Chapter 50
AMARIS
My heart dropped to my stomach. Raine was in the vampire realm!
âAre you sure about that?â If this witch tried to fool meâ¦
Joanna smiled coyly, confidently meeting my penetrating gaze. âI am never wrong. She saw me.â
âWitch, if you lie to meâ¦â I grabbed onto the silver bars, not caring that my skin was burning. âHow is she?â
âShe seems fine. Alive.â She gathered up her black crystal ball, wrapped it up in the velvet cloth and replaced it in her bag. âI have no reason to lie to you, King Amaris.â
Alive. Yes, I would have felt it if any harm was done to her. I let go of the bars and my skin started to heal.
âHow do we get to her?â Ross asked, âDo you have her exact location?â Ross looked at me and the concern was clearly written on the deep lines of his face. It wonât be easy to get her back. The relationship between the werewolves and the vamps was tentative at most.
âIn the vampire kingâs castle, I wager.â Joanna said in a quiet way.
âYou wager?!â I canât work on supposition or wagers. I needed to be sure.
âCalm down, your Majesty.â Rhona said, âJoanna wouldnât say that if she wasnât sure.â
âBy the g ods! Why would Athan Dracul risk the peace like this?â Ross shook his head.
âI donât care! We need to move. Get me out of here.â The longer we waited, the more dangerous it was for Raine.
Ross massaged his temples, trying to gather his thoughts. âWait, Amaris. We canât just go storming into the vampire realm. Let me see if I can reach him to try and negotiateâ¦â
Emergency calls onlyM
Chapter 50
64% 12:27
âI have no time for politics. This is a declaration of war, Ross.â And if that was what it took, so be it.
+5
âAmaris, please, we would drag the whole supernatural world into this. Let us look for a more peaceable. solution. He must want something?â Ross tried to reason and maybe I would have listened to him under different circumstances. But this was Raine. My queen, my soulmate!
mys
âThen why hasnât he made contact, Ross?â I paced the floor, anxious to get out. âNo, itâs clear he wants me to come for her.â
Joanna raised a delicate hand. âI can create a portal, your Majesty. Get her exact location, quick in and quick out.â
My eyes snapped to her green ones. Would this work? She seemed confident enough. The proud lift of her chin and the way she carried herself told me she knew her strengths.
Ross shook his head. âIt sounds too easy.â
âIâll risk it.â I was desperate. The thought of Raine in the clutches of those leeches was enough to make me rush headlong into the vampire realm. I knew Athan, how sad istic he was. He would take infinite pleasure in hurting her to get to me.
âLet me go then, Amaris.â Ross said, âWe canât risk your life. Itâs my duty as your Beta.â
I appreciated his loyalty, but I couldnât let him do this alone. There was too much at stake.
âWe will do this together. I know you will have my back, Ross. But I have to do this.â I turned to Joanna. âHow many wolves would you be able to move through the portal?â
She looked at me for some time, deciding, weighing her options. âI would need assistance from my coven if you wanted to take a large number. But I would suggest that we take only a few, grab her and get out.â She didnât have to tell me that she was taking a tremendous risk by helping me. Her compensation would be considerable, and I would see to it that she was rewarded accordingly.
âBut you want revenge.â She sighed as he scrutinized my face. I did, but that came secondary.
âI want answers!â Of course, Athan would suffer the ultimate price for taking my mate.
2/4
Emergency calls only
Chapter 50
âThe most important issue is to get the queen to safety first, your Majesty.â Ross voiced his concern and I had to agree with him. I would get my answers and my revenge later.
âYes, of course!â I snapped at him. âWhat do you need, Joanna?â
Joanna picked up Raineâs shoe. âI have the shoe she wore when they took her, then I will need some of your blood to perform the location spell and then I will open the portal. But first you need to be ready.
will go with you, your Majesty?â
âI will take Richard with us and you, Ross.â I linked Richard to come down to the dungeon. âGet me out
of here.â
âNot so fast, Brother. What is going on here?â Sorin made his appearance followed by a troupe of his guards. âIs that a witch?â He narrowed his eyes, peering at Joanna the contempt he held for her in his
sheer.
âSorin! I demand you set me free. Iâve found Raine.â I didnât have time for the ba st ardâs prejudice.
He sauntered towards me, âWith the help of a witch? Come now, Amaris! You know as well as I how duplicitous these creatures are. You canât trust them.â He said using that condescending tone I hated so
much.
I smirked at him. âMore than I can trust you, Sorin. Unlock this cell.â
âSadly, no. Guards, remove this witch from our castle grounds.â He was drunk on power thinking he cant order my subjects around.
Ross cracked his knuckles and rolled his shoulders. He readied himself to shift. âYour Highness, I canât let you do that.â
âIf you dare to obey the prince, I will have your heads on pikes! I am still your king!â I roared at the guards who turned to each other and then back to the fuming Sorin, uncertain of what to do.
âYou dare to defy me, Ross?â Sorin lowered his head and arms out to the sides.
Did he really think he would be able to take Ross? I sniggered at his pathetic attempt at bravado.
3/4
Emergency calls onlyM
Chapter 50
064% 12:2/
âDo something.â I heard Rhona say to Joanna. She tried to shield the witch by standing between her and
the guards.
Richard, Lord Greyson and a handful of my warriors rushed into the dungeon. Richard brought
reinforcements.
âWhat is the meaning of this?â Lord Greyson demanded. The other guards formed a protective wall around Sorin as my warriors advanced.
âThe king has lost his mind; heâs elicited the help of a witch.â Sorin snarled, pointing an accusatory finger at myself and then at Joanna.
âReserare aperta ianuaâ¦â I heard Joanna mutter under her breath and the locks clicked open, the cell -door swung open. She could have done that sooner.
âWhat the hellâ¦â Sorin took a step back as I stepped out of the cell.
âI suggest you turn around now Brother.â Rage itched to sink his claws into Sorin. âIâm leaving to bring back Raine, and I will not be stopped.â