“Evander,” she greeted loud enough for all of us to hear.
Evander stiffened next to me, and I could see from the corner of my eye that red was starting to bleed into his green irises. All at once, we stepped forward and made our way to the dock and the woman pirate.
Solomon pulled ahead of the rest of us, making it clear that he was the leader, which I was grateful for.
“Why are you here with so many ships?” Solomon asked the woman Evander had called Catherine.
“We are seeking asylum from Prime,” she answered.
Her words brought with it an accent that made me think of the mainland, and of the few travelers I had seen while growing up who visited the island.
“You are a pirate and a vampire, why should we trust you?” Ruth asked, stiffly drawing the eyes of the woman.
Up close, I noticed her eyes were the darkest brown I had ever seen. So dark that they were only a shade or two away from being black.
“We do not wish to fight in this war that Prime has started. I am a vampire and a pirate, but I wasn’t always this way. I remember what it was like to be human, without this condition being forced upon me. We’ve come to fight against Prime and to see the born vampire that is rumored to be the only one able to kill him,” Catherine defended, her eyes finding their way to me.
Something in them assessed me, but a bigger part of her appeared curious about what I was. I had noticed that I tended to garner more vampire attention than any other hunter or human. When I asked Solomon about it, he said it was because of what I was. Something about me drew vampires to me, just like they were drawn to and served Prime. Solomon speculated that it was the pure venom that had changed me and now flowed through my veins and fangs.
“The Sea Witch has touched you,” Catherine acknowledged, bowing slightly to me.
“Could you give us a moment?” Solomon asked politely, before gesturing for us all to follow him.
He led us off to the side of the dock, where we stood clustered together.
“What do you make of her?” Jameson asked.
It wasn’t the question I would have asked, but I was curious about the answer, nevertheless.
“She seems sincere, but again, I wouldn’t put it past Prime to concoct this elaborate plan to infiltrate our forces and bring us down from the inside. We have to be extra careful about who we trust,” Solomon answered, clearly uneasy.
Everyone nodded in agreement but me. Instead, I turned and crossed my arms over my chest, then stared at the vampire who was slowly becoming my friend but obviously had a secret. It took the others a few moments to notice where all of my attention had centered.
“Well?” I prompted, having the sudden urge to impatiently tap my foot against the ground, like my aunt had done so often when I was in trouble.
“I know her,” he finally admitted, still attempting to ignore my stare. There was more to the story, so I continued to stare him down until he was brave enough to meet my eyes—all trace of red gone from his. “I’m the one who turned her.”
“You’re her maker,” Ruth breathed, her eyes wide with astonishment.
“I’ve only made a handful of vampires in my life, and she is one of them,” he explained, a bit defensive.
“But this means you have the maker bond. You know if she is telling the truth, because you made her,” Ruth urged, pointing out something that I didn’t know was possible.
Evander nodded, running a hand through his hair. His eyes met mine once more. “She’s not lying. I can’t vouch for the rest of her party, but I can for her truthfulness. If you doubt my word, then Lavinia is welcome to do what she needs to do in order to be certain.”
A heavy sigh escaped me. I knew exactly what he was referring to: my compulsion power. I could compel her to tell me the truth, but I really hated that power and wanted to avoid using it if I could. Jameson, Solomon, and Ruth tensed around us, waiting for me to say something.
I searched Evander’s eyes. I could see the regret in them, and it made me relax. He had created vampires, yes, but from the way he had spoken when he confessed to turning her, it didn’t sound like he had done it willingly. I knew there were a lot of things Prime would have made Evander do throughout the years. It wasn’t our place to judge him for those past actions. He was on our side now, and focusing on the past would get us nowhere.
Evander was different; I had no doubt. He was not like Prime, who turned others and feasted on human blood. I now knew Evander was trustworthy, and I would do whatever I could to convince the others of that as well.
“I believe you,” I finally answered, watching his green eyes widen in surprise at my words. “I trust what Evander has said is true. Catherine is here to aid us in this fight, and I, for one, am glad to have as much help as we can get.”
“Not that I want to argue with you, but I need to ask. Why are you so sure now?” Jameson prodded, and I didn’t blame him. It wasn’t long ago that I still questioned Evander’s loyalties.
“Evander has done more for us than I think we realize. Even if sometimes it was strictly for self-preservation or when things didn’t work as he planned.”
“Like when he killed you?” Jameson interrupted.
My gaze met Evander’s. “Yes, like then, but if you had been present the day he arrived on the island and saw me alive after you were taken, you would have witnessed his true remorse. I also don’t believe we would have found the Obsidian Caves without him, and it likely would have taken me a lot longer to accept my true self without him pressuring me.”
“I think Lavinia is correct in everything she said,” Jameson reluctantly agreed. “Do either of you have a problem with us trusting Evander to take the lead with Catherine or allowing them onto the island?”
