She gagged, needing to throw up.
“Don’t,” he said sharply. “Don’t even think about it. That dress cost me a fortune.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her all the way back to the front door. “I hope you understand me.”
“I understand you perfectly,” she said, wishing she had a Kurjan blade. She’d take off his damn head right there. “My people are better fighters than you think.”
“I’ve studied them my whole life,” he said. “If you need more incentive, here it is. If you don’t choose me in front of the cameras, then Paxton and Hunter will die in great pain.” He sighed and looked down at her again. “Paxton is a mutt. A Kurjan-demon mutt with no real past and no future. He’s a commoner. Too common. You can’t want that life for yourself or your children. He’s a nothing.”
“That’s not true,” she said, heat boiling through her veins.
Drake let out a piercing whistle. “It is true, and you know it. Do you really think that the only female ever born with vampire blood in her, the heiress to both the Kayrs and the Kyllwood legacies, and the keeper of the dreamworlds is supposed to mate a common soldier?” He scoffed and grasped her arm. “Nobody in this world has ever chosen Paxton Phoenix. Not his birth father, not even his birth mother. Not my people or your people. Fate has decreed that you shall be a queen. Start acting like it.”
The door slowly opened. “Why all the pomp and circumstance?” The heavy gown was weighing down her shoulders.
“A bit of pride, perhaps.” Drake shrugged. “A long time ago, in one of your dreamworlds, I told Paxton Phoenix that one day you would choose me. I would like to see his face as you do so.”
She tried to shake him off, but he tightened his hold, adding more bruises on her arm to the ones he’d left the night before as he pushed her outside. “You have got to be kidding me,” she gasped.
“The Kurjans are entering a new phase of our history, and this is just the beginning.” Drake smiled and strode out into the now-sunny day. The beams shone down on the snow, making each inch sparkle like the diamonds on Hope’s dress. A red carpet led from the doorway to the center of the camp. Kurjan soldiers, all in their best uniforms, lined the way to the right, while Cyst soldiers, their white scalps shining in the sun, lined the left. The buildings were straight ahead.
There was no escape.
Several cameras, complete with camera operators, stood on the buildings, zeroed in on her. She wavered. “What in the world?” she whispered.
“New era for the Kurjans,” Drake said. “We’re getting married in front of the immortal world. The Realm will have no choice but to accept us.”
“Why are you kidnapping enhanced females?” she asked suddenly, hoping to catch him off guard.
He smiled, his grip unrelenting. “Stay in your place, Queen.” Then he strode down the stairs and along the red carpet, easily pushing her along.
“Where are the females?” She searched furtively around. There were no women anywhere in sight.
“They don’t belong at state functions,” he replied. “You’ll meet some of the mates of my generals after we mate. We’ll have a party—you’ll like them.”
This was surreal.
They reached the center of the courtyard and stopped. A door to one of the buildings opened, and soldiers shoved Hunter and Paxton out. Their clothing was ripped, and wounds covered their faces and bodies. A chunk of Hunter’s jaw was missing, and Paxton’s left arm hung at an impossible angle. Garrotes circled both their throats, and soldiers held them so tightly, the steel cut deep. Blood poured down their necks. Both males looked furious. Hope tried to move toward them, but Drake halted her with a hand on her arm.
Even across the distance, she could hear Paxton’s low growl.
Vero stood next to Hunter, a Kurjan slicing blade in his hands. The blade, a new kind of knife, imbedded itself in flesh and then exploded, slicing in every direction. It was the perfect weapon with which to decapitate an immortal. No expression was visible on his face, but his eyes swirled a wild blue surrounded by a silver ring. For a second, she could see his likeness to Paxton.
“We would consider outlawing those knives in a treaty with the Realm,” Drake said quietly.
Hope’s gaze met Pax’s. Fury and raw determination glowed in those silvery-blue depths.
General Ulric stepped forward, directly in front of two rows of Cyst soldiers. “The Cyst approve of this union, and I, as the leader of the Cyst, am present and willing to administer the vows. Our people are served well by King Drake, who will usher us all into a new and prosperous future.”
Hope’s legs trembled, but she kept her posture perfect and strong.
Across the distance, Paxton slowly lifted one hand, showing the mating mark. His was an intricate and deadly looking P surrounded by barbed lines. Beautiful and stunning but masculine, almost threatening.
Her bare back pounded, and the prophecy marks on both sides of her neck heated. She’d thought about his marking through the years, but she’d never imagined its rough beauty. Her entire body trembled.
“I love you, Hope,” he called, his voice hoarse and sure. “Always have and always will.”
She opened her mouth, and Drake’s fingers dug into her arm so hard a bone cracked. She winced, her breath catching. It was a struggle to remain on her feet. Dizziness pummeled her, and she gritted her teeth, trying to will healing cells to the fracture. Nothing happened except that the pain spread up to her shoulder.
Drake lifted his head and spoke directly into the cameras. “Thank you all for witnessing the birth of the new and stronger Kurjan nation.” He looked down at Hope. “At my side is Hope Kayrs-Kyllwood, princess of the Realm. Today, she will agree to become the queen of the Kurjan nation and my mate.” His voice rang out strong and sure. “But our people believe in females having a choice. So today, I ask you, Hope. What is your choice?”
Paxton reared forward, and the garrote pulled him back, shredding more of his skin. His eyes morphed to a bright emerald surrounded by a silvery blue rim.
She swallowed. The cameras wouldn’t show Paxton or Hunter. The Realm wouldn’t know they were even there.
Her entire life had come down to this moment...to this choice. There was only one right path. To save Paxton, to save Hunter, to save all of those enhanced females, there was only one choice.