Page 71 of The Forbidden Wolf King
Well said.
“Kailani?”
She looked at me seriously.
“Zaphira killed my big brother. She kidnapped my little brother. I can’t let her live. I may have to lose my life in order to kill her, so please tell Axil I’m sorry.”
Her face fell at that and she looked at my stomach where a child grew inside of me. I didn’t want to think about that right now. I just wanted revenge. It was a steady banging war drum in my chest, a thirst that could not be quenched until Zaphira’s head was severed from her body.
Kailani nodded. “You will have a small window of time if they put you in the machine that steals your magic. They take off your cuffs. Only then can you use your power to try and overtake them.”
I dipped my chin in understanding. “Thank you.”
We fell silent then, sitting against the bars and waiting for the next move. Eventually someone would come take one or both of us. And after several hours, they did. My head had fully healed by the time the guard came for Kailani and me.
“Where are you taking us?” Kailani asked as we were hauled out of the cell.
“Shut up,” the guard told her and then peered into the cell, blinking rapidly. “Where is the kid?”
“Do you want me to answer or should I shut up?” Kailani said.
He reached up and smacked her hard across the face and her lip split back open.
“They already took him!” I screamed at him.
He glared at me. “Where? Who?”
Kailani was holding her cheek. “How should we know? We don’t work here. A guard took him to the lab.”
He growled and pointed the sharp tip of a knife at my throat. “Walk and don’t get any ideas or I start stabbing.”
I did as he asked, feeling like it was a good sign that my brother hadn’t been brought back down to the dungeon since he’d left.
Was he free? Already outside the gates? Was Axil okay? I felt for our bond, hidden among all of my anxiety for my brother, and could sense that he was still alive. I would know if my mate was dead, right?
We were marched up the stairs and down a hallway to a large dining room. Outside the room, two more guards were stationed. One of them broke away and stepped up beside Kailani. “They’re ready,” he said to the guard that held us.
They?
The doors opened and I steeled myself as I took in the space before us. The Nightfall queen sat at the head of a large table with a regal-looking bloodsucker next to her. I didn’t know anything about necromerian royalty but this man reeked of power and influence. His black high-collared jacket framed his pale face and he stared at me with a gaze I didn’t like. One that was hungry, like a half-starved animal.
They both watched us as we entered and the queen gave me a snarl. I glanced at her bandaged hand and grinned.
“You can have her wolf power, Regis, but I want the elf queen,” she told him.
Regis looked at me and squinted. “She’s the wife of Axil Moon?” he asked and my stomach tightened. They knew his name.
“I believe they call them mates, but yes,” Zaphira replied.
We were led to the table where two places had been set across from the queen and her companion. Kailani and I shared a look.
What was the game plan here? Feed us dinner and then steal our magic? Why? To play with us?
Just when I was beginning to wonder if we were meant to take a seat or not, the guard pushed me down into one of the chairs. I was seated across from the man Zaphira had called Regis, who I was going to assume was the necros’ king.
“What will you be having for dinner? Blood with a side of blood?” I asked him sarcastically.
He shared a look with the queen and she nodded. “See. She has a temper: those make for the best magic elixirs.”
