They were killing machines. Cruel. Merciless. I never should have tried to strike a deal with them. I thought I was being smart, but I was betrayed in the end, just as I’d betrayed Cassius.
“You’re finally going to be of use to us, sweet Janella,” the hunter said. Sharp eyes looked at me from underneath his blond hair. I’d seen this man many times. He often came down to the prison to ensure that my runes were properly maintained. I turned my attention to Edrik. He didn’t move. Just as he hadn’t for the last twenty years. “The queen has awakened, and you’re going to get us to her.”
My head buzzed as realization shot through me. This was finally happening. The hunter moved his hands over the runes that surrounded me, and as he did, his hands glowed. It was their way of removing their spells. The tightness that had kept my body locked into place all these years disappeared. I fell from the pillar, crumpling against the ground. An ache pulsed throughout me, but it couldn’t numb me to the joy I felt from being able to move my limbs. I groaned as I pushed myself up. My first instinct was to attack the hunter, but he kicked me and kept me on the ground as soon as I moved to get up. I was too weakened and drained from my years of being captive. I needed blood to have my strength back, and the hunter’s throat looked far too enticing.
The hunter took a seal from his pocket. On it was another rune.
“You will give us Cassius and his queen.”
The hunter pressed the rune to my forehead. A burning sensation singed me, causing my entire body to convulse. My back arched as I tried to cope with the pain. Make it stop. My toes curled. My hands balled into fists and my fingernails dug into my palm.
I hated the hunters. I detested their kind with every inch of my being and wouldn’t care if their entire race died in the worst possible way. I would tear off their limbs one by one if I could, and their screams would be like music to my ears.
You will give us Cassius and his queen.
The hunter’s words repeated in my mind. I wasn’t sure what he’d done with that spell, but it seemed like he’d created a mental connection, and I felt compelled to carry out his orders.
They’d turned me into one of their puppets?
“Cassius…” My throat sounded unbearably hoarse when I tried to speak. “He doesn’t…” He didn’t trust me anymore. I gave up speaking when it became too difficult.
“Lift her up,” the hunter said, gesturing with two fingers.
Two of his peers dragged me up by my arms. They didn’t care that my throat burned from thirst or that my entire body was shriveled from the lack of sustenance. They treated me like a useless rag doll, spent and ready to be thrown away.
They brought me out of the dungeons, forcing me to start walking on my own even though my legs hurt like hell. I hadn’t used them for so long. They lifted me up a flight of stairs and through the cathedral they used as their headquarters. A hymn played throughout their grand hallways. The hunters loved to worship, praising the gods they believed they got their powers from.
When they reached the front entrance, the hunters tossed me to the asphalt. I crumpled. Sunlight bathed me, weakening me with its glare.
I had missed the sun. I took back what I’d thought.
The lead hunter placed his hands on his hips. “Give me Cassius, or you will die.”
I fought against his order, but it locked into my head. It probably had something to do with the rune they’d used on me earlier. Their magic tightened around me, making me want to do the hunter’s bidding.
I tried to get up, but I was too weak, so I could only turn my head slightly to look at my captor. He already had his back to me and was walking into the cathedral. Before I could voice my response—a curse—massive doors slammed behind him, locking me out from my prison and banishing me to my quest.
This felt like death, but my immortal body refused to let me rest.
I waited. This was agony, but this was also freedom. I should be more appreciative of the recent turn of events.
I lay still until the first passerby came. The sun had set and the moon hung in the sky by then.
“Are you all right, miss?” the person asked.
Using the last reserves of my energy, I lunged at my prey. I hooked my arms around her waist, latching on to her with everything I had.
She screamed, begging for her life.
I didn’t care.
My fangs sank into her jugular, and with that, I feasted.
Thank you for reading!
I hoped you’ve enjoyed Verity and Cassius’s story. I, for one, enjoyed torturing them very much, and there will be more heartbreaks to come.
Their story has just begun, and I’m planning two more books to complete their storyline.
If you enjoyed the book, please leave a review. Reviews help a lot with sales, and I can’t justify giving so much time to writing if I can’t make a living out of it (otherwise, I’ll have to spend more time at my day job). Every bit helps!
Fullblood Academy: A Vampire Academy Mild Bully Romance (Vampires of the Sanctum Book 1) Page 23