Hugh’s body was still tense, but he reached his hand to cup her face, keeping his sword lifted cautiously toward Merrick. Juliana saw Nicholas and hugged her brother tighter.
“And Thomas? Where is Thomas?” she demanded, looking past Nicholas.
“Juliana,” Nicholas began. She shrank away from him, remembering his face as he’d hacked into his father.
“Hugh?” Juliana demanded, shaking violently. “Where is Thomas?”
Hugh didn’t answer. He closed his eyes briefly, shaking his head. When he again opened his eyes, he was glaring at Merrick. Juliana followed her brother’s gaze. Merrick sat on his throne, unmoving. He wouldn’t look at them as he stared into the fireplace.
“Ask King Merrick where Thomas is,” Hugh spat.
“Hugh, come,” Nicholas urged. “We’ve gotten what we’ve come for. Take her and leave. I will finish this.”
“Nay,” Juliana shouted. She pulled away from Nicholas. Then, desperately, she said to Hugh, “I saw things in the water… I… You must listen to me…”
“Juliana?” Hugh questioned.
“Juliana?” Nicholas repeated, reaching to touch her. “Come. We will discuss this—”
“Lord Eadward—” Juliana tried to speak.
“Do not worry. You will be safe,” Hugh soothed, looking at her as if she’d gone mad. “Nicholas will take care of you. Go with him. I will be right behind you, but first I must finish this.”
“Nay,” Juliana shook. She looked at all three men before gripping Hugh’s arm tighter. “I saw him. I saw what he’s done.”
“Thomas?” Hugh asked.
“Eadward,” Juliana corrected. She looked at Nicholas. “I saw you.” She cried harder. “I saw what you did.”
Nicholas paled and backed away. Weakly, he asked, “What madness is this? What has he told you? It’s a lie, Juliana.”
Juliana pulled from Hugh, backing away from all three men, keeping them in her sights. Hugh was confused, angry, hurt. Nicholas was pale and shaking violently. Merrick was calm, watching the flames with a look of dispassion on his handsome face.
“I saw you kill your father, Nicholas. You took your sword and massacred him in his bed.” Juliana stared him down. “You made us believe it was Merrick, but it was you.” Juliana shivered. As she said the words, she saw the truth on his pale face. He tried to shake his head in denial.
“Nicholas?” Hugh demanded. “What is she talking about?”
“He was too old for her,” Nicholas whispered. His eyes pleaded with Juliana, even as he spoke to Hugh. “He knew I loved her. He knew and still he planned to take her as his wife. I couldn’t let him take her from me. I only wanted to love her. I’ve only ever wanted to love her, but she wouldn’t even look at me. I didn’t mean to kill him. The voice… The voice told me to. It took over. It whispered in my ear, telling me to do it.”
A trail of fire appeared, growing in the stone beside Merrick. The flames formed and soon King Lucien was standing in the hall, looking at the mortals with disdain. No one moved.
“Lucien,” Merrick said, frowning, “these affairs do not concern you.”
Lucien laughed. Stepping down from the platform, he didn’t answer Merrick as he looked at Nicholas. Passing Juliana’s knife, he stopped and picked it up. “I’m very disappointed in you, Nicholas. The demon I gave you shows so much promise and yet you confess to the murder like a whining child.”
“I never asked for this,” Nicholas said.
“Then you should have taken more care with what you say.” Lucien’s face contorted. He lifted his hand. Nicholas screamed, falling to his knees before the Demon King. Juliana couldn’t move. Fire burned in Nicholas’ eyes. He clutched his chest, falling over on his side.
“Let him go!” Hugh demanded.
“Hugh, nay!” Juliana said, running around Lucien to stop Hugh from attacking. If Hugh went up against the powerful king, he’d never survive. When he’d touched her, she’d seen the death in Lucien. As she passed by Lucien’s back, he spun around and grabbed her arm.
“And you, my lady,” the King of the Damned spat.
“Unhand her, Lucien,” Merrick ordered. Nicholas continued to scream. Hugh surged forward to stop Lucien. The Demon King flung his power out at him, throwing him across the main hall. Juliana screamed, kicking and scratching at Lucien to be set free.
