Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

PIPER

I 'd never felt so defeated as I did the moment those subway doors closed between us. The look in his eyes would haunt me for eternity. I'd seen that look each time a kid got passed over for adoption at the group home. It was like they'd lost the dream of a family that could be. Losing a dream of what could be was almost as painful as losing what is. In that one moment, Grayson had that look, the look of a life that was completely over. I just didn't know why. But I was damn well going to find out. There was only one place where I could find answers: The House of Shade.

I staggered my way out of the subway and found a public restroom. I pushed through the door and checked under the stalls to see if anyone was there. As soon as I was sure I was alone, I stepped in front of a mirror over the sink and looked at myself. My hair was a rats' nest, my makeup ran down my face, and my dress was torn and covered in blood. I'd lost my heels somewhere along the way, but I didn't care. I'd walk through the streets barefoot if it meant bringing Grayson back. We had so much to talk about, so much to settle between us. It was an eternal life, but I'd be damned if I lived it without him now. I was going to give him so much shit when we fixed whatever the hell was wrong with him. We were soulmates and I loved him. Love was never perfect, hell this was far from it, but I wouldn't give up on him. Ever.

I pressed my hand to the mirror, and that red mist flowed from my hand and spread over the surface. It rippled at my touch, and I climbed on top of the sink, then stepped through the mirror and into the hallway. I marched down the hallway toward the other side of the mirror and leapt through, landing in the castle. My breath left me in a rush. I didn't think it'd be possible for the castle to be a chaotic disaster but here it was. I knew Martin and Prisha wouldn't exaggerate the situation, but to see it with my own eyes was startling. I wrinkled my nose at the overwhelming odor of blood. The hallways were desolate. After living in the castle, I knew it would never be this way unless something was really wrong. My heart sank at the thought. I'd left because Grayson broke my heart. But in the flash of a moment that changed for me. The second he told me he loved me and sank his fangs into me making me his it only meant one thing, he was now mine too. And I protected what was mine. Titus and Moira were always kind to me and now I would call on them to help us all.

I took two steps down the hall and nearly collided with Atlas. His face was a dark mask of anger and determination that sent a chill down my spine. It was the kind of face he made when he was about to hunt and kill someone. "What's going on?"

"What's going on is you went missing, the castle got attacked, and now the Crown Prince is nowhere to be seen. I've spent what valuable time I have in the dungeon talking to simpering, inept vampires." Atlas looked like he'd been through a battle. Crimson blood was spattered across his skin and through the white strands of hair that ran back from his temples. Rips covered his black shirt and pants. His face was all sharp planes and anger.

A chill went down my spine. Sanchita had been missing for hours. "Is my friend down there? Her name is Sanchita. Have you seen her anywhere?"

He gave me a single nod. "She was found with Marius' group as they ran like cowards from the castle. They struck and ran. I plan on hunting them one by one until the very last draws his final traitorous breath. Your friend is being held for questioning."

What? How? Anger warred within me. I understood being cautious, but this was Sanchita we were talking about. She was a vampire who couldn't hurt a fly if she was ordered to. With wild, dark hair and a slight frame, she even looked harmless. Her abilities were minimal as far as vampires went. The Blood Borns could easily overpower her.

I tried to keep my voice even. "She's harmless, Atlas."

"That is of no concern to me. I have my own ends to accomplish. It's of little consequence to me who gets imprisoned in the short term to get what I want." He waved a dismissive hand toward me like my concerns were nothing to him. He was about to step around me when I stepped to the side, blocking his way.

"And you thought she would be able to help you? She's not a warrior, Atlas. She's a civilian." Annoyance flooded my body, and yet I held still. There was too much happening with Grayson and the war. This was an easy fix, and I would see to it.

"By giving me information about you." He took a step toward me, towering over me. "I've been wasting my time looking for you, the female who tortured my only friend to the brink of madness."

No longer the brink .

"Well, here I am. You've found me. Now you can let her go." The soldier next to Atlas growled in my direction. But I was not going to put up with this shit, not when Grayson needed us all. This was wasting time and hurting others who didn't deserve it. I lifted my chin. "Now."

"I'm afraid that isn't your call or mine any longer." His words were so dismissive, like I would have no sway in this situation. But I was Grayson's progeny and that meant something in this world. It meant I had power, real power.

A growl rumbled in my chest. "You've made a mistake here."

The soldier took a step closer to his side and Atlas waved him off. "We're fine here, Jester."

