Warrior (Relentless #4)(233)



Elena struck her so hard Sara fell to the floor. I tried to yell out, but I could get no air into my lungs.

She released me, and I fell backward, no longer able to support my weight on my knees.

Sara let out a sob and crawled to me. She pulled my head into her lap and stroked my face as my lungs filled with air again.

Elena circled us and continued her story as if she hadn’t almost killed me.

“The Master was so pleased with himself because he was able to change a Mohiri into a vampire. I was his favorite pet and his prized possession, and he showed me off every chance he got. He liked to dress me up in pretty clothes and pamper me. I was a life-sized doll he could take out and play with whenever he wanted. He loved how small and weak I was, and he told me every day that I belonged to him forever.”

She crouched in front of us, her eyes gleaming with insanity. “But he was wrong. I was a lot stronger than I let him see, and I was biding my time, waiting years for the perfect moment. That arrogant bastard was so sure of his superiority that he got complacent. One night he didn’t bother to lock me up after he’d finished playing with me, and that was the opportunity I’d been waiting for. I killed him while he slept and drank him dry.”

She smiled as if she was having a fond memory. “Did you know that is the only way to become a Master? His children, his wealth, and power all became mine. After years of being a slave I was free and powerful, and it felt incredible. My old family had deserted me, so I began to create a new one.”

My blood turned to ice when she began toying with Sara’s hair. Elena wasn’t just powerful; she was demented and volatile, and she could kill Sara without blinking.

“I spent months searching for the perfect human to become my firstborn. Eli was special,” she said with eerie softness. She leaned close to Sara. “You will pay for his death a thousand times over.”

Sara shuddered and hugged me tighter. Her fear flowed to me across our bond.

I covered her hand with mine. Be brave, moy malen’kiy voin.

She’s insane, Nikolas. I’m scared.

No matter what happens, I’m here with you, I vowed.

I sent my love through the bond and her body relaxed slightly as it filled her.

She looked at Elena. “Why did you send Eli to kill my father? He was nothing to you.”

Elena laughed. “Your father was nothing to me, but he meant something to my dear niece, Madeline.”

“You killed him to get to Madeline?” Sara asked as Elena went back to her chair. Her voice was laced with pain and fury.

Elena arranged her skirt around her. “I killed him, not because she loved him, but because of the child she could have with him. It wasn’t until ten years later that I learned I had been too late and a child already existed.”

A child? Elena had disappeared long before Madeline was born. Why would she want Madeline’s daughter? Did she hate Tristan so much she wanted to destroy his family?

“But why? Why did you care so much if they had a child?” Sara pressed.

Elena hesitated before answering. “I was having a party and Madeline was my guest of honor. You should have seen her face when she realized who I was. Priceless. Of course, I compelled her to forget me before I let her go.” She giggled. “I even made her think I was a male.”

“You let her go?” Sara asked.

“Nothing like a little hunt to spice up a party.” She pursed her lips unhappily. “Madeline proved to be more evasive than I gave her credit for. One of my guests was a warlock named Azar who was known for his gift of sight. Azar stupidly waited until after Madeline had gone to tell me he’d had a vision when he saw her. He told me that Madeline’s half-blood daughter would destroy me.”

I didn’t put much faith in prophecies because I’d never seen one come to pass. But Elena was insane, and she obviously believed the warlock. If she thought Sara was her biggest threat, she wouldn’t let her niece live long. I had to get Sara out of here.

Elena lifted a shoulder. “Needless to say, I was quite upset Azar hadn’t shared that piece of information before I released Madeline. I discovered aged warlock is a very fine drink.”

She laughed at her own joke. “We managed to pick up Madeline’s trail, and followed her to Portland, which is how we found her human husband. Oddly, Eli saw no sign of a child even though he went to the house you lived in. It wasn’t until Eli found you in Portland last fall that we learned what you really were. I had no idea someone like you could even exist. But here you are.”

She stood and looked at the red-haired vampire. “I am bored with this chatter. I think it’s time we get the festivities underway. Ava?”

The female came over.

“Has everything been prepared as I asked?” Elena asked her.

“Yes, Master.”

“Wonderful.” Elena smiled at us. “Today is a very special day for me, and it wouldn’t be possible without the two of you.”

Dread filled me, but I hid it from Sara, not wanting her to sense it through our bond. I could already feel her mounting fear.

Nikolas.

Be strong.

I sat up with Sara’s help. “What are you planning, Elena?” It was better to know what was coming, to prepare ourselves.

She came over and stroked my face as a lover would, not the person about to kill me. “Why, today is my wedding day. All I needed was my groom.”

Karen Lynch's Books