From Slave To Queen (Athena and Michael) novel Chapter 107

Chapter 107

inn

I take a step back, struck by reality. The words I read during my time with Cassian stir in my memory. I know what I’m seeing, yet I look to Eleazar for answers anyway.

“What is this. Eleazar?

His hands are raised in a soothing gesture; however, his gaze doesn’t calm me. He steps forward, and I retreat until the wooden railing digs into my lower back. If I step back again, 111 fall overboard.

“Elara.” He tries to touch my arm. “You have to keep your mind open, please. I don’t want to hurt you, and they won’t if you do as they ask. 111 make sure of it. I hoped to have more time—I think I’ve delayed this moment too long.”“

“You’re scaring me.”

My body trembles in agreement. I hug myself and dig my nails into my skin, trying to keep my hands occupied and still. Eleazar wets his dry lips and looks past me.

“Don’t be afraid.” I don’t have time to react before his hands are on my cheeks and he traps my head to force me to look at him. “They won’t hurt you–I promise. Just do what they ask and everything will be fine. I want you to know I really care about you this has nothing to do with..” He leaves the sentence hanging. Tim sorry”

Quick as a viper, his hand leaves my cheek and presses a point between my neck and shoulder. The last thing I feel before unconsciousness takes me is the complete loss of strength–and the sharp pain that spreads through me as my knees hit the floor

ms catch me, but everything is too dark to tell.

I think arms

I must be dreaming. I see myself as a baby. I recognize myself instantly–wide–eyed, intense gray irises. I babble endlessly while waving my hands in the air, trying to catch a small bird fluttering around me. I watch the scene with confusion, not understanding this dream. The bird, with brown and red feathers, chirps nonstop until it lands near my restless little body. It happens fast–and abruptly. The bird stops chirping, its wings lose their shine, and it falls to the floor with a dull thud. The dream–me begins to cry loudly, and what once was a bird becomes dust.

The scene disappears, dragging me back into thick darkness–but I know I’m not alone. I can feel something breathing at the back of my neck.

“You are salvation and ruin,

something new,

something old,

the apocalypse dressed as a woman.”

The temperature plummets. It’s cold–so cold. I think I curl into myself, though I’m not sure anymore. I imagine cold Engers that, when touching my skin, trace patterns of fire–blue eyes like frozen lakes and a smile as sharp as a knife that, somehow, is the only thing warming me inside.

over someone’s My body hits something, and that’s when my mind returns from wherever it went. I’m no longer on the ship, but slung like a sack over shoulder. My head sways from side to side, and I feel a sharp pain in my temples. Everything around me moves with the rhythm of whoever is carrying me. I try to speak, but my vocal cords refuse to cooperate. Only a ridiculous mumble escapes. I see dry ground until darkness swallows me again and spits me out who knows how long later.

Im on the floor–cold, shiny tiles. I try to lift myself, but my stomach turns and makes me vomit Someone lets out a disgusted sound that echoes off the ceilings. I take time to raise my head and look around, but my attention locks on the woman sitting in the middle of the room, wearing a golden dress and a condescending gaze. Her skin is dark, and her eyes shine so brightly I can make out their color even from here. One is gold, the other olive green. Judging by the seat she occupies a kind of throne made of twisted horns and fangs–I’d say she’s someone with power. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that powerful people never want anything good from people like me.

By pure instinct, my body scoots back on the floor until I bump into something–or rather, someone. One glance upward is enough to see a burly man. I move away from him.

“Oh, for God’s sake, someone lift her–I’m starting to feel pity.

The woman’s rone is haughty, not at all kind. The man behind me grabs my arm roughly, digging his fingers into my flesh. I grit my teeth to hold back a cry of pain. The woman on the throne narrows her eyes as if analyzing every detail. With what little strength I have left. I force my shoulders straight and adopt a defiant posture

“I fail to understand what the fascination with you is…” She tilts her brad slightly, making all the ornaments in · brown fuir jingle in the room, “Did you know Eleazar asked me not to be cruel to you?”

1 refuse to answer.

“Don’t speak then, I’ve always liked being shown respect in silence”

1225

Chapter 107

“Respect or fear?” I say, raising my voice a little.

A predator’s simile tugs at her lips, revealing a row of white teeth and sharp fangs. They aren’t a vampire’s, nor a human’s. Nothing about this woman seems human. Her gaze glows with anger, her nails are long and pointed, her body slender with long limbs, but I can tell it’s not delicate. Something tells me she can be ruthless, she looks trained for war.

Do you know why you’re here?” she asks, and seeing that I have no intention of replying, she rises from her throne and descends the steps that kept her elevated above us. She walks barefoot, adomed with anklets. “No, of course you don’t.”

She grabs my chin, her nails digging in

admit that at first I thought it was just the ramblings of a senile old man. It wasn’t until certain rumors reached my ears that I started to think maybe it wasn’t just delusion.” She brushes aside the hair tangled around my neck and fixes her eyes on it. “I’d love to say I regret what my people did to your skin, but I’m afraid I can’t feel remorse for things like that when it comes to the survival of my race.”

She caresses the scars on my neck, and although her skin is warm, I can’t help but shiver.

“What do you want from me?” I manage to say

“For you to help me end those who almost wiped us out

I hear footsteps behind us, and when I glance over my shoulder, I hold my breath. A wolf with golden eyes and scars enters the throne room, and beside him, another wolf, this one with white fur.

If I had any doubt where I was, it vanishes now.

Wasteland.

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify