by Apryl Baker
“I don’t think so.” Alexi shifted from foot to foot, his eyes darting to the door leading to the bedroom. Roman saw Katyia eyeballing the room.
“Katyia?” he asked, the question plain.
“Magic,” she hissed. The feral tone rolled through him. His uncle and the three men standing guard recoiled when they got a good look at his mate. She’d gone completely white, even her clothes. The yellow orbs that replaced her green eyes expressed nothing but malignant thoughts. She crouched, her body shifting, moving into the stance of a ravager.
“What is that abomination?” his uncle whispered hoarsely.
“That, Uncle, is my mate.” Horror crossed the man’s face. He stared at Katyia, his eyes showing the first signs of fear. “Keep her away from there.”
“Why?” Roman asked. “What’s in there you don’t want us to find?”
“Magic.” The word rattled through the room. She stood, her movement fluid, graceful, and placed her hands on the door. It vibrated, shook like gale force winds were battering it down. When she finally pulled her hands off the door, it opened easily. Inside, a little girl sat huddled, hugging a doll to her chest. She screamed when she saw the monster standing in front of her. Katyia looked at Roman over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow in question.
“Who is she?” he asked his uncle, his tone flat, cold.
“My granddaughter. She is your last living relative besides myself.”
He stared at the man who had taken everything from him, the man who had murdered all but his sister. Alexi deserved no mercy, but today mercy would be granted in a small measure. “Bring the girl here, Katyia.”
The guards bristled, going for their swords. Greggor and Roman were ready for them, and it took just a few stokes of their swords to deal with them. His uncle brandished his weapon at them, but went stock still when Katyia came out with the little girl in her arms, screaming and flailing. “Don’t hurt her. She’s all I have left.”
“I’m not you, Uncle. I don’t harm innocent children.” He spat the words out. “Take her outside.”
The little girl started crying. Her screams echoed in his ears, but he kept his eyes trained on the man in front of him.
“Go ahead, Nephew, kill me.”
“Why, Uncle? Just tell me why you had to kill them all.”
“I should have been our rightful ruler,” Alexi spit out. “Our people chose your father over me. I was the oldest, the rightful heir. Did they just expect me to be happy? To live with the fact my brother had stolen what was mine? No. It is my throne to rule from. I simply took back what was mine.”
“But why kill them all?” he asked. “You had taken the title. You didn’t need to kill everyone.”
“But I did.” The man stood up straighter, righteous anger distorting his face. “Our people would never accept me if I hadn’t shown strength that day, if I hadn’t shown them I would tolerate no disobedience. They all had to die to prove I meant what I said about loyalty. You are either with me or you die.”
Alexi knew it was over. Roman had thought about this moment so many times. What he would say, how he’d laugh while he stood over his uncle as he died slowly. All the questions of why he’d do that to his family. Old anger shimmered, but he couldn’t muster the same intense hatred. The man he’d hated for so long stood defiantly before him, and Roman’s only thought was about the woman in the other room. The woman who’d taught him so much about forgiveness and loyalty in the short amount of time she’d been with him.
He did what he thought Katyia would want him to do.
“You’re right, Uncle. You’re either with me or you die.”
Instead of all the things he’d mapped out over the years, he swung his sword, the aim deadly. His uncle’s head rolled to a stop at his feet, blood splattering both Roman and Greggor when the body hit the floor. He wiped the blade off across Alexi’s chest and then sheathed the sword. He thought he’d feel relief, even joy at taking the head of the man who’d destroyed his family, but he didn’t. He felt nothing but a cold emptiness. Killing his uncle wouldn’t bring back those he lost. Nothing ever would, but they would remain with him always. In his heart.
“Let’s go.”
Greggor never said a word, simply followed him out. They found Katyia at the end of the hallway, her hair starting to darken back to its normal inky shade. She was murmuring quietly to the little girl. When she spotted them, she smiled. “This is Roman and his brother Greggor, and this little beauty is Luna.”
