The Twisted Tribrid Queen

Chapter 8 - Samael

While we bathe, Aurora and I talk about everything she went through because of Cassandra. She tells me about how she met her father, and her forced transition into a vampire so they could escape.

I recount my own story for her, and her eyes, which are back to their normal mismatched colours, go wide in alarm when I reveal how the void weapons could actually injure me. She grabs my arm, inspecting the skin there. The cut from the blade has long healed, but she brushes her soft lips across it anyway and sighs.

"What does this mean? Cassandra's weapons kind of work? Do you think they could have killed you?" The last question comes out in barely a whisper, her eyes closing as though she can't even bear the thought of it.

I pull her into me, holding her close, "I don't know. They only managed to get me once, and it did eventually heal, but..." I pause, remembering the agony. "...It was a kind of pain I've never experienced before, like a searing burn that spread down my arm before kind of simmering out."

Aurora shivers even though the water is still warm, "You said you took two back with you?"

"Yes, I was hoping maybe Adelaide would be able to tell me more about them."

She looks up at me, thoughtful, "We should try them on me and see if they have any effect."

My body instantly goes rigid and my grip on her tightens, "Absolutely fucking not!" Just the thought of those dark blades going anywhere near her soft, delicate skin fills me with rage.

She bites her bottom lip and nods once, "Ok, we don't have to do that." Her fingers trail along my jawline, while her eyes search mine, clearly seeing my barely suppressed emotional reaction to the idea of her in that kind of pain.

"Adelaide's vision came true," she says suddenly. I raise a brow at her and she elaborates, "Cassandra was able to capture my dad by using his Beta as bait. She decapitated him with one of those blades."

"Shit" I murmur. "How is Lothar after all of this? How did he handle finding out who you are?"

Her eyes fill with tears, "Amazingly actually. He took it all a lot better than I imagined, especially given the situation we were in."

Well, it was not how I wanted them to meet but at least he took it well. I can't imagine losing his Beta was easy on him though, Greyson and Lothar were like brothers. It would be like me losing Seth, and even though he sided with Adelaide over me, he is still my best friend and I would be completely lost without him. Even though my body heats up with rage when I remember him sinking that syringe into my chest, I know he was only acting out of worry for my well-being and anxiety over whatever Adelaide saw me doing in her vision. It must've been pretty violent if she called in my guards and brought the lightsbane. Never again though. Not when it's Aurora's life at risk.

"We'll go down to see your father before anything else. You said there's a witch with him?" I ask, looking down at her.

"Yeah, uh, Fiona Marigold I think he said her name is. She's the Coven Mother of-"

"Nature's Refuge," I interject, remembering the name instantly.

"You know her?" Aurora asks. "She didn't seem like your biggest fan honestly."

I chuckle lightly, "Not personally, but I know the names of all the witch habitations and their Coven Mothers. It's something I studied before becoming king. I had to know of all our potential enemies."

"Well, she seems nice enough, but she was a little skeptical when we told her about you." She looks offended on my behalf and I can't help the swelling of affection in my heart for her.