“I’m going to bite you now,” he breathed into my ear.
“Please,” I begged.
His mouth closed over the side of my neck, and his fangs pressed into my flesh. He pushed deep inside of me once more, filling me with his cum, as I fell into oblivion.
CHAPTER THIRTY
KORI
Death tied the silk strings at the base of my neck while I held my dark hair up, and he gave me a gentle kiss on my shoulder. When I turned my neck, I saw the three sets of fang marks in the bathroom mirror. They weren’t dark like a mate mark, but I could see the slightly raised reddish-brown dots.
“I’m not sure we should risk this.” Death’s strong hands clasped around my hips. “If he tries to take you—”
“He won’t take me.” I met Death’s eyes in the mirror. “And, he won’t consume me or my blood. Your marks will stop him.”
Death’s face pressed into my hair. “I felt like we belonged to each other before tonight. I told you that. But, just as I warned you, after being inside you, I’m lost.”
“And I’m yours.” I turned in his arms and looked up into his face. This was the type of patron fixation I’d been warned about from the moment I started training as a courtesan. Death longed to adore every broken piece of my soul, and I wanted to do the same for him. It was a very dangerous pursuit, to go that deep with a person, to be that vulnerable, to let someone cherish your core being and to cherish theirs in return.
A banging came at the train door, and Death and I emerged from the bathroom and crossed the cabin.
We were met with a line of large, warrior-looking vampires covered in intricate blue tattoos spanning from the tips of their fingers to their necks. About half of them were women and half men, all looking stoically on as we stood at the train entrance.
“King Ravage asked if we could send in a healer,” the nearest warrior said, and I couldn’t help but notice that the man was talking to me rather than the king who wore a prominent crown on his head.
Death only crossed his arms over his chest and glowered, so I answered the warrior.
“We were just heading into the palace.” I gestured down to my black dress and Death’s suit.
“We’ll take you up. The king’s waiting for you to start the feast,” The guard said, gesturing to walk before him.
Death’s hand went to the small of my back, and we headed down the train platform and into a tunnel. It curved around, and the world filled with light. The cavern glowed a soft blue. The space was huge, and an entire luminescent city sat in the center. All around the city, the cave plunged into a black abyss. Delicate glowing bridges crossed over the darkness. I had seen the city once before, but in my panic, I hadn’t truly taken in its splendor.
“What’s down there?” I stopped at the edge of the nearest bridge and nodded toward the chasm.
“Hell,” one of the warriors muttered darkly.
A chill ran up my spine at the word. Between the things I’d seen recently and the fear in the warrior’s voice, the idea that Hell itself waited just below us felt all too real.
We crossed the bridge and walked through a city clinging to the stone outcropping. At the center of the gleaming city, a small gothic palace waited at the top of a long stairway. Its shining blue spires pierced into the darkness above.
King Ravage stood before the thick metal doors of the palace, flanked by two stone-faced warriors.
His hazel gaze passed over the crowd slowly, as if he was even at a distance raising a lantern and inspecting each face. I’d thought that my memory had exaggerated the vampire’s looks, but his features were just as sharp and defined as I remembered. Light, tawny hair braided back to one side of his face. He again wore a loose white shirt that opened at the neck, as if he couldn’t be bothered with dressing up. As his gaze passed toward me, I had the urge to hide behind Death, but then King Ravage would probably see me hide, and I would just reveal how afraid of him I was.
His gaze stopped altogether when he looked at me. A chilling smile spread slowly across his full lips.
“King Ravage,” Death growled. “Thank you for inviting us here.”
When King Ravage’s eyes slid away from mine, it felt like a physical weight was being lifted. “Death,” he said, “I was starting to wonder if you were coming at all. But then I guess…” he paused as his gaze slid over to mine, and he smirked, “I should have guessed that you were late because you were cumming… in my Kori.”
