by Sela Croft
The aroma she emanated foreshadowed that one taste would lead to an uncontrollable craving. It was more likely that I’d harbor her as my blood slave than it was that I’d drain the life from her. That prospect annoyed me, as I didn’t like being at the mercy of another.
I had all the blood I desired, and of the purest quality. I didn’t need the gourmet treat flowing in Callie’s veins. But I wanted it, and that admission was disturbing.
If only I knew what made her special, then I could deal with it. The way things stood, I felt manipulated. I’d make Callie tell me why she was here, what her purpose in coming to the city had been, and exactly what her bloodline was.
I couldn’t recall a scent quite like hers. This was a first for me, making her one of a kind. The scarcity drove me a bit crazy, and I’d yet to taste the first drop of her blood. Maybe she was a witch, come to work some black magic.
I rejected that idea. Callie looked about as average as a human teenager could. Except for her eyes, and that inner quality I couldn’t define. I might rue the day she entered the realm. She’d already disrupted my peace, then refused to co-operate. But she’d realize soon enough that she couldn’t resist for long.
Despite the problem of the vampire hunters, the kingdom was relatively safe. The Fae were a more formidable enemy, yet a magic barrier around the city blocked their entry. Even from their realm, they caused trouble, including the ongoing skirmishes in the mountains surrounding the inner city.
Fae couldn’t enter the protected interior, so they could not attack the royal family or the civilian vampires. The humans populated the mountains and forests, but they were not a species of interest to the Fae.
The way to power was by wiping out the ruling class of vampires. And although their efforts had been thwarted, the murder of the king had been accomplished. I’d been thrust into the role of ruler, earlier than I’d anticipated.
Once I righted the tumultuous situation in Shadowland, I’d be crowned as king. As the prince, first in line for the crown, I was in charge. But this wasn’t a human monarchy where blood-line alone qualified me to ascend to the position of king. I had to prove myself worthy, and that was turning out to be a formidable challenge.
I’d long ago faced the responsibility my position as ruler entailed. Yet I didn’t have a grip on how to take down our enemies for good. Slowly, they’d picked off our species, until the vampires numbered fewer and fewer. Extinction loomed, but I hadn’t lost hope.
Chapter 17
Logan
As I picked up my pace and rounded a corner, the sound of an explosion cracked in the distance. I peered in the direction of the noise, fearing the worst. Flames burst into view outside the city, setting the mountainside ablaze.
If this was a new tactic of the vampire hunter faction, it was going to get them killed. I didn’t take kindly to having the human residents attacked. It wasn’t a soft heart that compelled me to protect them. But the slaves kept us all in the lifestyle to which we’d grown accustomed.
I reached out telepathically to Valter: You’re needed. The mountainside is lit up like a torch. My brother was a fire master and would have no compunction about dealing with the situation.
His response was immediate: On my way. Will take care of it.
I flew to the edge of the city to see that the hills were ablaze, glowing in colors of yellow and orange. Cabins and cottages were illuminated, as if spotlights shined down upon them. Valter was at the top of the mountain looking down with intense focus. The flames roared across the steep slopes, flaring higher and higher.
The night sky was bright, blocking out the stars. I watched from inside the protective barrier of the inner city. My brother could withstand the light and heat. Centuries of training had refined his ability to deal with fire and his comfort, even pleasure, in the presence of the medium was nothing short of spellbinding.
The scene was dramatic and might have been entertaining, if not for the destruction the flames wrought. Trees burned hot and fell to the ground. The fire danced over the grassy mountainside, wiping out all in its path.
Then as fast as it had begun, the pyrotechnic show ceased.
The flames vanished, then the brightness faded. With the fire sucked out of existence, the cover of darkness resumed. I marveled at Valter’s unique ability. Heat, light, and fire were dangerous to vampires. My brother was the only one I knew who had not only conquered that weakness, but mastered the element of fire.
