Page 46 of Cursed Lifeline

“Hm,” my father scowls as his hand rests on the sword at his side. “Tell me then, Felix Caldwell, Prince of the Damned, is that why I found my partner dismembered? Lying in a pile of his own filth. Bite marks visible on both sides of his neck.”

I suck in a sharp breath from the vision and close my eyes. I take a step backward in panic. Felix notices my reaction and protectively pulls me closer.

“My only regret,” he snarls, as his eyes drift angrily back to my father, “is that I didn’t kill Lord Laurent myself.”

Tense animosity fills the air as my father and Felix stand off against one another. Out of the shadows on the far left of the clearing, Silas, Caelum, and Alfred step into view. They don’t join my father’s forces. Instead, they stand stiff as statues, analyzing, studying, and evaluating every which way this meeting could go terribly wrong. Knowing the trio like I do, I sense they’re trying to be two steps ahead of whatever madness is sure to ensue. On the right of the clearing, several sets of violet eyes start to glow and hold us all captive in their predatory gaze.

The hysteria is palpable, made more intense by the fact that three different groups have converged at the back of my father’s estate, all with similar schemes in mind. The question remains: who will be triumphant in the end? By the look in my father’s eye, from the tense way my watchers stand back in the shadows, and from the feeling of Felix’s hand harshly gripping mine as the sets of violet eyes move closer, I fear I haven’t the answer.

“So,” my father says, “you unleash your men on my partner when we refuse to give you the power you want while you move on to my daughter next?”

Could that be true?

Felix doesn’t answer. Doesn’t move. His eyes stay glued on the small army in front of us.

My father laughs. “You’re wasting your time,” he says with a shake of his head. “She doesn’t have the power to give you what you want.” I’m tempted to rebuttal, to stand up for myself, when my father continues, “The only person who held that kind of power is now nothing more than a memory. Just like my unfortunate partner.”

“King Louis?” I whisper.

My father’s icy stare flashes to mine.

“Is dead,” he grins wickedly. “He was found just like Lord Laurent less than an hour ago.”

That means the Cult of Reason has full reign over France.

“No,” the word rushes out before I can stop it. I try to lunge around Felix, to do what I don’t know. Run. Get as far away from here, my father, and his immoral religion as possible. But Felix’s strong arms stop me.

Fearless, with patience and strength, he pulls me to his side and wraps a possessive arm around my waist. My father’s eyes flash downward and study Felix’s protective embrace. A moment later, his gaze fills with fury.

Slowly closing the distance between us, my father steps forward and states, “With King Louis dead, your assistance is no longer needed, Prince Caldwell.”

Felix tenses but holds still. His eyes never leave my father’s.

Spinning around, my father faces his men and shouts, “The time has finally come for reason.” They chime in with hoots and hollers of agreement. “With the King finally out of the way, the revolution is as good as won. It’s time we take down the church and start a new way of life.”

The men yell, their fists raise in union. Their camaraderie causes terror to rush through my veins as Felix anchors me to his side. I chance a glance up at him, but he doesn’t look my way. He stares intently ahead as if he’s envisioning all the ways he’ll make my father pay once he finally gets his hands on him.

My father grins maliciously as he spins back around, and his eyes meet mine. “The cult of reason will rule France. Starting with Esme’s contribution as our living sacrifice.”

“No!” I scream

I try to break free from Felix’s arms and run, but he pins me tighter against him. Panicked, I look up. To my surprise, Felix doesn’t show any emotion. If it weren’t for the tightness in his grip, I’d think he was on their side.

“Did you think you could escape it, Esme?” my father questions mockingly.

My eyes drift to Alfred, Silas, and Caelum. Their faces are unreadable, except for the common emotion running between all of us.

Fear.

There is no reassurance in their strained gaze. The only consultation I feel is in the comfort of Felix’s steady embrace.

“After all, it’s all you’re good for,” my father smiles wickedly.

He gestures towards Felix who instantly grows tense beside me.

“He knows I’m right.”

For the first time since he’s arrived, my father glances over his shoulder to Alfred, Caelum, and Silas. He nods in their direction.

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