Page 15 of Wicked Thirst
THEON
“Have you lost your mind?” I rolled on top of Martin and shoved his shoulders into the ground. Chaos went wild around us. Night Spawn vampires gathered around us, watching as he growled and snapped his teeth at me.
He swung his fist at me, but it slammed into the side of my throat. “I’ll rip out your bloody throat.”
Pain shot through the side of my neck and up into my jaw. I choked on the air trying to leave my lungs. I coughed while holding him there. “Fucking hell, Martin.”
I didn’t want to hurt him. But I bloody well would defend myself if I had to. I wrapped my hand around his wrist and slammed his fist to the hard concrete. The ground cracked and dented beneath his hand. I held it there for good measure. “I did not betray anybody.”
“Lies!” He jerked his hips up, tossing me to the side and leaping on top of me.
We rolled for control, grappling for the upper hand. Martin landed on top of me, and he wrapped his hands around my neck and squeezed. The air was caught in my throat. My lungs burned for breath. The pressure behind my eyes increased, and my head felt like it was going to explode. I pulled my fist back and shot it forward, connecting with his jaw. Martin’s head snapped back. His grip loosened on my throat. I swung my other hand. My fist connected with the other side of his jaw and sent him flying off me. Blood shot from his mouth and splattered across the ground. Sweat slicked his body and trickled down his forehead. I scrambled to my feet as Martin popped to his. His chest heaved with heavy breaths, and he curled his hands into fists. His brows were drawn low over his eyes as he glared at me. I’d never thought prim and proper Martin would have the bollocks to attack anyone, let alone me.
Prisha leapt between the two of us, holding her hands up. Anger colored her features, and she raised her voice. “Stop! Do you not see we’re quite possibly at war? The vampire factions are pitted against each other. We cannot do this to each other. Not now.”
Martin straightened his sleeves and ran his hand over his hair. Even with the effort he made to tidy himself, he was still a mess. He sucked in a deep breath but didn’t look at me. “Quite right.”
“I’ve done nothing.” I paused. thinking about what they’d just said. Marius was crazy but was he mad enough to take on The House of Shade? When did his ramblings become actual action? And when did I not notice how bad he’d actually gotten? “I find what you’re saying hard to believe.”
Martin crossed his arms over his chest. “If you’re innocent, then go to the castle and see for yourself. I’m sure they will all take mercy on you.”
Doubt weighed heavily on my mind. Marius was my sire. We were close, or so I thought. But I knew nothing of this plan. I knew nothing of his next move. I was under the impression that I was his right hand, helping to make the Night Spawn better for all of us, despite what the highbrow Blood Born vampires might think. But war? No, I didn’t think it possible. Not even Marius would stoop that low. Would he?
“I have nothing to hide.” I turned away from them only to find more vampires staring at me. The looks on their faces were full of the same emotions Martin and Prisha showed me: fear, anger, and disgust. Usually, I felt like I had nothing to prove in this world, nothing to prove to anyone. I was who I was. But if what they were saying about Marius was true, then I would have something to prove because my loyalty had always been with him. But this was beyond my loyalty. The House of Shade was not something to be taken on.
I hurried toward one of the mirrors The House of Shade had set up for us. They’d invited us into their home to celebrate the holiday, not to get attacked at the height of a time when we were supposed to be uniting and at peace. I sucked in a deep breath as I walked through the mirror and into the plain hallway that led to the castle. A chill went down my spine, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on edge. An eerie feeling settled into the pit of my stomach, and suddenly what I thought would be unbelievable seemed entirely possible. Marius’ venom for the Blood Borns had actually come to a head, and now I was on the wrong side of it.
Dried blood was streaked down the walls and over the floor. My pulse quickened in my veins. I rushed forward and stepped through the mirror into the remains of a war zone. The plush carpet was torn and stained with blood. Pieces of clothing littered the floor. Stray shoes lay there without an owner in sight. Voices carried toward me, and I didn’t know why, but I ducked behind some of the fallen Christmas decorations. Me, hiding behind a downed tree and fake wrapped boxes. Glitter fell over my hand and onto the floor beside me. A string of lights tangled around my ankle, and I held still, trying not to draw attention to myself. The happy twinkling lights were a stark contrast to the smell of death lingering in the air.
