Chapter 118 Abomination
❀ Maeve ❀
My heart fluttered at the sudden rise in the voices of the crowd. They cheered as one, throwing flowers in the path of my man-pulled carriage.
The colorful petals floated in the sea of red eyes, bright and shimmering.
They loved me. Their queen.
I waved, my lips curled in a smile.
“All hail the queen! The chosen one!”
Aching to leave the carriage and be out there, I opened the carriage door—
“Your Grace, no!” Jessica exclaimed as she dove for my hand. She closed the door back.
Our movement rocked the carriage, the cask of blood and snake sliding dangerously across the seat.
“What did you do that for?” I fixed her with a harsh look.
“Please don’t leave the safety of the carriage. It’s not safe.” She twisted her fingers, not meeting my eyes.
“Nikolai is out there, along with two dozen guards. You forget I’m also a vampire. A hybrid, if you recall.”
She looked at me through her lashes, gaze downcast. “That’s the problem.”
That rubbed me the wrong way. “If you have something to say, now is the time.”
Instead of answering immediately, she righted the cask, her body trembling.
My face softened when I realized the reason for her behavior.
Jessica had met me a wolf, one without the ability to shift. Despite being queen and her superior, she must have imprinted on me, growing comfortable in our friendship.
She’d confided in me about hating her time as a blood feeder in Veilmoor. That trauma had never left her.
Now I had transitioned, becoming the creature she most feared.
She hadn’t feared my crown, but my bloodline just did the trick.
I couldn’t decide if it pleased me or not. But I needed a friend, however low in the social ring she might be. And she’s been good to me.
“Jessica,” I made my voice firm without hostility, “you know you can talk to me. Why are you worried about me going out there?”
She pointed out of the carriage window. “Just look. Really look.”
My brows furrowed at her words, but I turned to look back out. I waved.
The view was the same, the attention unwavering. The petals never stopped floating in the air, children’s laughter punctuating the hailings from my people.
Then I caught it.
A man in the crowd, one hand on the shoulder of a younger boy, had been scowling.
But when my gaze landed on him, he immediately grinned wide. His eyes morphed from seething dislike to open welcome.
Ice ran down my spine.
He waved back.
From then on, I really looked.
It appeared orchestrated, all of it.
The people on the front lines lining the streets threw perfect petals, but their smiles were stiff and fake on their faces.
The children laughed forcefully, as if instructed or even threatened to.
My instincts flared.
I was in the middle of a crowd pretending to love me.
To what end?
Out of fear? Orders? Or both.
As the carriage came to a stop, my dress rustled softly on the last sway.
A face appeared. My heart jumped.
But it was only Nikolai.
“My queen,” his face was backlit handsomely by the moon and town lights, “you expressed a desire to touch ground?”
“I did,” I replied, throat tight.
And of course, attentive Nikolai noticed.
“Are you well?”
“Yes. Perfect,” I assured him.
I glanced at Jessica. Her eyes were wide, her back bunched as she pressed against the corner of her seat.
After a reassuring half smile in her direction, I nodded to Nikolai.
He opened the door for me, holding out a hand to help me down.
I took it softly, on edge.
Jessica had been a servant, first at the castle and then at Nikolai’s mansion. The staff knew all, heard all.
Whatever she feared had been discussed and rumored from the town to the royal grounds.
I gritted my teeth. Perhaps some rebel group had planned an assassination?
But why?
As I placed both heeled feet on the cobblestone street, the answer came to me—just as Jessica had said.
I was a hybrid. And some people were unhappy with that.
I tugged on Nikolai’s arm to get his attention. When he positioned his ear to my mouth, I whispered…
“Be alert. I have a feeling there’s a target on my back.”
He drew back. His lips tightened even as they curved into an expression that said, I’d just love to see them try.
And just like that, my mate’s flashing crimson eyes and lethal demeanor set my mind at ease.
Let them try.
I raised my hand to wave once more, soaking in the attention even as I knew it was fake.
Then the crowd hushed.
A young woman around my age walked out of the line. She held a basket adorned with flowers and colorful strips of cloth.
My chest tightened.
It reminded me of the baskets my mother and I had sold in Blackbridge.
Back when I was a late-blooming wolf. When I was blind to the lies around me. Blind to my destiny.
I shook my head. Now was not the time.
A vampire lady with beautiful raven hair and a plastered smile was walking toward me.
I couldn’t help the tilt of my head.
Had she a weapon in there somewhere?
My claws curled in time with my lips.
The girl bowed. “Your Grace.”
“Rise. What is your name?” I said pleasantly.
“Darla, Your Grace. Peace be on your reign for eternity. We hope you accept this humble gift… we are a humble people…”
“I will cherish it,” I cut in, eager to end her presence.
Darla smiled. Her fangs glinted in the low light.
She dipped her hand into the basket, her wrist concealed.
“We hope you will, Your Grace. It is in your honor. It is what you deserve.”
That last sentence had been a touch hostile.
Nikolai stood beside me. My guards circled us.
Whatever Darla had been chosen to do, I hoped she was ready to die for it.
I watched her like a hawk.
She didn’t disappoint.
Her hand flew out of the basket, her lips parting in a scream, “Death to the half-breed abomination!”
She pulled a bright red ribbon out, her arm pointed straight up in a signal.
The ribbon floated down as beautifully as the flower petals had, her hand landing with a thump on the ground.
Nikolai had clawed off her hand.
Pandemonium.
The entire crowd charged.