Love Me to Death (Underveil, #1)(107)

The sorcerer, still clutching his staff, wrapped his other hand around her throat. Nikolai, unable to look away, nearly vomited at the prospect of watching his mate die. And his child. He swallowed the lump of dread in his throat and prayed they lit the fire soon if the bastard killed her.

“What’s up, Borya? You don’t like to dance?” she said. Nikolai held his breath as her face went red from the constriction of her throat. “Do it,” she squeaked out. “It beats the hell out of being barbecue.”

With a growl, he released her. Nikolai gave a silent shout of gratitude as fear’s choke hold on his heart lessened.

She gulped air. “Chicken.”

“Light the fires,” he ordered the Slayers surrounding the platform after he had cleared the wood and straw.

Nikolai noticed their hesitation. Slayers never hesitated or disobeyed orders, yet none made a move to light the stack of wood.

Fydor held his arms out, and the crowd below shouted in anger.

“God help you, Uncle, when that protection spell is lifted. You’ll wish you had a death as easy as mine. I imagine the elves will enjoy torturing you for centuries, maybe millennia, depending on Aksel’s fate.”

Fear flashed across his uncle’s features, something Slayers never allowed. Good, his will was cracking. Now, if only the bubble keeping the warriors out would crack.



The overwhelming roar from the furious mob below rang in Elena’s ears.

Speak, King Fydor,” Borya urged from the bottom of the platform stairs.

Still singing in her head, Elena caught her breath and straightened up, relieving the bite of the chains. At least Borya had backed off, leaving the show to Fydor, who seemed pretty strung out. She was disappointed Fydor hadn’t taken the poison when he chugged the elixir earlier. Not that it would have stopped the execution, necessarily, but at least the bastard would be dead.

Fydor held one arm up, palm out, and the mob below fell silent.

“A puppet,” Nik called to his uncle. “He’s pulled your strings, and now you must say what he directs.”

“This is the beginning of a new era for the Underveil. We will rise together to the power we deserve.”

No reaction from the gathering of weapon-toting creatures below. Elena had no idea there were this many.

“Tomorrow morning we will lift the Veil, forever changing the face of the planet,” Fydor yelled. “I ask for your help and loyalty.”

Still, silence. Commanders had their arms up at the ready. They were waiting for something. A signal to advance. A hope fluttered in Elena’s chest. They knew something.

“I told you to light the fire,” Borya shouted to the Slayers around the platform. Obviously, they didn’t want to torch their queen. When they didn’t move, he lifted his staff and a bolt shot from it, knocking a Slayer off to the stones below.

They needed more time. Something was going to happen. Stall. “Do it yourself, *,” Elena challenged. “Or are you too weak?”

He once again climbed over the pile of wood and got right in her face. “I would, if I could. And I’d enjoy it, too. The problem is, Elena Arcos, I can’t destroy my own blood or it weakens my power.” She held completely still, heart slamming against her ribs like a captive animal as he kissed her on the cheek. “Good-bye, my sweet granddaughter.”

Holy shit. Aunt Uza had mentioned her great-great-grandmother hooking up with an immortal. It was Borya.

He backed away and pointed his staff at the Slayer Elena remembered from her vision. “You will now do exactly as I wish,” the sorcerer ordered.

Clearly against his will, the Slayer moved. Fighting his own body that was controlled by Borya, he lowered his torch to the straw at their feet. “Forgive me please, Queen Tatiana.” The straw caught fire with a whoosh.

“These prisoners have been convicted of treason against the king,” Fydor shouted. There was an odd void of reaction from the crowd below. “And sentenced to death by fire.”

For the first time, Elena truly doubted they’d make it out alive. She’d seen the last of her visions unfold and had no idea what would happen now. If Aleksandra had been successful in putting the tainted vial with his others, at least Elena could die confident that Fydor would not live to lead that massacre tomorrow morning. She strained to look at the crowd inside the fortress behind her, but didn’t catch a glimpse of Aleksi.

And then, there was the baby. She closed her eyes at the sting of the smoke. The precious baby Nik had given her. The bridge between worlds. A tear rolled down her cheek as the ache in her chest became intolerable. The heat from the flames was increasing, and in moments it would spread enough to ignite the wood at her feet. This was it. Still careful to hum so Borya wouldn’t hear her thoughts about the baby and the poison, she knew it was time for good-byes. “Nik?” He met her eyes, calm and relaxed. “I’m glad you found me in that convenience store.”

“I love you, Elena Arcos,” he said.

“I love you, too, and I’ll see you wherever we end up after this lifetime,” she answered.

He cleared his throat. “Thank you, Mother.”

“You are an excellent son and Slayer,” she answered.

The wood elf said nothing. He trembled all over, black eyes wide with horror in his rough, gray-skinned face as the flames spread and grew, getting closer to the center every second.