Unlikely Queen (Crystal Castle 1)

Hell, he could even kill me himself.

I have no guarantees.

Pulling my hand out from my pocket, I take the vial that was given to me by Cinitta.

Patrick eyes it and steps close until he takes it from my hands. “What is this?”

I shrug because I simply have no idea.

“Cinitta gave it to me before I left.”

He opens the bottle and his eyes go wide in surprise. He looks to Tatiana, who appears as confused as I do, then to Bronik who says the words, “It’s the blood of the dead girl… her sister.”

Tatiana gasps at his words and Patrick nods his head, confirming. Relief floods through me that I don’t have to kill anyone. And I owe Cinitta big time. Because somehow, she knew I woud need this.

“She can use that right?”

Bronik nods. “If she was killed by Talia’s own hands, she can.”

“It was an accident.”

“But one you had a hand in,” Patrick declares, forcing a shiver to go through my body. I had hoped not to be reminded about what happened back there in the cage.

“She could be tricking us. She could want me dead for what I did to her sister.”

“This blood is not living,” Bronik says.

“It could be a dead pig’s blood for all I know,” I argue.

“It is not,” Bronik replies.

I turn to face him and scream, “You probably want me dead, too. So shut the fuck up!”

He smirks at my outburst.

“Talia.” My sister’s hand comes down on my shoulder, instantly calming me. “Use the blood and let’s get out of here and retrieve Tanya.”

I take a deep breath and nod.

She’s right.

It’s what we came here to do, after all.

The possibility that it won’t work is plaguing my mind.

But it’s something I am willing to risk.

My life for Tanya’s is something I will give any day.

“If it doesn’t work, please tell her I tried.”

“It will work. You can tell her yourself when you see her.”

I want to believe her, but a part of me doesn’t. Taking the vial from Patrick, they both step back as I walk to the barrier. My hands reach out and I feel the light buzz all over my skin when I touch it, like tiny pins and needles rushing everywhere throughout my body.

“As soon as it’s down, she will know. And she will come looking for you,” Bronik says.

I give him no reply. Instead, I open the vial and pour it into my hands as Viper told me to do when he whispered the spell. With my hands, now coated in someone else’s blood, I reach out and start the spell.

* * *

“Tis will be broken, from blood to earth.

I take in with me each and every strand.

Tis will be broken, from sky to trees.

I take in with me each and every strand.”

* * *

I chant it four times in total.

And at the end, my hands begin to shake and the blood starts to move from my hands as I whisper the last words once more.

* * *

“Blood to earth, it shall be done.”

* * *

A large zap hits me, hard. I fall to the ground as every part of me feels as if it’s on fire. Electrified. Charged.

I hear my name called, but my body refuses to move or to do anything. I try opening my eyes, but they don’t want to move either. Then warm hands lift me from my back until my body isn’t on the ground any longer.

“I’ve got her.”

“Put her down. Now.”

I know those voices, except my head isn’t registering them properly, and my eyes don’t want to open to see them either.

“She needs a minute.”

Is that Bronik?

Taking a deep breath, my chest squeezes tight as hands lift me from the cold ground.

“Stop touching her,” my sister growls.

“Should I drop her to the ground?” Bronik says back to my sister.

I hear her huff. “Talia, can you hear me?”

“Yes,” I squeak. Managing to open my eyes, I look to find silver eyes locked on me. His eyes search mine for something. Whatever it is, he doesn’t find it and looks away. My gaze remains on his face. His jawline is strongly defined. His tongue darts out, and he licks his lips slightly, which makes me tear my gaze from him before I start thinking of things other than why my body is aching.

“I think I can stand.” Finally, I find enough strength to tell Bronik, and he gently places me down. I have to reach out and grip his shoulders so I don’t fall, because my head is still spinning. Glancing down to my hand, which is now on my leg, the blood that was there is now completely gone.

“The spell took the blood,” Bronik answers my unasked question.

“It’s down. You did it.” I look to see Patrick has already crossed the barrier and see him looking out over the hills. Not too far on the other side is the castle. I wonder if she will put more guards on this side now that the barrier is down. This is the most unprotected area, as no one has ever survived going through the Viper Forest, so her threat here has always been minimal. But now that’s changed.