King of Battle and Blood (Adrian X Isolde #1)(99)

We both knew who it was.

Ravena.

The crimson mist.

“Stay,” Adrian said. “Get to higher ground, and I will return.” He kissed my forehead and as he left, calling for Daroc to join him, Ana hurried to my side.

“Sorin,” Adrian called. “Stay with the queen!”

Several guards fell into ranks behind them, and as I watched him go, a greater sense of unease washed over me.

“You heard the king,” Sorin said. “Higher ground.”

But as he spoke, Gesalac stepped into the center of the room, and I knew whatever his intentions, they were not good.

I lifted my chin.

“So it appears you have made it to coronation day,” he said.

“Do you have something to say, Noblesse?”

“My queen,” Sorin said, coming to stand beside me. He placed a hand upon my arm. “Perhaps it would be best to retire to your room where it is safe.”

He attempted to urge me toward the adjoining room where Adrian and I had waited for court, but as he did, a group of vampires—some noblesse, including the one-eyed Julian and their vassals surrounded us. When they drew nearer, I felt Sorin’s body tense, his grasp on me tightening. Ana, too, turned in an attempt to block me from their onslaught.

I glared at Gesalac.

“So this is how it will be,” I said.

“This is treason, Noblesse Gesalac,” Sorin said.

“It is not treason,” he said. “It is revenge. King Adrian knows a thing or two about revenge, does he not?”

“I am warning you not to touch me,” I said.

The group who surrounded me laughed.

“What is a warning from a mortal? Besides, you would not want anything to happen to your father, would you?”

Gesalac nodded, and I turned to find that my father and Killian were restrained. I spun to face my captor. “You want me to pay for killing your son, is that it?”

“I want you to pay for coming here at all, for turning the king’s eye away from his prize.”

If he knew Adrian at all, he would know he had already claimed it.

I clicked my tongue. “Oh, that rings of jealousy, Noblesse.”

“Adrian may like your mouth, but I, for one, cannot wait to cut out your tongue.”

“Did he not warn you,” I said through my teeth, “that I am a warrior first and a queen second?”

Just then, the doors to the great hall groaned open and a woman staggered inside. I did not recognize her, and despite her muddy clothing, I could see that she had long, dark hair and delicate features—round eyes, a small nose, and soft lips.

I heard Ana gasped beside me.

“Isla!” Ana called and attempted to sprint down the steps, but she was instantly restrained by one of the vampires.

“No!” I reached for her, but Sorin held me in place as Ana screamed again for Isla.

The vassal stumbled and fell to her knees just as Gesalac broke the circle around me and Sorin and approached her.

“Don’t you dare! Don’t touch her!” Ana shrieked.

He bent and picked the woman up by her hair, dragging her to her feet. He tipped her head back so that her neck was taut.

“Your vassal’s looking a little wan, Ana Maria,” Gesalac said. “Perhaps we should end her suffering.”

As he spoke, however, Isla began to convulse.

“Isla!” Ana screamed. “Isla, no!”

What was happening?

Ana broke from of her captor and raced for Isla.

“Sorin!” I commanded, and the vampire caught Ana about the waist as a terrifying sound came from Isla’s mouth. It was something akin to a scream, and Gesalac released her. Only Isla didn’t fall to the ground. She stood with her arms spread wide and her head thrown back. Her long hair began to rise and float around her, and as her mouth gaped, a red mist came from her throat, curling into the air.

“It’s here!” one of the noblesse yelled. “The crimson mist is here!”

A rush of bodies charged the exit, and most of the circle surrounding me broke away.

“Don’t let the queen escape!” Gesalac yelled, and though he tried to hurry back to me, he could not fight the rush of the crowd as they attempted to escape the mist that had begun to consume one person after another. Horrifying screams filled the room as bodies fell, skinned, to the ground.

Sorin dragged Ana backward, away from the reaching mist.

“Let me go to her! I can help!” I heard her yell.

I was so caught up in Ana’s anguish, I did not notice anyone approaching. Someone grabbed my shoulders and jerked me. As they did, I reached for my crown and shoved it into my attacker’s face. He cried out and released me, and I turned to find a mortal had attempted to take me hostage. He held his hands to his bloodied face but recovered enough to growl at me, so I rammed the crown into his face once more. He stumbled back and fell, motionless.

“Isolde!” Sorin called, holding open the door to the room adjacent to the great hall. Ana was nowhere in sight, and I guessed she’d already gone inside.

I turned, searching for my father, finding him just as he bent to retrieve a blade from a downed mortal.

“I’ve got him!” Killian called to me.

We fled inside the small room, shutting the door behind us.