Page 143 of The Fallen Fae King

Devastated, I remember the moment that my brother and I were torn apart by Nebet and Ruin.

Lazarus’ shadows reached out for me, but held powerless in Nebet’s ribbons, I’d been forced to watch — powerless — as he’d been carried away into the night.

Until I met my nestmates, I’d been certain that without my twin in my life, I would be hollowed out by loneliness forever.

Am I betraying Lazarus to feel so much for someone else?

When I first met my nestmates, I tried to tell myself that my new feelings must be false.

I didn’t understand them.

I had stained my gloves with blood, taken down armies, and made entire kingdoms fear me.

Then how could an Omega occupy my every thought?

Temples were built in my honor. I was worshiped as the Void Vampire. But now, I was distracted by how Freya tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and smiled at something I said.

I would never admit that or how thrilled I was that Daire managed to draw blood in our sparring session.

No one in my army was able to match me, but my Blood Lover could, even though I knew that he could barely see.

I became fascinated with them both, obsessed.

“I never forgot you, brother, but I broke my promise to rescue you.” My eyes are red-rimmed. My cheeks are itchy with dried tears. “Is that why you ran? I should have died in the Void. I lured you to this kingdom.”

My stomach twists at the memory of Void Devil wearing my brother’s sweet face.

He stroked my hair, while accusing: You were out living, while I was buried.

Was Void Devil telling me some truth mixed in with his lies?

What if Lazarus died in a cold cell like this?

…He loved you until the end…

I keen, clawing my nails down the wall.

If someone has killed Lazarus, I swear by the Shadow Devils that I will hunt them down, leaving their bones to be buried by the desert sands, until no one remembers they ever existed.

I don’t bother to look around when I hear the cell door clank open.

If Taran wishes to whip me today, then he will have to haul me up to lean against the wall himself.

I won’t serve Maximinus, and I won’t cooperate with this Guild any longer either.

“Wake up, vampire,” Wraith calls, rattling on the bars. “I brought you some friends.”

Lazarus…

Hope surges through me.

Startled, I scramble around.

But my hope dies just as fast.

Wraith pushes two vampires into the cell who are wearing the same gladiator uniform as I am.

The male vampire is lean with thick, dark hair and deep hazel eyes. A scar runs the length of his face.