Page 17 of Unbound By Shadows
He acknowledged the compliment with a brief incline of his head. The queen’s habit of applauding his aptitudes was well-intentioned, but sometimes felt like the type of praise a worried mother would give her inept son. A bid to eradicate bad habits by reinforcing the good.
Thema entered the room, gracefully lowered herself onto the couch, then let out a yelp. Digging her hands into the cushions, she pulled out the book Sam had hidden moments before. One eyebrow lifted as she read the title,Yearning of the Storm's Kiss.Sam’s cheeks flamed.
It was no secret that Sam was a voracious reader. He loved spending hours in the library hunched over historical volumes, science tomes, and texts of mythology. But the bookshelves in his private chambers contained only two types of stories—adventure and erotica.
Thema set the book aside without a word. A small smile touched her lips before she looked up at Sam seriously. “I will get straight to the point. Perhaps you had better sit down.”
Sam crossed his arms and stood before the fireplace. “I will stand.”
“As you wish.” Queen Thema leaned forward. “An old enemy has returned to Aurelia. It’s the reason I have been meeting with the sisters these past few weeks.”
“Who?”
“Zaybris.”
Sam froze. Embarrassment about his explicit book fled upon hearing the name of the vampire who had kidnapped him from the Underworld. Rage, deep and compelling, surged in his chest before a red haze blurred his vision. His stomach tightened as if he were preparing for a blow. Fearing a loss of control with Thema in theroom, he began to pace.
“Where is he?” he demanded.
“North. Holed up in what’s left of Queen Lilith’s castle. He’s trying to usurp her throne.”
“How do you know?”
“The Goblyns still living there sent word to me.”
“Is he harming them?”
“No, but he’s waging war. He wants the vampires to rise up and revolt against the queens. He thinks he’s charismatic enough to convince them he should be the sole king of Aurelia.”
“Why now? Why would he care what happens here when he’s been gone for so long?”
“He was always an agitator.” Thema said. “He was inciting violence and anarchy even before he stole you from the Underworld. He pushed vampires to flout the rules Queen Lilith set up for blood donation, and encouraged his kind to roam the night in packs, drinking from unwilling victims or draining them to death. I've always believed he knew more about Lilith's disappearance than he would say.”
Sam clenched and unclenched his fists. “Where has he been all these years?”
“I don’t know. He carries a traveler’s stone. He could have gone anywhere with it.” Thema tapped a finger against her chin. “But I suspect he’s been hiding out in the fairy dimension. Their pretentiousness would appeal to his ego.”
Sam slumped into his armchair. He sat with his fingers steepled, imagining all the brutal, painful ways he could exact his vengeance. He wouldn’t make it quick with decapitation or staking. No, he wanted to watch the filthy vampire’s body rot and decay before his eyes. He would make him writhe in agony, begging for mercy.
“Fear not. I will destroy him,” he murmured.
“I know you crave retribution, but I need him alive, Samael. At least for—”
Sam sprang to his feet. “Do not ask that of me!” he thundered. “You don’t know the agony I live with, knowing he remains unpunished! It is because of him that my instincts are disordered, my head in constant chaos. I have to find him."
Queen Thema held up a hand. “I wouldn’t dream of denying a Vengeance demon his due. But before you kill him, there is something I need.”
“When I see him, I will not stop to perform favors,” Sam bit out, now vibrating with pent-up energy.
“I know. But I’m asking you to try. If Zaybris still carries a traveler’s stone—“
“It will be mine. When I kill him, it transfers to me!” The full impact of Queen Thema’s words shot through him like a lightning strike. “It can take me home.”
“Of course, but please listen. Inter-dimensional travel isn’t the stone’s only sacred property. It can be used as a scrying device to find things. Lost objects.” Thema stood and stepped in front of Sam to peer up into his face. “Lost people.”
Sam turned his head so Thema couldn’t see how his face tightened. His greatest enemy, here within in his grasp and Thema wanted his focus on her sister. He growled. Sam knew very little about the lost sister of Aurelia other than the fact that she was obviously dead—beheaded or incinerated. After over thirty years of no contact, no clues, and no leads on her whereabouts, Queen Lilith’s fate was clear. He watched the sun descend on the horizon through his balcony doors and wanted to punch through the glass. Every second delaying his return to the Underworld was a waste.
He turned to snarl at Thema and shout no, he would not grant her this boon. After so many years in exile, nothing would keep him from finally claiming his birthright in the Underworld. Yet he was struck by how small she looked. Her entire body seemed to lean toward him in desperation, her large eyes beseeching. She acted so strong, but in truth, she was quite fragile. A small demi-goddess, centuries old, trying to do her best by her people and those she was charged to protect.
