Shadowborn Royals - G. Bailey Page 0,25
Sage. “But your blood has made their deaths worth it. There’s no sacrifice I am unwilling to make to protect the Forest from shadowborns.”
“Why?” My voice comes out small, and I’m unable to take my eyes off Sage. Tears sting my eyes at the thought of her being tortured. She doesn’t deserve this. No one does. “Why do you hate us so much?”
Now Eva looks at me, her smile vanishing. “It’s funny how you shadowborns were born from darkness and yet it was people like me who lived in your shadows.” Turning back to Sage, she says, “All my life, I lived in the shadow of a girl my father wished I could be, even before I was born. When the light is put up against that depth of darkness, there is no way to triumph without falling into the darkness yourself. In essence, I had to become what I am today to be seen.”
“So you’re doing all this because of your daddy issues with King Ulric?” I laugh at her, much to the distress of my mother. “You’re a psycho bitch, but I’m not buying it. No. There’s more to it than that.”
The black veins darken and pulse underneath Eva’s flesh. “I am doing what I need to do to ensure the safety of my kingdom. Shadowborns are a virus that must be stopped from spreading. It was a shadowborn who destroyed my life long before I was born. It is only fair that I return the favor by wiping out the very species she comes from.”
I swallow the fear rising into my throat. “Corvina.”
Eva nods. “Long has her existence haunted me, however that is all about to change. I’m going to put an end to Corvina, then I will crush every shadowborn that gets in my way.” She steps closer, bringing her nose inches from mine. “And guess what, Izora? It’s because of you I will be successful in doing that. I suppose I owe you my thanks. You are the one who made this happen.”
My mouth opens to reply, but at first, no words come out. It’s like they’ve abandoned me as much as my mother has.
“I won’t let you hurt Corvina or anyone else I love,” I tell the princess, looking her dead in the eyes.
Her smile returns, even more patronizing than ever. “You already have.”
At breakfast, a girl in a dark grey jumpsuit and wings like my own hurries past my table. Just as I stand to leave, she slides me a note and rushes off before I can ask her anything. I frown down at the parchment before quickly reading it while Luke puts my untouched food away:
I barely finish reading when a guard kicks the side of my table.
“Give me that,” he growls, snapping his fingers.
I fold the note and look him up and down. I haven’t seen this guard before. Then again, it’s hard to tell since they all look the same with their uniform and helmets. However, based on his build, I’d say this the first time I’ve come across this delightful asshole.
He pulls his taser out. “I said give me that, scumbag!”
“Oh, look,” I say, ripping the note and blowing the pieces at him. “Magic.”
I’m expecting his hand when he reaches out to slap me, allowing me to jump to the side. What I don’t expect is the boot that collides with my stomach and knocks the air from my lungs. I stumble back onto the table, gasping for breath while tears spring to my eyes.
Sonovabitch got me right in the gut!
Before I can react—because of course, my stupid ass wants to fight back—the guard is tackled to the ground. All six-foot of Axel hits the guard and his fist smashes down again and again until the guard’s face is covered in blood. Everyone gathers around to cheer.
Guards rush to separate them. Luke included, though I see him kicking the guard in the nuts while trying to drag Axel off him. Everything’s happening so fast at first I don’t see the tendrils of smoke wrapping around Axel like a bullwhip. They pull him away from the guard and hold him immobile in the air.
Another tendril snaps around the guard’s wrist and pins him to the floor.
I look across the hall to see Gold standing with his hands raised, a look of murder burning on his face. His eyes move to my stomach, back up to my face, and then down to the guards.
“Stand back!” Every guard in the room falls