Above me, the other vamps would be gathering their new servants. Vulthus would be looking for me. What if he had already checked the bathroom and my dorm? Hopefully, he’d tear the whole castle apart before he concluded that I had escaped.
After one final set of stone steps, Mei opened the door to an underground parking lot. The lot was full of limos all in rows, most of them black, but a few of them tan or gray, and all with tinted windows. I wanted inside of one quickly. Already additional footsteps came down the stairs behind us.
Mei walked lazily across the lot, twirling her keys. I yawned, faking tiredness so I wouldn’t have to talk. I wished she’d hurry, that we could get to the city before everything blew up. We got into the backseat, and I sat in silence, staring straight ahead as Mei slid into the car beside me.
“We need a personal servant to go with us to Paris next week,” she said.
“Really?” I asked, taking on what I hoped was Kristen’s needy tone.
“You’ll need to prove yourself before you can go. My mother is very demanding,” Mei said, picking at her fingernails. “And impatient.”
The driver of the limo, a youngish-looking vampire man, started the car and pulled out of the lot. Another pair of guards opened the gates for us to leave Nocturnal Academy.
My heart continued to race in my throat. I had to prepare for my strike. I’d succeed.
We drove along the road with water on either side, and two more guards in almost-hidden kiosks watched us go down the gravel road. The driver stared straight ahead as we continued through the woods, leaving Nocturnal Academy behind. Mei made small talk about how her mother didn’t tolerate mistakes, and needed service at all times. She was putting Kristen in her place. I pretended to lap it up like a good dog.
“Yes, I said with what I hoped was an eager nod. “Of course. Whatever your mother wants.” How long I could maintain the glamour? I had never practiced maintaining it for over ten minutes, and my lack of endurance was letting itself be known. My feet tingled with pins and needles, and my head ached from the concentration.
Eventually we got out of the mountains and into the city, which glowed in the night with hope. I focused on the approaching lights through the clearing trees and turned my thoughts to where I’d go after this. Another city, for sure. I could dye my hair another color or just look like someone else for a while. Out of the corner of my vision, I realized the door wasn’t locked. Mei clearly trusted that Kristen was desperate to stay in their service. Excellent. I couldn’t have found a better target.
We entered Denver and started driving through the outskirts, a hilly suburb where most of the lights were off. The limo rolled up to a four-way stop, and I tensed, gathering my ice in my chest. All I had to do was knock out Mei with a surprise icicle and run between some hedges. The driver wouldn’t be able to follow, and if he did, I could fight him, too.
The car stopped.
And Mei’s phone buzzed. She studied it as a faint scream of panic rose in my chest.
“Calvin. Stay here for a minute,” Mei said, eyeing her phone.
I could go. But curiosity got the better of me as Mei’s eyebrows lifted. From here I could see the text and it had Gregory’s name over the bubble.
Gregory: Onyx is missing. Kristen is knocked out in the bathroom.
Panic exploded, and I felt my glamour wavering, tingling as it threatened to drop away. Already a hint of red showed through my blue fabric. Mei turned her gaze to me, eyes widening in confusion. “Who are you?”
The driver moved his arm to lock all the doors, and I shoved mine open just as the whole car clicked. A primal urge to get away took over. I stumbled out of the car and summoned a ball of ice and shot it at Mei’s face as she reached out for me. It hit with a clunk and shattered, drawing a strange sound from her throat.
I darted between a pair of hedges as my glamour fell away with another wave of tingling. My red dress flapped against my bare legs as hedges grew on either side of me. Mei cursed behind me and the door to the limo opened as the driver got out. They gave chase. Then a tall wooden fence emerged from the dark that separated yards. It was easily eight feet high. Too high for me to climb even with gym training. I stopped and whirled. It was time to fight.
Two figures blocked my way out of the hedges: Mei and the driver. Soon more would come. I had to knock them both out, maybe even kill them. Mei rubbed her head. She was still in shock. Breathing in, I let the ice rise and let two spikes form in front of me. But the vamps were ready this time. The driver gasped and dodged to the side, lightning-fast, as I let them fly. Mei did the same, catching my spike in midair. She stared at it, her eyes wide with shock. Her mouth parted, but she didn’t let go.
“Onyx,” Mei said as she and the driver slowly closed in. “You’ve been keeping secrets.” She clicked her tongue. “A winter fae.” She shook her head. “It’s a shame I can’t find a way to keep you myself. Vulthus is on his way, and he’s very angry.”
Chapter 23
Shit. I had escaped Nocturnal Academy, but Vulthus and his cronies were closing in. If they caught up to me, they’d drag me back to his castle of torture in chains.
My legs threatened to give out.
No. I could not give up. Not now that I was on the outside.
Mei smiled and lunged at me from one side while the driver closed in from the other. My mind locked into survival mode. I ducked forward, doing what they expected the least. Muffled grunts sounded as they crashed into one another. I whirled as they both came to their senses and grasped the fence.
