Page 101 of Eternal Craving

Her fingers grasped the balustrade, and I sensed her fear.

“Can you swim?” I asked.

Two crew members reeled in the ropes that secured the ship to the dock.

“We have to jump.” I grabbed Sunaria’s arm, ready to take her with me.

With a jolt, the ship was launched.

I let her go. “Talk about timing.”

The three vampires lingered on the edge of the dock, their hollow stares locked on us. For a moment, I thought they’d dive in and answer my question about whether vampires could swim.

The ship gently rocked, sailing off through the harbor.

“Why do I have a sense that there’s more going on with your wily friends than you’ve previously let on?” I muttered.

A merchant officer signaled to us.

“Our cabin’s ready.” She turned to me. “And they’re not my friends.”

We strolled after the officer tasked with escorting us to our quarters. A flash of guilt swept through me. Up until now, Alicia and Miranda had been reliant on me. Although they had access to finances, I felt terrible leaving with no word.

Once in our cabin, I paced the small space, trying to calm down, miserably eyeing the two wooden trunks pushed up against the far corner. I climbed into one of them to try it out. No matter what position I got in, it was uncomfortable. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine a week of sleeping in it.

Thoughts of Jacob’s terror caused me to strike the inside of the trunk. He’d have no idea what was happening or why. A jealous cousin’s betrayal would never even cross his mind.

Strange thoughts took me to a place where my hands were wrapped around Ricardo’s throat, strangling him, squeezing out his last breath. My fists clenched with the idea.

Sunaria lifted the lid and peered down at me.

“I refuse to sleep in this,” I said.

She raised her eyebrows and let go of the lid. It slammed down, just missing my head.

I climbed out. “How long have they been chasing you?”

She peeked out of the porthole.

“Sunaria?” I pushed.

“For a while.”

“Why?”

“I left without permission.” She turned to face me. “The Creda owned me.”

“You were sold to them?”

“I was given to them.”

“By whom? The one that turned you?”

“No, I killed him, remember?”

I gestured for her to continue.

She looked grim. “The vampire that turned my master heard what I’d done.”