Small red seeds sat in Eden’s palm. She plopped one in her mouth, and the sweetness burst on her tongue. Tulok playfully sparred with an imaginary foe as he showed her one of his infamous moves that had apparently won him a fight when he was younger. She tried to listen intently, but it was difficult when her mind raced and her body still hummed from last night’s turn of events.
Eden could still feel Draven’s fingers trailing over her body and his tongue exploring her mouth. She ached in a way that reminded her of their time together. As Draven had promised, when she woke, he had tested her limits until Eden was certain she would shatter into oblivion.
Just thinking about it caused her heart to flutter. Was this what her mother felt for her father? And if it was, could she convince Draven she wanted to remain with him instead of returning to Lucem? The notion of returning to the kingdom of light wasn’t appealing any longer if it meant she’d never see Draven again or feel his firm body against hers.
Maybe it was foolish to feel so strongly already. But with his blood in her veins, she knew it wasn’t just her, that he felt it too.
“And then it didn’t matter anyway, because I slammed his head on a chair, and he was snuffed out like a candle.” Tulok smashed his fist into his palm, pulling Eden from her thoughts.
If she had just arrived in Andhera, his outburst, let alone the whole story, would have startled her. Eden would have stared at the were-wolf, mortified, and run far away. But now, she shrugged. The move had been fair since the other creature had stooped to using a chair first and struck Tulok in the back. He was only retaliating with more force to put a stop to the fight.
She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t foresee myself in a tavern, let alone getting into a fight in one.”
“That’s not the point, my lady.” He turned to face her, his lips tilting in their typical grin. “I’m only reinforcing what I’ve said before. Use what you have. Your fists, or if it’s a chair, use the sharpest corner. A weapon doesn’t have to be a knife or an arrow.” Tulok tapped his temple and nodded. “Using your wit and what is presented to you can save your life. You’ve told me on more than one occasion you could never be a warrior.” His dark eyes flicked from her head to her boots. “Not all warriors battle on a field.”
Eden’s lips twisted as she doubted his words, but he was sincere in his belief at the very least. What about her said warrior? She laughed and plopped another seed into her mouth, ignoring his dry expression. Dusting her hands off, she let the remaining juicy red beads tumble to the ground, and ravenous sprites grabbed at them.
“That being said, Dhriti is switching guard with me. I have somewhere to be.” An almost sheepish glint entered his eye. “I can stay until she arrives.”
In the garden? Eden shook her head. “Don’t be silly. I don’t need anyone hovering over me while I’m gardening. I have my new blade . . . ” She shoved the fabric of her waistcoat aside. On her hip hung a secured long dagger in a baldric sheath. “I can use what I have at the ready should I need it.” Eden laughed, then turned to face a glowing flower. When she touched the feather-like petals, it closed, and as she drew away, it opened again.
Tulok’s boots scuffed the stone walkway as he stood next to Eden. “Only if you’re certain.” He seemed hesitant to leave, and she surmised it had something to do with an order.
“Tulok, I will be fine. I’ve been in the garden alone before. And besides, Alder is with me.” She looked around for her pet, but he was currently buried deep in the brush, likely hunting sprites.
Whatever notion Tulok had been warring with, he came to a conclusion and bowed to Eden. “Dhriti will be here shortly.” And with that, he backed away and turned down the winding path of the garden.
At least in the silence, Eden could attempt to muddle through what she felt and how exactly she could convince Draven to let her stay past her six months. She could endure whatever Andhera turned her into if he would allow her to stay and ease into the role Eden had thought was hers all along.
A rustling by her feet drew her attention toward Alder. He sneezed, then his leathery wings lifted him into the air so he could light on Eden’s shoulder. As her fingers ran through his silky pelt, his tail curled around her neck. It dawned on her that she couldn’t take Alder home with her if Draven chose not to keep her. Not because the sun would harm him but because he was no longer a creature of Lucem.
Could she not have one thing she wanted in life? Frustration, anger, hurt—they all collided within her.
His ash-colored nose twitched as he smelled the air. Alder stomped his back feet against Eden’s neck, which was promptly followed by a low clicking noise.
