Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Members of the Sacred Circle that Barnabas had gotten to in the various chapters would come forward to add their voices of condemnation to those of the orphaned children. The royals would be killed this night, with the exception of Vasilisa. He needed her alive for his plan to work. He intended for Olga to subdue her right before the wretched woman burst like a ripe fruit, spilling his army into the room to kill the other royals.
The Lycans living abroad would return swiftly to defend their homeland from the Carpathians. By capturing Vasilisa, he would ensure they would come—all of them. They would need the one remaining royal, and they would do anything to get her back. All of them would believe the elders in the Sacred Circle, and they would go to war with the Carpathians.
By bringing in the government agents, making them believe the old oil field was a gold mine and the royals were committing treason, he had hoped to keep the ruling family occupied while he put his army in place. Unfortunately, Xavier, Barnabas and Lilith had no patience. None. Xavier never had.
Lilith was ridiculous thinking she could control the demon behind the gates with Dragonseeker blood. She couldn’t control the Dragonseeker. She wasn’t clever. But Xayvion had listened carefully to her wailing about how she had lost him, and she had this contract. Xayvion had studied the wording of the contract. He realized Afanasiv had stayed true to his word, never violating it.
Olga just had to get Vasilisa to say she would “lend” her lifemate or “give” her lifemate for the child’s whereabouts. Her wording was important. The Dragonseeker could be tricked into giving his word of honor, as well. Once that was accomplished, the pair belonged to Xayvion. They would have to do whatever he said, including keep the blood from changing while he experimented on it.
The two ancients had been in the high mage’s mind for far too long. He fascinated Afanasiv. He was a brilliant man. His mind had actually thought out the logistics of such a plan and put it in steps and then put the plan into action. He had taken his time, seeing to every detail, uncaring that time passed by. Time meant nothing to him.
Vasilisa, stay away from Olga. Antagonize her so she does that head shaking again.
Afanasiv didn’t send the thought to his lifemate. He built the images in his head, knowing a small part of her had remained merged with him.
“You say our mother stole our father away from you.” Vasilisa whirled around, her white fur swirling gracefully around her ankles. “You come here thinking to steal another woman’s man from her. My man. It seems to me that you are the thief.”
More of the ceiling fell, so that white powder eddied around them like a snowstorm. Olga’s face turned so red it was purple. She coughed. Her snout elongated. She shook her head back and forth, her snarls and growls rumbling louder and louder in warning.
“You admit to stealing our parents’ lives. You stole a child from her mother. You tried to steal Rudlof’s dignity and pride. Perhaps the only way you can get a man is to steal one or to use spells on them until they don’t know who they are anymore.”
“Vasilisa.” Andros snapped her name like a command. “Stop this at once. I need to know where little Alyona is.” He put his hand on his sister’s arm and drew her behind him protectively. It put him in a very vulnerable position. “Olga, please forgive Vasilisa. She’s distraught over the revelations you’ve disclosed. Hearing you say you never loved us has really shaken her. When she was a child, she followed you everywhere, do you remember that? Please tell me where the little one is.”
There was no stopping Olga. She was furious. Enraged beyond all comprehension. Her eyes went bright red. Glowing. Fangs dripped long strings of venomous saliva. Her body contorted as her wolf tried to emerge in order to set upon those she considered her mortal enemies. She was so far gone she could no longer form words.
Petru and Afanasiv slipped out of the high mage’s mind and made their way quickly out of Olga’s unstable brain. Just before they made their exit, both turned at the same time and took aim at the sliver of Xayvion. He was trying to force the command out of Olga to trigger his army to burst out of her. Using white-hot energy, they concentrated the attack like a laser point, aiming ruthlessly at the tiny bump.
Olga shrieked with an agony of torment and horror as the pain in her head exploded. Xayvion roared his command to her, forcing obedience with magic as he retreated, leaving the tiny sliver of himself to die under the ferocity of the Carpathian light. Olga’s body twisted and knotted, her flesh pushing out in different directions, stretching as if she were made of rubber. Blood burst from her pores as her skin cracked open. Claws and talons grasped at the seams of the broken flesh and tore from the inside out. Blood poured onto the floor. Olga’s body was shredded to pieces as dark shapes began to emerge.