He smiled, his grip unrelenting. “Stay in your place, Queen.” Then he strode down the stairs and along the red carpet, easily pushing her along.
“Where are the females?” She searched furtively around. There were no women anywhere in sight.
“They don’t belong at state functions,” he replied. “You’ll meet some of the mates of my generals after we mate. We’ll have a party—you’ll like them.”
This was surreal.
They reached the center of the courtyard and stopped. A door to one of the buildings opened, and soldiers shoved Hunter and Paxton out. Their clothing was ripped, and wounds covered their faces and bodies. A chunk of Hunter’s jaw was missing, and Paxton’s left arm hung at an impossible angle. Garrotes circled both their throats, and soldiers held them so tightly, the steel cut deep. Blood poured down their necks. Both males looked furious. Hope tried to move toward them, but Drake halted her with a hand on her arm.
Even across the distance, she could hear Paxton’s low growl.
Vero stood next to Hunter, a Kurjan slicing blade in his hands. The blade, a new kind of knife, imbedded itself in flesh and then exploded, slicing in every direction. It was the perfect weapon with which to decapitate an immortal. No expression was visible on his face, but his eyes swirled a wild blue surrounded by a silver ring. For a second, she could see his likeness to Paxton.
“We would consider outlawing those knives in a treaty with the Realm,” Drake said quietly.
Hope’s gaze met Pax’s. Fury and raw determination glowed in those silvery-blue depths.
General Ulric stepped forward, directly in front of two rows of Cyst soldiers. “The Cyst approve of this union, and I, as the leader of the Cyst, am present and willing to administer the vows. Our people are served well by King Drake, who will usher us all into a new and prosperous future.”
Hope’s legs trembled, but she kept her posture perfect and strong.
Across the distance, Paxton slowly lifted one hand, showing the mating mark. His was an intricate and deadly looking P surrounded by barbed lines. Beautiful and stunning but masculine, almost threatening.
Her bare back pounded, and the prophecy marks on both sides of her neck heated. She’d thought about his marking through the years, but she’d never imagined its rough beauty. Her entire body trembled.
“I love you, Hope,” he called, his voice hoarse and sure. “Always have and always will.”
She opened her mouth, and Drake’s fingers dug into her arm so hard a bone cracked. She winced, her breath catching. It was a struggle to remain on her feet. Dizziness pummeled her, and she gritted her teeth, trying to will healing cells to the fracture. Nothing happened except that the pain spread up to her shoulder.
Drake lifted his head and spoke directly into the cameras. “Thank you all for witnessing the birth of the new and stronger Kurjan nation.” He looked down at Hope. “At my side is Hope Kayrs-Kyllwood, princess of the Realm. Today, she will agree to become the queen of the Kurjan nation and my mate.” His voice rang out strong and sure. “But our people believe in females having a choice. So today, I ask you, Hope. What is your choice?”
Paxton reared forward, and the garrote pulled him back, shredding more of his skin. His eyes morphed to a bright emerald surrounded by a silvery blue rim.
She swallowed. The cameras wouldn’t show Paxton or Hunter. The Realm wouldn’t know they were even there.
Her entire life had come down to this moment…to this choice. There was only one right path. To save Paxton, to save Hunter, to save all of those enhanced females, there was only one choice.
As she faced Paxton, tears filled her eyes. Memories assailed her. The first time they’d met, when he’d taken a liking to her green dragon toy. The surprise on his face when her mother had given him a cookie. The moment he’d jumped in front of Paelotin to take a hit that could’ve killed her. The first time he’d kissed her. The last time he’d kissed her. The strength and protectiveness and wonder that was Paxton Phoenix. She’d loved him her entire life. Instead of searching for some great fate, she should’ve trusted her feelings. She should have told him. He deserved all of her, but the only thing she could do now was save his life.
In her heart, perhaps deeper into her very soul, there was absolutely no choice for her. Some things transcended this world. Even life…and even death.
Pax’s nostrils flared. “Don’t do this.”
Nobody had ever chosen him. Those words echoed in her head, digging deep. Hopefully he’d understand what she had to do.
She swallowed and lifted her head so the camera would have a better angle, but her gaze, that remained on Pax. “There is only one choice. For now and forever, regardless of the consequences, I choose Paxton Phoenix.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
There was dead silence in the compound for about three seconds, and then everybody moved at once. Drake grabbed Hope and shook her, yanking her toward him. Vero pivoted and sliced through the garrote around Pax’s neck.
Paxton instantly turned and punched the two soldiers behind him, allowing Hunter enough room to turn and fight with his captor.
Soldiers rushed them from every direction.
Paxton knocked down the soldier he was fighting, grabbed the blade from Vero, and ran full bore for Hope. She struggled against Drake, reaching up to claw his face. He slapped her hard, and she fell back, the heavy train of the dress pulling her down onto the icy snow. Then he grabbed a knife and plunged down, slicing into her rib cage. She cried out as pain engulfed her.
The sound of thunder echoed as Paxton and Drake collided.
Hunter pulled Hope up, then whirled to fight off two Cyst, while Vero battled with two Kurjan soldiers. Hope stumbled away, searching desperately for a weapon, holding her bleeding rib cage with one hand. A Kurjan soldier reached for her, and she punched him in the eye rapidly with both hands, driving him back.
To her side, Paxton and Drake exchanged punches and kicks so quickly it was impossible to follow.
Drake lifted his arm, punched Pax with one hand, and then stabbed him in the stomach with the same blade he’d used on Hope. Blood sprayed across the snow.
Hope cried out, trying to get to them. How badly was Pax hurt?
In one smooth and impossibly fast motion, Paxton pivoted and shoved the Kurjan blade into Drake’s neck. Drake’s eyes widened, and his hands scrambled to grab the handle, but it split in three directions with a clink of iron.
Everybody stilled.
Slowly, every eye focused on Drake. He frowned, blood burbled from his mouth, and then his head slowly fell from his body. It landed in the snow, blood pouring out to turn the crystals red. His body pitched forward, spraying red snow as it landed.
Hope rushed toward Paxton, who grabbed her and leaped across the field to smash into both Vero and Hunter.
Then they were falling.
Darkness pulled at her. Something evil shrieked and ripped at her arm. Heavy winds blew her hair in every direction. Pure darkness surrounded her, and she scrambled, trying to find Paxton. Then there was light, and they were falling even faster. He grabbed her and pulled her against him, and then they hit the earth with a solid thunk.
“Ugh,” Hunter moaned loudly.
“What is happening?” Vero stumbled in the snow.