Page 64 of Treasured

“Go into Ithenmyr and find the Dragon Queen,” I commanded. “Tell her to stay away from my country, or I will make her regret the day she decided to come against me.”

Ophelia bowed, running off in a blur before I could change my mind. If she survived this, I’d kill her when she came back. If not, well, that was fine with me.

There was no room for failure in my kingdom.

With a wave, I dissolved the shadow ward I’d erected. I twisted the ruby and made my way up and down the rows of quaking humans.

“Now, what am I going to do with the rest of you?” I pursed my lips. “I can’t let you stay here without supervision.” The higher-ups in this contingent of my army were now all lying dead a few feet away. “Mortals need direction, you know.”

They stared at me, their expressions ranging from pleading to absolute fear. None of them were brave, nor did they show any qualities of being true fighters.

I sighed. “Fine. I suppose I’ll have to kill you all.”

Now they screamed. A few of them even dared get up and run away.

My lips twitched. A hunt was just what I needed. Shadows flooded from my hands. My wings flapped. I licked my fangs, giving in to my primal instincts.

The rest of the night passed in a blur of blood and screams and death.

Not a single one escaped.

Reckless Behavior

SEBASTIAN

Over an hour had passed since we landed in the White Forest, and Luna had yet to speak. Eventually, I’d gotten her to move, but whatever had happened in the Void had shaken her to her core.

Now, she gripped my hand so tightly it was as though she thought if she let go, I’d disappear.

She was wrong.

I would never leave her. Not even death could tear us apart. She was stuck with me until the end of time itself.

I ducked beneath a low-hanging branch, holding it up for Luna.

“Sebastian?” she whispered.

At the sound of her voice, I instantly stopped in my tracks. “Yes, darling?”

“I heard them again,” she said softly. Her voice was haunted, and echoes of fear flooded the Binding Mark.

“The voices?” I asked, seeking to confirm what I’d already suspected. The Void was vast, and it probably held several secrets.

“They were different this time, Sebastian.” She tilted her head, her voice taking on a strange lilt. “They warned me… they said…” She frowned. “It doesn’t matter. I think they’re real people. Or they were?”

My brows raised nearly to my hairline as I tried to keep up with her. “What?”

“The people in the Void.” Her wide eyes met mine. “I think… I think the queen killed them. I don’t know if that’s possible… how would they end up there? But they were so insistent. So loud. So… real.”

There was something in Luna’s voice that made my heart pound. My shadows writhed, urging me to pay attention. This was important.

“What did they say?” I asked.

“The Queen of Shadows is coming for me.” She shuddered, and tears welled up in her eyes. “And if she kills me, I’ll be trapped there, too.”

Sucking in a breath, I clenched my fists. “I won’t let that happen, Luna. You’re mine.”

I would protect her from anything and anyone, including the queen.

---