“What are you upset about?” She lowered herself to the ground and let her pet hop down. “Did you see more sprites? Then go. I won’t stop you.” She scratched the top of his head and watched as he hopped down the path, his whiplike tail slashing back and forth in annoyance.
Eden turned to a rose bush. The petals were a combination of bloodred and white. As if someone clumsily bled all over the pristine flowers and they were now stained. More bouquets were needed for her room, so Eden slid a pair of gardening shears from her pocket and clipped away several stems.
In the next moment, a strange sensation unfurled within her stomach, as if someone were watching her. Eden spun on her heel and found Mynata approaching. Unfortunately, the vampiress’ feet had made no sound on the ground to alert Eden of her arrival. Eden was in no mood to deal with Mynata’s meddling, but she wasn’t so foolish as to turn her back on her.
“So you’ve managed to wheedle your way into Draven’s arms.” The statement was cold and bitter, much like the speaker. “You have the whole castle twittering over your union with him.” She sneered.
Eden would have flushed if it weren’t for the anger steadily rising in her. “I’m not discussing my personal life with you.” Eden tightened her grip on the stems, and while the thorns pressed against her skin, they didn’t yet pierce it.
Mynata strode forward and ran her fingers along the blinking flower Eden had planted in the garden. There was something ugly blooming inside of her chest. Mynata didn’t belong here, touching the flowers Eden had planted and cared for or baiting Eden into a fight.
Mynata hissed. “You’re a passing fancy, and an unsuitable one at that. Before long, he will be in my arms again, and you will be nothing more than a faded memory.” She pulled her hand back and ran a black nail along her chin as she assessed Eden. “Nothing more than a king’s strumpet.”
Anger sprung loose within Eden. She squeezed the rose stems as she strode forward, and with her free hand, struck the vampire across the face. “Get out of here now, Mynata. Your lies and your manipulation will not work on me. You know nothing about me, and certainly not how Draven feels about me.”
A low growl emitted from Mynata. Then she laughed. “Do you? Do you know how he feels, Eden?” The vampiress turned her blackened eyes on Eden, and her fangs lengthened over her lips. “I can see why he chooses to feed on you . . . you do smell so good.” Dark laughter erupted from her again as she leaned closer. “But tell me . . . how do you enjoy tasting him? Do you prefer it straight from the source? Or in a goblet?”
It had been Mynta. It had to have been. She had dosed the goblet with Draven’s blood and fed it to Eden. Had she enlisted poor Gruff to do her bidding? “Did you . . . ?” Not even the vampiress could be so bold as to act against her king—yet the smirk on Mynata’s face said otherwise.
“Goblins are stupid little creatures.” She sighed as if bored. “Unfortunately, my plan didn’t go as I’d hoped.”
That was enough. Eden wouldn’t endure her taunting any longer. “Get out of my sight before I tell Draven everything.” But the words died on her tongue as Mynata’s hand shot out and squeezed off her air supply. Eden’s hands lifted, and she clawed at the one arm holding her in place.
“I’m afraid there is only room for one of us, Eden. And you don’t belong in Andhera . . . Draven needs a capable queen, someone strong and able to fend for herself. Not a damsel constantly in need of aid.” She tightened her grip. The prick of her nails digging into Eden’s neck burned as she tried to suck in precious air.
This couldn’t be how Eden died, not by Mynata’s hands. She refused. The flowers had long since tumbled from her grasp, and her hands pushed at Mynata, who was as solid as stone.
With her feet still planted on the ground, Eden kicked at Mynata’s knee, and it was enough to make her loosen her grip. Then Eden dipped low and sprung to the side.
Mynata launched at her and tore her nails across the tender skin of Eden’s neck, which only heightened the vampire’s frenzy as blood seeped from the deep scratch. She slammed Eden’s back to the ground, forcing whatever air she’d sucked in back out. Mynata hovered over her, but she was too preoccupied with the bleeding neck to notice Eden slipping her dagger free.
