Tanya’s hands go to her head, as if she can’t seem to control herself. Then a soft wheeze leaves her body before she raises her head, her eyes now clear.
Tatiana stands on the other side of the table, knowing full well what I just did and what happened.
“You spelled her,” Tatiana accuses the queen, who sits casually sipping her wine.
“I really did think you would have picked it up when you first saw her, but you were so concerned for yourself that you didn’t even notice.” She clicks her fingers and sets the wine on the table. “You aren’t leaving this castle until you give me what I want, you know that, right?”
“And you aren’t leaving alive. You know that, right?” I bite back as I reach for Tanya and pull her behind me. I feel her tearing at the dress she has on as if it’s singing her skin. It probably is, especially with the memories of being the queen’s puppet.
“We shall see about that. Who do you want to watch die first? Tanya or Tatiana, or maybe we will start easy with the vampire.” She clicks her fingers, and two other vampires enter and go straight for Melvon. I have no doubt he can handle them, so I turn and face her.
“Why don’t you and I have a girl-to-girl conversation,” I say, taking a step closer.
Tanya reaches out and catches my arm. I see the pain in her eyes now, the hurt. I pat her hand before I remove it and take another step.
“Imagine if I sent you into the other world, none of this would have happened,” the queen says, removing the shoulder sash she was wearing. In the other world, none of us really know about. You went and you never returned that’s as much as we know. “I’m not dumb, Talia, I know you can best me, both physically and with your powers, but I have something you don’t have.” She smiles.
“And what’s that?”
“Angels.” She raises her head high and four angels appear in front of her, Bronik being one of them. Taking on one with my knife, I could do. But all four? I’m not sure I can do that and win.
“We never needed back-up,” Tatiana says, coming to stand on the other side of me.
“Yes, the Halaba sisters only ever needed each other. You should have let more people in. Maybe if you had, you could have ruled with me, Tatiana.”
“I would never rule, let alone with you.”
The queen’s eyes fall to me. “No, you want your sister to… under your guidance?”
Bronik leans into the queen and whispers something, and her smile turns sinister.
“Maybe with your pack of wolves. Like your mate, for example, which is forbidden.”
“Luckily for me, you and I don’t serve the same queen,” Tatiana says. I reach for my knife and the queen’s eyes flick to it.
“Where did you get that?” she hisses.
We turn as we hear one large thud before they turn to ash, then see Melvon has killed one of the vampires and already has the other in his arms, ready to kill.
“I’ve had enough talking now.” The room lights up and a loud crack echoes through the space. When I open my eyes, I find Grim standing in the middle, dressed in all black, his eyes solely on me.
“Little fighter,” he addresses me, but I say nothing back. No one is frozen and he turns to face the angels. They all look at him with regard as the queen glares at him with anger.
“How dare you enter here?” she screams.
Grim pulls something from his jacket and looks at it. I can’t see what it is until he turns to me. It’s round and bright, almost as if it’s a… halo.
“It is not my job to interfere with mortal disputes, but this…” he looks around before finishing, “…is not acceptable.” He turns and strides to me. I look at the halo he is holding as he hands it over. “You will know what to do.” Then he is gone.
“Leave. Leave and no harm will come to you. Drop that and leave,” the queen says in a rushed voice.
“I need to get me one of those. Who was that?” Tanya asks, stepping up behind me. I stifle a laugh—her and boys. Oh, how I have missed our chats.
“Later,” Tatiana replies.
“Why do you want this so badly?” I ask, looking down at it. I feel the power it holds. It’s one of the most powerful things I have ever held. And it’s also alluring, as if it’s calling to me, but I don’t want to answer its call because I know it’s not right. Somehow this is very wrong.
“Don’t give it back,” Melvon says from behind me.
I notice the angels aren’t moving toward me, all their eyes are frozen on the halo.