I didn't like Sanchita being held against her will. Deep down I knew they'd scared her for no reason. I didn't like how it made the crown look, or Grayson, or me. When Jester didn't move, I felt something rise in me, perhaps it was anger, panic, or the need to protect Sanchita. Power sizzled under my skin and the fine red mist flowed from my skin. It glowed like glitter between us. I called upon it, holding it there between us, daring either of them to step into it.

Jester took a slow, cautious step back. His eyes were locked on the mist as though it were acid that'd burn him. "Sav."

Atlas held his arm in front of Jester and pushed him back even farther. He took a small step back. "I see it." Atlas glared at the glittering mist between us. "It would be in your interest to put your blood magic away."

"Blood magic?" I turned my hand around, examining the mist seeping from it. "Is that what we're calling it? In that case, I think it'd be in your best interest to set my friend free."

"The nasty little time bomb of magic floating around you. Have you got any idea what it does yet?" He moved very slowly as though not to provoke me, even though I already felt pissed off and provoked.

I arched my eyebrows at him. "Made-vampires don't have blood magic. Or so I'm told."

"I've seen a lot of weird things tonight. You having blood magic is the least of them." Atlas reached out and let my mist hit his hand. He sucked in a sharp breath, then narrowed his eyes at me. He yanked his hand back and curled it into a fist as he lowered it to his side.

My mind lingered on Grayson's current state. As much as I wanted to stay here and test my newfound abilities on Atlas and his lackey, I didn't have time. I dropped my hand and took a step to move past them. Atlas took a step to the side, blocking my way. He gazed down at me with those intense eyes. They lingered on my appearance, but I would say nothing to him about the events of tonight. At least not until I spoke with Titus and Moira first.

"Where is Grayson?"

"I don't know." Not a lie, but I wasn't going to just tell him everything that was going on. I knew Atlas was close with Titus and Moira, but I was here to talk to them and only them. I didn't want any rogue vampires going after Grayson, not without a plan. Titus was levelheaded, but Atlas was dramatic as fuck.

"You're lying." He ground his teeth together and let his fangs extend.

"I'm not scared of you, Sav. So, move. I have business with the King. That's why I'm here." I didn't have time to stand here and bullshit with Atlas. Grayson needed me and all the backup Titus could offer, and now I would have to talk to him about Sanchita's release as well.

"Haven't you noticed the King is occupied, what with being on the brink of war? Now tell me where Gray is, and we both can be on our way."

Anger flowed through me, and I felt it moving to the surface. Mist exploded from me in a cloud of red smoke. We were surrounded by it. I felt each particle like they were little strings I could twist and pull at any moment. I could only think one thing: freeze . Atlas froze, every muscle in his body tensed, yet he didn't move. He stood there, like my own personal vampire statue, yet his eyes tracked my movement as I walked around them. My powers were starting to make sense to me. I didn't know what they could do, but I was starting to find out.

"Remember this for next time."

I brushed past them and headed straight for the throne room. I threw the doors open wide and sucked in a sharp breath. The normally beautiful throne room was in shambles. Titus stood among the rubble with Moira only a few feet away. She hovered over a female vampire, holding her hands out while her blood magic seeped into the injured woman. It flowed in a pink mist from her hands. Mine was darker, more of a red wine color, while hers seems brighter and glowing. The lacerations marring the vampire's face began to slowly knit back together. The bleeding stopped and the skin wove back together seamlessly.

When Moira stood up straight, some of the vampires from the lab rushed forward and carried the injured vampire away. Moira swayed on her feet and pressed her hand to her head. Sweat trickled down her face, and her skin was sickly pale, nearly green. Titus was by her side in a moment. He didn't touch her but held his hand out for her to take. She placed her hand on his forearm, holding onto him for balance.

"It's only been a few hours, perhaps you should still be resting." Titus' brow furrowed with concern as he gazed down at her. He was so large and imposing with his floor-length coat, muscular physique, and long hair. Wisdom and power rolled off Titus.

Moira gazed up at him and pursed her lips. She put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at him. "You endured the same poisoning. Perhaps you should take your leave, my King."

Oh, sassy from Moira. This is new.

"I only worry for your health and safety." His voice was low and calm.

"And yet your health and safety outweigh the importance of mine." Her grip tightened on his arm as she swayed slightly, but she continued to hold a stubborn set to her shoulders as though saying she was going nowhere without saying anything at all.