Death stiffened, but I laid a hand on his chest and said, “You mean that he was cumming in me, his bonded mate.” I leaned in against Death and arched my neck up to show my three marks. “He wanted to make sure I was ready for my visit here.”
When I turned back to the king, he’d lost all expression. His gaze was fixed on Death, and they were locked in some sort of stare down.
“Those look recent,” King Ravage said finally, and then he spun away from us. “Follow me. I’m throwing a feast in your honor, King Death.”
Courtesans and royals from both Portland and Nightendale filled the giant marble hall, seated at two long tables. The wine had already been poured, and everyone seemed lively and joyous in the lavish space. The room had no windows. Instead, the walls and ceilings contained frescos of naked bodies twisting together, some in torment, some in ecstasy. The images were as beautiful as they were disturbing.
As we followed the King of Nightendale to a table, Ruin turned, held up his glass, and saluted King Ravage. “It is probably the finest wine I’ve ever tasted. Thank you so much for your hospitality.”
“I’ve found your missing king and consort,” Ravage said as he stopped at a chair and gripped the chairback. “Kori, you sit here,” he said, with a look of challenge.
“She sits where she wants to sit,” Death growled.
“Which is here.” I stepped over to the seat next to where Ash watched on warily. “Between my kings.”
“I’d like you to sit here. You should get used to this chair,” King Ravage tapped the back of it.
“Sorry, Your Highness, but no.” I slipped into the seat next to Ash, and he immediately curled a hand around my thigh under the table.
“When you stop talking to my mate that way, we can start negotiating the deal I came here for,” Death said as he took the seat to my other side.
“The deal where I trade supplies that you desperately need for gems and luxury goods that I already have in abundance?” King Ravage set his elbow beside his wine glass and leaned in so he could see down the length of the table. His hazel gaze fixed on Ash, but somehow, I felt like he was looking at me, too. “This all must feel very surreal to you three, suddenly being elevated to royal status.”
“It is.” Ash set down his wine glass. “I heard you became king from a similar elevation.”
“True. Fancy that. Warrior kings now rule two of the wealthiest vampire kingdoms.” King Ravage gestured out. “We sit surrounded by courtesans.” He leaned in and lifted a brow, and his eyes shone in the low overhead lights. “Beside you sits a consort many vampire royals would kill to sit beside. I guess we’re lucky.”
“We are,” Death said with a slight nod.
King Ravage scooped up his wine glass and lifted it to his lips before his gaze slid over to land on mine. The air seemed to crackle between us, charged with meaning and unspoken words.
“What about you, Kori, consort of Portland?” King Ravage asked. “You must feel very lucky.”
Delaying answering, I lifted my wine glass and pondered the king of Nightendale’s words. After a few beats of silence, I said, “I could have ended up in a much worse place than I am now.”
“Like here with me?” King Ravage chuckled low as his gaze burned. “I’m just kidding, Kori.” His gaze lingered for a second more, and I swore I heard the rest of King Ravage’s statement, “I’m just kidding, Kori. You are going to end up here with me.” A sudden fear gripped me, fear of this kingdom and its king, and I felt palpable relief when the King of Nightendale’
s attention slid back to Ash.
Grateful for the reprieve, I turned away and gulped some of my expensive wine as I searched the room for my siblings. Giant candelabras decorated each table, spilling light over the revelers. There were so many people in the hall that I couldn’t spot Brendan and Genevieve amongst the crowd. I just had to trust that they’d keep their promise to me.
My gaze caught on a pair of azure eyes that stared up at me, and I glared at Luca, who sat halfway down the nearest table. He quickly ducked down his head, talking to a Nightendale noble. His presence here made no sense. If his main motivation was to be Duchess Dread’s consort, then what could possibly possess him to travel with us. Unless . . . Luca was a very good shot, and Duchess Dread was likely planning to overthrow the kings. Was I getting this all wrong?
“You look as if you’re searching for the nearest exit, Kori,” King Ravage said from behind me. It sounded as if he was whispering in my ear, but when I turned around, he was still two seats away.