Solomon and Ruth shared a moment while they thought about Jameson’s question, but my attention remained on Evander as we waited for their approval. My decision to trust him came from pure instinct, which had yet to lead me astray. I just had to hope that now would be no different, because we couldn’t afford any more setbacks. We needed Evander on our side, as well as Catherine and her followers.
Chapter 13
After several tense minutes, Solomon and Ruth both agreed that we should proceed with Evander’s suggestion to trust Catherine, though it was decided that none of the crews could stay on the island. It wasn’t that big of a bother, since we had every intention of setting sail tomorrow. The only concern was whether or not all of the new arrivals would follow.
When we made our way back to the estate, our hunters acknowledged Catherine’s arrival and her host of vampire pirates with unease. I understood their apprehension, and I couldn’t fault them for it. However, with the addition of these vampires, the odds of defeating Prime had risen significantly.
Catherine had also brought a peace offering. They came with supplies that were worthless to vampires, but lifesaving for the hunters and families we had on the island. Food and clothes were the main items given to us, but they also had an abundance of weapons that would be invaluable during the coming conflict.
Their presence, and gifts, could be exactly what we needed to turn the tide from likely defeat to a fighting chance.
“How about we head to bed? We have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow,” Jameson suggested once Catherine and the others were back on their ships, giving the hunters some peace of mind.
“I still have to finish filling the jar with venom. We need at least one before we leave.” My previous attempt had been interrupted by the vampire ships’ appearance. Even if I had to be up all night, I would fill at least one jar before we left and the other while we were at sea. I had to do whatever I could to give the others more protections against the army Prime had built.
“How about you go to the room, and I’ll get dinner. You’ll need to be well-fed leading up to the fight, especially if you insist on giving your venom. I won’t have you be anything but your strongest when we face Prime.”
His eyes ignited as he s
aid the words so full of conviction, and for the first time since we spoke of leaving, I saw the true fear in them.
My hands cupped his cheeks and I pressed my lips to his. “We are both going to make it out of this alive and together. I have faith in that.”
His forehead pressed against mine. “I apologize now, but I’ll need you to keep reminding me of that. Bringing you to Prime goes against everything I believe in. I’m supposed to protect you and keep you from danger, not take you straight into the storm.”
“I understand, and I appreciate you not fighting against my choices. It means more to me than I can find the words to say.”
With another kiss—this one filled with worry, fear, and love—we parted ways. I headed toward our room, but when I came around the corner in the hallway, I collided with a hard chest.
Glancing up, my eyes met Evander’s. There was pain emanating from him, and I didn’t understand why.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing for you to worry about. Thank you for trusting me earlier. I know all of you have plenty of reasons not to,” Evander replied.
“You had every reason not to leave Prime’s ship that day and come with us when it all but guarantees your death. I’m just sorry it took me so long to trust you were on our side.” He shifted on his feet nervously, and I realized he was looking everywhere around us except directly at me. “Where are you headed?”
If he wouldn’t tell me what was wrong, maybe I could figure it out by knowing what he was planning.
“Outside, for some fresh air.”
“Or maybe in hopes of seeing Catherine?” His eyes widened, and I knew I had him. “I saw the way she appraised you earlier, and how nervous you became when you saw her. What happened between the two of you? This isn’t only about you turning her, is it?”
“You’re going to make me tell you, aren’t you?” His voice was sullen, and I smiled, knowing I would get my way.
“I just want to make sure everything is all right. I need to know if it’s something we should be worried about.”
His hands scrubbed over his face as he let out a heavy sigh. “When Prime started all of this, he needed Catherine’s approval to get most of the pirates on his side. She’s a leader of sorts to them. When she refused to become a vampire after our first meeting, a lot of the other pirates backed out as well, and Prime saw his army diminishing by the second. So, he sent me on a mission.”
“Were you supposed to kill her?”
“No, I was supposed to make her fall in love with me, so she would say yes.”
My chest tightened as I realized where the story was headed. I tried not to show my shock and disgust at learning they would try to trick the woman, but by the sorrowful look on Evander’s face, I hadn’t done a good job of hiding it.
“I had no qualms about it until I began to get to know her. Instead of making her fall in love with me, I fell in love with her. As the weeks passed with no results, Prime said that if I didn’t get her to agree soon, he was going to kill her and deal with the consequences. He hadn’t wanted to kill her in the beginning, for fear the pirates would turn on him, but he was running out of options to grow his army.”
“Obviously you turned her. How did you get her to agree?”
His shoulders drooped. “I told her the truth.”
“I don’t imagine that went very well.”
“No. She stabbed me.”
I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me. It was deep, pure, and more than needed. “I’m sorry, I’m not trying to laugh at you, but that surprised me. How did she go from stabbing you to letting you turn her?”
“She wanted to live, and a part of me hoped that she had done it because she had fallen in love with me as well. Yet, she had one condition. She would do so willingly, but she never wanted to see me again. We haven’t spoken since the day I turned her. That was more than eight years ago.”
My heart hurt for my friend and all the pain I could feel emanating from him. “I’m sorry, Evander. Are you going to talk to her?”
