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“Marko says you’ve gone with the enforcers. Where are you? Are you in the city?”
At the fast pace of her words, my head shook. “I’ll be back soon.”
Lava boiled within me and my knees buckled, hitting the ground hard as an unexplainable thickness pushed through me. It forced my lips open and I gagged as black smoke began pouring from my mouth.
Colin’s grip nearly snapped my wrist as he held to me. Whether it was a warning or out of panic, I wasn’t sure, but it wasn’t coming from me. Not intentionally.
Darkness gathered above, only to drop before me, collecting as Tessa began to take shape.
“What the hell is that?”
The human’s voice had Colin ripping me to my feet. The smoke lightened to what I knew was color I couldn’t see because of my invisible state. I reared forward, my only need to protect her. She had her back to them and they were all watching with their weapons trained on her.
“Tessa, no!”
Colin’s grasp broke at my force and Tessa spun, throwing her hands up just as shots rang out toward her. Bullets fell to the ground, but from the jerking of her body and the pain throughout my chest, I knew she hadn’t been fast enough. Her body swayed, but she righted herself, staring down.
“Queen!” Colin yelled.
Bullet’s continued to fall to the ground and she looked over her shoulder, glaring as I came up to her. The tips of her fangs were exposed and she slowly spun, pointing.
“You, show yourself.”
Colin appeared, his head angled down as he walked forward at a fast pace. Just as he approached, he kneeled. “Your Highness.”
“The king gave you orders to come to this city?”
“He did.”
“Stand.” Tessa voice was deeper than normal as she began to walk around her shield that trapped the humans. Murder was written in her blackening eyes while she took in the men who had killed our kind. And then the mountain of bodies. Her pain was my own as her fists clenched repeatedly and she tried to catch her breath.
“Tell me,” she continued. “What do you call a ruler who does not protect or rule his city?”
Colin’s eyebrows drew in as he rose to his feet. “I’m not sure, my queen.”
“Dead,” she said, flatly. “A ruler that does not protect what is his must be dead because he would never turn his back on his people.” Tessa pointed to our dead. “My Marie is in there and I want her back. I was told she has passed. She is close, but she still lives. I’m dropping this wall. I want everyone killed but the one who hurt her. He is mine. Find him and bring him to me.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Tessa dropped the wall and tears came to her eyes as she threw herself into my arms. Her voice pushed into my head as I held to her tightly. “My dear friend. I do believe we may be in trouble.”
“What do you mean?”
A sniffle left her and she drew back, wiping the tears away. “I don’t know, but I feel it. Marko wouldn’t do this. He would have tried to avenge his city. He was one of the best leaders I knew. He loved his people. This new Marko.” Her lids lowered the smallest amount with her thoughts. “Something is not right. Aetas’ blood was not a good match with his. I fear … he may never return to the person he was before. I see him, but I don’t know him. Why do I feel this way? It’s not just our broken bond, it’s his actions. His behavior. It is as though he has died with his change.”
“No. He’s not dead. You have pulled back from him, too. Maybe the two of you need to try to reconnect. Maybe your love will bring him back?” What the fuck was I saying? Was I trying to help her win Marko over? I was. I feared who he was becoming too, and I couldn’t push the worry away. This new Marko wasn’t good. I could feel his evil. Tessa was the only one who could stop him from making the wrong decisions.
“Perhaps you’re right.” Her hand came up to stroke my face, but Colin’s voice had her spinning around.
“I believe this is who you’re looking for, my queen.”
Tessa rushed over, glancing at the man, but ran to the pile of dead vampires. “Hold him,” she yelled. “Marie?” Her eyes scanned over the bodies while her palm hovered before her. She took a few steps, only to back-track and start throwing bodies out of the way. I rushed to her side, helping her sort through our dead.
“She’s here. I can feel,” Tessa breathed out. “She’s barely alive. Her energy is almost gone from me.”
The ends of dark hair had me throwing a male vampire behind me. At the soft groan, I moved faster.
“Got her.” I rolled an older woman over and cringed at the blood smearing her pale face. It was coming from her mouth and nose and her eyes were closed. I reached forward, pulling her into my arms. “Come on, Marie.”
