As I landed on the traitor, he twisted, using one of the fence poles as a weapon. Its sharpened end slammed into me, piercing my armor, sinking deep into my chest. My scream was more of a roar as my body seized, shaking from the shock of my injury. Gesalac threw me back and I struck the ground hard. But I was already working the wood free, and once the stake was out, I threw it aside, hands covered in my own blood.

I curled them into fists, my eyes locked with Gesalac’s. He had managed to get to his feet, hands clasped around the end of my blade, which protruded from his chest as he attempted, in vain, to pull it from his body.

“I’m finished here,” I said. “It is time for you to kneel.”

At my command, the traitor’s knees struck so hard, the ground shook. His eyes widened as I approached.

“H-how did you—”

“When I stand before them, I can control the mind of any vampire I’ve turned,” I said, gripping the hilt of my blade. “Pity you did not know.”

He cried out as I pulled my sword free and then shoved it into him again—and again and again, even as he lay facedown in the mud. Though I knew the wounds would heal soon after they were free of my blade, all that mattered was that he felt pain.

“My king,” said a voice, and I recognized it as Daroc.

I ignored him a second longer so that I could shove my blade once more into Gesalac’s back. Once it sunk to the hilt, I stepped back, coming face-to-face with my general.

“Restrain and mask him,” I said, breathless. “Tonight we will celebrate a traitor’s demise.”

I turned away and found the inhabitants of Volkair staring back. Their expressions were mixed. Some were angry, and some were afraid. Their thoughts screamed at me—monster, murderer, mongrel.

“And the village?” Daroc asked.

“What?” I looked at him, now aware that all my noblesse had returned, mounted on their horses, even Sorin, who held Shadow’s reins in hand.

“The village, my king,” Daroc said again.

I looked at the villagers and knew their loyalty had shifted. It was in their movements and their expressions, their thoughts and their actions. They had harbored a man who attempted to kill my queen, and they had allowed a mortal who also threatened her to speak for them.

More importantly, they were witnesses to my abilities.

I met Daroc’s gaze again.

“Burn it,” I said.

***

Thick smoke billowed above the trees, smelling of pine and flesh. We waited just outside the borders of Volkair for Sorin’s return as he scouted the woods for survivors.