“Stay back, Merrick,” Lucien warned. He drew the blade to Juliana’s stomach, pointing the tip at her. “Dragon’s blood covers this blade. I don’t have to tell you what that can do.”
Merrick froze. Lucien motioned his hand. Shackles grew from the floor, binding Merrick’s hands and tugging him down to the stone so he knelt beside his throne. Juliana knew Merrick could’ve stopped it, but he didn’t. His dark eyes looked up at her, giving nothing away. Nicholas screamed again, writhing in agony.
“Ugh, enough bellowing,” Lucien growled. He flicked his hand at Nicholas, twisting his fingers. Nicholas went up in flames, almost instantly burning into a pile of ash. Juliana screamed, fighting Lucien’s hold. Her heart went out to Nicholas in pity. “Quiet! I grow weary of this game. It is time to end it.”
Juliana stiffened. Merrick strained against his ties, but didn’t get free. Lucien lifted his fingers as Hugh ran forward from the back of the hall. Reaching out his hand to stop him, Lucien lifted Hugh up into the air, suspending him.
“You have a choice, Juliana,” Lucien whispered into her ear. “Kill the man who killed Thomas or watch another one of your brothers die.”
Juliana looked from Hugh to Merrick. She didn’t know what to believe anymore. Lucien was a liar. He’d told her Hugh was dead. Maybe Thomas was safe. Nothing in this realm was as it seemed. Wasn’t that what everyone kept telling her? That things were not as they appeared, to look beyond what she saw with her eyes. Maybe it was time to go with how she felt.
‘Ah, mortals. You can never see things how they are.’ Kalen had told her that when he’d urged her to go to the garden. She thought of the basin. She hadn’t seen Merrick kill Thomas, only saw him above his unmoving body. Maybe there was more to the story that she wasn’t being told. Was it possible the basin hadn’t shown her the whole picture, just a fragment that she’d misinterpreted?
“My patience wanes, my lady,” Lucien warned. He lifted the knife, offering her the hilt. His eyes flashed with the color of flames before turning completely black.
Juliana took the knife. She looked at Merrick, shaking. He lifted his chin, proud, giving nothing away—not begging, not pleading. She heard his words in her head. ‘That’s the problem with mortals. You can’t see beyond the rational. You can’t feel into your dreams. With your kind, everything is literal, logical, either right or wrong, good or evil.’
“Decide,” Lucien hissed into her ear. “Your brother or the man who killed Thomas.”
Juliana nodded at Lucien. He let her go with a shove. She stumbled toward Merrick, gripping the blade. “I have a question for you, Merrick. According to the deal we made at Bellemare, I have the right to ask you a question at the end of the journey. I would say this is the end.”
Merrick nodded once. He didn’t try to defend himself as she came to him, not that he could have, trapped to the floor. His face was hard, yet so handsome. She ached to comfort him, but didn’t know how. “Ask your question of me.”
Juliana closed her eyes.
“Ask him to send us home,” Hugh yelled, still in the air at Lucien’s will. “Free yourself! Get far away from here!”
“Quiet!” Lucien yelled, slamming Hugh onto the floor.
“I ask you, Merrick, will…?” Juliana looked deep into his unreadable eyes. “Do you…? Could you ever love me?”
Without flinching, he said, “Nay.”
Lucien laughed, the sound echoed over the hall.
“Juliana, nay!” Hugh yelled, trying to push weakly from the floor.
Juliana gripped the knife. She stepped closer. Again, Merrick’s words drifted through her thoughts, �
�You mortals look with your eyes and hear with your ears, but you are blind and deaf. All I ask is that you see me for what I am, hear me.’
“Do it,” Merrick whispered, looking at the blade. She felt sadness—his sadness. It passed through her. “You’ve made your choice.”
* * *
Merrick knew that if she were to stab him, she would not kill him. It would take more than the blade to end his reign. But it would weaken him, make it possible for Lucien to finish the job. But Lucien would not be king of both. The crown would be his to appoint. Either that, or Lucien would keep him alive, just on the border of death, and use him for all eternity as his slave.
