Blood of Two Crowns (Hallowed Fates #2)

Chapter 12

Chapter

Twelve

MALEKAI

“ T his is not what we agreed upon.” Leather creaked as I gripped Ceres’ tack so tight the leather creaked at the unexpected sound of Miroslav’s voice.

Fuck.

I already had enough guilt winding through me at having claimed Mareina without trying to speak to Nakoa first. Not that he would have been even remotely receptive. Our discussion likely would have ended in bloodshed, but at least I would have tried.

If for no other reason than ensuring her well-being because I knew no matter how much she loved me, I would never be able to replace her soul bond with Nakoa.

Miroslav rounded me to block Ceres’ stable door. My anger flared at his admonishing tone but diminished as quickly as it came. And while I was filled with more joy than I’d ever known, it was tainted by guilt and shame.

That being said, Miroslav was a meddling male, trying my fucking patience.

“We agreed upon nothing .”

Miroslav’s expression sharpened his already severe features. “You have no idea what dangers, what entities, await us just on the other side of the metaphorical veil that separates our world from theirs! I can fucking feel it weakening! She needs her soulbound to reach her greatest power! For all our sakes! Have you no moral compass? Who are you to interfere?”

I’d never, in the many decades I’d known him, heard him raise his voice outside of rousing the crowds in Zurie’s ampitheater. Which made his message all the more worrisome and had my guilt twisting inside me like a fucking blade.

“The only moral compass I have unfailingly points me in the direction of what is in Mareina’s best interest. If you truly cared about her, you would be a little more hesitant to force her into the hands of a male who attempted to murder her in a fit of rage.”

The words tasted like ash upon my tongue because while what I said was true, I knew that Miroslav was right, and I was fucking ashamed and terrified to admit it. Even if the only reason Nakoa wasn’t dead was the fact that he was Mareina’s soulbound, and despite my own selfish wishes, I had no desire to cause her any unnecessary suffering.

Miroslav’s voice came out little more than hiss as his power pressed down on me. I halted in my steps, hackles rising. The beast within me tossed its head and snarled. My fangs lengthened, and the tips of my fingers throbbed with the need to release my talons. Trying to breathe in some modicum of calm, I slowly turned to face him as a broad grin stretched my face.

“You have grown far too confident wielding your power over weaker beings, orisha. You know what I am. Where is your moral compass that you tempt my beast into wreaking death and destruction upon everyone in the vicinity of this palace?”

Miroslav’s magic pulled back, but it was his look of disappointment that made my anger falter. “Your parents were soulbound. I wonder what they would have to say.”

Miroslav folded away before I could muster a response to that passive-aggressive little dig. I growled, turning back towards Ceres’ stable. Watching me with dark, wide, nonjudgemental eyes, she huffed as I caressed her cheek and draped her tack over the stable door. “Ready to get outta here, sweet girl?”

I willed an apple into my hand, and Ceres’ soft muzzle greedily gobbled it from my palm. Not even a full second passed before the thud of a hoof against a stall door sounded behind me. A grin twisted my lips, easing my tension, as I turned to find Chihiro tossing his black mane indignantly in the stall across from Ceres. “Don’t worry. I brought snacks for you, too, ‘Hiro.”

My heart flapped jubilant wings at the musical sound of clinking teeth as I shook the sculpted bronze box. For nearly a century, I’d hidden my little treasure trove of fangs, molars, and incisors that had previously belonged to the males who had violated Mareina. Before, she’d grown into the fearsome warrior she was now. It felt surreal that the time to gift it to her had finally arrived.

I finished collecting a few of my things and the tools required to create the wedding ring that I had always dreamed of making for her—one forged by my beast.

My heart pounded alongside Ceres’ racing hoofbeats as joy like I’d never known filled my chest to bursting.

And how bizarre that joy could be stolen from me in a few mere heartbeats.

So consumed by my euphoria, I only vaguely noticed that the normally busy street of my home was oddly empty. A golden aura appeared in the distance, steadily growing in size as an unfamiliar power cascaded over me like a pounding waterfall.

My joy cut off like a guillotine on its victim’s head as a broad frame with golden eyes manifested. The male’s mouth was a sinister flash of grinning white. “My, my… Your resemblance to him is stunning. How old are you?”

What?

My beast growled low as drakonati fire licked up the palms of my hands. Before I could even wield it, a sting like that of a wasp hit the back of my neck. I drew my hand to the small wound, and my fingers grazed against a metal dart. My vision was already tunnelling by the time I yanked it free.

My body went cold and numb as it slackened and sagged before sliding off the side of Ceres. I couldn’t even brace myself for impact before I hit the ground. The sound of bone cracked loud in my ears upon impact. Struggling to maintain consciousness, the only thread of thought keeping me awake was that of Mareina. Relief suffused me as I remembered that she was safe in her realm, Avernus.

I willed my eyes to stay open as the male in front of me fully took form and strode towards me, dressed entirely in black. He knelt inches away from my face and brushed his fingers against Mareina’s claiming marks on my neck. The touch radiated so much power, the hairs on my body rose and stretched towards him as if called forth to someone or something familiar.

“Now, all we have to do is wait.”