“Do you still have to check in every two hours when you’re not home?” I asked her.
“Yes, not to mention I have to meditate with Mom every Sunday morning and show her some kind of artistic expression every week. But the counselor says if they’re still making me check in during the new term, she’ll recommend a psychologist for them too. So ha!” Lucy ate a few more macaroons. “The academy gave me a new tutor.”
“And?” I knew that look.
“I don’t like her.”
“Why not?”
“Mostly because she’s not Tyson,” she admitted, watching Isabeau and Logan throw sticks for the dogs to retrieve. “I miss him.”
“I miss London too,” I said. “Even though we didn’t even get along.” We looked out over the crowd of people around the fire, the light warm and cheerful on their faces. Warm apple cider and hot chocolate circulated in the new hand-thrown clay mugs I’d made for Lucy’s parents.
“Your mom’s right,” I said. “We needed this.”
Lucy tilted her head. “Are Jason and Sebastian flirting?”
I followed her gaze, my eyebrows easing into my hairline. “Even more shocking, is Sebastian actually being chatty?”
“I had no idea.” Lucy grinned. “Nathan’s going to be pissed, but they’re so cute.”
“We really are,” Quinn drawled, having only caught our last comment. Connor, standing next to him, rolled his eyes.
“How did you fit that big head of yours in the car on the drive over here?” Lucy teased.
“He had to stick it out the window like a dog,” Nicholas added with a smirk as he came up behind Lucy. He sat beside her as Quinn pretended to look insulted.
“It’s not my fault I’m so much prettier than the rest of you,” he said with mock sorrow. “It’s a burden. Now I’m going to be a hero and save my girlfriend.” Quinn winked at Lucy before drifting over to where Hunter and Chloe were politely listening to Lucy’s dad’s explanations of how an ancient stone monument in Ireland was built to align with the rising sun on the day of the winter solstice. Connor went to join Christabel under a blanket, letting her read some long rhyming poem to him. He didn’t seem to mind in the least.
“How’s Hunter?” I asked quietly as Lucy leaned against Nicholas.
“Better. Kieran drops by school every few days to hang out with her,” Lucy said. He’d be leaving soon for college in Scotland. I tried not to think about it. We had finally found each other again. Lucy frowned, fiddling with a macaroon but not eating it. “I still can’t believe you’re leaving,” she said, as if she’d read my mind.
“Me neither.” I’d finally convinced Mom and Dad to let me travel. I wanted to visit other vampire communities, learn new traditions, and forge new connections to make up for all those I’d accidentally severed. I needed to find someone to help me further control my pheromones and my hunger. And I wanted to make amends. My parents had only agreed when Aunt Hyacinth offered to come with me. My brothers would take turns joining us. Marcus was the first to volunteer, ever eager to gather new knowledge. He’d already helped me turn the copper collar into a bracelet cuff. I could wear it if I felt like my pheromones were too much.
“You have to e-mail me every day,” Lucy demanded. She threw a macaroon at my head to illustrate the seriousness of her request.
I ducked it easily. “You too.” I tossed one back at her, missed, and hit Nicholas in the temple.
“Ow,” he said mildly. He wore a strand of wooden beads with a red tassel around his neck. Kieran was beside him, wearing the same kind of necklace.
Lucy chuckled. “Mom gave you prayer beads.”
“Yes,” Nicholas replied, sitting on the wall next to Lucy. His hair was tousled, which meant Lucy’s mom had also hugged him and ruffled his hair, as she always did.
“And you’re wearing them because you’re awesome,” Lucy said approvingly.
“That too.”
“Anyone got a camera?” she asked as Kieran came to stand next to me, leaning against the wall. My knee pressed against his arm. “Because she made a set for everyone I want a photo of Bruno wearing his.”
We sat for a long time, the four of us on the wall, silently enjoying the party. “This is the best Longest Night yet,” Lucy said happily, snuggling against Nicholas and watching everyone revolving around the fire, laughing and eating homemade cake.
“Let’s make a pact,” I suggested, wanting to hold the moment in my hand like a little bird. I wasn’t ready to let it fly away yet. “No matter where we are or what we’re doing, every year we all meet up for a Longest Night celebration.”
Kieran held up my hand, our fingers entwined. He kissed my knuckles. “Deal.”
“Deal,” Nicholas echoed.
Lucy held up her little finger, crooking it. “Pinky swear?”
I looped my finger through hers. “Pinky swear.”
Because that’s what best friends did—they stood by each other.
And because no one mentioned what happened to Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, or all of those other princesses sleeping through their lives. Eventually, the Longest Night gave way to morning.
Eventually, they woke up.
Author’s Note
It is wonderfully strange to write the last book in a series. When I wrote Hearts at Stake/My Love Lies Bleeding I thought I was writing a standalone novel. I wanted to have fun with Snow White and with vampires, even though everyone kept saying vampires were dead (ha-ha). I wanted to tell my story regardless. I could never have imagined it would become a six-book series, and additional e-novellas and short stories. And that is what the Drake Chronicles taught me again and again: Tell Your Own Story.
I hope it’s brought you a few hours of escape, a few thrills, and a few sighs over those Drake brothers.
I already miss them.
But there’s always more to the story . . . so look for new Drake Chronicles e-novellas coming your way.
Author’s Disclaimers
This is a work of fiction. Exchanging blood is NEVER safe. Do not attempt the blood oath in this book EVER. The risk of acquiring deadly diseases is very real.
The witchcraft in this book is purely literary. It is not intended to represent modern or ancient belief systems.
