Chapter 619

Chapter 119 : His Death is Mine

*Lena*

Oliver was driving, and I was gripping my seatbelt for dear life as he topped one hundred miles per hour in the rickety truck that definitely was not made for this kind of speed. The barren landscape sped past in a blur, and my stomach clenched as I forced my eyes to stay open and on the road.

Normally I would have asked him what the hell he was doing driving so fast, but I didn’t care. We’d make it to Crimson Creek within the hour at this rate.

Oliver had nearly killed me, Charlie, and Uncle Troy driving like this once. It had been his first time behind the wheel. Troy was teaching Charlie and Oliver how to drive, and we’d taken the newly constructed bridges that interlocked some of the large islands in the isles. They weren’t open to the public yet, which was a good thing, because Oliver had launched Troy’s unassuming box of a car into hyperspeed before Troy had a chance to protest.

We had all screamed, but Oliver was screaming out of pure glee. He’d always been an adrenaline seeker.

For this drive, however, he was nothing but focused. The silence in the truck was overwhelming, and I was left to the mercy of my own thoughts. We’d left Breles two hours ago and hadn’t stopped. Beyond the blur of the rolling hills, I caught glimpses of the burned villages and cities along the highway, and that was it. No one else was on the road. No one was walking around the villages. It was empty, not a soul left to pick up the pieces.

“How are the northern packs faring?” I asked through gritted teeth as Oliver sped up to one hundred ten miles per hour, his face expressionless.

“They’re holding onto their territories but have experienced major casualties across the north. Dad talked to Kacidra recently, and Red Lakes is the largest outpost for refugees coming from the smaller mountain villages in the north, like Cedar Hollow. The vampires are using smaller portals to come through, and it’s been impossible to figure out where those portals are before they close up behind them.”

I swallowed back whatever reply had been forming on my tongue. We’d lost the southern end of the continent, but the north had a chance. At least, they would have a chance, if we were successful.

Success seemed like a pipedream. I had no real plan of action besides walking into the portal and shredding the realm. Oliver was planning on finding Zeke at the very least, maybe even teaming up with the lower vampires to start a war in their realm against King Nikolas so that the brunt of his forces were situated in their own realm, instead of ours.

Oliver was fully aware that it was likely we would have to separate to accomplish our own goals.

I didn’t realize I’d been closing my eyes and nodding off to sleep until I felt the truck beginning to slow. Oliver murmured something under his breath as I opened my eyes. I started, my body going rigid as I looked out over the outskirts of Crimson Creek.

Large tents had been erected all over the small town–black tents, so unlike the flimsy canvas tents I’d seen in Breles. I looked over at Oliver for a moment, then behind me where John and Colton were now huddled shoulder to shoulder and looked past us from the back seat.

Lower vampires were walking around in droves. The sun was coming up, and they were hurrying into tents, their arms full of food and supplies.

Food and supplies… rations–rations with the royal seal of the united allied forces on them.

“Oh my Goddess,” I managed to croak, my voice cracking as we drove by at a crawl.

“They look like us,” Colton said quietly.

“They’re more like us than we give them credit for,” Oliver replied in a level tone, his eyes following a group of young women carrying small children to a tent, all of their faces reddened with tears.

the portal,” I breathed in disbelief. If they’d come here, the very land their own realm was

bar and hotel where I’d stayed with Xander. It felt like a lifetime ago now. All of those memories of our field study

the clearing that I knew so well. The portal rose up ahead of us, the sunrise reflecting upside down and glistening with

over to a commander, who was wearing a blue

around, eyeing me skeptically as I approached but bowed to

portal,” I said without breaking

you close it?” he asked, and I didn’t like the patronizing tone

my chin to meet his eyes. “There won’t be much

“Princess–”

done. Let any lower vampire seeking refuge cross the portal. Keep guards at the entrance on both sides. Everyone gets through, especially the women and children.” I fixed my gaze on Oliver as I took a shuddering breath. “I’ll take you to Brune. It’s not far from the

the commander cut

skeptical.

are coming from. They said their king

crowd of warriors was gathering, all of them wearing the patches of their homelands on their jackets and hats as they readied their weapons–Drogomor, Winter Forest, Mirage, Poldesse, Breles… even Egoren. These warriors were from all over the realm and beyond, and despite how battered and

would

forward toward the portal. I could feel its pull, and behind me

I need to see,” I said in reply, reaching up to touch the sunstone that was tucked

***

wasn’t hard to get into Brune. It was empty, for one. The crystals that once lit the cavern up like day were darkened and cracked. Some of them had fallen

the portal. It was daytime in this realm, but I knew

as John and Colton, were looking around in awe. If only they could have seen this kingdom in

forest, all the way up to

no longer a

drop-off. We were blanketed in darkness save for the pale light of

I cried into the

was no response. I felt a chill run up my

to explain how I

my head around toward the sound of footsteps on the

“Lena? Is that you?”

was holding and lifting it over

the crystal-lined ceiling broke away in the distance, the impact with the city below sending a shockwave over us

cried, panic

here,” she whimpered, and I could hear her panting with excretion.

I get

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