Unlikely queen, p.15
UNLIKELY QUEEN, page 15
The final sting.
That hurt.
“So, there is one time you cannot save me.” I force a smile as I look at him.
He nods once.
I crawl toward him, on my hands and knees. He gets down to my level, and as he does, I crawl onto his lap. I can feel him beneath me, touching every part of me. He is hard, and I wonder if he knows what to do with it? Do angels have sex?
“You can’t always save me,” I say, leaning in. His hands wrap around my waist, and I lean forward, ready to kiss him, but at the last minute, I turn my head and my lips meet his neck. His skin is cold beneath my lips, and as I push myself forward onto him, I can feel his hardness between us. I bite my lip to stop the soft moan that wants to leave.
“What is it that you are doing, little fighter?” His voice has changed, being more huskier now. Dirtier. Did I do that to him?
“I do not know,” I answer him truthfully.
I stop and pull away, putting distance between us. He moves forward and pushes my hair back behind my ear.
“I’m going to give you something, something that is forbidden. You must not tell anyone and use it at your discretion.” He pulls out a sharp blade. It’s small, bright, and looks a lot like other knives, but there is something incredibly different about it. I stand, wiping the dirt off my ass before I face him again. In those eyes that hold death, I see anything but. I see someone who is like no other person I have ever met. Someone I probably should have never met, but someone I was destined for.
I see death in all he’s beauty.
Stepping forward until I am almost touching him again, I reach for the knife. My hand grazes his and our eyes lock.
“Why are you giving me this?” I take hold and it sends a buzz all through my body. I feel a weird connection with it, and when he removes his hand, I blink a few times at the loss.
He seems puzzled at first, his brows knit together as he stares at it.
“What does this do?”
“It kills angels,” he answers.
My fingers open and it drops to the ground at my feet. I take a step back and stare down at it, at the power it holds.
“The problem… only you can use it but no one else can. Do you understand me?”
“No.” I start shaking my head. “I definitely do not understand you at all. How is this even a thing?” I glance back to the blade shining brightly in the dirt, and I lean down to pick it up and hold it in my hands again, feeling the uniqueness.
“It is not known by humankind or supernaturals. This is only used by us. We keep our weapons under wraps. But those angels you are facing are no longer serving the same god I am, so this is why I give you this weapon. They will not care if they end your life. And I would rather avoid that if I can.”
“How chivalrous of you,” I say with an eyeroll.
“Don’t mistake me for a caring man, little fighter. I am neither man nor caring.”
“You care if I die.”
His lips thin at my words. “I do.”
Before I can stop myself or talk myself out of it, I lean forward and my lips connect with his. He doesn’t stop me, doesn’t pull away. He lets me have this moment for whatever it will be worth. One of my hands grips the back of his neck while he just stands there. He doesn’t kiss me back, and because of that, I go to pull away. As I do, his hands snake around my waist and pull me to him so our bodies are smashed together, the knife somewhere between us, as he holds me as if I am his everything.
Then he moves his lips. Those sinful, full lips melt into mine and open as he takes everything I can give. He kisses me back with the most soulful kisses, as if he collected them and waited until this perfect moment to give them to me.
I take it because, for once, I want to be greedy.
Greedy with Death.
Even saying the words makes me question my sanity.
My hands at his neck claw at him, needing more and never wanting this to end. When our tongues touch, it feels like a hundred fireworks just went off in my stomach. This is what it should always feel like, and I’ll never be able to forget it now.
I’ve been kissed before.
Slow.
Rough.
Kind.
But never with a fierceness that takes hold of my body and grips to my soul with its dark clutches and won’t let go.
To stop him would be a sin.
To have him would be death, floating up to heaven.
I can’t imagine what that would be like, so I relish all that he is willing to grant me right now. His mouth on mine, his tongue dancing with mine, giving me something he has denied or not parted with before.
He tastes like cotton candy and fresh air, like saltwater mixed with the perfect alcohol. You can’t help but lick your lips at his taste. And tasting him is what I am doing, what I plan to do every time I see him.
Then, as quickly as it started, he is gone.
And I am left standing there, the knife still in one hand, the world going back to normal, the air flicking at my hair, and trying to remember to catch my breath and steady my rapidly beating heart.
A heart that beats for Death. Only Death.
What have I gotten myself into?
“Talia.”
I turn to my sister. She tries to see what’s in my hand, but I slide it into my jacket and lean over to whisper in her ear. “Death,” is all I say, then I pull back and hold a finger up to my mouth, whispering, “Shhh.”
She nods, knowing full well not to speak of it.
“Why are you flushed?” she asks me, changing the subject.
Dropping my head back, I look up to the night sky. Tomorrow at first light, we move toward the queen’s castle.
“He kissed me. Well, I kissed him.”
“That was your first time kissing him?” she asks, sounding somewhat surprised. I give her a confused look. “You really have never kissed him before?”
“No, I told you… he only appears when I need him.” I shrug, and John comes and sits next to her.
