by JoAnna Grace
“Well, come on,” Yankee said, watching as Avery slid the band to Brenden’s bicep and straightening it. “Don’t want to be late to the party. Bring your My Size Ken doll, too.” His comment was directed at Dante. The clear lack of enthusiasm was not making Avery feel comfortable about the event. Neither was the fact that Nikki stayed silent behind her the entire walk.
Brunch took place in the opulent grand dining hall on the top story of the Palace. The long slender room was decorated in Castille colors. Hunter green and gold linens dressed the table. Avery felt tiny in the massive space. Especially when all the people filling it kept glancing at her.
Taking in a deep breath and squaring her shoulders, Avery lifted her chin and remembered that she was no longer a small town café owner. Now she was the wife of one of the most powerful and influential men on this planet. She was a legitimate Deity and a Divine Grace. She bore a mark that no one could ever question.
“You look fine,” Brenden, her escort, whispered in her ear as he held her arm like a gentleman. Nikki had conjured a one shouldered, strawberry red silk top and white jeans. The red high heels nearly made Avery eye level with Brenden.
“Thanks. Hey, we need to talk about…” She motioned her eyes over to Nikki.
Brenden gave an exasperated sign but nodded in agreement. “She’s been acting weird since this morning. She went to the kitchen to get breakfast and came back crazy.” He sighed. “Females.”
“Later, me and you. We’ll go for a walk or something.” Avery smiled and scanned the room. There was only one set of eyes she wanted to find.
And there they were.
The way Ryse looked at her would never get old. From his place by one of the three fireplaces, he smiled at her. If she had not been so chilled with nerves, she would have melted into a puddle. His black shirt stretched across his muscular chest and arms. He looked casual, as did most of the people in the room. He excused himself from General Falcon and a woman to make his way over.
Thank the gods he belonged to her.
A blonde in a pink halter-top suddenly blocked the view of him. Avery nearly choked when Salina smiled at her.
“Avery,” she purred. “I don’t believe we have been formally introduced.” She stuck out her hand cordially. “Princess Salina Avondale of the European Clan.” The accent made her almost sound polite.
“I know who you are,” Avery said with her brightest fake smile. She did not move to shake Salina’s hand.
“No need to be crass. I’m merely making introduction.”
“You’ll have to excuse me if I don’t feel the need to reciprocate.”
Her eyes lingered a moment too long on Avery’s brand before she gave a stuck-up huff, smiled and walked over to Dante. The hairs on the back of Avery’s neck bristled. Salina could mess with Avery all she wanted, but making a move on her men was another insult completely.
“Oh, you are very nice looking indeed.” Salina’s accent made everything she said sound so proper even if her actions were not. She touched his chest with manicured nails. Dante stood rigid and never took his eyes off Avery. “I believe you will make a great addition to my personal guard.”
“He’s spoken for.” Yankee came out of nowhere. “The Master is taking the Ken doll, here, under his wing as an Elite Apprentice. So very sorry, Princess.”
“He’s not marked,” Salina spit out in a loss of her self-control. Yankee apparently had the same weird effect on her as he did everyone else.
“He will be this morning. Especially since the Lady Avery is now fully bonded to the Master. It makes things so much more…permanent. Our Master’s consort now has the Elites to back her.” Yankee accented the last sentence as a warning. Avery caught it. Salina did, too.
“Lucky you,” she sneered to Avery.
“You have no idea,” Avery said calmly.
Salina took her leave and Yankee made a slight nod to Bren. “I’m sticking close, little brother.”
Brenden rolled his eyes. “I don’t need your supervision.”
“It’s not for you.” Yankee flashed his eyes to Dante, then to Avery. What did that mean?
Ryse walked up before Avery could ask. “What did she want?”
Brenden released Avery’s arms and moved back with Nikki and Dante.
“At first, it was an attempt to play nice. But she’s already burnt that bridge and swept up the ashes.”
