Page 59 of Eclipse of Fate
“Did you kill them?” I ask in a whisper. He just eyes me while I tremble, “Did you kill all of them?!” I scream the accusation at him, and my hands tremble in fists at my sides as I bare my teeth at the monster in front of me.
“I like that fire you have in your eye, sweetheart. You have that in the bedroom too?”
“Fuck you.” I spit the words at him as I throw daggers at him with my eyes. A cloaked figure walks up to join him at his side. The scent of sulfur hits my nostrils first, then something sweeter. Lilac. Heat floods my cheeks and swims down my limbs, causing an inferno to burn wild in my chest as she lowers her hood.
“You.” My lip curls back as repulsion fills my stomach. All I see is red. Blood-red lips curl into a sinister smile as she looks me up and down.
“I’d say it’s nice to see you again too,little mate, but it’s not.” She places her hand on Soren’s arm, and he looks down at it and then back to me. My heart is pounding for another reason, though as flashes of Violet, the scarlet harlot’s death brings me a heady satisfaction. I will be her reckoning, and just the thought of it brings asmile to my face. Causing hers to falter. I don’t say anything more to her and turn my gaze back to the man at her side.
“Don’t hurt Dax. Let him live.” My voice is flat. He laughs again, the sound grating at my nerves.
“Say I let him. What will be my prize?” He straightens his arm and lets Vi’s hands fall from him as he takes another step forward. I track the movement with my eyes. I dip my chin and narrow my eyes as I seethe and answer his question begrudgingly.
“I’ll come with you.” My voice is low, with a growl at the back of my throat. Lightning flashes, and his eyes flicker just before thunder booms in the distance.
“Sorry, sweetheart, I didn’t hear you. Perhaps you can say that again?” Clenching and unclenching my fists, my brows furrow further as my gaze flicks back to the crumbling tree in front of the cave Dax is in. Lifting my chin, I look him square in the eye. My decision made. I will do whatever I can to give Dax a chance at life. If that means it's a life without me at his side and a life without my mate close. I will do it. Taking a deep breath, my lip trembles, but I speak loud and clear.
“Let him live, and I will go with you willingly.”
“Ah, good. See? Smart girl.” He fucking winks at me before clapping his hands. At once, a figure wearing all black, oiled leather armor and a hood concealing his face steps out from behind Soren. Menacing weapons litter his massive body, and immediately I swallow as fear plants my feet in place. How did I not notice this huge man?
“I’d like you to meet Prince Osiris Drach, the heir of Valeska and the ruler of dragons. He will escort you back to Demetrey. You two havemuchto talk about…” Osiris takes his hood off, and he sweeps back his dirty blonde hair with one hand as the other hangs at hisside. Piercing blue eyes meet mine, and his expression is flat. No emotion showing in his body at all as he steps forward. He boldly takes my hand, still glowing with magic, and doesn’t even flinch as he kisses the back of it. I grind my teeth at the feel of his lips on my skin.
My eyes must be as wide as saucers, judging by the amusement on Soren’s face. My attention is pulled back to the prince as he speaks for the first time.
“Have you ever ridden on a dragon’s back before, my queen?” His voice sends chills over my skin, and my stomach drops as he sweeps my legs from under me and hauls me over his shoulder in the direction of the massive black dragon that nearly killed me only moments ago.
I close my eyes as tears threaten to overwhelm me. I won’t let Soren and Violet get the satisfaction of seeing me cry. I bite down on my lip to the point of blood filling my mouth and swallow the emotion with it.
Just like the vision of Dax dying in my arms. This decision is easy. I will not sacrifice any of their lives if I have a way to save them at my fingertips. Fate is giving me a chance. It may damn me in the process, but he will breathe another day, and that’s all that matters in this moment.
Chapter forty-eight
I’ve come full circle,finally. Watching the moon bitch being carried away on the shoulder of Osiris of Valeska makes my skin tingle. Like I have the powerful dark magic coursing through my veins once again. The elation is not as potent, but the thrum in my chest is the same. The last five years haven't been a waste yet. Even though my son, fucking pathetic as he is, tried to fuck everything up with his incompetence.