“I was headed outside to work up the courage. I’d rather she didn’t stab me again if I approach her.”
A ghost of a smile appeared on his face, and I knew he would rather be stabbed than never speak with her.
“Go to her. If she’s here now, I think maybe she’s changed her mind about never speaking with you again.”
“Thank you, Lavinia. For everything.”
Patting his shoulder, I pushed him toward the door. “Just apologize and see where it goes.”
He nodded and continued on as I finished the walk to my room. When I entered, my eyes found the jar I had left on the table in our rush to see why the alarms had gone off. It sat there, almost mockingly, only a quarter full.
Snatching it up, I got comfortable on the bed and called for my fangs as well as the darkness within me that had been more than compliant lately, but I needed more from it. We were running out of time and needed my venom to lace the weapons.
Come on, darkness. Show me what you can do.
As the energy swirled inside me, I concentrated on nothing other than producing a steady flow of venom. Once again, it came out in a trickle, but I pressed harder. I pushed myself to break through whatever barriers I needed to in order to make the process go faster.
My gums throbbed, and my body began to ache from the tension of trying to force out the venom. Finally, I felt a stronger pull and relaxed my body some. Closing my eyes, I leaned against the headboard and kept the jar under my lips. Saliva built within my mouth since I couldn’t swallow, and just as I decided to take a break and check my progress, Jameson opened the door.
“Wow, Lavinia. You’re doing great.” His smile extended from ear to ear as he carried a tray of food and drinks.
Glancing down, I noticed he was right. The jar was more than half-full now, and I had only spent a fraction of the time as my previous attempt.
“Thanks. What do you have there?” I saw a bowl, but the tray was too high for me to see inside from the bed.
“Something that should help soothe your gums. It was Alice’s idea, so I can’t take all the credit.” He handed me the bowl and my body instantly got chills from the cold exterior.
Inside was nearly-frozen chocolate pudding, a rare treat that I hadn’t seen in months. Without pause, I scooped my first bite, retreating my fangs at the same time. When the cool texture touched my gums, I moaned in response. Alice deserved the biggest hug ever the next time I saw her. My vampire healing had made most of the ache go away, but the swelling was still present, and the dessert was like a balm on my sore mouth.
“This is the best surprise I think I’ve ever had.” I doubted he understood my words, because I didn’t even pause to breathe while I devoured the treat.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it.” He started in on his own food as I finished the pudding and moved on to my dinner. The blood wine he brought was the last thing I had. Everything was delicious. I loved that I was able to still enjoy real food and had gotten over my aversion to drinking blood.
Ever since I fully accepted who I was that day on the beach, things hadn’t been as overwhelming for me, and I wished I had done it sooner. It likely would have taken me weeks longer to figure out if Evander hadn’t pushed me. Weeks we wouldn’t have had.
After we finished eating, I went right back to extracting venom. I was partially into the second jar when I must have fallen asleep from exhaustion, because when I woke, I was still fully clothed, and both jars were on the table next to the bed.
Jameson lay next to me sound asleep, while the first signs of morning light began to cast across the sky visible through our window. My fingers traced his jaw, continuing down his arm and then moving back up his chest, until I started all over again.
Before I moved to get out of bed, I placed a gentle kiss on his cheek, and his chest rumbled. “Every morning should begin this way.”
“I agree, though we might not have one like this for a long time.�
�� My lip jutted out in a pout, though teasingly. Soon we would set sail, and I had no idea how long it would be until we were back… if we came back at all.
His hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me on top of him. “If it’s the last morning we might have to ourselves, then we better take advantage of it.”
The grin that spread across my face couldn’t be helped as I leaned down to capture his lips. Before I knew it, hands and clothes were everywhere, and my mind had been freed of its earlier stress.
There was nothing but Jameson and me in that moment, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Later that morning, we met with Alice and Henry. They let us know that Solomon and Ruth had gone with Evander to meet Catherine, and I wanted to be sorry we had missed the opportunity to join them, but I wasn’t. The time spent with Jameson was well worth it.
“How are the children doing?” Jameson asked after they brought us up to speed.
“They’re well, especially Maggie. She’s a completely different little girl, in all the best ways,” Alice answered.
“Yes, we can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for her,” Henry added.
“Righting any of the wrongs that Prime has done is all my pleasure.” If I could reverse everything that monster had done, I would in a heartbeat.
Once we were finished catching up, Jameson and I decided to go find Solomon and the others. I was curious to meet Catherine, especially after what Evander had told me the night before. I wondered if she still loved him, because he obviously still cared deeply for her. Never before had I seen him so flustered.
When we arrived at the dock, I spotted the four of them on the upper level of Catherine’s ship. She and Evander appeared to be fighting, and I decided to find out for sure by focusing my hearing.
“You have no right to come on my ship and tell me what to do,” Catherine spat.
“That’s not what I was trying to do. If you would listen to me when I talk, you would understand I’m only trying to advise the best course of action, based on what we already have planned.”
Blood of the Sea Omnibus Page 41
