House of Kings(22)

“He’s fine,” Rath responds. I hear fabric brush fabric, like he’s just sat down in a chair. “He’s been patrolling the town, making sure the evacuation is holding. So far no one new has come back.”

“Good,” I say with a nod. “And I’m glad to hear he’s protecting Silent Bend, but he really should stay inside. It’s not safe out on the streets these days. It’s not really even safe inside your own home.”

That weight tries to crush down upon my shoulders again, but I have to push it away.

I have to.

“I’m coming back now, Alivia,” Rath says. And it’s a matter of fact.

“Yes, you are,” I agree. “It’s time. I need you.”

“I’ll be there in a few minutes,” he says. “Goodbye, Alivia.”

“Bye,” I whisper as he hangs up.

I go to wait for Rath on the front porch. I shove the snow away with my boot and sit on the top stair. Not much snow has fallen in the past twenty-four hours, but it still piles high and deep.

I breathe in and out, creating a huge cloud of white around me.

I’m scared for Rath to come back. For him to see what I’ve done to a human being. For him to find out Jasmine is in the well. For him to be directly in the path of an unpredictable King.

I have to slay my demons to survive. And right now, those demons are human emotions. I can’t let them control me. I have to be a queen. A ruler. A manipulator.

Because it’s my birthright. My destiny.

Five minutes later, I see the red Jeep crest down the lawn. With a bit of difficulty, it makes its way through the snow. Rath parks it in front of the garage and walks toward me.

I prepare myself for agony when my arms rise to take him into a hug. I try to hold my breath when my face comes so close to his neck. But I can’t help it. I take a deep, long breath.

My throat flares with agony, with that deep, animalistic thirst. But. But there is something different to the way Rath smells. Human—but not entirely.

“What are you?” I finally ask him for the first time. I pull back so that I might study his eyes. Brown. Warm. Deep.

“I am your father’s man, and your right hand help,” he answers me seriously. And there’s a finality in his eyes that says he will answer no more questions.

I nod in acceptance. Rath has a history and story that is dark and deep. And it’s a story he needs to keep to himself. “I’m grateful for your return.”

He nods as well and places an arm over my shoulders. Together, we walk back through the front doors.

“I have a lot to update you on,” I say.

“Who’s this?”

We turn to find Danielle walking out from the library. She studies Rath with her bright yellow eyes. I wonder how long it will be until they do not glow constantly.

“This is Rath, my guide in this new life,” I say. Annoyance flares in me. Danielle is quite unpleasant. Not that I can blame her. But right now, I don’t want her around. “Can you give us some space, please, Danielle?”

She instantly turns and walks back into the library. But not without a death stare over her shoulder.

“She’s yours,” Rath observes. There’s a hint of bitterness in his voice when he says it. It’s subtle, but there.

“It was a mistake,” I say, my defenses instantly flaring. “I thought she was dead. Though, I’m not sure which is worse.”

Rath doesn’t say anything to that. He walks forward, his eyes running over his house. Because it really is his house when he’s the one who’s run it for all this time. “Everyone is gone.”

“Some will start returning shortly, I’m sure,” I say. “The King told all of them to bring back another Born. To build our House. Cameron is here. Cyrus is out with Jasmine’s bitten, renovating Elijah’s house. Jasmine is down in the well.”

“You have been busy the past week,” he states. We make our way to the kitchen. He opens the pantry, next the fridge and freezer. “We need supplies. I think it best I make a run to Draper.”

It’s a thirty-five minute drive to the next town over—their grocery store is much bigger than the one we have here in Silent Bend.

“Now?” I ask, feeling panicked that Rath is already leaving again.

“We need supplies,” he says as he walks back toward the door. There’s a displeased clip to his gait. “I won’t be gone long. I will return before this evening.”

My days and nights are so screwed up now. The dawn was breaking in the horizon just as Rath arrived. The sun is fighting to shine through the clouds now. While I’m feeling it’s time to go to sleep, he’s up and ready for a full day.