Page 112 of Treasured

He was so young, and he should never have had to deal with any of this. Boys his age usually went to school, played with friends, engaged in harmless pranks, and complained about homework. They did not usually suffer from debilitating, nearly life-ending diseases, get kidnapped and stolen into another country, only to be rescued and then cured with a plant from the gods.

No, Marius was not normal. But neither was I. Maybe that was our fate as the harbinger and the Sunwalker.

Marius frowned and met my gaze. “I know you’ve been hiding something from me, Lulu.”

So perceptive.

My stomach twisted, and I sighed. I should have known I couldn’t hide this from him. After all, Marius was half Fortune Elf. Had he Seen this conversation? Did he already know what I was going to say?

Taking Marius’s hand, I drew him into his room. “You’re right.” We sat on the bed, and I stared at his small hand clasped in mine. Two violet orbs cast their light on the room, but they did little to ease the gloomy atmosphere. At one point, I might have hated it, but right now, it felt appropriate.

I’ll be right here if you need me, Luna, Sebastian murmured, sending a shadow to wrap around my arm. He leaned against the doorjamb, his back to us to give us privacy.

The way he stood by me was everything I never knew I needed.

“Lulu?” Marius squeezed my hand, drawing me back to the present. “What did you want to talk about?”

My gaze dropped to the spot where our hands met. The two of us made a funny pair. A halfling and a newly Made vampire, an older sister and the younger half-brother she needed to protect. Not only that, but we were the two remaining members of our family. When Julieta died, I never imagined her loss would be the first in a seemingly endless stream of death. It followed me wherever I went.

A knot formed in my throat. I swallowed past it with difficulty, shaking my head. I had to be strong for Marius. “What is the last thing you remember before waking up in the abbey?” I asked.

Marius stiffened, pulling his hand out of mine. “You mean when I was taken?”

I nodded.

He drew his legs onto the bed, curling into a ball and staring at the floor. “They came at night. I was sleeping, but loud laughter woke me up.” He glanced at me. “I knew right away something was wrong.”

I was familiar with that feeling. Too often, I’d felt wrongness settle over me like an ill-fitting tunic whose seams rubbed uncomfortably on my body.

“What happened next?” I asked.

“There were two voices.” Frowning, he twisted his fingers together where they held his legs against his chest. “No, three. They talked loudly about a fire… something about the queen’s orders.”

My stomach twisted, and fresh anger boiled in my veins. I’d already suspected that the queen had ordered my family killed, but this was enough evidence for me.

She needed to die.

Did you hear that? I asked Sebastian through the bond.

A growl rumbled down our connection. I hadn’t known he could do that, but he did. We’re going to kill her, Luna. I promise.

Death used to scare me, but not when it came to the queen. I needed her to die. I didn’t know if that made me a bad person, but it was how I felt. I’d have to look into the philosophical ramifications of such feelings later.

If there was a later.

“Then what happened?” I looked back to my brother.

He sucked in a breath. “One of them mentioned they were supposed to kill me too, but then… they argued. Something about a prophecy? Money.” He frowned and rubbed the back of his head. “Then someone hit me.”

I hissed, baring my fangs as shadows slipped from my palms. How could anyone hurt a frail, sickly child? Some things just weren’t done—but then again, Queen Marguerite had shown time and again that she had no morals.

“And then?”

“I don’t know. I woke up a few more times, but it was always a blur. Yelling. Pain. Anger. Harsh words. Then… I stopped waking.” Marius raised his eyes to mine, looking far older than his ten years. “Lulu, I should be dead right now.”

My heart ached at those words. “No,” I protested.

“Yes.” He nodded, his eyes filled with sadness. “I always knew I would die young. I never Saw myself in the future.” He let go of his legs and took my hands in his. “Papa is dead, isn’t he?”