I took a step toward them, and both their eyes snapped up to mine. Titus' red mist surrounded them in an instant in a protective barrier. When he recognized me, he drew in a sigh of relief and let his blood magic fall. His shoulders sagged slightly as though he were relieved to see me. It made what I had to tell them that much harder to do.

"Piper, are you well?"

"Yes . . ." I hesitated, thinking about Gray. "Well, no."

I didn't know how to tell them their most beloved son and nephew had turned into a monster. I couldn't explain how or why it happened. The words were stuck in my throat. It'd be like telling a parent that their child was involved in a horrific accident. It wasn't news that was easily broken. I felt my mouth open and close a few times as I struggled to find the words I knew would hurt them.

Moira glanced around the room and toward the door, searching for him. "Where's Grayson?"

A ball formed in my throat, and I fought the tears that wanted to spill over onto my cheeks. How could I tell them what happened? How could I say to their faces something was horribly wrong with their beloved son and nephew? I didn't know how to save him or fix this. "He's . . . he's gone."

"Gone?" Titus' grasp tightened on Moira's hand.

I held my hands together, wringing them in front of me. My nerves began to get the better of me. I'd held it together this long, but I couldn't reconcile the monster he became with the Grayson I knew. But they wouldn't be able to either. I'd been so strong, only thinking of getting him here, but now that I was here, the emotions I'd been holding on to were starting to come through. The cracks in my armor were showing, and I didn't know how much longer I'd be able to hold it together without crying. I sucked in a sharp breath. "Something happened to him and I don't know what it is. I need your help to find him and fix him. He's , , , he's not himself."

The doors flew open and into the walls with a loud bang. Atlas stormed into the room looking like he was going to light the whole place on fire. Red mist flowed from his body like a crimson cap, and the raven on his chest sprang from his skin and soared around his head in low circles. His eyes flared with anger as he looked at me. "How dare you use your blood magic on me."

Rage seethed in his words as he marched across the room toward me. My own anger and frustration rose to the forefront. It'd been the most terrifying few hours of my life, and I didn't need to be scolded by him. "How dare you get in my way!"

"Titus." Moira gave a light whimper. "Her arm."

All words halted and everyone in the room stared at the soulmate mark on my arm. Titus was at my side in a flash, holding my arm out to the side. His fingers were gentle on my skin, but his eyes were wide as he looked at the roses surrounded by black lines that looked like barbed wire. "He can't have. He wouldn't. I-I ordered him . . ."

His words trailed off as they all looked at each other and my arm. One moment they shared a look of shock, and in the next moment they fell into utter defeat. Atlas' shoulders sagged and he hung his head. His raven landed on his shoulder and ran its face over his cheek as though trying to soothe Atlas. Moira sucked in a breath, and she swayed on her feet. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head. Her body collapsed almost in slow-motion as she fainted, her hair tumbled around her head in wild chocolate waves, and the length of her dress bunched around her legs. Titus moved before she hit the ground. He was there, catching her from falling into the rubble left behind.

"Moira." He gave her a light shake. "Moira, wake up."

Her eyes fluttered open and tears spilled over her cheeks. She squeezed her eyes shut and wrapped her hands in the lapels of his coat. She buried her face in the velvety fabric as she tried, and failed, to hold in her sobs. They racked her body, and she shook in his arms. "No, not again. I can't do this again."

"What? What's happened to him?" I turned toward Titus, but he couldn't look me in the eye. They all knew, yet no one said a damn thing to me , his soulmate. Titus just held Moira there, seeming unsure of what to do. His face was all hard lines and gritted teeth.

I faced Atlas. His face was a stone-cold mask. "What is going on?"

"Piper, this is very important. Tell me exactly what you saw," Titus insisted as he placed Moira on her feet but didn't let her go.

"Grayson . . . he changed in moments. It happened so fast. He suddenly got a little bigger, his muscles were more well-defined, red lines forked in his eyes, and he . . . um . . . he attacked me. Has he gone feral or something? Maybe he's sick like I was? Maybe he had some bad blood at the party?"

Silence .

I shifted from one foot to the other as the feeling of dread settled deep in my stomach. This was more than a case of bad blood or sickness. It was deeper. I felt it in my bones. Their reaction only solidified the panic I now knew was completely warranted. "Someone say something."

"Your majesty, I can see no reason to keep this from her any longer . . . He has fallen." Atlas pressed his lips into a hard line, like just saying the words pained him.