“I was just admiring the room,” I told him.
He mouthed the word, “liar.” Then, he turned to Death and said, “Would you four like a tour of Nightendale Palace? I can barely hear myself think in this space. Bring your whole army of warriors if it makes you feel safer.”
Ash, Ruin, and Death looked at each other, seeming to be holding a silent conversation, and then they turned to me.
I didn’t want to go anywhere with King Ravage, but I was here for answers, and he was the only one who could give them to me.
When I nodded, we stood and headed through a door guarded by two large vampires. Ash signaled several waiting Portland warriors, and they followed us out.
Blessed fresh air greeted us as we walked into the corridor, and tall windows showed Nightendale. The city looked a little like an intricate spider web with its bridges the threads and its palace the central capture spiral.
King Ravage strolled up beside me. “What do you think of my city?”
“It’s stunning.” I turned up to look into his bold features and intent green eyes. “It also looks dangerous. It wouldn’t be a great place for someone who’s afraid of heights.”
He leaned his head against the sill, staring down. “Are you afraid?”
“King Ravage, you and your city scare me down to my soul, and almost nothing frightens me at this point.” I took a step back and toward Ash, Ruin, and Death, who stood around us with their arms crossed over their chests.
King Ravage spun to face the kings. “Let’s start with my private gardens, shall we? There’s something I’m dying for you all to see.”
My mates surrounded me, and seven warriors flanked them. Both Ash and Ruin offered me their hands, and even though it probably looked ridiculous, I wrapped my fingers in theirs.
“King Death,” Ravage called back, “Everyone seems to be talking about how you picked up your consort and dodged a bullet.” He smiled. “I’d love to hear the story.”
My heart hastened its beat in my chest as giant butterflies took wing in my stomach. Ravage was asking the worst possible question, and the hallway blurred around me, the wood paneling and crimson curtains became hazy smears of color.
Ash squeezed my hand gently, and I realized that I had a stranglehold on his fingers, so I loosened my grip.
Death’s eyes narrowed. “There’s not much of a story. The whole thing happened in about three seconds.”
“How did you even see the attack coming?” Ravage asked, looking over his shoulder. “People are saying that no one else saw any sign of attack except you—they say you just paused mid-sentence, yelled duck, grabbed Kori, and moved out of the path of the shot.”
“That’s incredibly specific for someone overhearing gossip,” I said. “Who was your source?”
King Ravage chuckled and turned back to the hallway. “Not many vampires know this… because it’s exceptionally rare, but there’s only one reason that a blood mage is latent. Can anyone here guess what that is?”
“Well, your source was wrong, I saw the shooter,” I snapped as I glared at King Ravage’s back.
“Oh, good,” Ravage said. “Maybe I can help you find your assassin—I’ll lend your kingdom some of my warriors. What did this shooter look like, Kori?” When I didn’t answer, he slowed. His green glare landed on me. “By my count, you still owe me answers.”
“She doesn’t owe you shit,” Ash growled.
“Oh, you have no idea,” Ravage drawled back. “She owes me her life, and she will pay for it.”
Ruin shifted in front of me. “You don’t want to be threatening our bonded consort there. We understand that she committed a crime in your kingdom, but we’re more than ready to make any necessary reparation to repay the debt.”
Ravage spun before a thick wood door and looked between the Portland kings. “Did Kori tell you why she was finally willing to come back to me, even though she knew that there would be consequences?”
“Of course,” Ruin said.
Ravage’s green gaze cut to mine. “No, you didn’t. Did you? You just brought vampire kings as a shield against me.”
“That’s not what I did.”
Ravage raised his brows. “Would you ever have willingly come to me to learn the price for what you stole?”
Trying to keep my voice even, I said, “I don’t owe you any answers, Your Highness. The deal was five answers to five questions, and I already paid.”
He grinned, showing me his sharp fangs. “Respond or don’t, I already know the answer. You only came when forced and brought three innocent men to face your consequences for you.”
