Page 64 of Happily Ever Bitten (Underworld Royals 2)

There are at least a hundred of them, she whispered, creeping forward along the wall to get a better look and freezing as the entire field came into view.

Thousands, I corrected, feeling and returning her shock.

Rows upon rows upon rows of demons all stood as still as statues, their focus forward. I couldn’t see what they stared at, their stone helmets hiding their faces from view. I wasn’t even sure how they could see through the rocky exterior.

I don’t understand, Zaya said softly. Who are they looking at? She glanced in the direction of where they stared, and I followed her gaze. It’s just buildings.

A few female demons appeared to be trying to talk to the soldiers, but they didn’t respond. One was even weeping, with her hands on the man’s stone breastplate, her mask off to allow her cries to be thoroughly heard.

What kind of aura do you see on the soldiers? I asked her.

None, she replied slowly. It’s like they don’t have energy…

That’s impossible.

I know.

What about the female? I asked, nodding to the hysterical woman.

Blue. Dark, dark, dark blue.

Sorrow, I said, confirming my earlier suspicions regarding the colors’ meanings. I think you’re seeing emotions, Zay. And general energy signatures.

Isn’t that what auras are? she countered.

Yes, I agreed. I’m just deciphering the colors.

She nodded, swallowing. I think I preferred it when I just saw shades of black and white. She flinched as the weeping female fell to her knees on a broken sound. And still the soldier remained unfazed, unmoving. Another woman ran up to her, pulling her into her arms, trying to tug her away.

“Marisol, don’t. You know what will happen if you keep doing this,” the woman chastised her softly. “This is the will of the royals. We can’t fight it.”

“He’s not a warrior!” the other demon screamed, agony ripping through her lungs.

“Shh,” the female hushed her sharply. “Don’t make a bigger scene or they’ll react.”

“Let them,” Marisol wept. “I don’t want to live like this. I don’t want to live here. In this place. I don’t want to go to war!”

A soldier reacted then, his sword slicing through the air so fast I barely caught the downward arc of motion.

Then Marisol’s head rolled across the ground, anguish painted into her features.

Zaya cringed into me, her helmet hitting my chest as she clutched me tightly in response, her emotions slamming into my heart. My arms came around her automatically while my mind played over the events of the last few minutes.

I don’t want to go to war…

What war? I thought at the poor woman. Who is Neptune at war…? My eyes widened. No. Oh, fuck, no.

It hit me then.

Neptune wasn’t at war… yet.

They were planning to go to war.

They’re going to attack Noxia, I realized, taking in the massive army sprawled across the courtyard outside the palace gates. The entire wedding has been a front to hide their intentions.

What? Zaya asked, sounding confused.

Think about it, I whispered back at her. Napia doesn’t want to marry me; she wants to marry power. I’ve known that all along. Neither of us has hidden our disdain for the other. She even brought her damn consort to the court. Who does that? Someone who doesn’t plan to keep her intended husband around for long, that’s who.

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