, Princess Bay. You’re marked by the dragon,” he confirms what thestupiddragon hasn’t stopped reminding me.
I heard it.
Great, thanks for the letting me know.I throw a casual, unimpressed look.Can we tone down the light show, please?
A familiar growl rumbles through every cell in my head.It’s not me—it’s you. My power belongs to you; it reacts to you.
Are you finally going to tell me what this power is, or is that another thing I’m supposed to ‘reveal in the future’?He goes silent now, clearly irritated. Great, now I can feel whathe’sfeeling? I can barely handle my own emotions.
“Are we really going to make this harder than it needs to be?” I threaten Orin, who looks scared but doesn’t let that stop him from doing his job thoroughly.
“Alert the queen, Grim,” he orders the younger guard behind him, whoimmediately swims toward the palace. I’m already getting used to this annoying reception.
“Yeah, go ahead and alert the queen, Grim! Tell her to come see what kind of idiots she’s put in charge of guarding the city!” I shout after him as Orin’s spear shifts in my chest direction, his fear palpable.
Seriously, how do you have the patience for these morons? I would’ve burned them ages ago.The familiar voice suddenly chimes in again.
For someone who said they had centuries to calm down from their revenge, you’re definitely still full of rage,I shoot back at him.
I’m not the one who just threatened him…he retorts, and I can feel the smugness in his tone.
You and Pedro would get along great with your snarky comments.
Don’t compare me to such an inferior creature.His growl booms once again.
One, you’re not going to talk about him like that. Two, there is no ‘us’ here—there’s only ‘you,’I grind my teeth in anger.
“Bay!” Aunt Lora’s voice suddenly rings out from the other side of the city gates as she swims toward me with the speed only she and Alin can manage with their powers.