“Give her some of that Southern charm, huh?” He smirked as he kissed her cheek and whispered, “You look delicious.” He nipped at her ear and she tried hard not to melt. Taking in a deep pull of his scent didn’t help matters. Instead, it nearly made her eyes roll back in her head.
“You can have a taste later,” she promised.
“I will take you up on that.” He gave her a dirty smirk that sent a shot of pure joy between her thighs. Even thinking about it was making her blush. Oh, the joys of the newly married!
Sitting down to the meal was awkward. Ryse was on one side of her and as much as she wanted Nikki to take her other side, her Shadow Lady stood back behind her with all the other servants in the room. This broke Avery’s heart. Didn’t Nikki know she was more than some maid?
Hayden sat down beside her and put his arm around the back of her chair. Everything about him was so confident and carefree. Avery knew that behind the illusion of a pretty face was an extremely brilliant mind. That pretty face looked so much like his older brother, she couldn’t help but love it.
“So, you and Ryse.” He wiggled his brows provocatively.
So much for that previous thought.
“How is that any of your business? You must be nutty if you think you and I are having this conversation,” she laughed.
Hayden chuckled. “I’m not trying to be a perv, Avery. I simply inquire because your bonding makes certain gifts achievable for you. I’m curious as to what abilities you have gained from being with my brother. Call it scientific curiosity.” He waved his hand with aristocratic flair.
“Haven’t you ever heard the phrase ‘curiosity killed the cat’?”
“Doesn’t it finish with ‘satisfaction brought him back’?” Hayden looked smug as he took a drink of his juice.
“Yes, but then I beat the shit outta the cat and he died after all.”
Hayden nearly spit out his drink before throwing his head back in laughter. At least one person found her antics humorous. “Oh, Avery! How I have missed you being in my life all these years! You make things so much more exciting.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek, sending her into a full-blown blush. The red of her shirt paled in comparison. Ryse leaned behind her, making a threat about public displays of affection with his wife.
When Troy and Dynasty took their seats in front of the three of them, Avery noticed that Dyna’s eyes looked bloodshot, like she had been crying.
“Dyna?” Avery whispered across the table. With a ghost of a smile, the angelic Queen bowed her head slightly in acknowledgement. “You’ve had a vision?” Avery asked. Dyna nodded again. “Can you tell me?” Avery pleaded.
“I cannot change the things I see. And I will not burden you with my knowledge. It is the will of the gods that such things should come to pass. It is my duty to accept their will and not interfere.”
“Maybe you don’t have to interfere. Let me do it for you?” Avery attempted a joke but failed in the eyes of her mother-in-law.
Dyna reached out and touched Avery’s hand on the table. “We all have our responsibilities, my darling. There are roles we all must play. You will play your part soon enough.”
AVERY’S STOMACH KNOTTED as she leaned back in her chair. Dyna’s eyes cleared and no one else noticed their exchange. The staff began putting food in front of them and everyone ate. But Avery had lost her appetite.
“Eat, my darling,” Dyna said with her serene smile. “You will need your strength.”
Avery didn’t like the sound of that, but it did prompt her to finish her meal. It also made her follow Dyna’s eyes ev
erywhere she looked. The wise old angel gave away nothing. The brunch was eaten without incidence, yet Avery wasn’t able to get comfortable.
Ryse leaned over and threaded his fingers through hers. “You are on edge, my love. What’s the matter? Is it Salina?”
“I’m fine.”
“Right.” He kissed her cheek. The fact that he seemed so openly affectionate to her in this public setting made her feel good. Some part of her feared that Ryse would try and keep his stone façade, not allowing people see the kind and gentle side of him.
Once finished with their meals, Troy stood and tapped his glass to get everyone’s attention. As always, Troy was the perfect balance of regal and lethal, handsome and wise.
“I have invited you all here this morning to celebrate an era of new beginnings for our family and for our empire. Today we will recognize the unity of my eldest son, Prince Ryse Castille and his Grace, Avery McClain.” Applause rose from the table and Avery leaned over to accept the kiss that Ryse offered. “It’s been a long road for my son and his Lady, one that has been littered with tears and joys. One that is not over—indeed, it is just beginning.