"Fallen?" I glanced around at them as panic ran through my body. I tried to hide how my hands quaked with fear. Deep down I knew this was bad, so bad it scared the people closest to my soulmate.

I felt like I knew him so well, but now this made me feel like I didn't know him at all. "What does that even mean?"

Titus helped Moira gain her bearings. He kept his arm wrapped around her side, allowing her to lean on him for balance. Quiet sobs racked her body as she struggled to breath. Tears fell freely down her face, onto her dress, and to the dirty floor. Titus forced himself to stand straight and meet my eye.

"The House of Shade has been cursed for a thousand years. And tonight, what you saw happen to my nephew, was the curse taking another member of our house." He cleared his throat and shook his head as Moira let out a light cry.

Anger and sadness warred within me. How could he never tell me about this? How was I just finding out right now that he was cursed? And why did I know that this was somehow my fault? "How do we fix it? How do we break it?"

Atlas scoffed. "You think we haven't tried to break the curse? Perhaps you think us sitting idle, watching the members of this house perish each time the curse befalls one of us?"

Perish? No, I refused to believe this was how Grayson and I ended. "I didn't mean?—"

"—There is no fixing it." Titus' words were low and seething.

I wanted to scream that there had to be a way. Grayson was the life of us all. We couldn't give up on him this quickly.

Titus didn't look at me. He just turned to Atlas. "Find him and bring him home. Now."

Atlas said nothing. His silence sent a shiver down my spine. It made me uncomfortable, but I couldn't put my finger on why.

"I'm going too," I said. "He spoke to me. I can get through to him. I know I can."

"My dear, that belief will only break your heart in the end." Moira pressed the back of her hand to her mouth, and it looked like it pained her to just speak, as though she was already grieving him. "There is no happily ever after. Only sadness lies ahead."

I shook my head. Fuck that . "I won't give up on him."

He was my soulmate, my love, the love I'd been waiting for all my life. I was sure as hell going to kick his ass for keeping this secret from me once we broke whatever the hell curse this was. Moira could only look at me like her whole world ended.

"Then bring him home where we can keep him contained," she said sadly.

"I'll see to it." Atlas gave a single nod, and I felt something seethe under the surface of his words. He didn't look at either of them, didn't give Titus his unwavering bow as he always did. Something was off.

"As will I." Grayson was my soulmate. I would make sure he came home and we would fix this.

"I do not need your help. You've done enough," Atlas snapped.

"Take her," Titus commanded.

"Your majesty . . ." he tried to argue, but Titus silenced him with a single look.

"Do not question me. I have not the time nor energy to settle petty squabbles. Bring me my nephew. See it done or I will appoint someone else."

"Your majesty, I have one more concern." Now didn't feel like the right time but would there ever be a right time to bring this up?

He waved me on. "Yes."

"My friend, Sanchita?—"

"—Now is not the time for this," Atlas snapped, interrupting me.

"Let her speak." Titus silenced him with a single look.

I sighed. "I don't want to bring this up now, of course, but she's being held in the dungeon and she shouldn't be there."

"She was found in the tunnels in the wake of Marius. Of course she should be there," Atlas growled.

"Your Highness, if you knew her like I did, you'd know she would never go against you. She must've gotten caught up in the wave of people running. It was chaos. I swear, you have my word that she is innocent."

"As if he doesn't have enough to contend with right in this moment?" The venom in Atlas' voice was unmistakable. I'd never seen him so on edge before.

"Perhaps you will let me decide," Titus rumbled. "I will look into your friend, Piper."

"Thank you so much." It was one less thing I had to worry about.

Atlas' jaw dropped. "My lord, I can assure you?—"

Titus waved his hand, silencing Atlas. "I will decide what is to be done. You have your own matters to attend to, do you not? More pressing matters."

"I will see to it," he muttered under his breath, then gave a slight bow. Before anyone could say another word, he turned and headed toward the door.

I hurried to catch up and fell into step beside him. "Can you do this?"

"I caught you , didn't I?" He didn't look at me.

"I'm not your best friend or your Prince." I grabbed his arm and dragged him to a stop. "What aren't you telling me?"

"Information is boundless, like the lost scrolls of Alexandria." He ground his teeth together.

"So, you're not telling me a fuck ton?"

"Precisely." He turned away from me and marched through the doors.

"Atlas." He didn't stop. "Sav!"

He paused with his back toward me.

I sucked in a deep breath. "What are you going to do?"

"The same thing I always do . . . serve the crown."