Chapter Fifty-Four (Lazarus)

I headed to my room as panic seized me. How could I do as she asked? If I killed Abigail, Amaya would never forgive me, but if I didn’t, I will die and leave Amaya unprotected against my mother.

If I could get the vial of my blood from her, I wouldn’t have to do as she says as long as Amaya and Abigail can help me break the binding.

If I told them what Hellebore wanted me to do, they may not forgive me for making a deal with her to begin with. They might understand that I did it to protect my brother, but I know my brothers would not forgive me either.

I paced the length of my room, trying to decide what I should I do.

Deciding my best bet was to talk to Amaya and tell her everything, I left my room and went to look for her.

I had looked everywhere in the castle and could not find her.

The last place I checked was the throne room. Seeing Merula, I approached him and asked, “Where are Amaya and Abigail?”

“They left the castle with the King; I am not sure when they will be back.” He replied before going back to his duties.

Damn it, if Hellebore knew I was going to tell her everything she will order me not too. At least Abigail wasn’t in the castle, so that bought me some time.

I headed to the library and pored over books, searching for anything that could break the deal I made with Hellebore and get me out of the predicament I was in.

I had the feeling I was being watched, but did my best to ignore it as I read through volume after volume of lore, magic, and bonds.

Finally, I picked up a book of creatures covering everything from the usual demons, sirens and shifters to hybrids and tribred. Thinking there might be something in the book to tell us how to kill a hybrid or a tribred in this case.

A Hybrid was impossible to kill by normal methods, so a tribred would be equally or more difficult to kill.

Flipping to the section of the book I needed, I read the descriptions and weaknesses of a tribred.

Tribred were incredibly rare and could be any combination of three creatures. There was only two ways you could kill a tribred, the first being by being consumed by hacking up the body into multiple pieces and feeding it all to different dragons so the remains couldn’t reconnect and rise from the dead and the second being by combining witch magic with druid magic and forcing her three creatures to emerge separately splitting her body into three and killing the individual creatures before they can recombine.

Neither sounded easy, but it explained why Hellebore was trying to get rid of witch’s magic by having Abigail killed and killing the goddess essence would destroy witch magic forever.

Amaya, being Abigail’s daughter, was in more danger from my mother than I thought, she had both witch and druid abilities which makes her Hellebores biggest threat. Would my mother really kill my fated mate just to protect herself from a potential enemy? Who am I kidding? Of course she would.

“What are you doing?” I heard Hellebore behind me. I turned as she materialized in the shadows and walked towards me.

“Research.”

She walked over and inspected the books before narrowing her eyes at me. “You are trying to find a way to break the bond you made to me.” she frowned as she glanced at the book in my hand.

She ripped it from me, “How do you have this?” She asked angrily. “I had this book destroyed.”

“This is a library; they usually print more than one. Why are you so angry?”

She still didn’t know that we knew what she was.

“I’m not,” she lied.

“If you say so.” I retorted, getting up to leave.

“Wait, Lazarus.” She snapped as she pulled the vial from her pocket.

“I forbid you to tell anyone anything, especially Amaya. You will say nothing about my orders for you to kill Abigail and anything that you may have learned here today, lest your blood boil and turn you to ash.”

Anger consumed me as I felt the bonds magic take effect. “I hate you.” I bit out.

“You will kill Abigail.” She ordered.

“And what about Amaya? You would kill my fated mate?”

“You forget she is fated to Sin as well. Like I could risk her choosing him.”

“So, you do plan to kill her.” I accused, as my chest tightened with anger.

“What I plan is none of your concern. Just worry about following my orders.” She smiled, putting the vial back into her pocket.

“We will find a way to kill you.” I vowed. “I will not let you hurt Amaya.”

“You would kill your own mother?” she fake sobbed. “You go ahead and try, you ungrateful brat.”

“Now be a good lad and get rid of the troublesome old lady.” She smiled as she backed into the shadows, disappearing.

When she was gone, I looked around the room, still feeling like I was being watched. Shrugging, I left the library and headed to my quarters.

Once they got back, I would kill Abigail. I just hoped Amaya would forgive me. This was the only way I could protect her.

Feeling powerless, I laid down on my bed and waited for them to return.