“Don’t exert yourself. Trust me, you’ll need your strength for Vulthus.” Mei grinned. Her eyes were reddish. She was hungry.
I gathered more ice, letting my full fury rise, and she watched me, ready to catch another attack, unaware that I could do more. The driver charged me, lifting his fist, and I dodged again, this time releasing a swarm of shimmering, buzzing bees.
The ice bees closed in from all sides, and the driver threw his hands around his face as did Mei.
I ran.
The bees wouldn't distract them for long.
Bursting into the hedge, I pushed myself into the leaves hid behind it. The rational part of me told me to run, run, but my knees locked, obeying some ancient animal instinct. Instead, I dropped, fighting against the body that wanted to betray me. I moved slowly, sheltered by the thick branches above, and just as I started to berate myself for how stupid I was, I saw it—a lawn. Beyond the hedge was a house without a fence surrounding it. A suburban home for a human family. The lights weren’t on. They weren't home or were sleeping. Maybe they had left the backdoor unlocked, and even if they didn’t, families like these always hid a spare set of keys underneath the front mat, didn’t they?
Yes, this was my salvation.
I glanced backward and when I didn’t find Mei nor the driver, I pushed up into a standing position and scurried toward the home.
I reached the house and the back door. Locked. I took a deep breath and reached underneath the mat. Nothing. I moved to the potted plants next, plunging my hands into flowers and leaves. Still no key.
“She couldn’t have gone far,” Mei’s voice carried over to me. They had broken away from the swarm. “Come out, little mouse.”
I cursed silently. No, no, I couldn’t let them get me, not when I had gotten so far. Desperately, I dug through the earth, trying to unearth a key even as the part of my brain that still worked told me it wouldn’t be there.
Sharp car brakes sounded and were followed by the slamming of doors. I couldn't see them around the house, but I knew the truth. More vamps had arrived. They would drag me back to Vulthus. I pushed at the door in desperation, considering breaking the window pane, but the noise would only draw attention to me, and the scent of my bleeding would create a trail for the vamps to follow.
My gaze wandered down and that’s when I spotted it. A cat door. Maybe even a door for a small dog. It was small, but not tiny. It could fit my head, and my torso, and
my hips if I was careful. Or maybe it couldn’t, and I was delusional. But I had to try. I had to get inside.
I pushed the flap open, tears of relief shooting into my eyes when it gave and I stuck my arms, then my head inside. With a bit of wiggling and twisting I fitted my shoulder blades through as well. I could do this. Certainly, my hips weren’t wider than my shoulders.
I was so close, I could practically taste safety as I clawed at a linoeum floor and eyed a kitchen table. I began maneuvering my hips through the opening.
Something grabbed my legs.
Tugged.
I opened my mouth, but choked back my scream. Making a noise would only alert the other vampires. I had to kill this one and leave.
The stranger pulled again hard, and I let him, not wasting precious energy on fighting. When my back was fully lying on the grass, I struck the dark figure above. I flung my hands forward and shot ice daggers at him, breathing out frustration and rage. The stranger stiffened as both daggers struck his chest and shattered uselessly.
“Stop it, Onyx. You’re fine now.”
I blinked. The vamps didn’t call us by name when they were angry, and this tall, muscular man didn’t have fangs, but pointed ears. I recognized him. He had been standing next to Vulthus at the first outing. He was his friend, his bodyguard. Shit. A scream rose in my throat, and I opened my mouth, but the fae male was ready. He clamped his broad hand over my mouth. “Shut up. I’m getting you to safety.”
He was trying to lull me into a false sense of trust. But fae couldn't lie. Not a pureblood like him who crackled with magic. He was getting me to his safety, not mine.
I kicked and clawed at him, but he ignored me. “Don’t make me knock you out.” With a swift move, he produced a cloth and tied it around my mouth, then he heaved me over his shoulder as if I was a feather.
Yes. A pureblood. Just like Petra. I punched his back and kicked anything I could reach with all my might.
“Don’t make me knock you out,” he repeated with a growl, and this time, I went limp. Over his shoulder, I could do only minimal damage, and if he knocked me out, he could take me wherever. I needed to pretend to play along. At least this way, I’d see where he was taking me.
I let my breath calm. Mei and the driver were nowhere. This didn't make sense. This fae man wasn't carrying me back in the direction of Mei's vehicle, but through the yard to an adjacent street. He didn’t speak again, but simply walked me to a black car parked next to a suburban house. The door was open. He lowered me onto the seat, blocking my way out, and offered a nod. It was somehow reassuring. Then he untied the cloth around my mouth.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“I will tell you.”
That was helpful. I remained on the edge of the seat, determined to fight if this man tried anything. I eyed the front of his dark suit, watching his pose. “Are you taking me to Vulthus? A yes or no. No funny, vague answers.”
“No.”