Ash glanced over at me, his brow furrowing.
“He’s twisting the truth,” I said as my heart thundered. “I thought you were letting me go that day. You told me to come back, but then I was captured, and there was so much happening.” I shook my head. “And, yes, I came because… there’s something wrong with my siblings. So, I came to ask you how to fix it. I didn’t realize that you believed that you had some sort of claim on me. I was already with these kings. And I was honest with them. I only didn’t tell them that my siblings were being haunted by these ghosts, or whatever they are, because that’s my siblings’ secret to tell.”
King Ravage waved a hand, and three vampire warriors opened the large wooden doors. He turned to me, framed in the doorway. “Did you tell these kings that your siblings are still high-ranking members of the human rebellion, or was that your siblings’ secret to tell as well?”
I shook my head as my heart banged against my ribcage. “I only confessed for myself. I told them everything that I did.”
“What you did…” Ravage drawled. “You tore a hole between this world and the world of the dead. Then, you left it open because you were afraid to face the price you had to pay. But an account with the dead is not one you can leave unresolved. ” He turned into his garden and walked away, but the three kings stayed around me. They looked between them.
“I don’t like this,” Ash said. “I feel like this is a trap. He’s trying to get us to turn on Kori.”
“Because he wants her,” Death said. His hands fisted at his sides. “He’ll take her if he gets the chance.”
Ruin crossed the distance and wrapped his arm around me. “Do you know what’s waiting in there for us, Kori?”
A tear fell onto my cheeks. “The Tree of Life is in there. Ravage is telling the truth. There’s something wrong with my brother and sister after I raised them from the dead. I told myself that I was coming to help all of the humans, but I wasn’t going to return here until I realized that my siblings were being haunted by these insidious ghosts. King Ravage terrifies me so much.”
“He’s a fucking twisted liar,” Ash turned in toward me, and his hand wrapped around my waist. “We’re smart enough to notice that he has information that could have only come from the rebellion itself.”
I had noticed that too but mentioning it would have been confirming his accusation about Brendan and Genevieve.
<
br /> “And, of course we knew that your siblings were still in the rebellion. They were the ones in the garden last night, but we knew long before that.” Ash threw up a hand. “That’s why we have them guarded. We told you that at the beginning of this. Ravage is leading us into some sort of trap.” He blew out a breath and nodded back the way we came. “We need to fight our way back to the train.”
The warriors closed ranks around us.
Ash made a circle in the air with his hand. “Death, you’re bringing up the rear. Ruin, you carry Kori. All of you will surround Ruin. I’ll take the lead.”
“Wait. No.” I shook my head. “What about my brother and sister and everyone else at the feast? You’re saying that we should just abandon them?” There was no way in hell that I would ever be okay with that.
The three kings looked between them, holding one of their silent conversations.
Death growled, “Fuck no.”
Ruin’s arm squeezed around me. “What do you want me to do, carry her out kicking and screaming?”
“No. Please… King Ravage has the answer I need. I can’t turn back now. Don’t force me.” I stepped out of Ruin’s arms.
“Wait!” Death lunged for me, arms outstretched, and then he vanished. I stared around the hallway at where the three kings and seven warriors had just been, but, somehow, I was completely alone.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
KORI
A wall of wind slammed into me, knocking me off my feet. My butt smacked into the wood flooring, and I cried out as a searing pain ricocheted through my back. The air continued its unrelenting pressure, blasting into my face as I kept sliding up the smooth wood. I reached out to grab onto something, anything, but my hands squeaked over the floor, burning my palms with the friction. I screamed, but the wind whipped my voice away. The wood floor ended abruptly, and I rolled into the garden and up the path.
A loud bang ripped through the air, and then I was staring at the closed door. It was just a long stretch of golden wood with no handle from this side.
Ruin: A Reverse Harem Dark Fantasy Vampire Romance (Fire & Blood Book 1) Page 22