Nyx blanched and gaped at the Domina. “How do you know my real name?”

Persephone raised her chin. “Because I named you myself.” She rounded on Lavinia. “Before you forced me to abandon her.”

“I ordered you to kill that child!” Lavinia shouted.

A hush fell over the room as we all watched the drama unfold. Persephone and Lavinia faced off with fangs flashing. Nyx looked like someone had slapped her, but she opened her mouth to say something. I grabbed her hand and shook my head. If Lavinia and Persephone threw down, we might just get a chance to escape making the impossible choice I’d been given.

“I could not kill my own child,” Persephone said. “You of all of us should understand the pain of losing your own blood.” Lavinia’s scowl faltered. “So I gave her to a family in France, far away from your notice. My greatest regret is that I did not find her myself before I died.”

Nyx was trembling now. “I… I don’t believe you.”

Persephone turned to look at her daughter. “Your adopted parents’ names were Antoine and Josephine. I threatened to kill them if they ever revealed your connection to me.”

“Well, you didn’t have to worry. Cain killed them before they had the chance.”

“This is all very touching,” the ancient one said. “But let’s get back to Sabina’s choice, shall we?”

I shot at glare at the ancient bitch. Persephone and Nyx were unaware of anything but staring at each other. Tristan turned to face me.

“I know when I met you I said that I didn’t believe you were the Chosen. I am still not positive on that account.”

“Gee, thanks,” I said.

“But,” he continued as if I hadn’t spoken, “based on the valor you have exhibited tonight, I believe in my gut you will find a way to pass Lilith’s tests.” I cringed, knowing he was wrong. “If sacrificing myself allows you that chance, then so be it.”

My eyes stung suddenly and my throat tightened. As much as I’d resisted the idea that I needed Tristan Graecus’s approval or respect, hearing those words opened something inside me. Something that felt a lot like… pride. But if he thought I was going to murder him now, he was an idiot.

I poked a finger at his chest. He jerked as if I’d slapped him instead. “You listen to me now,” I said, my voice thick. “Don’t think you know me. Because you don’t. At all.”

“I know that and not having the privilege of watching you grow into the woman you’ve become is one of my greatest regrets. But now I have a chance to make up for it.”

“Shut up,” I said. He frowned. “And stop interrupting me or I won’t be able to get through this.” He clamped his lips together and nodded. “I’ve done a lot of sick shit in my life. Things I’m not proud of. Things that make me capable of killing you right now and not giving it a second thought.”

Nyx gasped behind me, but a low murmur from Horus followed, indicating he was preventing her from intervening.

“However,” I continued, “I’ve learned a few things in the last six months. Things about family.” I looked toward Lavinia. “Things about love.” I glanced at Adam. “Things about myself. Things you couldn’t possibly know because you haven’t been around.” My father grimaced but stayed silent. “One of those lessons was that good friends are hard to come by. And when the shit comes down, your team is all you’ve got. So, no, I won’t be killing you tonight. Because I may not need a dad, but I sure as hell need all the friends I can get.”

The corner of Tristan’s lips lifted into an ironic smile. “If we’re going to be friends, we really need to work on your flagrant use of profanity.”

My lips twitched in response. “Fuck you.”

He grabbed me and pulled me into a hug. It was the first time I’d ever hugged my father. I realized I didn’t care if we’d never have a normal father-daughter relationship. It just felt damned good to know he was on my side.

“Enough!” Lavinia’s shrill voice cut through the air like lightning. “Have you made your choice, then?”

I turned, standing shoulder to shoulder with my father. “Take them,” I said. “Take my fangs, my immortality. Take every trait that ties me to your poisonous blood.”

Lavinia chuckled. “Such brave words. One wonders how brave you’ll be in the demon realm when you’re as weak as a human.”

I cocked a brow. “While you’re at it, take this fucking red hair, too.”

The remaining Dominae rose and started toward me. Adam grabbed me for a quick, hard kiss. “I love you,” he whispered. Then he walked away to join the others, leaving me alone in the center of the seven most powerful vampire females ever created.

Persephone refused to take part in the ceremony. Instead, she came to stand next to Nyx. No doubt there’d be repercussions for her once we moved on, but for now I appreciated her solidarity—late as it was.

The five remaining younger Dominae joined hands. Lavinia didn’t look too happy to be touching Tanith. Not a surprise given Tanith had conspired with the Hekate Council to kill Lavinia. However, my grandmother’s desire to officially erase me from her race must have overridden her hatred of the turncoat Domina.

