by Angel Lawson
I don’t know what his expression looks like, but it must be enough because they both back off. Bunny straightens, yanking me with him, and leads me down the center of the massive throne room. We’ve clearly interrupted celebrations of some sort, and the people eating and drinking at the tables dispersed throughout the room come to a quick and abrupt halt, words frozen on their tongues.
Until I pass and they get a good look at my face and the whispers begin.
Who is that?
Who is that girl?
Where did she come from?
That man? I’ve seen him before!
All their questions come in a hurry, hushed and quiet as though they fear retribution.
The music near the throne never ends, not until the Queen herself looks up. I’ve waited so long for this moment, to meet her face to face. To see the woman that haunts my dreams, orchestrates my moves and dominates my life.
We lock eyes and for a moment I can do nothing but stare at the woman I share a soul with.
I’m shocked at her youth, at the lack of any lines on her face. No scars or blemishes. She’s physical perfection, and although I see the resemblance, I’m nothing but a human duplicate. Sure, power runs through my veins, helped by my immortal lovers, but the Morrigan is a warrior on her own. She doesn’t need anyone else to make her strong.
Or at least, that’s what she wants everyone to think. She takes the elixir from underground to keep her young and virile.
There’s another person on the dais that I recognize and I have to force away any reaction: Anita. She sits directly next to the Queen, in a smaller, less magnificent throne. There’s no denying who should be in the empty seat on the Queen’s other side, most likely set out in celebration for the ceremony Casteel mentioned. The one where we join.
I sense the presence of the weapon Bunny shoved in the back of my pants, refusing to leave me unarmed. It was foolish. I regret it now. She’ll detect it immediately.
“What do we have here?” she asks, staring down at us from her massive, obsidian throne. Her eyes are deep pools of hate and anger. I force myself to hold contact. “Where is Casteel?”
“There’s been a breach,” Bunny says. “Casteel has been injured. Your prisoners are gone.”
“Gone?” She doesn’t blink.
“Yes,” I say. “And I would be gone too if I hadn’t taken the time to hunt down this little worm.”
She watches us carefully. “You bested her?”
“Yes,” Bunny replies. “She was distracted.”
A wide, deranged grin splits the Morrigan’s face, making her look like a jester or clown. She leans forward, laughter on the tip of her tongue, and she says, “I felt them. I felt them together. Their power and strength, it shook the castle like an earthquake. I know about Casteel. What do you think this celebration is for? It’s a death watch, you see. He failed me miserably and when he finally bleeds out for good, we’ll dance on his grave.”
The audience cheers and everything about the moment is perverse and wrong.
She tilts her head. “Do you really want to tell me you bested her at the height of her strength?”
“I did, just like I stole her Guardians out from underneath her. Just like I opened the gates over and over again without her understanding or notice.”
The Morrigan thinks this over, resting her chin on the back of her hand. “So tell me, Fallen Guardian, what am I to do? Reward you for delivering back what is mine? Punish you for allowing the others to escape? I’m not exactly sure what is happening here.”
There’s a pause, the entire audience is waiting for what comes next, but not even I am sure what will happen. I reach for the hidden blade and slip out of Bunny’s grip. I toss him to the ground, punching him twice in his confused face, and then hold the dagger to his throat. Staring at the Morrigan, who is watching the scene like a patron at the theater, I flick my wrist, allowing the spikes to extend on one hand. She doesn’t react to the move but I know she’s impressed.
I press down on his chest, curving my nails like spoon to dig out his betraying heart. Without looking at the queen, I say, “You’re right. I let him catch me to give the others time to get back to the other realm. They’re on a ticket provided by the Shaman back home. I needed them out of here and it was easier to trick them than to kill them.”
“Why?” she asks. The soldiers are inches away. “Why would you do all of this?”
“Because this is about me and you, Your Highness. It always has been, don’t you think?” She doesn’t look convinced. I nod at Anita. “I delivered the Third. Why would I bring her here if I didn’t plan to unite with you?”
The Queen looks down at Bunny, who is frozen under the points of my blades. “What about him?”
“Kill him, hang him from the trees, use him for target practice.” I spit in his face. “But you may want to thank him first.”
“And why, exactly, would I do that?”
I stare down at Bunny, not having to make up an ounce of the anger and venom I feel just looking at his face. Rage rolls across every inch of my body and I make no effort to hide my emotions. “When Bunny betrayed me, I finally understood everything you went through. I felt what it was like for you that day, eons ago when your wrath took hold.”
