CHAPTER15
I realizethat I had been wrong during the hunt. The face of the vampire lord was not the beast that occupied my mind whenever I conjured the image of a vampire. This creature is.
The monster is even worse than what attacked me that night in Hunter’s Hamlet. Its flesh has hardened beyond leather—looking almost like sculpted stone, stretched tight over bone and sinew, causing an almost insect-like appearance. Its jaw hangs limp, mouth wide, oversized yellowed fangs bared among rows of pointed teeth. The monster’s eyes are completely black. No iris.
My hands quiver.
A part of me I don’t recognize is hungry for the fight. That reckless disregard for self-preservation urges me forward. Pushing me to do that which I have precious little experience in—kill.
But the other part of me, the human instinct, is frozen in place as I stare at what must be the face of Death.
Lavenzia launches into an attack.
The beast is fast.
It moves with jerky, unnatural movements. Faster than it should be able to for how weak it appears to be due to lack of muscle. It swings one of its hands at her; long, bone-like nails extend as claws past its fingertips.
She gracefully ducks underneath its arm, jabbing her blade at its shoulder. The silver punctures the skin easily. The monster barely gives a gasp of surprise before falling to the ground, dead.
Just as I ease my stance, Ruvan speaks, low and harsh into my ear. “Don’t relax. One is harmless. It’s the numbers that will kill you.”
I look back to the edge of my vision.
If Winny was right then there’s still fourteen more. I force myself to grip the sickles. The rest of the vampires move around me, away, toward certain danger. But I am frozen in place. Ruvan remains at my side, just behind the rest of them. I wonder if he’s staying to protect me as I falter. He’s sturdy and reassuring, enough so that I wouldn’t dream of pushing him away right now. Not when my nerves are beginning to fray. His breath moves the small hairs at the nape of my neck.
“Are you scared, Riane?”
I’m terrified. Our companions disappear into the complete darkness, past where my magically enhanced vision can see. The sounds of battle breaking out begin to echo back.
“Yes.” I can’t lie to him if I tried, and I wouldn’t try when the truth is so obvious.
He hums. I’ve given him cause to doubt me. I can feel it. I press my eyes closed.
“How about more power then?” The question alone feels more dangerous than whatever is coming toward me. He tempts me with forbidden magic. “Even if you’re unafraid, the fight would be easier with it.”
“What?” I meet his eyes, noses almost touching. His gaze is intense and threatens to consume me. I can almost see the umbra around him coming to life as the aforementioned magic radiates off of his shoulders.
He tilts his head slightly. “You should take it, I think. It might be the only way someone like you survives here.”
Someone like me… A human? Or were my fears right? Does he know the truth from my forging and clumsy assessment of battle? Perhaps he’s known since I hesitated with Quinn at that icy path.
“Well?” There’s urgency in the word. We’re running out of time, it almost seems to say.
Do I want his power? Do I want his blood? That’s what he’s really asking. I’m disgusted by my initial thought.
Yes.
I hadn’t wanted it until now. But his magic is already in me, and terror tastes like desperation. I won’t die here. Not now. Not after all I’ve been through and how close I am to getting to this door of his and freeing myself.
But what will Mother, Drew, my town think of me for this?
They don’t have to know, a new voice whispers from the back of my mind. A flush rises up my chest. My breath hitches.
They don’t have to know.
There’s no one here to judge me for what I’m about to do. No hunters. No town. There’s only monsters in the darkness and a man made of moonlight offering me salvation. There’s a growing need, wrenching, deep within me. Wanting to be set free again. Wanting him to both make and unmake me. Wanting to, for one blessed moment, be my own woman. To be triumphant. To win over death and fear for just once in my life.
“Give me power,” I beg and refuse to allow myself to feel ashamed.
