Chapter Twenty-five

B reakfast the next morning was grim. After Damien pulled Liana from sleep, she joined the vampires for food. Patrons from the village were thankfully absent.

"What happened in the city after I was taken?" Liana questioned, then spooned buttery porridge into her mouth.

The other vampires deferred to Luciano. "I stood behind you when you let out that blast of power. It exploded in an arch, knocking everyone out within a mile, Damien included. We still had the enemy at our backs though and while we were fighting them off, and trying to protect Damien, they got you. Shortly after I realized you were gone, Ramone showed up with the army." He heaved a sigh and slugged back something from a mug. "The city was under attack from three different points to keep us occupied and divided. Our numbers are far larger though and we were able to neutralize the threat."

"How many deaths?" Liana asked.

"Fifty-three from our side. Seventy-seven from theirs. We detained as many as we could, the rest have been executed."

A low growl echoed from Damien. "I took great pleasure in killing them," he admitted darkly, which had her shivering.

She couldn't exactly blame him. She likely would have been just as blood thirsty. Even now, she felt the need for revenge. Felt this burning desire to finally end all of this.

"We need to get back to Sancta Valles as quickly as possible," Liana declared. "I want to get my sister home where I can remove Ranville's influence and she can recover. Then we can deal with Ranville and the rebels."

"I should have killed him when I wanted to," Damien grumbled, his breakfast still untouched.

"Yes, well, somehow he evaded all your questioning. You had no proof," Liana reminded him.

"I am the King. That is all the proof I need."

She frowned at him. He was not one to so blatantly abuse power. When it came to her though, she quickly learned that there were no rules. Another thing that made her nervous because she didn't want him to do anything he'd regret one day.

"Now there will be no doubt that Ranville is a rebel, if not their leader. He will be executed accordingly," Luciano explained. "Finish your breakfast. We leave immediately after." He walked out of the inn, passing the windows in the front which led toward the stables where their prisoners were kept.

"Damien, eat," she directed, shoving his plate toward him.

"I had plenty last night, my Queen. I am not hungry," he said, leaning in to give her neck a kiss.

Blushing while Asher snickered, Liana shoved him away. "Let's just go home," she complained. Done with her food, she went to join Luciano to reinforce the sleeping spell. Damien was right on her heels.

"Why did Ranville bring you so far north?" he asked just as they entered the stables. Luciano glanced up, interested in her answer as well.

Liana noted the vampire soldier nearby. "Sir, could you please inform Owen that he will be in charge of my sister's care for the rest of the journey?" The male nodded and hurried off. Ensuring that no one else was nearby, she pulled the right leg of her trousers out of the boot and all the way up her thigh.

"Is there a reason you are flashing so much skin at my grandfather, Wife?" Damien drawled, standing so that he blocked her from view.

Ignoring him, she muttered the revealing spell which had the dagger rising like a tattoo upon her skin. The vampires leaned in, Luciano coming closer. Liana placed her palm over the hilt feeling the magic vibrating in her thigh and in her hand. Drawing it out, the dagger took form, and she held it out for their inspection.

"This is what he wanted me for."

Damien's fingers hovered over the dagger while Luciano only examined with his eyes.

"How did that just come out of your leg?" Damien asked incredulously.

She shrugged. "It's the same as the other dagger I put in my arm or the spells I wrote into my skin. They are within me but not actually in my body. I'm not sure how to explain it, but I'm not walking around with an actual dagger beneath my skin. It's like summoning, I think."

"Why not just summon it like other objects then? Why in your skin?" Luciano asked. He reached up to take the dagger, but she pulled away with a glare.

"Because if I were to send this somewhere safe to wait until I needed to summon it again, it would be out of my possession and at risk of being stolen. No one can steal it if they cannot find it, which is why I've always hidden my new spells in my skin. No one would ever discover them unless I wanted them to." She pulled the dagger away again when Damien reached for it. "And no one touches this dagger except for me."

"We just want to examine it," he explained.

"No. For now, it's only mine." She planted it back into her thigh and pulled her pant leg down. "What do you know of the original Triaedian?" she asked, watching their faces closely.

Damien's brow furrowed. "What do you mean, the original?"

Luciano remained stoic. "Did Ranville tell you of it?" he said, which had both their heads whipping toward him. He didn't bother with looking guilty.

Liana glared. "Yes. What do you know? Is it in that damned King's book?"

"The book?" Damien parroted, just as confused as Liana which gave her a bit of relief only because it meant he hadn't lied to her or kept things hidden.

Luciano ran a hand over his hair and shook his head. "It's a history that was erased from this world."

Liana took a threatening step closer, magic rising to her fingertips. "Tell me, now."

He shook his head again but more like he attempted to clear it. "I… I think my father told me of it once. I can't be sure. It all seems so foggy now. The moment you said something though, I knew I'd heard of it before." Running both hands through his hair, the ancient vampire began to pace. A growl tore loose from his throat. "I think someone tampered with my memories."