“On this day, Lady Dynasty and I ask that you all join us in the blood bonding ceremony to complete their pairing in the eyes of the gods.” He motioned for one of the servants to come forward. The man held a silver tray with a goblet and ornate carved knife. Troy motioned for Ryse and Avery to stand. The server set the goblet down in the middle of the table and took the blade in his hand.
“The exchange of blood is the symbol and physical representation of the commitment that one makes to their mate.” Ryse grinned as Avery cringed at the term. Troy suppressed a smile, then continued. “The partnership between a man and his wife is the most sacred of bonds in our world. It is not to be taken lightly. This bond is not about emotions or feelings that you have for each other. It is about the choice two people make to love one another every day, no matter what this world throws at your feet. Emotions are fleeting. Feelings are ever changing. But you can choose to love and to fight for that love. You choose to be the anchor for each other, to support and encourage, to challenge and grow together from this point forward as one.”
Troy took the knife from the servant and presented it to Ryse over the table. Making a thin line down the middle of his palm, Ryse let his blood drip into the goblet. He then handed the knife to Avery. She copied his actions, trying not to wince at the sting of the knife splitting her skin. When their blood droplets mixed in the chalice, it magically filled with red liquid. “The gods fill the chalice!” Troy exclaimed joyously. “The union is blessed!”
Ryse picked up the drink and put it to his lips, but he was distracted by Hayden’s loud cheer.
“Let us toast the new couple! Bring champagne!” The hall was filled with applause and chatter as flutes of champagne were dispersed.
Ryse leaned over and whispered, “I love you.” But Avery was watching Dyna. Her smile was flat, her expression was blank. If ever a person was on autopilot, it was her.
Nikki came over with a serving tray and handed Ryse, Hayden, and Avery their flutes. Avery smiled at her, but Nikki looked pained and stressed, like she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown right there in the middle of everyone. Leaning across the table, Nikki handed Dyna and Troy champagne.
That was an odd thing to do. Hanna was right behind them with a tray.
Avery examined Nikki closely. She was sweating, one eye kept twitching and she kept glancing at something behind Avery. Following her line of sight, she noticed that Salina was watching carefully.
As Ryse and his family lifted their drinks, Salina smirked. Turning her eyes to Nikki, she caught her gaze shortly and then Nikki closed her eyes and turned away.
“…so let us toast, to my son and his new wife! To Ryse and Avery!” Troy said, signaling for everyone to drink.
Panicked, Avery looked at Dyna as she watched Troy take a sip of the champagne. The expression on her face said it all. It was the look of a woman saying goodbye to her husband. This was it; this was the vision that had her so upset. Something was in the champagne.
And Nikki knew it.
“No!” Avery screamed. Dropping her own flute, she knocked Ryse’s out of his hand. Then turned to Hayden who had barely taken a sip. Then, with a strength she could only hope was the gods working in her, she leapt across the table and swiped Troy’s flute to the floor. He had finished his drink. Whatever was in the champagne was now in his system.
Shock rang out throughout the room. People gasped and champagne flutes were thrown down.
“What in the name of Zeus is going on?” Troy demanded, gawking at Avery as if she had lost her mind. Gabrele, the King’s guardian, pulled Avery off. For all anyone knew, she was attacking the Deity.
Avery looked for Nikki. The redheaded woman was crouching by the wall, head in her hands. She pulled at her hair like a mad woman. “Nikki! What have you done?” she screamed. Shaking her head, Nikki spared Salina another glance before running out of the dining hall. “Dante! Get her, now!”
“I’ve got her.” Avery watched Ryse extend his hand, palm out, towards Nikki’s fleeing body. She came to a halt as if she’d run head first into a brick wall. With the flick of his wrist, Nikki’s body fell to the floor where Dante pinned her down.
Avery had never seen Ryse do this before. She knew he had more powers, but she didn’t know he could control people like that. It was a terrifying thought, one that she would have to explore later.
