Bonds of the Vampire King (Blood Fire Saga Book 7) by Bella Klaus (reading e books .txt) 📕

Next to it stood another suit that consisted of a low bodice and a long skirt. I wasn’t sure if it was a battle ballgown or if it was enchanted to take on another appearance.

“Which one?” I turned to a suit the color of oxblood that looked identical to the black one, except it had no arms, only shoulder plates that extended down to the elbow.

A knock sounded on the door. “Come in?”

Valentine stepped inside with a smile playing on his full lips. “How do you like your armor?”

“It’s impressive, but I can’t tell which is which.”

He pointed at the green one on the far left, which consisted of a tunic with leather strips hanging down the arms and its hem. “This is the most versatile of the suits, and I had it made to allow for both your phoenix and regular forms.”

“When did you organize all this?” I asked.

His features sagged, and his eyes became distant. “In the month you were missing, all I could do was cling to the certainty that you would return.”

“So you prepared this room?”

“Among other rooms in the palace,” he said. “There’s a healing room modeled on the one in Mrs. Bonham-Sackville’s Crystal Shop, a nursery. I even commissioned a little kitchen where you could make those chocolates you love so much.”

“Why?” I whispered.

Valentine’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down, and his violet eyes glistened. “If I didn’t keep busy, I would have fallen into despair, thinking Kresnik could have killed you or torn you apart. Instead, I worked with seers who convinced me you were still alive, and prepared for the day you would return.”

My chest tightened, squeezing my heart until its beats slowed to a painful halt. “I’m so sorry—”

“Don’t apologize,” he murmured. “Not when you spent as much time as you have trying to bring me back to life.”

I slid a hand over the leather armor encasing his shoulders and threaded my fingers through his silken hair. “It’s still hard to believe we’re together without anyone driving us apart.”

He wrapped an arm around my back, pulling me close, and dropped his gaze to my lips. “Now that my uncle is safely behind bars, we can defeat Kresnik and deal with the Council of Ministers without his interference.”

My hackles rose, and the muscles of my upper body stiffened at the reminder of Prince Draconius.

Valentine frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“You should have cut down your uncle so he never plotted against you again.”

He blinked as though wondering if he’d misheard me. “Mera—”

“Why did you pardon that bastard? Your uncle didn’t just want you dead. He wanted to turn you into a preternatural all over again, have you destroyed, and take over Kain’s life.”

“He did.”

“Yet you’re letting him accompany you on some adventure to find your father’s soul? At any time, he can stab you in your back, return to the palace, and take charge.” I waved my arms around for emphasis. “What about Kain? He’s been terrified for weeks about being forced to take the throne.”

Valentine wrapped his arms around my waist. “Uncle Draconius will not return from the quest.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“Because if my father’s soul is trapped somewhere, I will need another soul to replace him.”

“What?”

He slid a hand over the leather of my armor and cupped the side of my face. “How much do you know about mythology?”

“Not all the details, but I know the stories,” I said. “What’s this about?”

“Look at Prometheus, Atlas, and Loki,” he said. “There are a whole host of stories where immortal beings are trapped in long punishments. Some methods of saving them involve killing their jailers, but if they’re trapped within an object or an enchantment, the only way to get them out is by replacing them with a similar captive.”

I nodded, remembering most of the stories. The gods were always trapping each other in impossible places, starting with Cronus, the Titan who swallowed all his children, including Hades. Atlas was the brother of Prometheus, condemned by Zeus to hold up the sky on his shoulders for siding with Cronus.

“What about Loki?” I asked.

“He was the Norse god of mischief who was punished for causing the death of Baldr,” Valentine said. “He lies in a cave, tied to a rock with the entrails of his own son. That’s where he’ll remain until the end of the earth, with a poisonous snake dripping venom into his eyes.”

I shook my head. King Antonius might not need the sacrifice of Prince Draconius to be set free. Besides, we could work something out without keeping his worthless uncle alive. I studied Valentine’s features, wondering how best to phrase my next question without causing offense. Valentine was sometimes a little too noble for my liking, especially when it came to dealing with members of his family.

“How do you know Prince Draconius won’t replace King Antonius’s trapped soul with yours?” I asked.

“You wouldn’t allow it.”

“Damn right, I won’t—” I reared back and digested his words. “Wait. You’re allowing me on this quest?”

“Of course.”

“Not keeping me locked up somewhere, tied to a bed, or in the protective custody of a feral creature?”

The corners of his lips tightened. “I wasn’t myself when I did those things.”

“I know.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and brought our lips together in a lingering kiss. “It’s just so hard to believe you’re trusting me.”

“You’ve grown.” He kissed back. “The control you have over your magic has developed immensely since you could only make sparks, and your ability to shift to a phoenix or an ifrit renders you nearly indestructible.”

“Seriously?” I met his violet eyes.

“Your idea to use the snake bile has given us a means to subdue Kresnik, and the trident you took, combined with the Demon King’s blood, will guarantee that he’ll die, not to mention the way you use your scythe.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “Now you’re making me sound like a one-woman killing machine.”

Valentine’s eyes softened, and the corners of his lips melted into a smile. “You’re more than anything