From Slave To Queen (Athena and Michael) novel Chapter 44

Chapter 44

日

ט

X

As soon as the sky turns twilight, I leave my spot next to her, who mutters something in her sleep. I walk to the lake, where I splash cold water on my face, and by the time I return, Drystan has already come down from the tree and made enough noise to wake her. In no time we’re back on horseback. We have to cross the Twisted Forest, which shouldn’t take us all day. Hopefully, if the kraugs don’t delay us, we’ll be at the camp before sunset. In the worst–case scenario, we could be trapped in the Twisted Forest at night–or dead. Neither option appeals to me.

“Why can’t I go with Drystan?”

“I’m flattered that you miss riding with me on horseback,” Drystan says, dramatically placing a hand on his chest while mounting the white mare.

“You didn’t seem so bothered last night,” I mutter.

She turns her head to look at me, but I already have my gaze fixed forward.

“Elara, it’s better you go with him. The Twisted Forest is dangerous and, though it wounds my ego, Cassian can keep you safer than I can. He’s stronger, and even the monstrous creatures there recognize it.”

“Is the name Draven that powerful?” she asks.

“It is.”

They talk as if I weren’t present and, truthfully, it doesn’t bother me. If I keep my mouth shut, her scent won’t flood into me.

We ride just a bit until we’re at the edge of the Twisted Forest. It’s named for the shape of its trees, twisted into monstrous forms with canopies so intertwined they create a dome through which only faint rays of sun pass. Many creatures, aside from the kraugs, use the trees to hide and stalk their prey, others camouflage themselves in the darkness the forest provides. The horses haven’t gone ten meters before they have to step over the remains of some poor fools who decided to tempt fate and venture inside.

My thighs tense against Elara’s, who seems to shrink and press her body into mine. She manages to make her backside rub against the front of my pants and, if it weren’t for needing my senses alert to detect any threat, I might try to provoke her.

The light grows dimmer. I grip the stallion’s reins tightly and none of us dares say a word. In this torturous silence the first hour passes. When something cracks behind us, Elara jumps on the saddle and ends up pressing closer to me. The force with which I clench my jaw could break my teeth.

After three hours I’m sure the end of the Twisted Forest must be near and Elara seems to have relaxed. Her body is probably exhausted. I’m about to make a mocking comment when I hear the sound of something slithering.

Drystan and I lock eyes. I nod.

“Run,” I say.

I spur the stallion to run and the speed makes me lean forward, dragging Elara with me. My body cages her in. I glance over my shoulder just in time to see the semi–humanoid body of the kraug sliding down a tree trunk. It’s like a snake, but ends with the fierce stinger of a scorpion. The foul mucus it secretes travels through the air. I hear Elara stifle a gag.

“We’re almost there,” I inform.

1/4

田

D

X

+33

Chapter 44

The kraug seems to understand that the chance to get a bite is slipping through its fingers. Fingers, by the way, that are webbed and end in long, sharp claws. I can almost see small drops of venom falling from them.

It lunges at us with its mouth open on its half–human face, showing that row of rotten, sharp teeth that have torn and devoured not just humans, but other species too.

“It’s going to catch us,” Elara says while looking back.

I take her chin, to make her look forward.

可

“You’re riding the best mount with me behind you, it’s not going to catch us.”

As if the words sank into the horse, it speeds up, widening the distance between us. The creature doesn’t even glance at Drystan, too focused on us, its prey. I can already see the light at the end of this thicket and hold my breath until we reappear at the end of this nightmare. We both turn our faces toward the creature that hisses angrily, possessed by rage. The sun would devour its flesh if it dared to come out.

“What a horrible thing.”

“And you thought I was the most horrible,” I joke.

She throws me one of her deadly glares. It’s obvious we all breathe easier after leaving the forest behind. Only Drystan and I know the kraug will be waiting for our return–perhaps better prepared. After a while we spot the beginning of the banshee camp. Elara tries to rise in the saddle to get a better look. She stretches her neck and struggles to keep her balance.

“Sit down, for fuck’s sake.”

“You’re exasperating,” she replies. “I prefer Drystan, no doubt.”

He winks at her.

She’s the exasperating one, not realizing that with every movement she manages to make some part of our bodies touch. I don’t know what bothers me more. Elara and her heat, my body for its reactions, or my mind that constantly reminds me of my hatred for her kind, how different we are, and the disgust her existence causes me.

We haven’t even entered the camp when we’re greeted by a small committee of women, among them an old woman with gray hair full of braids, trinkets, and animal feathers. Beside her is a girl with hair white as snow. We dismount our respective horses.

“Lord Cassian Draven,” the old woman says with a rough, deep voice from age. “The winds told us you would come, but we didn’t want to believe you’d be so bold.”

“Just Cassian Draven,” I correct. “And I suppose yes, I’m quite bold.”

“You are not welcome,” spits the white–haired girl.

My eyes focus on her. Despite what the marks on her face may say to the rest, she is beautiful in a tragic way. Around her lips are grotesque scars. I can imagine why and the reason for her mistrust toward me and what I represent.

“We know we are not welcome,” Drystan intervenes. “We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t our last option.”

The old woman squints until her eyes are mere slits.

2/4

I

X

13

Chapter 44

“Explain.”

“It’s her.” Drystan gestures to Elara. She, to my surprise, keeps her shoulders upright and chin high. “Something strange is happening to her.”

The old woman cautiously approaches until she’s close enough for her aged eyes to recognize Elara as human.

“She’s a human.” She waves her hand in the air as if to dismiss the matter. “I don’t know what could be so important that you’d come here for a human.”

“We know you have a witch among you.” I accompany my words with a superior smile. “The best doctors don’t know what’s wrong with her, so we have no choice but to turn to magic and its methods.”

“We don’t have a witch,” the younger one replies.

The rest of the women remain silent, attentive to the exchange. They all have long black hair, creamy white skin, and wear simple gray dresses. Insipid. I wouldn’t expect anything else from those who court death.

“Don’t lie, girl, I can smell her old blood, corrupted by the Mother, from here.”

No one knows the exact moment when witches appeared, only that it happened after the vampires. They were born daughters of God and upon hearing the tragic story of Lilith, they promised to give part of their soul to her, to worship her and do everything in her name. In return, Lilith gave them gifts and immortality, marking them as her daughters. The fury of their former creator cursed them with difficulty reproducing, and since then, the birth of witches has been rare and increasingly scarce.

“Only she may enter,” the old woman points.

“No way. She is my feeder.”

“Then only one of you will enter.”

Drystan and I look at each other, aware of who it will be.

“Him.” The young woman points to Drystan. “He will accompany the human.”

“No way,” I protest.

“You heard Evanora,” says the old woman. “If you don’t like it, you can turn around and take your problems with you.”

I grind my teeth, knowing there’s nothing I can do to change things. Or at least, nothing that doesn’t involve violence. I could break their bones and destroy their minds, but I know witches–and none would be willing to help us if we came to them with violence.

I have no choice but to nod. They set off as soon as they see me yield. The young Evanora grabs Elara by the elbow and pulls her away from me. Drystan follows immediately, throwing me a significant look. I watch them walk toward the camp and with just a few steps I feel the barrier surrounding it repel me. What the barrier doesn’t keep out is the scent carried on the breeze. Wild berries and there, deeper, the smell of a Diluted one I know well.

They don’t want two vampires near Elara because they already have one in their damned camp.

3/4