Page 18 of Unbound By Shadows
When they met, he knew he had gone a bit mad living alone in the forest. Yet she had accepted him completely, never asking how he escaped the blood wagons. She had taken him back to her castle to give him a job, a home, an identity. She treated him like an equal—an ally and trusted friend. Almost like he was family.
A spike of guilt rose at his selfishness. She only wanted to be reunited with her kin and resolve a decades-old heartache. Wasn’t that what he wanted too? He could grant her a final act of kindness after he unleashed all the violence, rage, and fury he’d spent so long holding back.
“Fine,” he said. “Whatever you need. After I kill him, I’ll use the stone to scry and send word of your sister’s fate.”
Queen Thema clasped her hands to her chest. “Thank you.”
Then, in one of her typical mood shifts, she squared her shoulders. “Now, let’s discuss the plan.”
“I don’t need a plan outside of taking his head.”
“Be practical, dear boy. Lilith’s castle is well-fortified, and I’m told Zaybris rarely leaves. Therefore, we must go to him.With a plan.He has surrounded himself with guards and is testing the loyalty of his former associates. They aren’t just going to let a demon walk up to the castle to shake his hand.”
“They will if I’m the demon.”
Thema gave him an exasperated look. “My sisters and I have discussed many tactics, but after speaking with the Goblyns, we found the perfect enticement. Zaybris knows he can’t raise an army of vampires in their current state—many of them are so decayed they’re no better than walking corpses.”
“True.”
“He’s seeking a way to regenerate their bodies and restore them to the youthfulness they knew before coming to Aurelia. The only thing that can do that is human blood. So… ” Thema paused as if waiting for Sam to guess. When he failed to respond, she murmured, “I brought a human here.”
Sam’s lips parted. “Selene?”
“Yes! Vampires survive on Aurelian blood, but they don’tthriveon it like they do on human blood. I set a trap in one of my portals, and miraculously, she came through. She’s the perfect offering for him, don’t you think?”
Sam didn’t respond. A protective urge jolted through him, and his claws extended. He suddenly wanted to hurt Thema for her suggestion and steal Selene away to keep her safe. Disturbing visions ran through his mind. He could lock up Selene in his tower, or take her far away to live with him deep into the forest where he could protect her from the vampires and anyone else that might try to hurt her. He would keep her all for himself, and she would be so grateful. Naked-in-his-bed grateful. Anyone who dared to defy him would be destroyed—starting with the insolent queen sitting in front of him.
Breathe. Focus. Control.The words of his mentor echoed through his head. He reminded himself that he was in control of his instincts; they didn’t control him. His anger began to ebb with each exhale.
He lifted his head to meet the queen’s eyes. “This is wrong. You are cunning, but I’ve never known you to be cruel.”
“Your meaning?”
“I have lived among vampires in this realm. We would be condemning this human to horrors you cannot fathom. She would be a blood slave—”
Thema perched on the armrest of the couch. “Ah, you think too little of me. Naturally, we won’t let Zaybris have her. She’ll just be bait. Dangle her in front of Zaybris to get an audience. It’s all quite simple. You will pretend to offer Selene to Zaybris, kill him, and return to the Underworld. Done.”
“It won’t work. Why would the human agree to this plan?” Sam asked.
“She wants to return home. She’ll agree to anything.”
“So you would trick Selene, then trap her here in Aurelia?”
“Pah! We would be doing her a favor!” Queen Thema said grandly. “Trust me. I’ve seen the way females are treated in her world. They are dismissed, objectified, silenced, and violated.Why would she want to return to that wretched place when she can live here? She can reside in the castle. Or find a mate and live in another territory if she chooses. She’ll have no shortage of fine offers.”
The mention of Selene choosing an Aurelian mate caused Sam’s vision to flash red. He swiped a hand across his mouth and tried to ignore the cold feeling that had settled in the pit of his stomach. It felt wrong to manipulate Selene so, especially when he knew what it was to yearn for home as she must. Yet Thema knew Gaia better than he did. If she believed Selene could be happier, safer in Aurelia, maybe it was for the best. Plus, could he afford to relinquish his only chance at vengeance? With the stone, he could leave Aurelia for good. Perhaps he could even find his fated mate in the Underworld.
“How do we proceed?” Sam asked carefully.
“You and Selene will leave tomorrow morning to go north. You’ll travel by foot—”
“Just the two of us? By foot? But that will take weeks!”
“I know, but it’s the best way to keep her safe. A demon and a human on horseback or in a carriage will attract attention. Word will travel, and vampires eager to please their future king will want to bring him such a treasure. You must walk by day, as they sleep, and keep her hidden at night.”
The cold feeling in Sam’s stomach grew spikes. Traveling with Selene? Alone? The thought of spending his days at her side, talking with her, providing her with food, and sleeping near her made his skin tingle.
“Wouldn’t she be more comfortable traveling with another female?” he asked. “Someone like Arkaya or even Hollen?”