“I want my grandpa.” Tears welled up in her clear blue eyes. Alexi’s eyes.
He picked her up, her legs swinging when he held her up high so they were face to face. “Your grandfather had to go away, Luna. You are going to come live with us now.”
Her lips quivered and Katyia tsked. “Roman, don’t hold her like that. You’ll hurt her.” She took the girl from him and cradled her to her chest. The child couldn’t be more than two or three. Hopefully, she’d soon forget all this. That was the only good thing about children this small. It saved Delia. She forgot the horror after a few months. She remembered some things, but not the vivid details Roman did.
His gaze swung around the hall, seeing himself as a boy, his mother calling from the doorway for him to fetch his sister. His father smiling indulgently at his wife. His home.
The debt of justice he owed them paid, a burden lifted from him. His past was his past. He only had one piece of business left to attend.
Olivia.
They rode hard for two days to reach their camp. Luna took turns sleeping in Katyia’s and Roman’s laps. She shied away from everyone else, even Greggor. He tried to charm the girl, but she was having none of it. Katyia often laughed at his chagrin over his failed attempts to bribe the child into liking him.
As much as Luna and Greggor distracted her, her thoughts remained on the First Regent’s test. Today was the day. Nicolette would go before the council and attempt the test. What that entailed, exactly, no one knew. Only the person who took the test understood it. Everyone would be watching, waiting for the shimmer of lights to wash over the room to say the new Regent had been crowned.
Roman rubbed her shoulders, soothing some of the tense muscles. The village came into view, the townspeople gathered around the raised platform where her father stood speaking. Katyia hoped her sister could pass the test if that was what Nicolette truly wanted. Roman had other thoughts. He kicked Goliath into a full gallop and people scattered before the massive war horse. Roman halted the horse in front of the platform.
Her father couldn’t look her in the eyes, but Olivia could.
“Get her out of here now! You are not allowed here!”
“Hello, Mother.”
Olivia shook with suppressed rage. Katyia smiled, knowing all the vile things her mother wanted to hurl at her, but couldn’t here in front of everyone. People who still respected her.
Roman helped her dismount and then jumped down behind her. As soon as her feet hit the ground, her little brother hurled himself at her. She leaned down and hugged him. “I missed you to, Jaimie.”
“When are you coming home?” he questioned. “Mama said you were never coming back.”
“She’s not coming back,” Olivia seethed.
“That remains to be seen.” She found her sister on the platform to the left of Olivia, Gavin and the rest of her family behind Nicolette. “Are you going to stand there all day, or do I get a proper welcome?”
Gavin was the first to throw in the towel. He picked her up in a bear hug and swung her around. “We missed you, Kitty Kat.”
“Are you okay?” Nicolette fussed, waiting for her turn. “I mean, I know you’re okay, but are you okay?”
“I’m not going to go ripping your throat out, if that’s what you’re worried about.” Katyia hugged her sister. She smelled of jasmine oil. It tickled her thirst, but Katyia controlled it. “Now in a couple hours, that could change.”
“Who’s this?” Her sister eyeballed Roman, asse
ssing him.
“This is Roman. My mate.”
“Your what?” Nicolette exclaimed.
“Kind of like my husband among the vampires.”
“Oh…oh!” She pointed her finger at Roman. “You’d better treat my sister right or you will have me to deal with.”
Roman simply lifted a brow in challenge, but he kept his mouth shut.
“Your hair!” Nicolette exclaimed, already losing interest in Roman. “What did you do to your hair?”
“That’s a long story.” Katyia took stock of all the citizens. No one looked like they were ready to run screaming from the building. “Are you ready for your test?”
Nicolette’s face fell, her eyes downcast. “I failed the test.”
“I’m sorry, Nicki.” She hugged her sister again, truly sorry.
“I’m not,” she said. “I never wanted to be Regent. That was always Mother’s plan.”
“I’m glad you said that.” Katyia let out the breath she’d been holding since deciding to come here and take the test. “Because I want to try.”
