From Slave To Queen (Athena and Michael) novel Chapter 159

Chapter 159

Elara

With a huff, I blow away the strand that escaped from my braid.

C

.

I’m sweaty and tired. My breathing is growing more labored, and a drop of sweat trickles down my back. I grip the hilt of the sword tightly and adjust the position of my feet on the ground.

“What’s the reason for tonight’s party?” I ask.

It’s been days since Abraxas informed me of the celebration, and during that time, I still haven’t managed to take him down. We’ve increased the hours I spend training; not that I have anything better to do here, though Ciro doesn’t seem very pleased about it. Even so, he manages to arrange every meal in my company, and at each one, he manages to draw out an unexpected smile from me. I’ve come to the conclusion that he’s a good person–the problem is that his past haunts him.

“Since when do they need a reason to throw a party?” he replies.

I don’t miss the way he refers to the other vampires as if he weren’t one of them.

“There’s always some hidden motive.”

“Just like you’re trying to distract me now?”

I let out a growl and lunge at him with all the force I can muster. This time I manage to make him step back a few inches. He raises his /eyebrows in surprise and curves his lips into a defiant smile. When I attack again, Abraxas responds to my blows with grace and

precision. We enact this dance of swords for so long that I consider stopping, until a noise catches both our attention.

A majestic deer, with antlers like a crown, watches us from the forest undergrowth. I wonder how it got here. The animal bewitches me with its chilling black eyes. I blink to shake off the feeling and realize this is the perfect moment–the one I’ve been waiting for.

I don’t overthink it. I strike as fast as a viper, as silently as I can. Abraxas raises his sword too late, my blow destabilizes him, and afraid I might not achieve my goal, I jab my elbow into his side. Everything happens with unbearable slowness before my eyes. Abraxas drops his sword and falls to one knee, hitting the ground hard.

I smile in satisfaction and place the tip of my wooden sword under his chin.

“Looks like I’ve won.”

“Little cheat.”

“I’d rather say I made good use of the circumstances.”

His smile shows no trace of annoyance, more like pride. With my sword still beneath his chin, he looks directly into my eyes.

“I believe they’re waiting for you.”

I glance over my shoulder and see that, indeed, both Naida and Clarissa are waiting at the edge of the training field with pleasant smiles and a parasol.

“First you need to–”

When I turn my gaze back to him, I realize he’s gone, leaving me talking to myself like an idiot. I suppress a string of curses, drop my weapon, and cast one last glance toward the forest–but the animal has vanished too. I head over to meet my handmaidens.

“Do you have any color preference for tonight’s dress?” Naida asks.

I shrug, still annoyed and unable to believe Abraxas had the nerve to vanish without fulfilling his end of the deal. Sure, I won in a slightly underhanded way—but I won. It’s nor cheating to use your opponent’s distractions.

We enter the villa, where the atmosphere is calm and quiet, I’m not surprised to find a wide assortment of dresses laid out across my bed. They help me bathe in record time, and by the time I realize it, my hair cascades down my back and a crown of fresh flowers is woven into it. The result, as always, is magnificent. Every time the two of them work their magic on me, I look in the mirror and wonder if the girl staring back is really me.

“Stunning.”

1/2

4:42 PM

Chapter 159

+15

All three of us stifle a gasp of surprise as we turn toward the door. Ciro leans against the frame, dressed in a perfect suit with no trace of his usual vests. I scan him quickly, stopping on his eyes, still fixed on me.

“You think so?”

I clear my throat and smooth down the dress. Yes, it really is dazzling, with a fabric that fades from a deep crimson around my chest into night–black in the skirt. Around my neck is a collar of obsidian stones, so heavy that no one could doubt their authenticity.

“I don’t think I know it for certain.” He steps into the room. “You take my breath away, Elara.”

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