Damien and Liana shared a concerned glance.

"Let us get back to the safety of the castle where we can investigate all of this further," Damien suggested.

Luciano gave a rough nod. "To the castle. Fix Charlotte then everything else."

Liana agreed, hiding the sinking feeling in her stomach. This was all turning out to be far more complicated than she anticipated. No longer were they dealing with simple rebels. This was an ancient battle between a kingdom divided, one that no longer existed yet somehow tainted their own. And it wasn't just the rebels this feud reached. Luciano didn't even know he was involved. How many others suffered the same fate? How many others also had their minds tampered with?

Liana's stomach flipped at the thought. What were they truly dealing with?

***

Liana sat beside Charlotte on a bed in a guest chamber near her own chambers in Sancta Valles Castle. Phillipa fussed around them, readying a bath, clothes, and food for them both. Liana kept Charlotte asleep until she could rescind whatever magic Ranville forced upon her sister.

It took an intense amount of concentration and a lot of faith in her magic to do the work. Liana knew plenty of unwinding spells. Spells to undo other's magic, but this was mind magic, something she rarely dappled in. She mastered memory blocking but there had been no way to test out much of the other spells without someone finding out what she was up to. Phillipa offered a time or two. That wasn't something Liana was willing to risk though.

She unwove the spells slowly and with a finesse that surprised herself. She'd healed any injuries Charlotte sustained when she first saw her again so there wasn't anything else to do but wait for Charlotte to wake.

"I cannot believe this," Phillipa complained again, her face pinched with worry and anger. "Master Ranville was always a perfect gentleman."

Liana's lip curled at the mention of him. "His title will undoubtedly be stripped before Damien executes him, nor do I want you to use it again. Ranville is a traitorous bastard."

Phillipa wiped a warm, wet cloth over Charlotte's brow. Other than being a bit thinner than before, her sister appeared unharmed. Liana knew better than most though that the worst scars were hidden beneath the surface.

Liana didn't know how her sister would react when she woke. No matter what though, she'd be here for Charlotte. Whatever she needed. It was the least she could do after letting it get this far.

"Could you get those lemon bars the chef makes? She loves those," Liana suggested to Phillipa. The maid nodded and hurried out the door.

While she waited, Liana sent a mage message to her father.

Soldiers are coming to bring the family to the castle. Pack quickly and bring things for Charlotte. Ranville is a traitor. Tell no one and get here fast.

"Sasha," she called to her guard, which she knew was standing by. "Can you send soldiers to escort my family by carriage? I want them close, and Charlotte will need them."

"Of course, Your Majesty." Sasha bowed and retreated, locking the doors behind her. Liana knew it wasn't meant to keep her in, but to keep others out.

"Liana?"

She spun at her sister's frail, scared voice. Liana kneeled on the bed beside her. Charlotte's eyes flitted about the room wildly.

"Where am I? What has happened?"

"There is much to tell you, Charlotte. Just know that you are safe. We are at the castle." She sent soothing magic into her sister.

Charlotte yanked her arm away and sat up against the headboard. "Keep your magic away from me," she spat at her. "What did you do to me? How did I get here?"

Liana forced her tears away. "What is the last thing you remember?"

Charlotte stared blankly around the room. "We were… we were going to Wesley's wedding," she answered, her voice hesitant and uncertain.

Liana fisted the blankets to keep from clutching at her chest which had surely cracked open with her sister's answer.

Liana squeezed her eyes shut, swallowing back the bile. "Charlotte, Wesley's wedding was over a month ago. Ranville… he… he used mind magic on you. He is a rebel."

Charlotte's eyes widened, tears spilling over. "He met me at the temple. He pulled me aside when we got there."

Liana reached for her again, but Charlotte recoiled. "I can help soothe you," she offered.

Charlotte shook her head, sinking down into the bed. Turning onto her side, she put her back to Liana. "No more magic. Just leave me alone."

Heart aching, Liana sat back, keeping her hands in her lap. "I'm so sorry, Charlotte. I should have stopped him."

"Liana, stop," she declared fiercely. "Please, just leave me alone."

Wiping silent tears away, Liana slid off the bed. "I'll just go sit by the window. Phillipa prepared a bath and fresh clothes when you're ready."

There was no reply. Liana sat by the window to keep an eye on her. When Phillipa returned with the plate of lemon bars, Charlotte refused. Not wanting to leave her, Liana whispered to Phillipa, "My family should be arriving in about an hour. Will you please greet them at the door and make sure they have rooms available?"

Phillipa squeezed Liana's hand and tucked her hair behind her ear. Liana refused to fuss with it and loosely tied it back earlier.

"Whatever you both need, I will do it."

Liana hugged the woman that had been like a mother to her. "Thank you, Phillipa."

Once she'd gone, Liana reclaimed her seat, worry eating away at her insides. She'd help Charlotte get through this. Just like Phillipa was there for her when she was only a child, Liana would be there for Charlotte. And that also meant ridding this kingdom of rebels.