“No!” Oliva shouted. “Nicolette will be the new Regent. You cannot take the test, Katyia. You are no longer human. Only a human can hold the role of Regent.”
“Be quiet,” Ivan snapped at her. “Nicolette cannot be the new Regent. She has taken the test and failed. If Katyia wants to take the test, she can.”
“I won’t have it!” Oliva screeched. “She will not steal this from my daughter.”
A hushed murmur went through the crowd at Olivia’s outburst. Nicolette could not be the new Regent, but Olivia refused to accept it. People gave her pitying looks. Katyia wanted to tell them she didn’t deserve their pity, but she held her tongue.
Horace, the oldest on the Council of Elders, stood and faced the crowd. Not even Oliva was brave enough to face the council down. “As is the tradition amongst Sector Three, anyone who wishes to stand before the Council of Elders and attempt to pass the trials may do so. The rules do not state who or even what that person must be. The only requirement is they be a citizen of Sector Three. Katyia Dragonovich has come forward and asked to be considered. What say the Council?”
All five members nodded in acquiesce. Horace motioned for Katyia to come forward. Roman gave her shoulders another squeeze and shooed her toward the elder. She swallowed, a lump in her throat. What if she didn’t couldn’t pass it either? Roman’s presence at her back gave her the strength she needed to shake off her doubts. She approached Horace, her back ramrod straight.
She felt them before she heard them. Ravager. Everywhere. Her back stiffened and she opened herself to them, to tell them to back the hell off. Dozens of them hissed back at her. These were not the ones from camp. They were new.
“Ravagers,” she whispered.
Gavin’s face paled. “Where?”
“Here.” She picked up a handful of dirt to center herself and reached out with her witchy senses, trying to feel the barrier. Nothing. Not a drop of magic remained. “They’re coming. Get everyone inside, Gav. Now. Do it quickly.”
But they were already too late. She saw them hurtling down the mountainside straight for them. Heard Roman unsheathe his sword. Felt the fear blaze through the town square. People started running, screaming, children crying. They were coming to harm her family, to hurt her mate.
The ravager in Katyia cocked its head, considering. It would be so much fun to join in, to rip and tear, and feel their wet flesh strung across her body. The vampire in her agreed. It would taste so good, the fear tinged blood. Like a drug addict on their best high.
But Katyia the witch was stronger than both of them. Katyia the witch only thought of her mate, her family, and all the people here counting on the Dragonovich family to protect them.
She blinked, letting all three of her minds shift and blend, then she walked out to meet them. Her body twisted and contorted, becoming more ravager than human. Shock and fear rippled amongst the people behind her, but Roman’s pride was the only thing she focused on. Her mate was proud of her.
The ravagers slowed, their unease rolling through her head. They didn’t understand her. She was foreign, yet familiar. A few scuttled up to her, sniffing and tasting her now snow white skin. More hissed at her.
She opened her mouth and spoke, the sounds alien to everyone but her and the ravagers. Leave and never come back here. That was the message she broadcast. These were her people, under her protection. Leave now or die.
They screeched their denial and as one, they started to run straight for her. Katyia knew they wouldn’t stop. They would come and slaughter them all. Her family, everyone who meant anything to her. Her little brother. Never again.
A door opened in Katyia’s consciousness. A cold light bathed her. She let it seep into her body, fill her up. The dirt in her hands multiplied, spreading up her arms, grounding her to the very essence of the magic in their world. She looked at the approaching horde and the light burst out of her and toward them, the dirt becoming a cloud of dust as it multiplied and became a blanket that wrapped around each ravager. Screams echoed around her, but she couldn’t discern if they were from the ravagers or the people behind her. She let the light pour out until there was nothing left. She collapsed, her head bouncing when it hit the ground.
When the dust settled, every ravager lay on the ground, their bodies broken and twisted. No life remained. Only husks. The hush behind her became unbearable and she tried to stand, but fell down. Roman was there in a heartbeat, picking her up, cradling her to his chest as he walked back toward the people staring at her in horrified awe.
