FORBIDDEN BLOOM

21 — THE BEAST UNLEASHED

VANESSA

I did not wait to listen further to what they had to say before I pushed open the door, stumbling inside to confront them.

Only to find Rose in the center of the room. Lysandros was nowhere to be found.

In a fit of rage, I rushed to her, grabbing her wrist so hard I wished it’d snap in two. “What have you done?”

She tugged herself free, glaring. “Getting rid of vermin, that’s what.”

“You damn right know what I’m talking about, you witch!” I hissed, anger choking me. “You told me to get Leonidas’s hair and I did, what have I got to do with being tied to him?”

The scowl on her face gave way to a smugness. I wanted to peel it off her skin with my dagger while I listened to her plea for mercy.

Enjoying every bit of bleeding her dry.

“I see you have been listening in on our private conversations.” She chuckled. “Isn’t it obvious yet? If only you’d stayed dead all those years ago.” Then added, “Glory.”

I froze.

“W-what? H-how–” I looked behind me, taking a step closer. “You knew her?”

“Oh, spare me.” She walked to the bed and sat down. “From the moment I saw you, I knew this would happen. When Nyra showed me her most valuable killer, I knew this would be a failure from the get-go. You would make the same mistake from your past and jeopardize everything I’ve worked so hard to build for me and my son.”

“That’s not even–”

She rolled her eyes. “When you’re over a hundred years old, it becomes easy to see people for who they really are and make use of the disposable ones. Lysandros is nothing but a tool. So are you, little girl.”

A glint of nothing but pure malice shone on her face and it made me shiver inwardly. Fear wrapped its ugly fingers around my heart, replacing the anger. It was like staring into Cipher’s face again.

“I can’t let this happen.” I shook my head, heading towards the door. My life was also on the line. “I have to warn Leonidas.”

Her voice stopped me in my tracks. “You both deserve each other now and in the afterlife, but for now, he will not remain on that throne for long. Neither will Lysandros.”

“I don’t think Lysandros will like those words when I let him know the plans you have for him. He will claim the throne after Leonidas afterall.”

She made a clucking sound in the back of her throat.

“You little children never learn.” Her eyes fixed on me a deadly stare. “As long as I am alive, he would never.”

That alone sparked a fresh surge of anger.

“So you’re just using him? You are turning him against his brother for your own selfish gains? You are just as evil as what you claim Leonidas is.”

“I think you have too much freedom with the way you run that mouth,” she snapped. “Be careful.”

Taking calm breaths, I decided to try another approach.

“I understand you are angry with the way we started off. Whatever it is you’re doing, I assure you there are better ways we could sort this out.”

She laughed. A scornful sound that gnawed at me.

“An assassin preaching peace. That’s the first hilarious thing I’ve ever heard all my life. Say that to Leonidas whose father killed mine for practicing magic, and I gave him something better to worry about. Do you think this has anything to do with you?”

Her careless revelation sent a chill to my bones. She was the witch who’d laid a curse on Leonidas. The one Leonidas talked about.

I was standing in front of the woman who was minutes away from crippling the entire kingdom and taking my life as well.

“So that’s it?” I tried to sound calm despite the rising pulse of my heart. “That is your grand revenge?”

The smile slipped off her face as she turned serious, tilting her head to look at me.

“What did you say to me?”

“After you kill him and his brother, then get the throne for yourself, what else happens? You think it ends there?”

“I get revenge for my father and make sure no one from Alaric’s lineage gets the throne, ending that beast’s rule once and for all. Imagine the peace that comes with it.”

“Maybe you might get peace. But...” I stopped in front of her. “After Leonidas dies, the kingdom will not just mourn him. His allies will turn on each other and blood will spill everywhere. Is that something you want to happen?”

I let that hang between us, noting the slight change in her demeanour.

“And you? How many people will you be able to use your magic on? His loyal soldiers will hunt you. How does that make you any different from the man you hate? Leonidas is not even his father.”

I could not believe the words coming out of my mouth. But I’d do anything to save my life, even if it meant saving Leonidas in the process and damning the rules of the Serpent Sisters.

“You think I care about the differences?” she asked rather coldly. “If I were you, I’d be spending my last moments with my mate, Gloreeya.” She pointed at her wrist. “The seconds are ticking.”

Snapping her neck would not be hard from where I stood, then again, it was not worth it.

Finding Leonidas was more important.

I met her gaze, refusing to let her intimidate me. “You are hopeless and I hope you get ruined before you realize it.”

Without waiting for her own response, I dashed out of the room. I made my way through the hallways, down the stairs and across the marble floors.

I continued running through the foyer until I burst out into the night.

For some reason, it was colder than it was several minutes ago.

“Leonidas,” I breathed as I looked over to the pavilion and found him surrounded by his people.

Like he heard my voice, he looked up. That handsome face beamed a smile so beautiful it brought an ache to my chest, and the only thought I had was how much of a liar I was.

The truth had been staring at me all along.

Maybe I lied about caring about my life alone. Would I have been able to put a hole through his heart if I had a knife right now?

And I knew it wasn’t just the s****l pull between us. Or his kind face. Or the regal way he carried himself. Or the power he held.

I realized I needed him to be in my life, my bed, in my heart.

To be mine. As long as we found a way to survive tonight.

“Excuse me,” I heard him murmur to the people he was surrounded by.

The distance between us seemed to visibly stretch as my vision narrowed to him alone. Nobody else.

Just out of reach but not there yet.

He takes one step toward me...and freezes.

“Your Grace?” Someone called. “Are you okay?”

No. No. Not now.

“Leonidas, it’s me,” I intervened, praying to the heavens above that the effects had not kicked in yet. That it was not whatever I was thinking.

I tried again. “Leo?”

Jerking his head to the side, an animalistic growl ripped out of him, throwing the guests into silence.

“What is wrong with His Majesty?” someone queried in the crowd.

My chest tightened just to watch him fight against his beast in public, realizing that it was exactly what Rose wanted.

That was why she was so confident that there would be peace after his death.

Because he would change in front of them and the people would take back their loyalty to him.

“Leo!” I screamed, hurrying toward him before a guard stopped in my path.

“Stand back!” It was Nokai, Lysandros’s personal guard. “It is not safe for you, my lady.” He motioned to the rest of his men. “Surround him.”

Too late, I’d drawn the beast’s attention and now it had its murderous red eyes pinned on me alone.

Fingers had elongated into claws, his bones kept snapping and shifting uncontrollably.

With a roar he lunged toward me, swiping at the guards who tried to close in around him.

At least two were motionless and a few wounded, but the beast didn’t stop. I knew he would not until it finally killed me.

Before Nokai could defend us both, the beast brought him down also with one powerful blow that ripped him in half.

Blood and matter splattered against my dress. This was the cue the crowd needed to take to their heels.

It aimed for me now, ignoring the other terrified screams. Just me.

But I stood still, determined to shake Leonidas awake and bring him back to me.

“Leo! Fight the beast again. Fight for me. I know you are in there.”

The malevolent glint in its eyes however said otherwise. Another roar ripped out its throat as it raised its hand...and struck.