About the Author
ALYXANDRA HARVEY is the author of the Drake Chronicles, Stolen Away, and Haunting Violet. She likes medieval dresses and tattoos and has been accused of being born in the wrong century—except that she really likes running water, women’s rights, and ice cream. Alyx lives in an old Victorian farm house in Ontario, Canada, with her husband, dogs, and a few resident ghosts.
www.alyxandraharvey.com
www.thedrakechronicles.com
www.facebook.com/thedrakechronicles
Also by Alyxandra Harvey
The Drake Chronicles: Hearts at Stake
The Drake Chronicles: Blood Feud
The Drake Chronicles: Out for Blood
The Drake Chronicles: Bleeding Hearts
The Drake Chronicles: Blood Moon
Ruling Passion, which includes Hearts at Stake, Blood Feud, and Out for Blood
Haunting Violet
Stolen Away
Read the Drake Chronicles
from the beginning . . .
Ruling Passion—includes Hearts at Stake, Blood Feud, and Out for Blood
* * *
Find out more about the Drakes at
www.thedrakechronicles.com
* * *
WALKER BOOKS
AN IMPRINT OF BLOOMSBURY
www.bloomsburyteens.com
The long-awaited Blood Moon ceremonies
are about to convene on Violet Hill, and the
Drakes are in danger of losing one of
their own forever . . .
Don’t miss Blood Moon, the fifth title in the
DRAKE CHRONICLES
The passion continues with three original
e-novellas featuring your favorite characters from
the
DRAKE CHRONICLES . . .
WALKER BOOKS
AN IMPRINT OF BLOOMSBURY
www.bloomsburyteens.com
Don’t miss Alyxandra Harvey’s darkly romantic,
spine-chilling ghost story
WALKER BOOKS
AN IMPRINT OF BLOOMSBURY
www.bloomsburyteens.com
Violet and Colin’s story continues in a passionate original e-novella . . .
WALKER BOOKS
AN IMPRINT OF BLOOMSBURY
www.bloomsburyteens.com
Love the Drakes?
Prepare to have your heart stolen, as Alyxandra
Harvey’s enchanting new novel transports you
to Faery, where nothing is as it seems . . .
WALKER BOOKS
AN IMPRINT OF BLOOMSBURY
www.bloomsburyteens.com
Readers Are Raving About Alyxandra Harvey!
“A well-balanced blend of romance, family, and adventure. The Drake Chronicles is a perfect pick for readers who like their heroines indomitable, quirky, and smart.”
—Jennifer Lynn Barnes, author of Raised by Wolves and Every Other Day
“Witty, sly, and never disappointing. . . . Fun, funny, and a relief from Twilight wannabes.”
—Booklist on Hearts at Stake
“A smart mix of darkness and humor.”
—Publishers Weekly on Hearts at Stake
“A highly entertaining and funny book that will be sure to make you smile the entire time through.”
—Juciliciousss on Hearts at Stake
“A refreshingly humorous and high-action addition to the often brooding vampire genre.”
—BCCB on Hearts at Stake
“An action-packed story full of intrigue, suspense, and romance with a great cast of characters.”
—School Library Journal on Blood Feud
“Alyxandra Harvey’s attention to detail, and ability to create complex, sympathetic characters, are what separate this book out from others of its ilk. . . . This is one series I always enjoy visiting.”
—Michael M. Jones, SF/Fantasy Author and Book Reviewer on Blood Feud
“Will keep readers entertained from start to finish. . . . Fast-paced and engaging.”
—VOYA on Out for Blood
“Readers, new and old, are in for an intensely wild ride into a creative, interesting world filled with action, romance and suspense.”
—Literary Cravings on Out for Blood
“An action-filled story with romance and danger. . . . I thought I had a feel where the story would go—but each time Ms. Harvey surprises me. Definitely keeps the series fresh and addicting.”
—Anna’s Book Blog on Out for Blood
“Alyxandra Harvey is the consummate storyteller. . . . It’s a rare treat to be involved in a book that is new and can hold my rapt attention in this genre after 40 years of reading about vampires!”
—A Bookish Libraria on Bleeding Hearts
“Book 4, Bleeding Hearts, is an action packed story that will have you DYING for book 5, Blood Moon (it totally had me yelling IT ENDED THERE!?!?!).”
—Page Turners Blog on Bleeding Hearts
“Bleeding Hearts surpassed all my expectations, and gave a completely unsuspected ending. The romance was enticing, the action full throttled fun. Another read that should not be missed.”
—Passing the Pages on Bleeding Hearts
Copyright © 2013 by Alexandra Harvey
All rights reserved
You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (including without limitation electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, printing, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages
First published in the United States of America in December 2012 by Walker Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing, Inc.
E-book edition published in December 2012
www.bloomsburyteens.com
For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to Permissions, Walker BFYR, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010
The Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover edition as follows:
Harvey, Alyxandra.
Blood prophecy / by Alyxandra Harvey. — 1st U.S. ed.
p. cm. — (The Drake chronicles;6)
Summary: Can Solange find her way back home again? And can she do it in time to save everyone she loves from the vampire civil war, hunter attack, and each other? Because not everyone can survive the prophecy . . . maybe not even her.
[1. Vampires—Fiction. 2. Interpersonal relations—Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.H267448Blo 2013 [Fic]—dc23 2012024687
eISBN: 978-0-8027-3430-3 (e-book)
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Epilogue
Author’s Note
Author’s Disclaimers
About the Author
Also by Alyxandra Harvey
Readers Are Raving About Alyxandra Harvey!
Blood Prophecy Page 34
