But he’d been wrong. Annika possessed the sapphire ring—not Laila.
The moment the Nephilim had driven the stake through the queen’s heart and Laila had dissolved into ashes, I knew deep in my soul that Nicolae would never forgive me for the queen dying on my watch.
The Carpathian Kingdom was my home, but I would never be welcomed there again.
So I’d run straight to Noah—the wolf shifter who was known in camp as the First Prophet. The moment he saw me run into camp, he’d been quick to let me into his tent.
“Why are you helping me with this?” I asked him. “You have no reason to want me to bring Peter back.”
Peter was my soul mate. We’d fallen in love over a century ago, and with his permission, I’d turned him into a vampire so we could have an eternity together.
A few years later, he was killed in the Great War.
His loss had shattered my heart. I could never be whole in a world where Peter didn’t exist.
But he might not be gone forever. Because Geneva was the most powerful witch in the world—she was so powerful that she’d scared other witches to the point that that they’d banded together to lock her inside the sapphire ring. She was the only one who might have magic strong enough to raise the dead.
Whoever owned the ring had command over Geneva.
Which meant if I wanted Peter back, I needed to get control of that ring.
“I might not have a reason to want Peter back.” Noah was so earnest when he looked at me—this man would truly do anything for me, even if I didn’t ask him to. “But I have many reasons to want you to be happy. If that means helping you get this ring so you can bring back Peter, then that’s what I’ll do.”
“Are you sure?” Guilt wracked my soul, because I recognized the way Noah was looking at me—he was looking at me like a man in love.
I trusted him, yes. And there was no denying that I was attracted to him. I would have to be blind not to appreciate his rugged good looks.
But I could never love him, since my heart would always belong to someone else.
“I’m sure,” he told me, his eyes firm with resolve. “And we shouldn’t wait. So let’s get Marigold in here so she can get us to the Haven.”
Karina
“Absolutely not,” Marigold said after we’d told her our request. She was a young witch, and frail as well, so her firm resolve had caught me off-guard.
“Why?” I asked. “Geneva’s ring won’t just help me—it’ll help all of us.”
“Transporting both of you halfway around the world will use up a significant amount of my magic,” she explained. “And unless you’ve forgotten, I’m the only witch at camp helping the wolves. My magic is keeping us hidden from the vampires so they can’t use their witches to track us and kill us in our sleep. If I use up my magic by taking you both to the Haven, I won’t be able to protect the camp until I’ve recharged. It’ll leave us too vulnerable. I’m sorry, but I must stay here.”
“Fine,” I said, since her answer made sense, and the last thing I wanted was to leave the wolves vulnerable to an attack. “Then I suppose we’ll have to travel the human way.”
“Maybe not,” Noah said. “I have a witch contact at the Haven. Perhaps she can take us.”
“Which witch?” I asked, since during my many years, I’d naturally come into contact with a few residents of the Haven.
“Shivani,” he answered. “I got in contact with her after the last time we spoke—when you advised me to reach out to Prince Jacen to discuss the possibility of his convincing the vampires to leave the Vale. I was going to tell you the next time we saw each other, but then you came running into camp this morning…” He shrugged, and I easily picked up the pieces of what he was going to say next—me catching him up on what had happened in the Vale had taken priority.
Marigold crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t move forward to talking with the prince, did you?” she asked Noah.
“I did.” He stared at her, not budging despite the irritation in Marigold’s eyes. “Is that a problem?”
“Of course it’s a problem.” She huffed. “The vampires of the Vale cannot be reasoned with. You and the others know what our Savior has said—the vampires of the Vale must be cleared from the land in order for Him to rise.”
“I know this as well as anyone.” Noah didn’t break his gaze from hers. “I was the first one to receive a dream from Him, as you and everyone else knows. But if there was a way to work this out with the vampires without killing them—if I could convince them to leave the Vale voluntarily—then I had to try.”
Relief flooded through my veins at the possibility of Noah having spoken with Jacen, since the last thing I wanted to do was have been a part of killing members of my own species.
I’d hated what I was doing from the beginning.
But I’d done it, because I would do anything for the chance of getting Peter back.
“You spoke with the prince?” I asked Noah, so excited at the possibility that I jumped straight ahead. “How did it go?”
“I did.” He nodded. “The prince listened to everything I said, and seemed to understand. He said that he’ll try his hardest to convince the vampires to leave. But he isn’t the ruler of the Vale—Laila is. Well, Laila was. Now that Laila’s gone, I assume much has changed.”
“Everything has changed.” I ran my hands through my hair and paced around the tent, frustrated at how out of control this situation had become.
A part of me wanted to return to the Vale and help Jacen convince the vampires to leave. The more lives I could help save, the better.
But Annika had Geneva’s ring, and she’d taken the ring to the Haven. Who knew how long she would be there? The faster I could get to her, the better.
Until I had the ring—and until Peter was back—everything else would need to wait.
I stopped pacing and faced Noah. “Shivani won’t take us to the Haven,” I said, returning back to the original point of this conversation.
