Beginning of the End

Luciana's Point of View

We had fought again, shattering hearts all around us. Caspian had opted out of the argument, so had Mikaela. This was just between Julian and I. What he had said to that boy was unforgiveable. It was unthinkable. Out of everyone, he was supposed to love her unconditionally, but even that was a glamour. A lie. Anger simmered in my veins, along with a deadly combination of wolf and vampire.

"You are her father, Julian! You of all people need to support her in everything she does! Locking her in a palace for the rest of her life is going to kill her!" I screamed and hurtled my glass at his head. Julian dodged it, rage coating his features in the process.

"And if she stays here she will kill all of us! You saw what happens to her when she loses control! This is the best decision we can make! Not just for her sake, but for the entire country!" Julian hollered back, his fists going white by his sides. His eyes had long since started glowing a deathly red. If he wanted to be king so fucking badly, then I would let him have it.

"If she goes, I fucking go as well. There is no stopping this. What happened regarding Max was tragic, but I know that she only did it to protect her brother. What more do you want from her?" I seethed and started pacing on the carpet, feeling my own demons clawing at my sides. Julian's head whipped up at my threat.

"You won't fucking dare!" He hissed, his canines glinting in the light. I raised my chin in defiance. A queen bowed to no one, not even her mates.

"I will. If you erase her from the line of succession, if you ship her off to our palace in South Africa, I will not hesitate in leaving with her." I whispered, a cold form of rage filling my bones. 

"Just because you feel guilty for leaving her all of those years, doesn't mean that keeping her around now is a good decision. I am her father, I am doing this not out of punishment, but love. We have people that can look after her that side. Just until she regains control of herself." He knew exactly where to strike me the hardest. Knew exactly what ate me up at night.

"Do you mean that sniveling boy? We have kept her from this family for long enough in preparation for her life ahead, and now you say we deny her freedom again? Because you fear her? Your own fucking daughter! Don't act like you will bring her back. We all know you do irrational shit whilst scared!" I mocked, my own fangs slipping out of my gums. Julian grimaced. This was our worst fight to date and I didn't know if we could recover from this. "If you send her to that god-awful place, I will go with her and we will never return."

"You are the fucking Queen! You can't just leave!"

"I haven't been the queen for a while now. You managed to strip that away from me bit by bit the last few years and don't tell me you haven't." I spat and glared at him with the full force of my hybrid eyes. Blood rushed within my ears, a roar that I had to get out. Had to get away or I might rip him to shreds.

"I have been keeping you safe and sane! Just like your daughter, you have been slipping into your mental illness and I thought it best to just take burdens off of your shoulders!" 

"They were never yours to fucking take in the first place." I muttered and turned to leave, my robe trailing behind me on a phantom wind. Just as my fingers wrapped around the door knob, a sob broke from Julian's mouth but I shoved the empathy within my chest to my toes and flung the door open. Sonja stood outside, her face made of stone, but I caught the apology within her eyes. The sympathy. I nodded towards her and she instantly fell into step beside me.

We walked through the hall in silence, but once out of earshot of Julian, Sonja stopped me. We were in the foyer, a crystal chandelier hanging above us. Hundreds of colors sparkled within each tear-drop like stone. Sonja fidgeted with her fingers for a second longer before she squared her shoulders, her black eyes connecting with my blue ones.

"Did you mean it?"

"What part of the conversation?"

"Will you leave all of this behind for her? Luciana, I know she is your daughter, but is she worth it? Is she worth giving up your title?" Sonja asked, but I knew she meant no offense. She wanted to know how I felt about the matter. She wanted to figure out where she fell into all of this. Where the Valkyrie stood.

"There is a part of the prophecy that clearly states my and Julian's offspring  will take our place one day, to keep balance. Right around the time Julian started questioning Katharine's viability as the next queen, a rebellion sprung up. It might be coincidence, but I doubt it and as you know, more kids are off of the table for me. So, yes. She is worth it and then some." I explained and started walking again, but Sonja didn't follow. When I turned around to look where she had gone, I found her bowing at the waist.

"Where you go, we will follow. We are yours to command and send to our deaths. The Valkyrie was created in your name and will die with that honor," Sonja stood and I saw the determination within her face. Her eyes hard and her lips thin. "There is no one we wish to obey more than the Killer Queen and her daughter, the heir and coming Witch Queen."

A smile tugged at my lips. Wicked and sweet and cunning. No one would stand in my way, even if it took me years to get back what I had given up. For Katharine, I would lose it all. For my flesh and blood and the girl who had brought me back to life, I would kill and torture anyone. Even those I loved most.

"Long may she reign."

***

Sonja had called in the Valkyrie from their villa deeper into the property and somehow convinced me to speak with them. Sophie listened quietly, her eyes moving from time to time, the only motion she made through my entire explanation. A very pregnant Reverie chewed lazily on some popcorn. Claire was the only one who asked more than two questions, often prodding me for more answers than I had.

"Are you certain that only Katharine can take over for you when you retire?" Claire asked and Twila rolled her eyes in response. Fable and Emory groaned. I had gone over this more than I would care to admit, but Claire wanted more. Her glasses were perched on the tip of her nose and for a second I forgot that each of these women were trained killers.

"Yes!" Sonja answered, extremely exasperated by Claire and her never ending questions. Amethyst coughed a thanks at Sonja. "Stay on track, people. Are you in or out?" she asked, folding her arms over her chest. She looked close to murder. I looked towards my team, my friends. They had become so much more than just my subjects. Love blossomed within my chest at all of them gathered so close.

"There is no question, Sonja. Where Luciana goes, we will go as well. Whatever might be happening within the family, we have always shown her loyalty and she has always reciprocated it. We bow to no king." Reverie answered, her eyes growing as hard as Sonja's had in the foyer.

"What about Sebastian?" Fable asked, gnawing on her thumbnail.

"And Ezekiel?" Asked Twila to Sophie.

"We will cross those bridges when we get to them. For now, we need to see if Julian has the balls to actually go through with it. If he is willing to risk losing both Katharine and Lucy." Sophie answered and Reverie nodded in agreement.

Before I could tell them all how thankful I was for them, how much I loved them, a boom echoed through the halls. Sirens blared in the air, making the Valkyrie jump into defensive stances. Sonja lunged closer to my side as Sophie and Emory jumped in front of me. Shouting filled the halls as stomping started just outside the living room doors. There was another boom and a blood curdling scream. I braced myself as the earth rocked, then took off towards the door, Valkyrie close on my tail.

Sebastian came crashing through the throngs of servants fleeing all around us. His face was red, but he looked towards Reverie before stopping in front of me.

"They are back, with more weapons than before. They headed to the children's wing, but Katharine-"

As the name left his mouth, I glanced to my Valkyrie, to my sisters, and they knew what I was asking of them. They had to get everyone out. If the rebels were coming after Katharine for what she had done to save Max, there was no telling how many lives would be lost in the process. Sonja nodded. She knew. They all did.

"Call Levi!" I hollered at Sebastian as I ran to go get my mates. Power sang through the air and I knew Katharine had risen. The devil with her.