“How was it? The kiss?” she asks, smiling now. “Was it hot? I bet it was hot. He is pretty fucking fine.” She smiles, which makes me smile, and John simply grunts next to her, obviously not wanting to overhear this conversation.
“It was…” I don’t even know how to put it into words. “He said he wasn’t my destiny and that’s why he’s never done anything before.”
“Destinies are meant to be broken, baby.” She winks, and John pulls her to him and sits her between his legs.
I lie down and close my eyes.
And dream of Death.
The wolves wake at the crack of dawn, leaving no time for hesitation. I hide the knife that Grim gave me in my jacket, keeping it close. It can’t fall into the wrong hands. Of that I am sure. Plus, he gave it to me to use to help my sister. That is all.
“You ready?” Patrick asks. He’s now wearing jeans and a button-up shirt. I nod before he speaks again. “I’m going to shadow you. Where you go, I go.”
“Is that John’s order?”
“And your sister’s,” he adds, looking back over to where they are standing. They are lost in conversation but both look our way before John nods to Patrick and turns to talk to the wolves. “Talia.” He touches my arm, and I realize I’m not hot to touch anymore which makes me smile. “Are you okay?”
I don’t even know how to answer that question.
What does it even mean to be okay?
Am I okay? No.
Will I ever be again? I don’t know.
I just want my sister back.
I want to live in a world where I trust it won’t come at me and possibly kill me. Because this world right now, we cannot trust.
“Tatiana,” I call out.
Patrick stays behind me as I catch up with my sister. She turns, stepping from her spot next to John, where he instructs his wolves, and waits for me. “I have something…” She raises a brow at my words. I lean in close and whisper in her ear, “I have something that will kill an angel.” I don’t trust anyone else with that information, hence why it is only for her ears and why I am speaking so softly. I don’t want anyone to overhear.
“How…” She shakes her head. “Did Death… he gave it to you?” I nod my head. “Okay, well… keep that to yourself. That’s not something that should be shared.”
“Should we…” I nod to John.
She looks over her shoulder to where he stands, pauses to think, then looks back to me. “No. It’s yours. It was given to you. So, no.” A slice of worry etches over her brows, but it’s gone before I can think too much about it.
The barriers are all down, but that was only one of our concerns. Now we have a lot more. All the supernaturals they were holding back are now free to roam where they will. Vampires are free to attack, witches are no longer confined to their own ward. But the angels, well, they will continue to serve the queen as has always been.
“Let’s go. If you see or hear anything unusual, let me know straight away. Do not, I repeat, do not attack anything without someone with you. We may be able to kill a vampire, but remember who they have on their side.” Everyone listens to John, and I watch as they take in his words. He doesn’t hold his leadership and power over their heads like our queen does. He respects his people and speaks to them all as if they are his friends.
Tatiana walks over to him, and I wonder if she even knows what she’s doing. She cannot deny the fact that she is drawn to him. Before this, you would never have gotten her to leave my side, and now she is walking over and touching the small of his back. His hand reaches behind him and clutches hers as he continues to talk to a few wolves.
I watch as she visibly relaxes at his touch.
Will I ever have that? I want what they have—to love somebody and be loved in return unconditionally.
Witches marry witches, it’s how the world works.
Wolves marry wolves, it’s how it’s been done for centuries.
Yet, here my sister is, falling for an alpha wolf who picked her as his mate.
The world is clearly changing, and I can’t help but wonder if I have something to do with that.
Chapter Twenty-One
The sun falls behind the earth and the night sky is nothing but blackness, as if it’s ready and waiting for us to strike. Does it know what is coming? What is about to happen? How many lives that could be lost in this process?
That’s not something I want to think about, but it’s not something that leaves my mind either.
Death.
And not my Death. No, he will outlive all of us.
“They have the advantage during the night,” I hear one of the wolves complain as we all start walking. The closer we get to the castle, the colder I seem to get.
I’m half-listening and half looking ahead to check where we’re going. But as one of the female wolves turns back and looks to another, I see something. It’s small, almost like a glimmer, so I stop and narrow my eyes, but the wolves don’t even pause. As she gets closer, I watch in absolute horror as her body hits the glimmer and is cleaved in half, literally.
“Stop.” My voice is loud, and everyone does just that, apart from the wolves at the front who have just seen their friend sliced in half. Not the half separating the top half of her body from the bottom, but vertically straight down the middle. They scream and start to run back to us. I look closely as the glimmer shimmers even brighter then turns black.
It’s a wall of blackness.
Not like the barriers. No, this one is more lethal.
“She can’t have that type of magic. That’s most definitely not witch magic,” my sister says. Stepping closer, she lifts her hand up, but I reach her and pull her back.
“Don’t touch it,” I say to her softly.
I hear some of the wolves crying behind me as Patrick comes to stand next to me. “I’ve seen this once,” he says. He looks back to John, who nods in agreement. “When they created the borders, the wolves didn’t take kindly to them, so this here was put up for a short amount of time to keep us where they wanted us. It was there until the barriers were created.” He turns to me. “This is demon magic.”