Merrick watched Juliana, his face hard and unmoving. She always believed the worst in him and why not? He had wronged her in many ways. Even if he couldn’t help himself, even if bringing her to his palace had been the will of fate, he could’ve fought to stop it. Truth was, he hadn’t wanted to stop it. He wanted her here, wanted her from that first moment. Even as she hated him, he wanted her. Her face, not so innocent as before but far from jaded, was the one piece of heaven in his hell. As he studied her, her body thin, her face pale, he realized what was happening. She was like the flowers of the immortal realm. To be with him would mean her death. He would slowly suck the life out of her as he did all things. He was her winter.
If she believed he was dead, believed she’d done the right thing, then maybe he could give her a small measure of peace. Ean had blessed Bellemare and would be watching it more closely now. Lucien could not cross over into the mortal world. She would be safe, of that he had no doubt. Her brothers could love her, protect her. She’d be blessed. All Merrick had to offer her was a curse.
Merrick glanced at her stomach, wondering if she would raise the child and knowing automatically that she would love the boy. He’d known the moment she said her blood let her into the garden that she was pregnant. Now, more than ever, he knew he had to let her go—for their son, for her life. He had to force her hand. Regardless of what happened to him, she had to be free of him. His eternity no longer mattered. What mattered was his family, even if he couldn’t be with them. And maybe someday he’d be able to see his boy from afar.
“You cannot do it, can you, Juliana?” he taunted, laughing cruelly, even as it killed a piece of him to say the words. “I kidnap you to start a war. I take your innocence. I bring you here—lie to you, trick you, torture you—and still you are too weak to strike back.”
Juliana gasped, looking as if he slapped her. It took all his concentration to remain calm, to keep the mocking expression on his face. Her fingers shook, gripping the blade so firmly that her knuckles were white.
“I’ve made my decision,” she snarled, glaring at Merrick. The Unblessed King closed his eyes, waiting for the first strike of her blade. He heard her move and looked just in time to see her spin around. She threw the blade at Lucien. It struck the Demon King in the stomach. Lucien groaned in surprise, leaning over to pull at the blade. Growling, she said to Lucien, “My brothers taught me how to throw a blade as good as any man. I will not be manipulated by you. Begone at once from my sight!”
Lucien’s hold weakened. Merrick’s arms were freed from the shackles. He stood, throwing his arms forward. Lucien yelled in anger as Merrick’s power struck him to force him from the hall. The Demon King’s body blurred, fading into the wind as he blew from the Black Palace. Merrick used all his power to lock the man out.
Juliana’s knife clanged to the floor. She looked at it before rushing around the fallen blade to help Hugh to his feet. Merrick stood, not moving to follow her. He kept his body stiff, his face impassable. It was for the best. He would give her no reason to stay.
“Hugh, are you…?” she began, shaking terribly.
“Aye, I’m fine,” he assured her.
She helped her brother to his feet. Looking at Merrick, she asked, “Is Lucien dead?”
“Nay, but he will be too weak to come back. Your way home is safe. Take your brothers and leave. I have my war. I’m done with you. Ean blesses you and Lucien cannot enter the mortal realm. You will be free of us.”
“Brothers? You said brothers?” Juliana asked. The door behind the throne opened. Thomas limped out, looking dazed. He stumbled before stopping and looking around. “Thomas?”
“Thomas?” Hugh repeated, bewildered. “How? I saw you. You were dead.”
Juliana ran to him, wrapping Thomas in her arms. He moaned and she instantly pulled off. He coughed weakly as he swayed on his feet. Hugh joined them. All three looked at Merrick.
“Go,” Merrick said, his voice dark. He forced a bored expression to his face as he crossed over to his throne. He lounged over the side, closing his eyes. It was easier than watching her walk out of his life. “Before I change my mind and kill you all off. I’m tired of this game.”
“How?” Hugh asked.
“Your journey begins as any other.” Merrick motioned his hand for them to leave the hall. “By walking out the front gate of the castle.”
Chapter Fourteen
Juliana glanced at Merrick, not moving. He stared back at them and frowned, shaking his head as he turned his eyes toward the nearest fireplace, refusing to look at her again. His head rested against his throne and his knee was hooked over the arm of the chair, his foot swinging lightly back and forth.