The Morrigan moves, slinking down the dais to stand before me. Her dress is tight and long, fabric trails behind her like snakes slithering across the carpet.
“Tell me what you felt.”
“He was my mate. He used me. He humiliated me. He…”
“No!” Bunny shouts, his face red. “You favored the others. You never cared about me like you cared for them.”
Quick as a viper I slap him across the cheek, my nails scraping the skin and leaving red, angry welts. I stand and face the Queen.
“The pain from what he did…it’s too much. The anger…is consuming.”
“Even with the love of the others?” she asks. “I know you fornicated with them earlier today. Your pleasure radiates off you, even now.”
“To get them to leave and to build my power.” I glance at Bunny, who hasn’t moved even though I’ve released him. “And to make him jealous.”
She stares at me for a long moment and then jerks her head. “Take her to my quarters. We’ll see if she’s telling the truth.”
The soldiers move quickly, surrounding and unarming me. “What if I’m not?” I ask.
The Morrigan shrugs and waves Anita to join her. “It doesn’t really matter one way or the other. You’re here. You’re unprotected. Your world is crumbling as we speak.” She steps toward me, so close I can see the faintest cracks beneath the surface. A piece of gray hair. The thinnest of wrinkles. She smiles, linking one arm with Anita and one with my own. I fight the urge to recoil at her touch. “This way will be a lot more fun.”
Chapter 35
Morgan
The room is similar to my other one, but up in the highest floors of the castle along the same corridor as the queen. Just before I enter the room, Anita slips into her own chambers, adjacent to mine. I pause, noting that a soldier remains outside her door. I have no doubt mine will be guarded as well.
This one, unlike the other, has an arched window. I walk over and take a look out. The barren landscape of the Otherside sprawls for miles. Nothing but death and decay exists where the eye can see. I lean out, smelling the sulfur and rot, and know this is what the Morrigan wants to do with my world. Trash it with hatred and bitterness. Little does she know that miles underground, life and love and happiness flourishes.
She’s not as powerful as she thinks she is.
I flick my wrist, extending my nails. But that’s not all. The black mists that the Morrigan controls slither from my hands and around my ankles. With the strength of my men rolling through my veins and the conviction of an entire realm at my back, all I have to do is hold her off, keep her appeased until my Raven Guard can return with an army.
Then, we will be prepared to take this world back and sto
p her reign of terror, once and for all.
Hope you enjoyed Onyx Eclipse! The next and final installment of the series, Midnight’s End will be available on Amazon in early 2018! It’s currently on pre-order, HERE. Make sure you join my Facebook group or mailing list for updatesand announcements about future books, sales and a little bit of fun!
Dear Lovely Readers!
Thank you for coming on this journey with me! It’s been a fast ride and I can’t believe we’re nearing the end (TBH, if you know me, there’s no such thing a real end. Just a new ride to enjoy!) I know our heroine and her heroes are still in dire straights! I’m hopeful they can solve their problems, save the world and keep their love together as their trials continue.
It’s late where I am and I’m desperately trying to get this book submitted so let me do a quick thank you! To AngstyG for the fantastic cover. To VCedits for her tireless work fixing my millions of errors. To Jennifer and her beta help—keeping me straight and in line! To the Chat Group With Pep! For indulging my ranmblings about Riverdale, book teasers and harrassments about ARCs. And to all the fantastic friends in The Raven Queen’s Harem Facebook group (click that link to find us!) you make my social media days a little bit brighter! Thank you for all your support!
Angel
Angel Lawson Books
Raven Queen’s Harem:
Raven’s Mark (Part 1)
Ebony Rising (Part 2)
Black Magic (Part 3)
Obsidian Fire (Part 4)
Onyx Eclipse (Part 5)
*Raven’s Gift (Holiday Novella)
The Death Fields:
The Girl Who Shot First
The Girl Who Punched Back
The Girl Who Kicked Ass
The Girl Who Kissed the Sun
The Girl Who Broke Free
The Girl Who Saved the World
Creature of Habit Series:
Creature of Habit (Book 1)
Creature of Habit (Book2)
Creature of Habit (Book 3)
A Vampire’s Seduction (Ryan’s Story Book 4)
A Vampire’s Fate (Sebastian’s Story Book 5)
The Wraith Series:
Wraith
Shadow Bound
Grave Possession
Urban Fantasy
The Lost Queen
Vigilant
Contemporary Romance:
FanGirl-A Girl Who Shot First Companion Novel
For the Win
