Chapter 25

Mátyás

They left me in bed to rest, but how can I do that when we've been betrayed, and they've taken half my heart?

A familiar scent hits me when I walk through the chapel, and my incisors ache to draw blood. How dare she think she can come into our house.

"What the fuck are you doing here, boszorkány?" My fists clench at my sides. I want to put her through a wall for all the trouble she's caused us.

She spins on her red heels as the bottom of her dress sweeps along the floor and cants her head to the side. "Good to see you too, Mátyás."

I ignore her dig and walk past her, avoiding any contact. I'm in no mood for her bullshit. When I reach Elek he gives me a questioning look.

You should be resting. What are you doing out of bed?

Our mate was taken two days ago. Did you think I'd stay in bed and not help? I want their heads on spikes. He knows me better than that.

"What happened here?" I step over László's corpse and tilt my head toward the giant cross where Akos and Ysabel are prying a wounded Sebo down and carrying him out of the room. The rest of the coven remains silent, watching the entire altercation.

"You had a traitor, and we found him." Samael crosses his arms over his chest, but his eyes flick toward the waiting witches. That's an interesting reaction, but one that I don't have time to figure out. There are more important matters at hand. Like, where the fuck is Kiara.

"Good riddance then." I kick at the body with my foot. The stench of his blood and betrayal coats the room like a disease, but I don't allow myself to dwell on that. I turn my attention to the bane of my existence.

She's standing with a few members of her coven beside her as they take in the carnage. Her face appears neutral, but her posture is stiff. The vein on the side of her neck throbs, and I can smell her fear. I don't believe for one second that she's here out of the kindness of her cold black heart.

"Why are you here, Natália?" My jaw clenches as I fight to remain rooted in place.

"Why do you think? You kidnapped my niece and snuck her out of the country without a word. An indiscretion I was willing to overlook since she's your mate. But then I find out my vision came true, she's been taken by the Lycans. And worst of all, it's by that savage son of a bitch, Farkas. I'm here to bring her back where she belongs since you can't keep her safe."

The patience I've been hanging onto snaps. I lunge forward, grabbing her by the throat and slamming her against the wall.

"How do I know that it isn't you that betrayed us?" I bare my fangs, wanting nothing more than to rip through her neck.

"Don't be stupid." Her black-painted lips curl back in disgust. "Why would I walk in here and put up with your bullshit unless it was for a good reason? Besides, I didn't even know where you were until I felt the call of blood magic and followed it here."

"Stupid is what you are if you think you can walk in here and play us. You try to take her from us, and it'll be the last thing you do." My fingers tighten, feeling the quickening of the pulse on the side of her neck. "The only reason I haven't ripped you apart piece by piece is because you mean something to her. Choose your next words carefully, or all bets are off."

I spot one of the witches that came with her move out of the corner of my eye. I'm about to release all of my wrath on her and teach her a lesson, but Elek gets there first.

"Use your magic on him, and I'll rip your hand off and feed it to you, Boszorkány." He steps up to her, daring her to give him a reason.

"It's all right, Petra." She waves her down.

"Are you sure?" the brazen little witch asks as she wrinkles her nose at Elek. Her purple hair cascades down her back like snakes, but those blue eyes hold as much disdain for us as we do for her kind.

"I am." Natália struggles against my hold as she focuses her attention back on me. "It wasn't me, Mátyás. Despite what you might think, I love Kiara as if she's my own blood. I am the one who tucked her in at night, the one who kissed every scrape, the one who held her when she cried. To harm her would be to harm myself. The last thing I want is her in the hands of those monsters."

"Is that why you hid her from us all these years?" Elek steps up beside me and crosses his arms over his chest.

"You're being ridiculous. Did it ever occur to you that I gave her the bloodstone to keep her true powers from emerging because it was the best way to keep her safe? If she was hidden from you, she remained hidden from the rest of them. I was going to tell her the truth of her lineage and bring her here when the time was right."

"Bullshit. Trust nothing she says. She's a daughter of Satan. And witches always lie." Hatred spews out of Samael's eyes as he steps up and casts a scathing look at her.

"Your fight isn't with me, Samael, and you know it." Her face hardens as she glares at him. "There's something more at work with that issue, and it's up to you to seek out the truth."

"Be that as it may, I trusted your kind once, and it cost me everything. If they want to take a chance with their mate and trust you, that's on them. But, I will not let you out of my sight for a second. One wrong move, and your soul is mine." Samael leans against the wall, eyes locked on hers. His animosity to the witch is of no concern of mine. As long she helps us find Kiara before it's too late, then I'll let her breathe to see another day.

"For fucks sake, we are wasting time." Petra rolls her eyes, and I have half a mind to rip her tongue out.

"Your protection spell has been broken and I didn't use my magic on you when I could have, to show you that I have no ill intentions." Natália jabs a finger into my chest. "But if you don't take your hand off my neck, I'm going to roast you alive where you stand, Bloodsucker."

"Fine." I drop my hand and step back. "You have one chance, but heed my warning."

"Are you going to let us help you find her, or do you prefer to continue with this bullshit some more?" She rubs at the red hand print appearing on her neck.

"I will, but like Samael said, I don't trust you. One wrong move, and I will sever your head from your body after I've done the same to your limbs."

"Always such colorful threats, Mátyás. Allow me to make one of my own. If Kiara is harmed in any way when we arrive, I will spend eternity making you both pay. You three will be mates, and that means I'll be your in-law." The corner of her mouth curls up in a sneer.

"The feeling is mutual." The muscles in my jaw clench at her insinuation that she'll be family.

"I can scroll to find her, but it will take some time to gather everything I need to cast the spell." She rights the material of her dress that was displaced during our confrontation, ignoring my dig.

"No need." Elek jerks his head in the direction of the floor. "His blood told me everything we need to know. She's at Dürnstein Castle by the Danube River."

"Austria? Why would they take her there?" Natália's eyes narrow. She's as confused as the rest of her coven beside her. I'd expect them to be. She doesn't know this mutt like we do or the lengths he'll go through to get what he wants.

"Because Farkas is a sadistic bastard and believes he can cleanse her of her sins through the purity of the water." I run a hand through my hair and fist the ends. This isn't good.

"Why do I have a feeling that there's more that you aren't telling me?" She clears her throat in an attempt to disguise the trembling, but I hear it nonetheless.

"He thinks if he drowns her, she'll be reborn pure and cast free of sin. Thus ripe for the taking." A red haze covers my vision at the thought of him touching her.

She stands up taller, stepping into my space. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's bring her home where she belongs. And kill that motherfucker."

"For once, we're in agreement." The corners of my mouth lift into a wide grin. I just hope we make it to her in time. Waiting another lifetime to find her isn't an option.