Bound in Blood (Broken Bloodlines Book 3)
Bound in Blood: Chapter 46

94 MINUTES BEFORE THE LIGHT GOES OUT

With Ophelia’s hand in mine, we head for the quad alongside Osiris, Enora, Cadence, Sienna, and my father. Under an exceptionally bright moon, we stick to the shadows in case Giorgios has spies around campus. Our allies have been informed of our plan and will meet us there, and I have told Anikêtos and Elpis of our strategy. They have agreed to remain cloaked until the time is right.

I have tried to locate both my treacherous brother and Malachi by accessing their thoughts but have been unable to. Giorgios is likely using some kind of dark magic to block them both.

We emerge from the trees, and Zeus Hall looms into view. All too quickly comes the sound of charging feet, numerous pairs of boots stomping and shaking the ground.

My father is far out in front, and he speaks to me privately. Giorgios must have learned of our arrival.

Foolishly, I hoped Axl and Xavier could have rescued Malachi without alerting my brother. But of course he is there awaiting their arrival. What if he ambushes them? Have I sent my boys to their deaths?

Ophelia squeezes my hand. “They are strong and smart, and you taught them well.”

I press a kiss on her forehead and take a moment to breathe in her scent before we face the chaos that is about to ensue. Then I grind my teeth at the sound of Nicholas Ashe’s voice.

“The great Vasilis Drakos—what did we do to deserve you gracing us with your presence?”

Ashe is surrounded by a dozen Onyx members as well as half a dozen warlocks. The dark-gray circles surrounding their eyes, caused by decades of practicing the darkest of magic, always give them away.

“I believe you know why we are here, Nicholas,” my father replies. “Vincent gave you the order himself, did he not?”

Ashe and his minions start to circle my father like hyenas who have found themselves fortunate enough to corner a lion. I grasp Ophelia’s hand in mine. Despite their number, they are no match for Vasilis Drakos.

If anything should happen to me, I have already decreed you my heir and future head of House Drakos, my father says directly into my mind. And I will decree it again with my last breath if I have to. All the heads of the families have been informed.

You are not going to die at the hands of a weasel like Nicholas Ashe, Father. I will assist you if necessary.

There will be no need. He will not defy Vincent by attacking us.

I frown, not as convinced of Nicholas’s allegiance to his house as my father is.

Do not underestimate him, Father. We need you in this fight.

Proving me right almost before I have finished forming the thought, Ashe and his minions swarm my father. But I move faster than they can, with Ophelia and Osiris on my heels. I throw two of the Onyx soldiers, and their heads crack open against the brick exterior wall of Zeus Hall, spattering the tan brick with vibrant red.

Ophelia reaches my side, standing like she is ready to fight. Stay by my side and handle the warlocks with Enora and Cadence, agápi mou. They will try to block us with magic, but you are stronger.

She voices her agreement, and soon the air is filled with static electricity as she blocks all of their spells, one after the other. As I tear out the throat of an Onyx vampire, I realize I have never been more proud of her. Sienna proves herself a strong young wolf as she fights alongside her father. An Onyx vampire pulls her back by her hair and is about to sink his teeth into her neck when she drops to her haunches and throws him over her head before crushing his windpipe with her boot.

Ophelia and the witches go on battling the warlocks, countering their spells as Osiris, Sienna, and I lay waste to the vampires. But where are Ashe and my father?

I scan the quad, and then I see them. My father is on his knees with another half dozen vampires surrounding him. Nicholas Ashe holds a sword above his head.

“No!” I roar.

“You can have me killed, Giorgios, but I have already named your brother as my heir,” our father bellows.

I sprint across the quad, but I am not faster than Ashe’s blade. I am unable to stop it from slicing off my father’s head.

Ashe turns and smirks at me, brandishing the blood-stained weapon. “How about I take yours next?”

I growl, my fangs protracted and every sinew in my body alive with anger. My father and I have had our differences, but he did not deserve to die like that—on his knees at the hands of a man with no honor.

Ashe does not have time to raise his sword again. I pin him to the ground and tear out his throat with my teeth, shrugging off his minions when they jump onto my back. He chokes on his own blood, coughing and sputtering.

“Are you expecting this will heal soon?” I taunt as I tear out another chunk. “I should have taken your head when I had the chance.” I wish I had, but I had taken so many souls by that point and was too weary to take another, so I agreed to let him live.

But I swear no such truce today.

The vampires surrounding me are suddenly set ablaze. Their flesh melts from their bones, and I recognize it as the work of my elementai. “I guess I will take it now.” I shove my fingers into the open wound of his throat and shred his neck apart until his head is no longer attached to his body. He stares up at me with blank, lifeless eyes.

Ophelia crouches beside me and lays her head on my shoulder. “I’m sorry,” she whispers, and I take a deep breath and allow myself a moment to absorb her love and strength.

If I have learned anything from the many battles I have fought in during my long life, it is that my father will not be the only loss we suffer today.