“Are you taking me back to Nocturnal Academy? The Elites?”
“No.” Impatience grew and the air crackled with magic.
“So, the Summer Court, then.”
“Absolutely not! We need to go.”
He was not lying.
Something strange was going on. Forcing my heart to calm, I slid across the seat to allow the fae man to get in beside me. He did so with grace and class. This was stupid, trusting yet another person, but I had to get away from the area. Mei was out there and Vulthus was coming.
The driver in the front started up the engine. The windows were tinted and since it was night, I couldn’t see anything outside. Great, so much for my plan to see where he was taking me and commit the route to memory. I counted silently, determined to at least memorize the length of our journey and remember the turns we were taking. Then I sized up my opponent. The fae man sat quietly next to me. He hadn’t spoken once to his driver.
Was the driver a vamp? I couldn’t tell from the backseat. I was still unshackled, but the doors had clicked shut.
“Put on your seatbelt,” the fae said, and I obeyed, deciding that pleasing him might put him in a talkative mood.
“Where are you taking me?” I studied him, watching for any signs of lying.
His blue eyes met mine. “To my stronghold. Nobody knows where it is.”
Okay. Was that supposed to reassure me? “Are you planning to ask for a ransom to resell me to Vulthus?”
He gave a throaty laugh. “Why on earth would I do that?”
“Because you’re friends.” He shook his head. “Business partners?”
The male fae snorted. “Vulthus had his uses, but no more.”
I felt my forehead wrinkle. This fae male was admitting to using the king of sadists for his own agenda. Was he insane or even more ruthless than Vulthus? Finally, I asked the question I should’ve posed all along. “Take two. Who are you?”
The stranger’s blue eyes drilled into me. They weren’t light like Thorsten’s. They were dark, cobalt blue. I had only seen this particular shade on one person before. I gulped. The stranger smiled. “I am King Olwen Vinter of the Winter Court. I am your father, Onyx.”
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for reading Vicious Royals. We hope you enjoyed the development of Onyx’s crazy journey.
We are currently writing Savage Monarchs, Book 3 in the Nocturnal Academy series. As of yet we haven’t decided if this will be the final book in the series or not. It all depends on how successful the series is, so please if you enjoy it, spread the word and leave a review, which allows new readers to find our work!
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Talk soon,
Margo & Holly
About Margo Ryerkerk
Margo Ryerkerk is the author of The Cursed Fairy Tale series and The Dark Legacy Series, and has reached several times bestselling status with her novels on Amazon. Her YA paranormal and fairy retelling series focus on magic, love, and adventure.
After completing a BS in Psychology, a MS in Marketing, and a two-years stint in the fashion world, she became a full-time author and can’t believe she gets to spend her days creating stories. When she’s not writing, she loves to read, travel, and dance to pop anthems.
Raised in Austria, Margo now lives in the USA with her husband and her Pomeranian.
To hear about newest releases and receive two free short stories, please sign up to my readers group. (I will never share your personal details and will only notify you periodically about new releases, sales, freebies, giveaways, and bonus content.)
www.MargoRyerkerk.com/contact/
DARK LEGACY SERIES
Dark Legacy, Book 1
Mirror Sacrifice, Book 2
Spirit Snatcher, Book 3
Phoenix Call, Book 4
Phoenix Unleashed, Book 5
THE CURSED FAIRY TALE SERIES
The Nutcracker Curse
The Bluebeard Curse
The Hansel and Gretel Curse
Click here for Margo Ryerkerk’s Amazon page.
Facebook: Margo Ryerkerk
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Email: [email protected]
Instagram: MargoRyerkerk
About Holly Hook
Holly Hook is the author of the Cursed Academy books, which has been completed as of November 15th, 2019 and the Alpha Legacy series, a 7-book YA paranormal romance. She is also the author of the Destroyers Series, the Barren Trilogy, the Flamestone Trilogy, and the Twisted Fairy Tale series, among others. She lives with two obnoxious cats.
To hear about newest releases and receive a free short story, please sign up to my readers group. (I will never share your personal details and will only notify you periodically about new releases, sales, freebies, giveaways, and bonus content.)
http://www.subscribepage.com/e3w3s2
Click here for Holly Hook’s Amazon page.
Contact: [email protected]
Facebook: Holly Hook Author
Other works
Want more reading material? Please turn the page for an excerpt of Margo Ryerkerk’s Dark Legacy and Holly Hook’s Cursed Academy.
Dark Legacy Series
The Dark Legacy Series is now complete and includes five full-length novels.
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My name is Sierra Reeves, and my life is built on lies. I’m not a regular girl. My telekinetic powers can flip the precarious balance between good and evil.
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I don’t care how hard I’ll have to fight to get into his inner circle, I won’t give up. But just as I make the tiniest bit of progress with Mr. Stubborn, corpses sprout like mushrooms all over Savannah. If I’m not careful, I will be next…
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