“What…what is this abomination?” Olivia whispered.
“What’s wrong with her?” Jamie whispered in that little kid too loud whisper. “Why is her skin all white and her eyes…Gavin, she has yellow eyes.” He didn’t sound scared, only confused.
“There was an attack in our camp the night of her turning. A ravager’s blood mixed with ours in the very beginning of her turn. It changed her. She’s a hybrid.”
“She’s part ravager?” Gavin asked, his voice quiet.
“Yes,” Roman answered. “She’s spent the last two weeks learning to control her thirst and the ravager’s need to massacre. She’s done a magnificent job of controlling her beasts.”
“Beasts.” Olivia’s voice lashed out at them. “She is an abomination.”
“She’s the abomination that just saved every person here from certain death.” Roman’s voice was calm, cold, and unyielding. “Do you think she would have done that if she weren’t still every inch as human as the rest of you? She loves her family, her people, and would do anything within her power to keep you all safe. As she has just proven.”
“Lies!” Olivia screeched. “Get this monster out of my sight!”
“Put me down, Roman.” Katyia had heard enough.
He let her slide down his body, keeping her pressed against him in case she needed support. She worked to regain some control of herself and shifted back into her human skin. “There is an abomination here, Mother, but it’s not me.”
“You disgraceful, ungrateful child,” Olivia spat. “After everything I’ve done for you, this is how you repay me? I took you into my home, raised you as mine, and you call me an abomination?”
A murmur of agreement sounded behind Katyia. Anger curled in her stomach at Olivia’s words. How dare she play the martyr after all the pain she’d put Katyia through?
“Really, Mother? I’m ungrateful? I should be grateful for all the beatings you gave me growing up? I should be grateful for the scars on my back? I should be grateful you had me bound and gagged and delivered to the vampires because you were so insane with hatred for me you thought the best thing to do was to give me to monsters? I should be grateful for all that?”
“Mother?” Nicolette questioned. “You did that to Katyia? You gave her to the vampires? Father said one of us must be sacrificed to them…”
“No,” Roman cut her off. “The Regent’s ch
ildren were never part of our deal.”
“Mother?” Nicolette’s eyes implored Olivia to deny it, to dispute it.
“She had to go. She was going to steal it all from you, Nicolette. I had to protect you from this selfish little bastard whore.”
Gasps went up and Katyia flew at Olivia, her hand striking her mother so hard she fell to the ground. “Never call me or my mother that ever again. The only whore here is the one who sold her body to a marriage for power. The only bastard here is the one who takes pleasure in the pain of a child.”
“Katyia.” Gavin placed his hand on her shoulder. “I know she punished you, but she punished us all.”
Rage quivered inside of her. Thirst scorched her throat, her teeth ached to come out and quench it. So many scents assaulted her. Each one unique and drove her hunger to a height she’d never known. It took her several long moments to control the urge to rip Gavin’s hand off her should her and fall upon Olivia and drink her dry.
Roman stepped up and gently nudged Gavin away from her, sensing her distress. “She speaks the truth. I’ve seen the scars that run from her shoulders down to the soles of her feet.”
Katyia ignored them all. She had no time for this. More ravagers were coming. She could feel them. She walked over to Horace. “May I still take the test? More are on the way. We must get the barrier back up. We have to protect them all.”
Horace stared at her for several long moments before finally nodding. “Aye, girl, you may still take the test. Vampire, witch, ravager, you are still a Dragonovich and a child of Semmondhold. That is all that is required of the First Regent’s test.”
“No!” Olivia screeched and tried to run at Katyia. Ivan caught her within a few steps. He held her prisoner and nodded to Horace.
The old man winked at her. A smile tried to turn one corner of her mouth up, but she suppressed it. He handed her a vial of clear liquid. “Drink this, Katyia. As soon as you do, the trial will begin.”
“What is the trial? She took the vial from him, hoping he didn’t see the slight tremor in her hands.