From Slave To Queen (Athena and Michael) novel Chapter 121

Chapter 121

She looks first at me and then at Elarx. Her gaze is sad and her flames remain dim, as they were before–not their usual bright red

“Have you found anything out!” Lask.

She shakes her h

head slowly.

“There must be someone who knows a way to bring her back.

“No one is known to have a gift like yours” She jumps from the flame and hops until she’s near Elara

“And no one like her is known either. I knew she was special from the first time I didn’t imagine how much. She is the person your mother hoped

for you

“Not the time to talk about that, Ank.

She wants to continue–her mouth is open to

ʼn to argue—until the loud banging of the doors slamming against the wall silences her. I snap to my feet. knocking her to the floor in the process 1hbarely have time for anything before Ciro Amery bursts into my room.

What the hell are you doing here?” I bark.

His arrogant smile has never annoyed me as much as today. He shows those perfect teeth before answering triumphantly:

“I’ve come

for my new satiator

At first I stay silent–not for long. The laugh escapes me in torrents. Ciro frowns, saying nothing, allowing me

g me my moment.

“You must be on some hallucinogenic mushrooms if you think 111 let you have one of my satiators.”

oh,

this won’t be just any- I want

an ber

He points with his chin to Elar, who doesn’t flinch at his words. I can imagine what she would’ve done if she were healthy–she’d have sat up abruptly, throwing her hands up and screaming, probably cursing both of us, insisting she isn’t a possession.

“Over my dead body”

“I’d prefer not to ruin my favorite vest,” he says boastfully-“here you go

“What’s this?” I pick up

up the paper with two fingers, as if it were

plague–ridden.

The clause in the Treaties that guarantees me the right to compensation and authorizes me to claim Elara. Also–consent from the rest of the Committer

I scan the words quickly; to be honest, they dance in front of me as nervousness runs through my body.

“Nonsense.” I slam the paper against his chest. “I won’t let you take her–choose someone else.”

“Just like you chose someone else when I begged you?”

“Your reasons aren’t mine- I saved her. You don’t want to see it, but she was playing you, she never

“Thad to see it myself, not you.” He raises his chin and puffs out his chest in confidence,

“Now tell me—what would you give for her!”

“What do you want?

“Beg me. beg for her, on your knees.”

loves you.”

Ank, still in the room, gasps in surprise. I fix Ciro with a look that promises deaths, while I think of my options. Heg on my knees for a human? I would never have done that. Never–until now. I clerich my fists and hite my tongue as I drop to my knees. I lift my gaze, determined not to bow my head

“Don’t take ber. Take someone clue, but not her.

r

“Why What does she mean to you?”

“That’s not the deal”

“Alright.” He clicks his tongue. “Which of my gardens do you think Elara will like! I need to choose which quarters to give her

12:26 PM ď ď

Chapter 121

I grit my jaw

me want to be better, makes me find mercy, because I

“Because she’s the only one who isn’t afraid of the monster I am! Damn, because she makes me think I could love her!

The silence that follows is almost suffocating. It lasts long enough to shelter hope–and then it vanishes the moment I see his smug grin again.

“I’m doing you a favor.” He pats my shoulder. “You’re softening–and you’ve always hated humans, remember! Don’t come now acting like you’ve grown attached to one

He gestures over his shoulder and two men enter the room heading straight for the bed. I step in front of them and show my fangs

“Are you going to sully your parents‘ memory by going against something they themselves wrote? Already you’ve seen I’m in my right. Cassian. Don’t make things harder. You should’ve bothered to study the Treaties before messing with what was mine. Now you have to face the consequences of your actions. You’re not untouchable–the rules don’t change for you.”

“If you say so.

-You’ll thank me in time.” He looks toward the bed. “By the way what kind of love is that? What have you done to her?”

“Nothing that’s any of your concern.

Of course it is. Elara is mine”

Before I even realize it, I’m on top of him–my body astride his on the floor. I grasp his throat with my hand and trace his windpipe with my thumb.

“The sun would have to rise in the west, the ocean stop wetting, and my heart start beating again before she would be yours, you damned fool”

Before I do something crazy and perhaps start an internal Pure war. Drystan appears behind me and grips my shoulders, pulling me off Ciro. That’s when I notice Elara is no longer on her bed–and I haven’t even realized it. They’ve taken her.

“You’ll see her again soon, Casalan,” says Ciro, adjusting his vest. “Maybe I’ll throw a welcome party–hope I remember to send an invitation”

I growl with rage and Drystan once more holds me back. A few minutes pass–the calm before the stomi- because when I glance at the empty space on the bed, 1 finally lose control. Everything at hand gets broken beneath my hands. I thrust splinters and shands of glass into myself, and still nothing hurts enough to relieve my torment.

Just when I thought nothing could go worse, life surprises me once more.

“You’ll get her back, you always do,” assures my friend. “We’ll find a way to make her who she was again–and bring her home where she belongs.”

I sink my fingers into the wooden back of the only remaining chair and it begins to splinter beneath my grip. I don’t contradict my friend’s words- even though they refer to something I believe I’m incapable of, despite having thought it myself. I take a deep breath that doesn’t fully calm me.

“Her place is with me, and mine is with her. I’m not going to let you have her.” It’są promise.