Page 68 of Bite The Power That Feeds

Father stared at him. “Whether the Ethereal had taken your mother’s soul or not, my plans would be the same. But knowing that they have leaves me with no other choice. The Ethereal who still live have benefited from the souls of innocents. Whether they knew about it or not, they deserve death. I will give it to them.”

I had to stop this. “Father—”

He rose to his feet. “Kingsnake Vampires and Cobra Vampires may have declared peace with the Ethereal, but the Originals have not. Stay out of my way—and I’ll do what you should have done the moment you entered their lands.”

17

LARISA

The seamstress gave me a gown more textured than my wedding dress. This had serpents sewn into the material, the dress only having one strap, which looked like a body of a serpent. There was a prominent slit up one leg, revealing my heeled boots underneath. On top was an open coat, the outside black and the inside lined with red. It was sexy but also powerful, a uniform that matched Kingsnake’s but with its own feminine traits.

I waited for Kingsnake to return, but it’d been hours since we’d spoken. The servants told me it was time for the ceremony to begin, that all of Grayson was gathered at the bottom of the stairs of the palace, waiting for me to make my entrance.

I was nervous to assume this power, a power I hadn’t earned, only obtained by marriage. It felt wrong to take it, and I wondered if I could just be his wife and not his queen, but I knew what he would say to that.

I reached my mind out to Fang.The ceremony is about to begin. Where is he?

Silence was my only answer.

I swallowed, waiting for his voice, terrified by what that rejection meant.Fang, you’re scaring me.

We need sssome time.

What’s going on?

Silence again.

* * *

The servants guided me to the top of the stairs at the palace. Down one hundred stairs was the first landing, where Viper should be standing to crown me with my blade. But he wasn’t there—and all of Grayson stood and waited. Torches burned. The vampires were quiet. All my confidence was shaken by the absence of my husband and brothers.

Husband…it was the first time I’d said it. I wish it were a happy occasion.

Kingsnake finally appeared, jogging through the double doors in his king’s uniform, his sword on his hip. Cobra and Viper appeared as well, hastily dressed for the ceremony that should have started fifteen minutes ago.

Kingsnake came to me, visibly flustered.

“What happened?” I felt Fang slide up my leg and circle my body, taking his place across my shoulders, part of my uniform.

Kingsnake extended his arm for me to take. “We’ll discuss it later.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes.”

“Where’s your father?”

He winced, like my arrow had struck a bull’s-eye. “Later.”

I finally took his arm, and that was when the sound of drums began. They matched our footsteps, beating with every step we took on the next stair, my gown and coat trailing behind me.

With his left arm tucked behind his back, he guided me to the bottom, his eyes ahead, his face stoic and regal.

Viper stood, holding the blade across his open palms, his cloak blowing slightly in the evening breeze.

The moment we reached the last step in front of Viper, the drums stopped.

But if I’d had a heart, it would still be drumming hard.

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