Page 50 of When the Innkeeper Met the Vampire
She steps closer, her gaze sliding along the runes like she has an idea of how to defeat Tully’s magic.
“You’re mine, Archer Darkheart,” Valeria hisses.
Halvard, Cyrus, Laini, Rom, Kaya, and Argos make a loose, outer circle around the runes, placing themselves between Valeria and Colette and me. Valeria’s lip curls and she snarls at Kaya. The baker pales, and Cyrus roars, his body contorting. Claws grow from his boots, and magic sparkles thickly around him in a circle. His wings grow to twice their usual size, and his body and face elongate as his clothing disappears. Cyrus roars again, this time as a fully sized dragon.
The three vampires in the tree above us drop onto him, fangs bared. He lunges away from everyone, with all three clinging to him. With a great shake, he throws them to the ground. Snow flies as they slam into the drifts, and Cyrus blows fire. The ice and snow shatter the light, and the rest of the vampires turn away from the brightness.
“Are the runesworking?” Colette asks breathlessly. “Will you know if the bond is broken? Will she leave if it is?”
“I don’t know. I?—”
Valeria grabs Argos by one of his horns and thrusts him into the runic circle.
Chapter 24
Archer
Argos’s horn smokes and sparks. The light of the runes flashes and flickers. Argos whips around, his tail lashing, and he shoves Valeria down. Argos sets a foot on her stomach. His horn is blackened along one side.
“Gore her, my mate!” Tully shouts.
“Stay down, vampire,” Argos says roughly, “or I’ll show you exactly what these horns can do.”
Valeria laughs. “It doesn’t matter. The bond isn’t broken, and now the magic isn’t strong enough to do the job. You can kill me if you like. Try it. If you succeed, not only will my friends here slay every soul in Leafshire Cove, you’ll doom Archer to a life of pain. He doesn’t feel the bond now, but he would if I died.”
“You’re lying,” I say. I should have studied the bonding more. I have no clue if she is telling the truth or not.
“Wait.” Colette is pointing to the air.
“What?” Valeria snarls. “I don’t see anything.”
“The red line. Between you.”
“Colette has Seer’s blood,” Grumlin says across the cold stand-off.
Colette frowns at him, but then she focuses back on me. “There is a red thread of light between you and her.”
I swallow and try to think. “The vampiric bond.” I do recall an illustration that resembled a red thread.
“It is,” Grumlin says. “I can feel it, but I can’t see it.”
“Nor can I,” Tully adds.
Grumlin keeps his gaze on the vampires even though he’s speaking to me. “But I’ve heard of a Seer being able to view betrothal bonds in some creatures.”
Maybe I simply need to make the choice. Maybe I need my blood to confirm it. Something I read about oaths is in the back of my mind. I can’t recall thedetails, but it’s worth trying.
I lift Colette’s and my joined hands. “Trust me,” I whisper.
“You’re worthless, Archer,” Valeria says. “A mutt. You take this one golden chance to be a part of our world, and you tread on it.”
Argos pushes his boot down and Valeria squirms and lets out a stream of curses.
My stomach turns, and I open my mouth and set my teeth against the back of my hand. Colette’s scent drifts to my nose and I can smell her fear. I long to comfort her, but I have to finish this to even have the chance to do so.
“At least your mother cares about our kind,” Valeria gasps out.
I glare at my old enemy. “If that’s how you measure goodness, then yes, I’m much worse. I wish we vampires would die out, honestly. We’re really no good at all.”