“Why not?” Noah asked. “She brought both me and Jacen there so we could have our discussion.”
“She brought both of you there for the purpose of establishing diplomacy within the supernatural world,” I said. “That’s why the Haven exists. By bringing you both there, she was doing her job. The reason I want the ring is personal—it has nothing to do with diplomacy. The witches of the Haven will know that, and they won’t help me. Which means I need to get there myself.”
“The human way,” Noah repeated what I’d said earlier, watching me steadily. “Which means what, exactly?”
Looking at him now, I remembered what Noah had told me when he’d first taken me to see the camp—about how the wolves of the Vale were only now getting in touch with their human sides. For all of his life—and for the lives of the pack members—they’d lost touch of their humanity and had been purely wolves. The dreams sent to them by their Savior had given them faith and a common goal—the hope of Him rising had sparked their connection with their humanity once more.
Noah had never been outside of the wolves’ land in the Vale. Which meant I doubted he’d ever been in a car, let alone an airplane.
“By plane,” I said it simply, not wanting to insult him in case I was wrong. “I normally charter private planes, but if King Nicolae knew I was flying from the Vale to the Haven, he would know something was amiss. We’ll have to fly commercial. It’ll be uncomfortable, but it’ll get us where we need to go.”
Of course, that was assuming that King Nicolae hadn’t gotten word of Queen Laila’s death yet and hadn’t frozen my bank account. All of my money came from the Carpathian Kingdom. Once cut off, I would have nothing.
I shivered, not willing to think about the possibility yet.
There was only one thing I could allow myself to think about right now—getting that sapphire ring.
“Very well.” Noah nodded—if my inclination was correct that he’d never been in a plane before, he certainly
was being calm about it. “We’ll leave now.”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Marigold said, and both of us jerked our heads around to glare at her.
“I’m the leader of this rebellion—not you.” They were the harshest words I’d ever heard Noah speak to the witch, and he even let out a low growl as he took my hand in his. “Karina has been instrumental in getting us to where we are now. The two of us are leaving, and we’re leaving now.”
“You cannot.” Marigold blocked the exit, standing her ground. “Like you said, you’re the leader of this rebellion. The wolves look to you for support and guidance. They need you here at camp—not traipsing around the world with a vampire princess who’s blinded by love for her dead husband who’s never coming back.”
I flinched at her words, which felt like a knife to the heart.
Peter would come back. I was going to make sure of it.
“You can’t leave your people.” Marigold focused on Noah, ignoring me completely. “You know as well as I that while they’re putting on a brave face for this war, many are scared. Especially the children and the weaker fighters. You give them hope of better times to come. What message will it send if you leave them to help Karina? A vampire?”
I clenched my fists at the way degrading she spoke of me, my nails digging into my palms. Before being sent here to help the wolves, Marigold had been a witch of the Carpathian Kingdom. I’d barely spoken to her during her time there, but I’d seen her around enough to know that she’d been quiet and submissive.
Now she spoke of my entire species like she thought we were trash.
“Princess Karina.” I leveled my gaze with hers, hoping to remind her of her place. “You will address me as my station demands.”
She narrowed her eyes at me, but then her expression softened, and she bowed her head. “Your Highness,” she said, her voice weaker than before. “I meant no disrespect. However, I feel strongly about what I’m saying. Noah is the face of this rebellion. Do as you must by going to the Haven, but his people need him here. I know it, and I believe you both know it as well.”
I glanced at Noah. The fierceness in his gaze when he looked at me was all I needed to see to know that he would do whatever I asked. And the truth was, his people did need him here. His company would be welcomed on my journey, but I didn’t need him with me. I could do what I needed to do on my own.
“Marigold’s right,” I said, and the witch smiled smugly. “I’ll go on my own. You need to stay here. Your people are counting on you to lead them.”
“Are you sure?” He pulled me closer to him, his eyes begging for my honesty.
“I am.” I nodded, not wanting him to doubt my words.
He stared at me for a few moments, studying me. “All right,” he finally said. “I’ll stay here. As long as you promise me one thing.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“That once you get that ring—once you get your wish and Peter has returned—you’ll let me know you’re okay.”
“I can do that,” I said, since of everything he could have asked, it wasn’t much at all.
My heart panged as I looked around the tent, realizing that this might be the last time I was here. I believed the wolves would win the upcoming war—the vampires’ numbers were smaller and they were vastly unprepared—but one never knew how a war might turn. And who knew if I would get back before the final battle?
“Be safe,” I added, and then I headed out the door, not wanting him to see the tear that fell down my cheek at the realization that we might never see each other again.
Annika
Mary’s cabin was a small and efficient studio—a living room, a tiny kitchen, and an alcove with a bed. The light hardwood floors added brightness, and her furniture was neutral, simple, and functional.
The space was the right size for a college student on a budget—not for the leader of a kingdom.
“Our cabins aren’t designed for guests,” she said, apparently noticing my surprise as I looked around. “We have common areas decorated to impress visitors. I normally would have taken you there, but given the… abnormality of the current situation, I thought it best to come here.”