“Of course it is,” my sister curses. “Does she have a demon in her back pocket or something and just rubs him to make her damn wishes come true?”
“Well, I don’t really like to be rubbed. But if you are offering.” We turn to see a demon standing behind us. And not just any demon, but the one that keeps popping up. “How’s your day been, Wings? Any developments on saving your sister?” he asks as John curses at him for even speaking about my sister.
Tatiana touches John’s shoulder to soothe him as the demon clicks his fingers and the dead body disappears. “Ugly thing to look at, right? I don’t like to look at death.” A shiver runs over his body and he smiles. “I’m willing to help break this wall,” Valefar says, eyeing me.
“What is the price?” Tatiana aks, and he clicks his tongue at her.
“Too clever. You are too clever.” The demon steps to the wall, places his palm on it, and doesn’t get singed or cut in half.
“I want you for one night,” Valefar says, then locks his eyes on me.
My mind can’t register what he is saying.
Did he?
What the fuck!
“Do you think I am a whore?” I ask him in disbelief.
I hear the soft chants from behind me and see my sister giving the demon a death stare, her eyes cast on him as she says a spell.
“Knock it off, witch, your magic will not harm me,” he says, as if it’s a joke, and laughs before he looks back to me. “It’s not for sex. I simply wish to spend an evening with you.”
“Nothing sexual?” I ask, clarifying.
“Nothing. Unless you ask for it, that is.” He winks, and I nod my head, looking past him to the wall, which is impenetrable. “Break it.”
“No can do. A door is all I can manage.” He waves his hand and, just as he said, a door appears. “Tick-tock. You have exactly one minute before it starts to close. And be prepared, she’s waiting and setting traps as we speak. She wants you dead and will do anything in her power to see that through.”
I walk forward and decide I should be the first to step through. Valefar watches me with eager eyes, as if he thinks I may not do it. But, of course, I will, I don’t want to see anyone else die because of me. Taking a deep breath, I take the first step, and when nothing happens, I keep on moving through.
“Talia.” I turn as my name is called to see my sister on the other side.
“Fast, witch,” Valefar says, then disappears.
Tatiana enters after me and the wolves follow. I see the door start to close as the last wolf jumps through, closing completely once she is fully through the opening.
“Can you believe…”
The loudest sound I have ever heard hisses behind us. The ground begins to shake, and Patrick, who is next to me, puts his hand on my shoulder. “We must move, fast.”
I nod and nobody needs to be told twice. We all begin moving and enter into territory we don’t really want to venture into, but have absolutely no choice.
“Oh, she will be happy with me. Maybe I can have my own castle, too.” A single vampire materializes from the darkness. He licks his sharp teeth. “Clean up the trash.” He nods, and behind him appears two more vampires, not young ones either. They are more powerful, clever, and shrewd. But we have a whole pack of wolves, and I have seen one wolf tear a vampire to shreds, so I’m not that concerned. Until…
“Talia.” Tatiana is next to me in a flash, her back to me as she comes closer, her hands out, ready to drop to the ground to use her magic.
“You really didn’t think there would be only a few of us, did you?” the vampire teases. And that’s when I see what has my sister so worried. Standing behind her, where we just came from, are over twenty vampires, all ready to tear our heads from our bodies and hand us over to the queen, dead or alive, it matters not.
They hiss, their steps silent as they take each one toward us menacingly.
I’ve seen vampires, several times, but this many focused on us with hungry eyes is something I’ve never had to deal with before.
“I see you made it out of the forest alive…” he starts, then laughs, “…only to be killed by us. I bet right now you wish you died in there.” The one vampire that’s doing all the talking is looking between my sister and me. Her hand clutches mine, and I know what she’s asking me to do—to borrow her power.
Patrick walks over and his hand grasps my shoulder. He is telling me to do the same thing.
But…
“I’ve always wanted to play with a witch… fuck one… make her bleed so we can taste her, and then fuck her some more before she bleeds all over my tongue.” I try not to gasp at his words. No vampire I have met has ever once spoken like this. Actually, no one has. I know what kink is, but I have never experienced such things and I am unsure I ever want to.
“You’d be surprised to know I would slit your throat and make you bleed before you even had the chance to do that to me,” Tatiana says from behind me, her hand still grasped in mine.
He smirks, holds his hand to his chest, and throws his head back in laughter. We stare, shocked, until he suddenly stops, and his eyes turn a fiery red as he pins them on Tatiana.
“You will be the last kept alive. I’ll bleed you so many times that by the end, you will be begging for me to slit your throat if you don’t have the courage to do it yourself.”
A loud snarl tears from the middle of our group, and we watch as John transforms and turns his attention to the vampire.
“Here, kitty kitty,” the vampire teases.
The other wolves stay where they are, surrounding us, as John does just that. He jumps and goes straight for the vampire’s throat. But as he is a mere inch from him, he is captured. A man in a white cloak grabs John by the muzzle, grips it hard, then so fast that if we blinked we would miss it, he throws him as if he were just that, a little tiny kitty.
Bronik wipes his hands on his white suit before he looks back up, his eyes searching before they land on me.
