Crimson Truth (Onyx Assassins 4)

My stomach sank, my breathing hitching with her admission. The words were easily rolling off her tongue and there was no hint of shame or remorse anywhere on her face. “You…you can’t be serious,” I said, despite feeling it in my bones that she was. “You’re working with the Sons? You’ve been helping them murder innocent—”

“Innocent?” She cut me off, her voice filling the entirety of the room. “You’re a witch, Jocelyn, in case you’ve forgotten. And not just any witch. You are my daughter. Heiress to this throne. You know there is no such thing as an innocent vampire.”

I swallowed back a mouthful of acid, my mind whirling. I thought about Avi, her delicate, optimistic nature but her fierce power when it came to protecting those she loved. I thought about Alek and how he defied all laws and ancient treaties in order to save the woman he loved…the human he mated. I thought about Lachlan and Ransom and Hawke, how their brotherhood rivaled even the oldest of covens.

And then I thought about Benedict, my mate. The male who valued truth above all things, who had so much compassion in his heart...it was a marvel he was even real. I thought about how he’d accepted me, baggage and all, without judgment or anger in his heart. Fate had brought us together for a reason, and I could think of no more innocent or worthy vampires than the ones of my mate’s family.

“You’re wrong,” I breathed the words.

“Excuse me?”

I looked up at her, never breaking our gaze. “You’re. Wrong.” I said the words louder this time, the power roiling in my blood coating my tone. “Just like with any species, there are evil creatures, but you can’t condemn an entire group because of the actions of a few.” Sure, there had been vampires who’d targeted witches ages ago, but they were brought to justice. Just as the witches and warlocks who targeted lycans or vampires or even the demons. Those actions were always brought to justice, by my mate’s Order.

“Oh, Jocelyn, do wake up,” she said, tsking me. “I’ve always known you were a sympathizer, but this is ridiculous. You belong at my side. You will join me in this endeavor and you will get over whatever little friendships you had with those foul creatures.”

I gaped up at her, still disbelieving. “You’ve worked with them,” I said. “You’ve helped Alek before. You fought the Sons with him—”

“Your naivety is taxing,” she cut me off. “I’ve lived for centuries, daughter. This is how you play the game. Earning the trust of those in power is the easiest way to overthrow them.”

I clenched my jaw shut.

“Take your place at my right side.” The words were a command, not a request. “You were bred for this. Your very power counteracts that of all supernaturals. You were created to aid me in this.”

Angry tears bit the backs of my eyes, but I didn’t let them fall.

My own mother was the source of so much pain and anguish…and she expected me to help her? Expected me to create more chaos for her?

“No.” I took a step back, shaking my head.

“No?” She laughed. “You don’t get to say no to me.”

“Yes, I do,” I said. “I don’t belong to you. I never have. I am your daughter, but I am not your weapon. I would never do something like this. Never be okay with it.”

“Your duty is to your blood,” she snapped. “You owe your coven. You owe me—”

“Nothing,” I cut her off this time. “I owe you nothing. I didn’t ask for you to bear me. I didn’t ask for your power. I didn’t ask for any of this.”

She glared at me. “And yet here you are. The fates deemed it so. You will do as I say or I will make you do it. Pick the easier road, Jocelyn. You’re so good at that.”

Power crackled between my fingertips, and she laughed again, rising from her throne to cross the room and stand before me.

She eyed my power like I was wielding a Nerfgun, not a force capable of knocking her on her ass. “I made you, sweetie,” she said, shaking her head. “You stand no chance at overpowering me.” She reached for my arm, her motion so quick I couldn’t dodge. “The blood in your veins will yield to me and only—” She gasped, hissing as she dropped my arm as if it burned her. A flick of her wrist, and the mark on my arm seared and lit up beneath my long sleeve. “No,” she whispered, her eyes wide on Benedict’s mating mark.

“Yes,” I said, glaring at her. “I wear Benedict’s mating mark. I am his mate and he is mine and I’ve wholeheartedly accepted that bond.” She shook her head again, disgust curling her lips. “Fate chose to bring us together. Weren’t you just saying fate made me exist? Well, it wants me with Benedict. And I stand with him. With his kind.”