Of course, by abnormality, she meant me. More specifically, me being a Nephilim.
I stood there awkwardly, unsure where to go. Her cabin was pristine and clean, making me suddenly aware of the blood-splattered mess I was after fighting and killing those vampires in the Vale.
I couldn’t wait to shower and wash their deaths off my skin.
“Please, have a seat.” Mary gestured to her sofa, which was so simple and functional that it looked like it could have come from IKEA. “Can I get you some water?”
“That would be great,” I said, realizing for the first time how thirsty I was. I hadn’t had anything to drink since downing the combination of vampire blood and transformation potion that morning.
I couldn’t believe that only a few hours had passed since then. It felt like a lifetime ago.
“Nothing for me,” Geneva said.
In the time I’d been with Geneva, I’d never seen her eat or drink. I supposed a side effect of having a spell put on you that forced you to remain inside a ring for decades on end was that she no longer required food or liquid to survive.
Mary went to the kitchen to get my water—it was an open floor plan, so the kitchen was basically in the living room—and I sat down on the sofa. I placed my stake on my lap, unsure what to do with it. I felt safe with Mary, but I kept a hand on the weapon at all times, a gut instinct telling me I could never be too careful.
Especially when I was surrounded by supernaturals.
Even Geneva’s presence was making me twitchy, and I knew I could trust her.
The witch sat on the opposite side of the sofa, perched on the edge and refusing to look at me. I couldn’t imagine what I could have possibly done to her to make her act like this. Was there some reason why she didn’t want to be at the Haven?
I’d have to ask later, when Mary wasn’t around to listen to our conversation.
Mary returned with a full glass and pitcher. I downed the glass in a few gulps, glad she’d had the forethought to bring the pitcher. I was quick to pour myself a second glass, but I had only a few sips before placing it down on the table in front of me.
“I apologize again for the vampires’ reaction when you appeared in the courtyard,” Mary said, situating herself in the chair closer to me. “As I’m sure you know, when vampires come to live in the Haven, they agree to forgo human blood for animal blood. Many actually come to the Haven because they can’t get ahold of their bloodlust and they need to live in a place where they won’t be tempted to kill.”
“So there’s never been a human in the Haven?” I suddenly felt like an idiot for coming here.
“We have spells around the property to keep humans from wandering onto our land,” she said. “We’re a safe haven for supernaturals—not for humans, and certainly not for Nephilim. But luckily for you, I’ve been expecting you.”
“How?” I asked. “And how am I a Nephilim? Until this morning, I was human. Or at least I thought I was human.”
I clutched the stake, this all still not seeming real. I’d been a human my entire life. But I couldn’t deny the surge of power I’d felt after killing Laila—and the natural instinct I’d had to fight those guards. I’d always been a strong athlete, but I’d never been able to do that.
Something had changed in me. I needed to know more about what that change was, and why it had happened to me.
“I promise I’ll tell you soon,” she said. “First, I want to learn more about you, and what brought you here today.”
I nodded, although I looked around the cabin, suddenly feeling trapped. I’d come here because whenever anyone ever spoke of the Haven, they spoke of a kingdom that represented peace and trust. But Mary had said it herself—that peace was for supernaturals only.
Supernaturals hated the Nephilim. Why would the supern
aturals of the Haven be any different?
I’d transported myself straight into the den of another enemy.
No wonder Geneva was so pissed off at me.
“Is there something wrong?” Mary tilted her head, seeming truly concerned.
She didn’t look like someone who wanted to kill me. Then again, looks could be deceiving.
But if she wanted me dead, why had she stepped in when her vampires were trying to attack me? I wanted to believe that meant she wanted to help me, but after all my time spent in the Vale, I knew better. She was more likely trying to gain my trust so she could turn on me later. After all, I was in control of the one object that all supernaturals apparently wanted more than anything else in the world.
Geneva’s sapphire ring.
I was so eager to have someone to trust that I’d followed Mary straight into her cabin. Luckily this didn’t seem to be a trap, but for all I knew, it could have been.
If I wanted to survive—which was starting to look like would be unlikely—I needed to play by the supernaturals’ rules.
“I want to trust you.” I spoke strongly and confidently, not allowing my gaze to waver from hers. “But I can’t do that without a blood oath.”
“I expected as much.” She gave me a small, approving smile. “I can promise that while you’re on the grounds of the Haven, I’ll do everything I can to protect you. I will not harm you, and I won’t conspire with anyone with the intent to harm you. I’m on your side, Annika. You have an important role to play in the future of the world, and I want you to succeed.”
“What kind of role?” I swallowed down fear—the way she said it made it sound daunting.
“I’ll tell you soon,” she said. “First, I need you to trust me. Do you agree to the terms of the blood oath?”
“I do,” I said.
She dashed to the kitchen and returned with a knife—she used her vampire speed, so it took only seconds. She sliced the palm of her hand, and then handed the knife to me.
“Quickly,” she said. “Before our cuts heal.”
The Vampire Fate (Dark World: The Vampire Wish Book 4) Page 3