It was too awkward of a position to impale Mynata properly, but she could inflict enough damage to scurry away again, perhaps buy time until Dhriti arrived.
She slid the dagger free and plunged it into Mynata’s chest, low enough to avoid piercing her dead heart but deep enough so that Eden could scramble away and crawl into the foliage.
A shriek escaped the vampire, melding in with a growl as she plucked the dagger free. “Oh, you little wretch. I’m going to enjoy drinking you dry.”
Drink me dry? Eden’s eyes widened. The vampiress could try, but Eden wouldn’t make it easy. Mynata was a hunter; she would find Eden hiding within the trees, and then what? She swallowed, trying to soothe the rising panic. If she felt this way . . . surely Draven . . .
Draven would sense her distress, and the vampiress would die by his hand.
A snarl erupted beside her. Mynata’s face came into view, and Eden launched forward, only to be tripped by her foe. She smacked the ground hard and instantly grew dizzy. Nails bit into Eden’s calf, forcing her to cry out in pain. The fabric of her breeches gave way, but that was the least of her worries.
“You are a temporary plaything, Eden. A taste of the past, bitter and acidic. He needs someone of the dark, like him, not you—a silly nymph of the sun.”
“Nymph?” Eden screeched. Anger, whether it was her own or not, filled her, chasing out her panic. Blood trickled down her forehead to her eyebrows and onto her nose, but Eden had the sense to flip around to face the looming vampire. Quickly, she assessed her surroundings. Behind her the carnivorous plant stretched, feeling the tremors in the ground and tasting the blood in the air. Mynata was far too focused on a meal to worry about a plant.
Eden allowed the pulse of her magic to greet the awakening creature, feed it the energy it so craved, and at the same time, Mynata sprung at her again. Her fingers wrenched Eden’s head to the side, and she lay still until Mynata’s fangs were about to pierce her skin. In a lightning-fast movement, Eden withdrew her energy from the plant, and the beast which yearned for it grew agitated. The rustling near its roots only furthered its annoyance, and as Eden looked up, its gaping, jagged maw opened.
With every thread of strength she possessed, Eden pushed her legs up against Mynata, shoving her upward into the opening mouth. The vampiress didn’t know what was happening until razor-sharp teeth tore into her. Blood dripped onto Eden’s face, and she rolled to the side, wide-eyed in shock and suddenly quite ill.
The beat of wings filled the air, and arms scooped Eden up. Dhriti’s face creased with fury as she assessed the damage.
“My lady! Are you all right?” Dhriti’s silver eyes flicked over Eden, assessing her.
Eden frowned and swallowed back the bile creeping up her throat. “Mynata,” she panted. “Mynata, she came at me.” Shakily, she swiped at her face, and her blood ran cold as she saw blood that wasn’t her own on her fingers.
Dhriti spat a curse. “Eden, are you hurt anywhere other than your neck?”
As soon as her words left her, the plant spewed clothing into a steaming, bloody heap.
Eden stared at it, anger hardening the set of her jaw. “I don’t know.” Her entire body felt numb, bloodless.
“We need to get you to . . . ”
To whom? Draven? Eden frowned at her. Draven would be on his way already. As far as she knew, he was in the castle, which meant there would be no time to clean herself up before he saw what she looked like. What did she look like? She glanced down at her breeches, only to find a tear in them, and a line of blood from where Mynata’s nails had torn into her calf. The waistcoat’s tail whipped around Eden like a battle-tried banner and just as tattered as one.
With shaking fingers, Eden lifted her hand to her head and swept a stream of sweat away. Anger washed through her in waves, but it wasn’t her own.
“You don’t have to. Draven has found me.” She turned as he rounded the corner of the garden and in quick strides made it to her.
At once, his hands gingerly tilted her face up to his. His blue eyes darkened as worry blended with fury. “Are you all right?”
No. She wasn’t all right. Mynata had assaulted her, attempted to kill her, and as her adrenaline abated, every muscle throbbed. “I will be.” Eden’s gaze slid to a figure just beyond Draven’s shoulder, and to her surprise, it was Zryan.
