Page 83 of True Sacrifice
“I would like to go to the village if that’s alright.” She seemed entirely unphased.
Well, I was very fucking phased. How could she feel nothing between us?
“Yeah, that’s fine. Make sure you’re back by sunrise tomorrow or I’ll send the hounds after you.” The look of surprise in her eyes only betrayed her for a moment. I understood now, she was planning an escape after all. Maybe it was a sign. I needed her gone. I would just have to kill Ailill myself. Fight to the death, either way I win.
I left her plenty of space to get a head start. The closest realm portal was downstream from the river at the village docks. She would need myrinth powder to activate it. Best course would be the shops and then hide near the river until the spell wore off. She needed money for the powder.
“Before you go,” I said harshly as she slowly creeped towards the door. She stopped immediately and looked back at me like she was waiting for something. “Take some coins with you. See if you can find a dress that actually looks good on you.” I threw a few on the bed and sped off back through the cove. If I didn’t stay away from her, I’d never be able to let her leave.
I paced back and forth in father’s room, explaining to him why I hadn’t come to see him in a while. He just laid there staring off into the ceiling as I ranted about my cursed mate. I hoped he could hear me and feel proud of the heir he raised. I was giving up my mate for the good of the kingdom. I would never fall ill of the withering like he did. I had to fuck her while I drank from her to set the mate bond.
“She’s escaping tonight, father. I have it all set up. She can run back to her demons, and they can forget about us for the next century, like they always do. I will face King Ailill in single combat.” I would earn the right to my crown with blood. And if I died, it left Sebastian to carry out the final blow.
“Why doesn’t your plan surprise me, brother?” Sebastian said, stepping from the shadows. “You realize finding your mate is a gift, not a curse. You should go be with her. Stop living your life for the past and actually consider having a future for once.”
“How kind of you to eavesdrop. Accidentally knock into a table next time, like a proper stalker.” I rolled my eyes. He was the next one I was going to tell once I knew he was back, that is. The meeting was much shorter than I expected.
Sebastian flopped down on father’s bed. Father continued to stare off at the ceiling. “I met her mates,” he said, which caught my attention.
“Recently?” I couldn’t remember exactly when the last time demons were in mid-realm.
“At the fae castle. They’re looking for her, and they will come here next. Oh, and like the day you kidnapped her, they burst into the castle while you were down there watching her sleep,” he said casually.
“Why are you only now telling me this?” I fixed him with a glare. He didn’t recognize me as the eldest brother, or the soon to be king. We were always just brothers. It was just that we led entirely different lives.
“I could tell from the moment you told me about her that there was something different. You looked alive for the first time in a long time.” Sebastian fidgeted on the bed, knocking into father several times.
“Will you get the fuck off the bed, please? He’s not dead yet.” I pointed to father as he slowly blinked.
“Fine. Let’s go out to the bar. Have a few drinks and catch up on everything.” Sebastian offered, getting up from the bed. I fixed father, so he was centered again.
“That actually sounds like a good idea.” At least it would help distract me from thinking about Mor and the fact that I would never see her again.
We ended up at my usual spot, at my usual table. She had sat where Sebastian now is. Just a normal line up of vampires on the stages tonight. I thought humans usually partied on the weekend, but it was a Tuesday.
“Her mates are pretty powerful. And I can’t believe that little thing can handle three of them,” Sebastian yelled. Guess we were starting the conversation back up.
“I’d rather not think about that,” I muttered, signaling for a few rounds of drinks. I didn’t want to feel any of this right now. I could blame it on the hangover, that’s why I didn’t notice her lead elapsed.
“You could always just, you know, go be with all of them.” Sebastian smirked as he took one of my shots that were just delivered.
“Give up the crown?” It was more than that, though. I would go from king that saved the vampire kingdom, to vampire mate, pet of a demon princess.
“You can keep prince if it means that much to you. I’ll get you a crown to take with you.” Sebastian grinned. It’s been a long time since I have seen joy like this in my brother’s eyes.
“What’s happened to you, brother?” I clasped him on the shoulder to look deeper into his eyes. They reminded me of mothers.
“I met someone,” he smiled, grabbing another shot.
I grabbed one and tapped it on the table in unison with my brother as we both knocked one back.
“Tell me about her,” I said, grinning. I was so happy for my brother. If only one of us got to live with a happily ever after, it should be him.
“I don’t want to get too ahead of myself. She’s human, but brother, I have never tasted blood so good in all my life.” His face told me it was the same as I felt about drinking Mor’s blood.
“You just want to say you’re king to impress some girl,” I said, giving him a playful nudge.
“I can handle being king. We both know it. Can you leave Ailill to me?” Sebastian stared me hard in the eyes. He didn’t think Ailill deserved to die because of how mother was killed.
