Page 140 of A Throne of Blood & Vengeance

It’s done, Talis whispered through my mind.

“It was Emil who taught me that sometimes you have to take the pain to win the fight.” I pushed my claws into the soft flesh of her throat a little more. “And it was Adrienne—someone so bold and fearless that we both know her bloodline could havefounded a House—who told me that if you ever get the chance”—my right arm snapped back before plunging down—“go for the heart.”

The Head of House Harker and the reigning Moroi Queen gasped as I shoved my hand through her chest. Then Carmilla’s eyes locked onto mine, and I watched the light go out in them as I tore out her still-beating heart.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Samara

I staredat the heart in my grasp. It beat a few more times before going still. Carmilla’s blood was warm on my hand, and I was trying not to dwell on that. The time to process would come later—there was still a Seelie King to betray.

Through the mate bonds, I conveyed that I needed some assistance. In an instant, Vail and Draven were there, helping me to my feet. Roth knelt in front of me, and I felt them draw a healing glyph over my thigh and then over my ribs while Alaric offered me his wrist. My fangs sank into his flesh, and I drank deeply as my body burned with healing magic.

Once I was confident that I could stand without my leg collapsing under me, I walked towards the pedestal, my mates falling into step behind me. There was one last thing to do before enacting the final part of the plan. Making good on the promise I’d made to Vail.

I briefly made eye contact with Erendriel and he gave me a shallow nod. Through some wordless command, the wraiths pulled back until they were flat against the walls, coating the white marble in shadows.

“Rangers of the Sovereign House, your new queen requests that you wait outside while I finish my business here.” I casuallytossed my aunt’s heart onto the floor like it was nothing as I summoned my earth magic and pulled the doors of the temple open just enough for them to slip out and only allowing only a sliver of sunlight in.

For a few tense seconds, none of them moved. Then a tall ranger with ashen blond hair made eye contact with me for a long moment before giving me a shallow bow. “You heard our queen. Move out!”

Relief flickered through me. If they hadn’t listened, I would’ve had to ask Erendriel to use his wraiths to force them out, and that would have increased the chance of some of the rangers being hurt or killed. I moved to stand behind the pedestal, the bowl resting right in front of me. Silently, my lovers moved to join me until we created a half circle around it. Ary, Aniela, and Rynn didn’t move from their spot behind us.

When the last of the rangers walked out, I closed the doors, and the wraiths flowed down from the walls to gather around Erendriel.

“Well . . .” Erendriel kicked my aunt’s heart across the floor, and I tried not to wince at the wet, plopping sound it made when it landed. “Your aunt is dead. You have your crown. It’s time to honor what you promised, young queen.”

This time, I did allow myself to roll my eyes.

“About that . . .” I drawled, letting my fingers slip into the bowl of blood. Behind me, I knew Aniela and Ary were now kneeling, activating the glyphs we’d painstakingly carved around the perimeter of the room. Most of them were hidden, thanks to Draven and me using our earth magic to bury them slightly beneath the surface, but they were all connected.

“A Fae bargain cannot be broken without dire consequences.” Erendriel continued strolling towards us. The wraiths fell in behind him. Some took Fae forms, others chose the shapes of monsters. “You can act like a Moroi all you want,but enough Fae blood is running through your veins that the magic will tear you apart.”

“Oh I know.” I grinned wickedly. “We found quite a few books on bargains that weremosthelpful. One thing they pointed out over and over again was how carefully words had to be chosen—to prevent loopholes.”

“There are noloopholesin our bargain,” Erendriel growled. “I am six hundred years old. You’ve barely seen two decades. Did you seriously think you could outsmart me?”

“You think of me as a Fae tainted with Moroi blood.” I raised my chin a little higher. “But you have it backwards. I am a Moroi . . . tainted with Fae blood.” My grin widened. “And you are nothing but an arrogant old king who should have remained in the shadows.”

“Enough of this.” Erendriel snapped as he strode closer to where we were gathered at the pedestal—only to slam into an invisible wall.

“Oops,” Kieran deadpanned.

Draven chuckled. “What’s the matter, Father? Feeling a little trapped?”

Erendriel’s eyes widened as he looked down at his feet. The stone floor split apart, revealing a thin channel of blood flowing beneath it.

“It flows around the entire room,” I told him. “We had a run-in with some trapper spiders recently, and it got me thinking about all the dangerous things that can lurk right under our feet without us even knowing.”

“And you walked straight into our trap.” Draven strolled up to the barrier so he could look his father directly in the eyes. “Kalias and I used to think you were untouchable. That there was no one stronger or smarter.” My vicious prince grinned. “But from where I’m standing, you seem ratherdisappointing.”

“I’m going to break every bone in your body and then give you to Serril to play with.” Erendriel’s cruel gaze slid to me. “After you watch that whore die a slow, agonizing death as the magic tears her apart for breaking the fucking bargain.”

“I haven’t broken a thing.” I shrugged. To my left, Roth, Vail, and Alaric slid their hands into the bowl. Kieran and Draven returned to stand to my right and did the same.

“You were very thorough in your wording for the bargain, and as someone who has reviewed a lot of contracts, I respect that. But I thought the Fae were known for being clever with their words—that’s what all the books say. And you, my friend”—I let my voice drip with condescension—“were far from clever.”

“Don’t be too harsh on him, Sam,” Alaric drawled. “You heard him. He’s seen six centuries come and go. Maybe he’s just not as sharp as he used to be.”

---