Once the guards passed, I fought to untangle the lights without a sound. At this point I felt they’d kill first and ask questions later. I tossed them behind the downed tree and tried to move closer to the throne room. I tiptoed my way down the hall and toward where I knew the ballroom doors were. I wanted to push through those doors and see for myself how bad it truly was. But I didn’t want to make my presence known. I peeked through the crack in the door, only to see the ballroom in complete disarray. There were huge cracks in the walls and floor. Bodies were strewn about the room, and the guards and lab assistants hurried in all different directions, cleaning up the mess.
Nausea churned in my stomach, and I pressed my hand to my mouth. Marius had done this . . . He attacked them. Anger rolled within me. If I’d only known, I could’ve stopped him. I could’ve stopped this. The damage was more than anything I could imagine. How could he? I never took his words to heart, and now looking back on it all, I should have. But years of listening to his ramblings had made me grow used to it. I tuned him out when I shouldn’t have.
“Your majesty, they’re going to want heads for this,” a female voice came from within the room. “This type of savagery can’t go unanswered. You know this.”
Titus murmured in agreement. “Our justice will be swift, Eloura. I take comfort you were not injured this night.”
“Ahhhh, it will take a lot more than a fledgling assassination attempt, my King. Let us not forget I have lived for many years and will continue to do so despite the attempts of Marius and his followers.”
“We will squash this where it stands.” A low growl rumbled from him, and it sent a shiver down my spine. King Titus was not one to be trifled with. He’d ruled the vampires for years without incident and always pushed forward into the future.
“Of that I have no doubt.” She gave a dark chuckle. “Mark my words, there will be blood on the streets.”
I couldn’t see who was speaking but I knew enough to know if I stayed here much longer, it would be my head they’d come after and my blood on the streets. I was screwed and Marius left me behind to take the fall. Bastard. I turned from the door before I lost my life and took off running. There was no place for me now. Not here. Not the Night Spawn headquarters. Not anywhere. The only choice I was left with was to run.
CHAPTER EIGHT
PIPER
I’d never felt so defeated as I did the moment those subway doors closed between us. The look in his eyes would haunt me for eternity. I’d seen that look each time a kid got passed over for adoption at the group home. It was like they’d lost the dream of a family that could be. Losing a dream of what could be was almost as painful as losing what is. In that one moment, Grayson had that look, the look of a life that was completely over. I just didn’t know why. But I was damn well going to find out. There was only one place where I could find answers: The House of Shade.
I staggered my way out of the subway and found a public restroom. I pushed through the door and checked under the stalls to see if anyone was there. As soon as I was sure I was alone, I stepped in front of a mirror over the sink and looked at myself. My hair was a rats’ nest, my makeup ran down my face, and my dress was torn and covered in blood. I’d lost my heels somewhere along the way, but I didn’t care. I’d walk through the streets barefoot if it meant bringing Grayson back. We had so much to talk about, so much to settle between us. It was an eternal life, but I’d be damned if I lived it without him now. I was going to give him so much shit when we fixed whatever the hell was wrong with him. We were soulmates and I loved him. Love was never perfect, hell this was far from it, but I wouldn’t give up on him. Ever.
I pressed my hand to the mirror, and that red mist flowed from my hand and spread over the surface. It rippled at my touch, and I climbed on top of the sink, then stepped through the mirror and into the hallway. I marched down the hallway toward the other side of the mirror and leapt through, landing in the castle. My breath left me in a rush. I didn’t think it’d be possible for the castle to be a chaotic disaster but here it was. I knew Martin and Prisha wouldn’t exaggerate the situation, but to see it with my own eyes was startling. I wrinkled my nose at the overwhelming odor of blood. The hallways were desolate. After living in the castle, I knew it would never be this way unless something was really wrong. My heart sank at the thought. I’d left because Grayson broke my heart. But in the flash of a moment that changed for me. The second he told me he loved me and sank his fangs into me making me his it only meant one thing, he was now mine too. And I protected what was mine. Titus and Moira were always kind to me and now I would call on them to help us all.
I took two steps down the hall and nearly collided with Atlas. His face was a dark mask of anger and determination that sent a chill down my spine. It was the kind of face he made when he was about to hunt and kill someone. “What’s going on?”
“What’s going on is you went missing, the castle got attacked, and now the Crown Prince is nowhere to be seen. I’ve spent what valuable time I have in the dungeon talking to simpering, inept vampires.” Atlas looked like he’d been through a battle. Crimson blood was spattered across his skin and through the white strands of hair that ran back from his temples. Rips covered his black shirt and pants. His face was all sharp planes and anger.