Osiris smacks Raelle’s ass before tossing her body into the saddle of the giant-scaled beast he commands. The look of defeat and her caving in on herself, now showing such submissive behavior, shows me that this is the right decision.
“Wait!” She calls out, her eyes round with fear. “How do I know you will keep your word—about not hurting Dax?” My eyes narrow as my lips curl up at the corners.
Bringing my arms wide, I sneer, “Only one thing is certain in this life, sweetheart. You live the life you create.” Osiris slams his hood back up to cover his head, grunting as he pulls himself up into the saddle behind Raelle. She yells something else, but I'm not sure what, because at that moment the dragon lets out a rattling screech that vibrates through the cliffside.
Travis was wrong about her too. We should have been the ones to teach her to rule. Being cared for by the Apus’ has made her soft. Weak. She won't be when I'm done with her. Unfortunately for Dax, he will never see the light of day again. Just like the rest of the Ravendene men, he will die in the darkness. Regrettably, it won’t be by my hand, but Violet has assured me there will be no coming out of the cave for him. The cave he lies in will be the tomb where he will die and rot.
Osiris brought over a magic that this kingdom has not seen in a very long time and has no way of breaking. The magic of dragons is older than any other, and only the royal line would likely be able to break its hold. It's no wonder his father hasn't taken Aldramani for himself yet. But our deal has benefited me in more than one way. Osiris has taught my wicked little cunt, Violet, to wield some of the spells. Even though our shot at shadow magic has failed miserably. First with me, and now with my fuckup of a son, we will still come out victorious.
Luckily, I had the realization before the King of Valeska did. Now, I only have one more Ravendene to rid myself of, and the kingdom is mine. I’m not worried about the Loema ruler. He is assoft as the moon bitch. A ruler too young and with not enough guidance has created him so.
My lips curl up into a sinister smile as I watch the dragon launch into the sky, and Raelle’s eyes lock with mine. The hate she looks down on me with is clear. Mockingly, I lift my hand and wave as she and Osiris fade into the angry, thundering sky. Lightning strikes across the gray sky, lighting it from behind. I see the flash of a shadowed silhouette of the dragon, just as the beast's deadly, large tail slips into the clouds and disappears into the maelstrom. I can’t help but think back on the night that my plan started to unfold and how it’s finally going to pay off.
“I won’t allow you to hurt my family.” Travis seethes through gritted teeth. His trembling wife, Trinity, tucked in behind him in the ostentatious manor they live in. I came here for nothing more than his death. I’m done fighting with him about this. Fighting with him about everything. He was my best friend for much of our childhood, but where I have goals for much bigger, he always settles. We grew apart. The kingdom is in squander and with all the unease of Demetrey claiming rule… I know that now is the time to step up. If Travis Ravendene won’t do it, I will make sure my son will. Even if it means I have to die in the process. My absence from this life will benefit me more than my presence. My plan will take time, but in the long run, it will all be worth it.
I see Dax out of the corner of my eye, hunched down like the cowardly child he still is. That is what Travis has made him. I look Travis level in his eyes and speak the words that I know will set him off in a whisper.
“I’m going to kill you, just like I killed your brother,” I say with a sneer. Travis charges, but before he gets near me, shadows blast through the room. Engulfing us in darkness.
Swirlingblack and green smoke begins to seep from my fingers. I feel the magic pulsing and scorching through my veins. It’s fucking nirvana, Dark magic now engulfs the room… but it is not mine… Dark shadows fill the space and stop both of us in our tracks. It’s Dax’s.
I made my decision before I came here, but this… Now, I must make a new plan. A snap decision. My son will be king one day. Dax will be broken when he learns that he is the killer of his own parents. Travis Ravendene has pushed me to my limit, and today hewilldie. If he is not willing to make Dax use his power to take the control we need for the kingdom, then I will cut it from the coward who doesn't deserve it. I may not have bred the most powerful Fae that this realm has ever seen, but it won't matter when he is broken.