The two ancients came forward then. One held a black apple like the ones I’d seen outside. The other held a pair of silver pliers.

The first burst of cold fear slammed into my gut. I’d assumed it would be like the mage rite to remove my magic. But I should have known better. Vampires enjoyed making others suffer. They’d make this as painful as possible.

The ancient who hadn’t spoken once since our arrival stepped forward and handed me the apple. “Do I have to eat it all?” I asked.

She smiled like a serial killer after a particularly gruesome murder. “One bite.”

I raised the apple to my lips. The shiny onyx skin glistened in the light. I glanced left toward the solemn faces of Adam and my father. I looked to my right at Lavinia’s eyes, which were wide with anticipation. The instant I took the bite, I’d be mortal. Not mage or vampire, just Sabina.

And that scared me more than the threat of pain.

Whether “just Sabina” would be strong enough to weather the remaining tests, I didn’t know. But there was only one way to find out.

My fangs broke the flesh. The taste of copper and iron filled my mouth. I chewed the mouthful of mealy fruit and swallowed quickly. The bite scraped the inside of my throat like I’d swallowed shards of glass.

Pain unlike any I’d experienced in my life exploded in my gut. Worse than getting shot. Worse than a demon’s spell. Worse than any poison.

The apple slammed to the floor. Two seconds later, my body joined it.

My vision dimmed and blurred. My fists clenched. The blood boiled in my veins. I felt each individual cell in my body explode. Smoke belched from my nose and ears and mouth. Wretched dry heaves forced me to roll onto my stomach. I somehow managed to rise up on my trembling arms and knees despite my weakened state. My throat burned and my stomach cramped as my body tried to expel… something. Gagging, suffocating, writhing.

Oh, please, gods, make it stop.

I fell into a trembling, sweaty heap on the floor. My mouth flew open and I vomited a pool of bright red blood.

Shouts erupted but sounded far away. Someone stood over me. Rough hands flipped me over onto my back. Too weak to resist, my hands were pulled to the side and pinned by someone’s knees.

“Open wide now,” the head ancient said. She knelt over me, the pliers flickering in the light like an Inquisitor’s tool of torture.

I ran my tongue over the sharp tips of my fangs for the last time. Funny, after burning from the inside and vomiting gallons of evil, having my fangs ripped out with pliers wasn’t so bad.

The worst part was the blood that pooled in my mouth. The dirty penny flavor made me want to vomit all over again. Instead, I rolled to the side and spit several times. The effort cost me because I couldn’t move another inch.

Someone nearby said, “It is done. Open the gate.”

“No,” Lavinia cried.

“Enough! She passed the test. Step aside, Domina Kane.” A pause and then, “Collect her and be on your way.”

A few moments later, gentle hands grasped my arms and helped me up. My head lolled to the side. The comforting scent of sandalwood surrounded me. Thank the gods, too, as I couldn’t stomach the smell of blood for one more second.

A loud whooshing sound filled the chamber. I blinked my eyes open and saw a swirling black vortex behind the thrones on the dais.

“Nyx! Come on!” Tristan yelled. I was jostled and lifted from the ground. “Take her,” Tristan said to Adam. He ran off to collect Nyx.

A sucking sensation pulled at my body. I moaned. “Easy, now,” Adam whispered. “Almost there.”

Trusting the mancy would get us through, I relaxed into his hold. The air changed from the wintry cold of the Bloodlands to a dry, searing heat scented with brimstone.

“Well it’s about damned time,” a familiar voice groused. “Holy shit! What the fuck happened to her?”

I’d never in my life been so happy to hear Giguhl bitch at us.

Chapter 36

This way,” a deep male voice said.

“Are you sure about this, G?” Adam’s voice rumbled in his chest. My head was pressed against the broad expanse. He was obviously running judging by the severe jostling I was receiving. But I couldn’t work up enough energy to complain about the roughness of the ride.

“He’s right,” Valva’s high-pitched voice replied. “It’ll help her.”

“Either way, we need to hurry,” Tristan said, farther away. “By the time Nyx and I jumped through the gate, the Dominae were freaking out.”

“Why?” Giguhl said.

“Because Cain had entered their lands. They were very excited to have the father of their race visit. So I’m pretty sure they won’t be delaying him like the mages did.”