Free Royal Blood by Kolina Topel

hell happened, Chris?” He was frantic. He ran over and picked me up by my shoulders and wrapped my face in his hands. “What happened, Christina?”
     
    “ Alumit,” I managed, “he tried to kill me.”
     
    At that moment another smell crept its way toward us, and I hissed. It wasn’t a bad smell, and much more familiar, but it was strong. And it wasn’t alone. It was more than half a dozen different smells, and as it got closer, Alex finally caught it.
     
    “ It’s just the guard. I’ll meet them. Stay here.”
     
    “ No, don’t leave me!” I cried.
     
    He put his hand to my face, “You will never be out of my sight. Never again.” He turned and walked out just a few yards. A few seconds later, they emerged from the tree line, all of them—Demitri, Nebula, Calpurnia, Duncan, and Marius. Lillith and Amasia were with them as well.
     
    “ Alex! What happened?” Demitri exclaimed. He ran over to me and put his hands to my face. Calpurnia wrapped her arms around me and buried my face into her chest.
     
    “ Alumit,” she snarled.
     
    “ How did you know?” I whispered and freed my face from her embrace.
     
    “ I overheard,” she frowned. “I’m so sorry, Christina. I should have listened to you.”
     
    “ Overheard what?” I asked.
     
    “ I overheard that Damascus planned to come here to kill you tonight.”
     
    I looked at everyone’s faces. “I already knew.” I looked at Calpurnia’s and ran through the night’s events in my head, even the memories that I had gained from Alumit.
     
    She gasped when she saw the plans for them to lure me into the woods. That was where Damascus was waiting with over a dozen other vampires to make sure the job was done. A single tear rolled down our faces in synchronization when the memory of my father’s death flowed through our minds.
     
    “ You were right, Princess. You were always right. He killed King Azariah.” Gasps came from every mouth that was present. “I’m so, so sorry. Please forgive me.” She fell to the ground at my feet.
     
    I bent down and gripped her face, “It’s not your fault. He tricked us all, Cali. That is his gift.”
     
    “ His gift?” three voices said at the same time.
     
    “ Yes. I saw it. Through Alumit’s memories. Damascus can cloud everyone’s thoughts, make you see, feel, and think whatever he wants you to. Alumit knew it. That’s why Calpurnia couldn’t hear him. He knew her gift too.” I looked back to her and picked her up. “Please don’t beat yourself up. You got here, didn’t you? I’m still alive.”
     
    “ So what do we do?” Alex asked.
     
    “ We fight,” I said.
     
    “ But who is next in line? Who will take Damascus’ place?” Nebula said.
     
    “ I will,” I smiled. The faces around me gazed at me questioningly, but I knew there was no other way.
     
    “ Are you sure about that, Princess?” Demitri asked.
     
    “ For years I have lived in a world where I didn’t belong, didn’t fit in. I was protected by people that I didn’t even know to keep my life—the one I was born to live in—a secret from me. No matter how I try to fight it, it’s in my blood, and I will not watch anyone else screw it up but me. Okay, that’s not quite what I meant, but you know what I mean.” I looked at Alex’s face and then to Demitri and the others. “It’s what my father wanted. I have never been a ble to give anything to him.. .and he has done so much for me. So, if you all will stand beside me and fight as you have fought beside him, I’ll do it.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Ten
     
     
     
     
     
    Even though I was surrounded by so many vampires willing to lay down their lives to restore me to my throne, I was scared. I watched as they deliberated and talked strategy, only half listening to what was being said.
     
    My eyes found and studied every single face surrounding me. These people I was just getting to know and love…would they die?