••{RHIANNON'S POV}••
His lips are like fire and ice against mine. For a heartbeat my body forgets how to react. He forces his tongue past my lips and I taste his blood. As I stand there wrapped in his arms, all I can see behind my eyes is Cyrus collapsing to the floor—his heart in this monster's hand, his blood dripping all over the floors.
My stomach churns. Rage and horror twist together until I wrench back, gasping, choking, my lips still burning with the ghost of his kiss.
Anger boils in my veins, my chest heaving. "How dare you!" I scream, my voice filled with grief. "You killed him!"
My gaze flicks to Cyrus's body laying on the ground then back to those golden eyes. "...and you think you can lay your claim on me?!"
His grip tightens around my waist, holding me against his chest. His voice is deep and calm when he speaks.
"Princess, I don't care if you love me or loathe me. You are mine. That truth will sink into your heart soon enough."
My breath hitches, fury blazing in my chest even as terror gnaws at me. He then licks the blood on his lip and the smirk that spreads across his face makes my stomach twist.
"Good," he says. "Keep that fire. You'll need it where we're going."
I twist in his grip, clawing at his hand, but it's like trying to fight iron shackles.
"I'm not going anywhere with you!" I scream.
His golden eyes narrow, the smirk fading from his face. "I'm not exactly giving you a choice."
He releases my waist only to seize my wrist. Then he turns, dragging me with him as if I weigh nothing.
"Let me go!" I scream, twisting, fighting, but his hold is too strong. "Do you hear me? I said let me go!"
My scream echoes throughout the cathedral but he ignores me and keeps walking.
"Wait!"
He stops and turns back to look at me.
I collapse to the bloodstained floor, my body shaking as sobs rack through me. Tears spill down my cheeks and my chest aches so violently it feels like I might tear apart.
His form towers over me. His grip on my wrist never loosens.
I lift my face to meet his gaze and my voice comes out barely more than a whisper. "Why? Why are you doing this to me?"
The words that tumble out next are louder, sharper, jagged with pain.
"This was supposed to be the happiest day of my life! I was supposed to marry the man I love but you destroyed everything! You killed him!"
"I didn't even get to say I do", I whisper then I look into his eyes and ask. "So why?"
He remains silent. He looks down at me with a stone-cold look on his face.
When he finally speaks, his tone is quiet.
"To protect you. Because you're special."
My brows knit together. My sobs slow, confusion breaking through the grief.
"…What?"
He tilts his head, his golden eyes gleaming. "So you truly don't know what you really are."
My lips part but I can't even muster up words.
"I've been searching for you for centuries," he goes on. "Tracing every royal bloodline, crossing seas, scouring kingdoms, chasing whispers and omens—all to find you. And now…" His grip on my wrist tightens. "…I have."
The words sink into my chest.
"This is for your own good," he adds.
I let out a bitter, hollow laugh through my tears. "For my own good? You're taking me against my will. You've torn me from everyone I love. And that's for my own good?!"
"You won't understand now," he says softly. "But you will when you come home with me."
"Home?"
I rip my gaze from him and gesture to the ruined cathedral, the broken bodies, the pools of blood on the floor. "This is my home. Astragarde is my home." My voice breaks as I point to Jesenya, Rayn, and little Darren crouched around our father's fallen figure. "And they are my family. So, no! I'm not going anywhere with you."
He sighs. Not impatient. Not angry. Just… weary, as if he expected this. To my utter surprise, he lets go of my wrist.
"Alright," he says.
I rub at my wrist as I rise to my feet. Relief washes over me for a heartbeat but just when I think it's over, he says:
"You leave me no choice."
He raises his hand. The blood soaking the floor from Cyrus and dozens of guards ripples. Then it rises, curling into the air in streams that twist and coil like serpents.
I spin around, confused. "W–what's happening? What are you doing?"
The blood snakes toward me, coiling around my wrists and ankles. I scream as it solidifies, hardening into chains colder than iron, burning where they touch my skin. I pull and fight but they only tighten.
With a wave of his hand, his soldiers step forward, seizing the chains.
"Stop!" I cry, jerking back, stumbling. "Please—please don't do this!" My voice breaks as tears stream down my face. I clasp my chained hands together, bowing my head as if in prayer. "I beg you, let me go. I'll do anything. Please."
But he doesn't even look at me. He turns and starts walking toward the cathedral doors, his black cloak trailing behind him.
"No!" My scream echoes throughout the hall. "Please! I beg you!"
The vampires drag me forward.
I look to the nobles, the guests, my father's bannermen, the court, the people who sore to protect me.
Yet not even one lifts a hand.
One man ducks behind another to avoid my gaze. A jeweled lady presses her hands over her child's eyes and turns away. Others bow their heads, trembling, refusing to look at me.
"Help me!" I sob. "Someone—please!"
"Rhia!" Rayn's voice calls out to me. I turn around just in time to see him charge with his sword.
"No, don't!" I scream as one of the vampires swings a fist. The blow sends my brother flying across the aisle. He hits the ground hard, sliding limp across the stones.
For a moment he lies completely still and dread claws up my throat. But then he groans, pushing weakly against the floor. His sword clatters from his hand as he tries to rise to his feet, his arms shaking. He lifts his head, blood trickling down his temple, his eyes locking on me with desperation. But before he can get on his knees he collapses again, motionless.
"Rayn!" I scream, reaching for him, my knees giving away. My body drags across the floor and I stretch my hands out to try and grab onto something.
"Anna!" Jesenya shouts. My sister rushes forward, Darren clinging to her hand. She falls to her knees beside me, seizing my hand with both of hers. Darren wraps his little arms around me, sobbing into my wedding gown.
"I won't let you go!" Jesenya cries, desperately holding on. "I won't let them take you, Anna! I swear I won't let go!"
Her tears streak her pale cheeks, mixing with mine. The chains pull tighter, dragging me inch by inch even as she holds on. My hand slides in hers, slick with blood and sweat.
"Jes… Jes, please!" I sob, trying to hold on tight. "Don't let them—don't let them take me!"
"I won't!" she screams, her voice breaking. "I won't!"
But no matter how hard we hold on, my arm is wrenched back, the distance growing. One by one, my fingers start to slip for her hands.
For a moment, my abductor glances back over his shoulder. His golden eyes flick to where Jesenya clings to me with all her strength, Darren crying at my side.
His face betrays nothing.
No pity, no emotion.
Just a cold, unreadable expression. Like a man watching insects drown in the rain.
He turns away again and keeps walking.
"Anna!" Jesenya screams, the sound splitting my soul.
Then my fingers separate from hers.
She collapses, clutching Darren against her, both of them screaming my name.
I twist, thrashing, dragging my heels against the floor but the vampires pull me forward, hoisting me into the air. My arms stretch out toward them as their small forms blur behind my tears.
I scream until my throat hurts. My chest heaves with sobs, my body convulsing in their grip. The world tilts beneath me. My vision tunnels, spinning until I can't breathe.
And then, everything goes dark.