Hugh cleared his throat to get her attention. Juliana helped him support Thomas as they walked from the hall. When they reached the front gate, the land was no longer a forest but a long field. Nicholas and Hugh’s horses grazed right on the edge. In the far distance she saw Bellemare castle. It was a welcome sight, one that would always be in her heart.
Juliana touched Hugh’s face, kissing his cheek. Then, kissing Thomas’, she said, “I love you both.”
“Juliana?” Thomas questioned. He glanced toward home.
Juliana shook her head. “Nay. I’m staying. Give my love to William. Take care of each other and I promise I shall see you all again.”
“Why?” Hugh demanded. “You heard him. He doesn’t love you. He’s let you go. He doesn’t want you here. Whatever his reason, he’s freed you from this game of his. It’s over. Leave the immortals to their realm. We do not belong here.”
“Nicholas wants to marry you—” Thomas began, his eyes pleading.
“Thomas, nay.” Hugh shook his head, giving his brother a meaningful look. Thomas paled, which was a feat considering his already white pallor. To his sister, Hugh asked, “Why do this, Juliana?”
“Because he was never meant to rule his kind alone,” she said simply. “And I love him.”
“But he doesn’t return your love. I cannot allow this,” Hugh said. The days of stress and worry were on his face as he looked at her. She was sorry for it, but she could do nothing else. “You have a duty to your family, to Bellemare. It is my duty to protect you, to do what is right. I forbid you from staying.”
“He does love me, in his way,” Juliana said. “You just have to hear with more than your ears. It’s not perfect, but it’s what I want.”
“I forbid it, you’re not married,” Hugh said. His hand rose in frustration. “This place is not for us. This realm is not for us. Come home where I can protect you.”
“I love you both,” Juliana said as she lifted her hand taking a step back.
Hugh narrowed his eyes in warning. “Don’t do this, Juliana. Don’t make me take you by force back to Bellemare. I will. I will lock you in a tower if I must, but I will keep you safe.”
“Take care of each other,” she said.
“Juliana!” Hugh yelled. He faded from her sight and Bellemare was replaced by trees. Juliana wiped a tear from her cheek, not completely sure she’d made the right decision. However, she knew she’d made her decision. This was what she wanted.
Slowly she turned and walked back into the palace. A great roar sounded. Goblins came running from the hall. Juliana moved past them, rushing to see what had happened. Merrick stood in the hall, yellin
g in anger. She stopped, watching him. “Merrick?”
He turned to her, a look of disbelief on his face. His eyes were almost completely black. She shivered and took a step toward him.
“What are you still doing here?” he spat. “I told you to leave.”
“I’m sorry I blamed you for Eadward,” she said softly. “I’m sorry I was blind.”
“I don’t need your forgiveness or your apologies. I said go. Now.” He didn’t move as he glared at her.
Juliana took a deep breath, slowly edging forward. “I’ve made many assumptions about you, Merrick. I’ve been wrong, but you haven’t made it easy either. You could’ve tried to tell me the truth.”
“For what reason?” Merrick frowned, but his eyes lightened by a small degree. “If you believe the worst in me, you will never believe anything I say.”
“Possibly,” she said. “Still, you could have tried.”
“Leave, Juliana,” he said, shaking his head. “I’ll reopen the portal, but you must go. Go home to your beloved Bellemare. Go home to your brothers. Have you not begged me for that very thing since we first met? That is where you long to be. That is where you belong.”
“I made a deal with you, Merrick. I belong here. I would keep my word.” Juliana was scared, not of Merrick or what he would do, but of herself, her feelings, of the idea of never seeing him again.
“Go or I’ll kill you.” Merrick pointed at the door, taking a threatening step for her. He was terrifying to behold. Still, she didn’t allow herself to be scared.
“No, you won’t.”
“My life draws from yours. See how pale you are? How thin? You will soon wither like a flower of this realm. I will kill you whether I wish to or not.”
“Your power comes from fear. I may fear things, but I don’t fear you, not anymore.” Juliana closed the distance between them. She touched his face. “Your presence cannot hurt me, Merrick. You cannot hurt me. If I am pale, it is because I am tired and if I am thin, it’s because I am hungry.”
King of the Unblessed Page 25
