From Slave To Queen (Athena and Michael) novel Chapter 113

Chapter 113

He brushes my check, and I almost want to close my eyes, cry, and pretend I’m back at the castle, in his bed, with him at my side, enjoying forbidden caresses and feeding emotions I never intended to feel

“Someone separate those two, says Ragna aloud. They’re so sweet I feel like vomiting.”

“Maybe you’ll choke on it if we’re lucky,” Drystan remarks, knowing everyone can hear him

Ragna’s feline gaze turns toward him, ignoring us for a few seconds–which Cassian uses to take my hand, lean in, and whisper in my ear:

“With you until death.”

I frown, but before I can say anything, his hand is ripped from mine and I’m forced away from him. My bones tremble as I fall to my knees, forced there by the black–haired man–Rhory

“Tell me„„„Elara” Ragna makes a small dramatic pause, “Have you thought about my offer!”

The smile on her lips makes me sick. She laughs at me with questions I can’t answer. Even so, I don’t let that stop me and I nod.

“And” she asks.

I look down at my hands, both burdened with heavy shackles that chafe my skin, and slowly lift them to chest height. Everyone is watching to see. what 111 do—and the moment I raise my middle finger high enough that her eyes can’t miss it, I can feel Drystan’s smile behind me and the slight tremble at Cassian’s lips.

1 didn’t expect anything less from you, his voice whispers in my mind.

I cling to that like driftwood in a stormy sea

Ragna’s neck veins bulge–she can’t hide the outburst of rage growing inside her.

“You stupid girl” She splus the words with fury, Till use you and your blood until nothing is left of you–and then. I let my men have fun with you and tear you apart

The ground beneath us trembles at her words, and I don’t need to look back to know it’s the vampire’s doing

“Careful with what you say, Ragna” Cassian hisses, “You won’t use anyone especially not someone connected to me.”

“Oh, I think I will,” she replies arrogantly, “You know perfectly well that you’re at a disadvantage–you’re at my mercy. There’s nothing you can do, and using your gifts on me will be useless” She settles into her twisted fang throne. “Earlier, you asked me what I really want–and I’m afraid it’s her. I won’t give her back”

“You’re insane if you think I accept that

“No. I don’t think you’ll accept it without a fight. In fact, I’m dying for you to try.”

The ground shakes again, dust falls from the ceiling and settles in my hair, forcing me to close my eyes. Ragna’s melodic laughter fills the hall and manages to rise above the noise. Small cracks open in the floor before Cassian stops.

“Keep this up.

and you’ll kill her.” Ragna says, pointing at me. “Or have you realized already that your other gifts have no effect on me?”

I glance between Cassian’s tightly clenched fists and the goblet resting a few feet from her. Realization hits me all at once. The blood bags they took from me had no other purpose but this. Cassian’s jaw trembles from sheer effort and restraint. Ragna’s laughter grows louder, grating on everyone’s nerves. Drystan steps forward and places a hand on his friend’s shoulder, who continues shaking with rage.

“You can’t hurt me without putting her at risk.” Ragna lifts her chin. “We outnumber you, and your other gifts are useless. Do you know why! Because of the person you came for Her words are poisonous–they make me feel like everything inside me is wrong. “Her blood is exceptionally special”

y smile of white teeth

Casuan lets the rage faile—or at least appear to–and then flashes a cocky

“In that case, I’m afraid we’re even. He places his hands in the front pockets of his pants. “You forget–she’s my feeder. I’m quite familiar with her blood.”

“I know for a fact that you haven’t fed from her in a while?

Ragna makes a slight motion with her head, and two of the men stationed beside her descend the steps that keep her elevated above us

“The effect isn’t permanent. It fades with time. That’s one of the reasons I can’t let her fall into your hands.”

1/2

12:25 PM c c

Chapter 113

The men try to grab Cassian, but he resists, steps back, and bares his fangs.

“If you resist, your friend will pay the consequences for your actions”

The woman curls her upper lip in a sneer that can only be described as evil

“Or is he also familiar with

your feeder?”

I look at Drystan, whose face pales. I try to open my mind, project myself toward Cassian and speak to him. I find that he was already waiting for my intrusion

What will they do to him? I ask.

“See the blind man?” He pauses before continuing. “I heard rumors decades ago of a shapeshifter who returned from the dead—and with him, brought a piece of hell. Apparently, he can trap you inside your worst nightmare.”

A strange sound comes from my chest. Under other circumstances, it might be a whimper, but now it’s something that can’t be described with words all because of this stupid thing that seals my lips and tears me apart every time I try to separate them. The tingling of Cassian’s gaze on me makes me look at him.

“When we project ourselves into each other’s minds, it’s real, Elara. You made me bleed, and I’ve tasted your blood in that cell and in my room. Right now, it’s inside me.”

I blink as I understand what he means. Ragna and all her followers believe Cassian and 1 haven’t been near each other for some time, and therefore that he hasn’t fed from me. Although technically he hasn’t, he has tasted slight drops of my blood-

1–are they enough to make him immune to Rhory? Deep down, that doesn’t matter right now, and he knows it. So when the two men approach again and try to place shackles on bim shackles that look anything but normal–he doesn’t resist. He makes a slight grimace.

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