The king was holding his chest and coughing. His wild, unfocused eyes looked around at Avery, Dyna, and the people gathered around him. Hayden had followed Avery over the table and was looking at the champagne spilled on the floor.
It was smoking on the tiles.
“Oh, gods no!” Hayden said, taking his father’s head in his hands. “Father! Father!”
Ryse stood, horrified, on the other side of the table. “Avery, what is going on?”
“Nikki knew something was in the glass. Your mother had a vision. I just put the pieces together.”
Ryse climbed the table to be with his father. Troy was on the floor, blood coming from his mouth. “What? How?”
“Be still, Father,” Ryse said, moving to his side. Dyna had propped him up on her knees and held his head. Tears streamed down her face. Ryse looked up at her. “You saw this? You knew and did nothing! How could you, Mother?”
“I only saw him dying. I did not see how or when,” Dyna pleaded through guilt stricken tears. She stroked his head.
People emptied the dining hall, fearful of the poison that was killing their King. The Elites were in action, gathering the flutes Nikki had passed out and clearing out the spectators. Bren was vigilant at Avery’s side, making sure she hadn’t had anything to drink.
“I’m fine!” she said, brushing him off as she watched Ryse, Hayden, and Dyna hover over Troy. The Paeans had been called in, and the healers worked to try and extract the poison with their magic. It didn’t seem to be working. Troy was spitting up blood and his body shook in agony. He screamed out and Dyna went hysterical. Hayden pulled his mother into her arms and forced her move away so the healers could work. Ryse stayed, holding Troy’s hand whispering to him. He stroked his father’s face.
“Get back!” one of the Paeans yelled as Troy’s chest began to boil. Yankee jumped in, pulling his Master from the contamination. Ryse fought him, trying to reach for Troy. Philippe used his magic to freeze the area of Troy’s chest but the poison was too powerful.
“Let me go, damn it! Let me go!” Ryse screamed at Yankee. The other man was almost as strong as Ryse, but not nearly strong enough. Philippe aided his fellow Thracian to contain their Master. Avery tried to get to him, but Brenden held her back.
They watched, helpless and terrified as the body of their King was eaten from the inside out by the poison. Troy’s screams and Dyna’s cries echoed across the hall, her body limp in Hayden’s arms. Titus, her Guardian, ushered them as far away
as possible, yelling out orders to her personal guard. Between her men and Hayden’s, Thracians walled them up.
There was nothing to be done. The poison had done its job and soon Troy’s corpse lay still and lifeless.
Avery buried her head in Brenden’s shoulder and cried. He ushered her away, Hayden and Dyna behind them. But Avery didn’t want to leave Ryse. He was on his knees, looking at what was left of Troy’s body. Anger and pain radiated off him like a toxic fume. Avery broke free from Brenden and ran to him. She dropped to her knees in front of him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Ryse crushed her in his arms and stared in shock.
“You have to move, baby,” she tried to convince him. “There is poison all over this room, please, Ryse. Please move, baby. For me.” She looked over his shoulder at Yankee and Philippe. They nodded and both took one of Ryse’s shoulders. He allowed them to pull him to his feet but brushed them off as he backed away.
“Father,” he whispered as Paeans in white suits commence in cleaning up the scene.
Everything had happened so quickly. One minute Troy was toasting, the next his body was being eaten, dissolved from the inside out. Nothing could prepare someone for this. There was nothing that could make a person process this catastrophe.
The royal family was taken to a private room, barricaded by layers of guards. Avery watched as they sat, motionless. None of them spoke, none of them moved. They were in shock. Even Ryse was unanimated. It didn’t last long. His body suddenly in motion, he left the room, Elites in tow. Avery followed. Damned if she would sit on the sidelines.
“Tell me exactly what happened,” Ryse said to her. Avery gave him a quick version of everything. The moment Salina was mentioned power surged off him. “She will die for this if it’s the last thing I do.”
RYSE KICKED IN the door to Salina’s suite. Two Thracian guards were ready to attack before they realized who had entered. Even then he could see the battle in their eyes.
“Stand down or die,” Ryse threatened.
