Page 2 of The Reign of Blood
I regret them the moment they leave my mouth when I realize I played straight into Kenner’s hands. “That’s right, everyone. Please gather ‘round and meet Queen Reagan.” His gaze isn’t on the fallen queen, though. No, he’s settling in on the troublesome fae with wide green eyes and a jaw so tight she could cut through steel. “And Adrianna Reagan, daughter of King and Queen Reagan, the fallen king and ruiner of the fae origin. Which makes her the rightful yet despised heir to the kingdom.”
Gasps ring throughout the crowd, holding everyone captive as they piece together the slivers of information Kenner provides. The queen bows her head, a single tear tracking down her face. Cassian’s hold on the little troublemaker slackens, but he doesn’t release her completely. If he did, I’m certain she would fall on the spot, lost to the truth, bringing her mother to her knees.
It seems there’s a lot we don’t know about the wicked fae whose lowly life just became a tad more interesting. She holds me captive, but movement to her left catches my attention.
Dalton.
He’s no longer hovering by the queen like the good little lap dog he is. He’s inching toward the named princess.
My lips purse, my fingers flex, and the rash and uncalculated side of me takes over before I can even consider my next breath.
Putting one foot in front of the other, I quickly eliminate the distance between Cassian and me, retrieving the little doll from his grasp before he can even fathom what’s happening.
And before I can think better of it…I run.
2
ADRIANNA
The strong arms banded tightly around me fall slack, giving me enough space to squeeze my daggers in my fists. But before I can use the leverage, another set of arms close in around me.
We’re traveling at supernatural speed before I can bark my anger at the new person man-handling me. Unfortunately for me, I’m distracted by the nausea that curls through my stomach, taking me hostage and leaving me at the will of the man pinning me to his chest.
Even with my back pressed against him, I know exactly who it is. The world shifts around me, my secret exposed and raw, yet the familiar scent flutters at my senses, shooting a sharp vision of a chiseled jaw and perfectly styled black hair into my brain.
Raiden.
Of course the vampire comes after me first. Despite the sickly burn up my throat as my insides threaten to spill, I still berate myself for not being prepared for his onslaught amongst the madness. But in my defense, laying eyes on my mother, who disappeared without a trace so many years ago, has left me completely off-kilter.
Vomit tickles the back of my throat and I’m certain I’m going to puke, but as suddenly as the initial thought enters my head, we stop. The strong arms around me disappear a moment later and Raiden takes a step back. My vision is blurry, my balance completely off, and as much as I want to glare at him, I’m left to fend off the effects of gravity. My arms flail at my sides as I fall backward and my mouth opens, but not a single word comes out before I slump into a chair behind me.
I grip the armrests like my life depends on it, silently relieved there is something to break my fall, but it does nothing to aid the nausea still churning in me. My chin drops to my chest as I try to rid myself of the feeling by taking a few deep breaths, completely aware that I’m alone with the vampire at the top of my foe list.
Once the feeling starts to subside, my mind whirls to life, unsure what fact or revelation to clutch onto first, but I have to put all of that aside and deal with the problem at hand.
Looking up through my lashes, I instantly frown when I don’t spot the vampire where I last saw him. Stiffening in the armchair, my fingers curl around the material as I slowly lift my head, trying to listen for anything I’m not seeing, but I come up empty.
I peer around the room, lips pinched, as I vaguely recall the space from the only other time I was here. Raiden’s room. I passed through here when I stormed from his bedroom with a tattered shirt and the aches and pains from the duel Leticia subjected me to. The plush leather sofa sits across the room, a huge television on the wall, and there’s even a mini kitchenette in the far corner opposite the doorway to his bedroom. The crown jewels of the room, however, are the huge arched windows that look down over the campus like he’s tall and grand, above it all.
At least I’m back on campus and not in some dark and dingy lair he might have, but it’s still too far away from the wolf I want to get my hands on.
Retribution is necessary. Avenging my sister… paramount.
Rushing to my feet, the room spins around me and my arms begin to flail again.
“Sit your ass down, Troublemaker, you’re only going to make it worse.”
I snarl at Raiden as he steps into the room with measured steps and a cloth in his hand. Standing taller, despite his command, I wag my finger at him. “You know nothing about me, asshole. Don’t tell me what to do.” I’m acutely aware that my finger isn’t quite as aimed at him as I would like it to be, and the way he cocks his brow confirms it. Fucker. “I would be fine if you had just left me there. It’s your fault I’m close to puking my guts out,” I add, my hand instinctively clutching my stomach as it rolls at the words leaving my mouth.
“Are you done?” he asks with a sigh, giving me a pointed stare, and my eyes narrow at him.
“No.”
Another sigh, paired with his lips pursing in distaste, escapes him. “Spit it all out then. The quicker you finish your ranting, the quicker we can get to the good stuff.”
Good stuff?
There is nogood stuff.