With his pyrokinetic ability, he could speed up atoms to the point of combustion, then control the fire he’d created. In this instance, he’d reversed the process to extinguish the fire. I signaled him to meet me at headquarters.
Chapter 18
Logan
Once inside the main building, I barked orders to my head of security, giving him details of the disaster. “See to the damage. I don’t know how many are dead or the extent of destruction to property. That must be assessed and remedied as best it can.”
The burly vampire didn’t flinch. “Yes, my prince. I’ll see to it.” Then he vanished.
The incident had been harassment, so the perpetrators would pay for the harm they’d caused. An enemy, who was too weak to penetrate the city’s protection, could still make a show of power from the outside. If the vampires couldn’t be felled with one deadly blow, then weakening the race until ultimate destruction ensued was apparently second best.
But it was going to take a lot more than posturing and blustering on the perimeter of the realm to achieve that aim. Humans were plentiful and reproduced in acceptable numbers. Wiping out a sector of the slaves wouldn’t make a dent in the overall population.
Nevertheless, it was unnerving. There was no peace to be had in Shadowland. Enemies proliferated, but I’d been unable to snuff them out. If it had been one enemy, a clear target to go after, I’d have stood a better chance.
But enemies abounded. If it wasn’t one camp of attackers, it was another. My brothers and I had resources with which to battle the onslaught, but they weren’t limitless. All that had kept us alive so far was our own ingenuity—and more vital than that, our magic.
Even with that clear advantage, the vampire class was near extinction. My brothers and I were all who remained of the royal family, except for my mother, whom we protected. The vampire population had thinned substantial in all too few years.
Something had to be done about it, and soon, if we had any hope of surviving into the next century.
I levitated up to my office. Before I sat down, Valter appeared. His substantial build gave him an imposing presence. His blond hair, amber eyes, and square jaw made him handsome. And females were drawn to him.
But my brother’s pale skin and deadly glare belied any warmth of personality. He was not prone to affection, and although he enjoyed women he wasn’t attached to any one woman. He was an asset, as a brother and a warrior, due to the rage that simmered in his heart.
How he’d gotten that way, I couldn’t say. Having become a vampire at the age of twenty, Valter eternally sported the look of youth. Yet he didn’t emanate naïveté, only wisdom born of dealing too much and too often with death.
He was dressed in white, without a smudge of soot on him. “Well, brother,” he said. “What do you make of the bonfire?”
“My guess is that it was the handiwork of the vampire hunters. Only the humans have access and roam freely in the mountains.” I paced in front of the window. “The Fae would delight in burning us in the fires of hell. But they know a forest fire won’t penetrate our inner sanctum.”
“I daresay, the Fae would be more creative than merely lighting a match to dry leaves. With their magic, there are more deadly traps they’d concoct.”
“Agreed.” I plopped into my chair, and my brother sat across from me. “I will investigate. Better yet, I’ll have Florian do it. He’s the intellect of this family.”
“I won’t take that as an insult. I have no doubt my talents are indispensable.”
; My brother was confident, a trait that paired well with his aggressive nature. “No insult intended. You just saved us from being surrounded by a charcoaled landscape. A few trees will grow back, in time. But an entire forest would have been another matter.”
“You’re welcome,” Valter said.
“When I learn the names of the hunters who were responsible, I will take them out. We can’t have rebellion in our midst.”
“No, we have enough trouble.”
“Thank you for the reminder.” I narrowed my eyes. “You are amassing the troops, and increasing the training pace?”
“As you commanded, my brother.”
Valter’s eyes revealed his relish of war and battles. Assigning such a task to him allowed him to indulge his passion for violence. Fortunately, that tendency was toward our enemies, and did not extend to those he loved. For as fierce as my brother was, he was unbendingly loyal to the family.
“You may go,” I said. “I have a task to see to.”
My brother raised his brows. “Keeping secrets?”
“Not at all.” I shifted in my seat. “It has to do with Callendra Mayfair, a human teenager who claims that she entered Shadowland from the outside.”
“Impossible.”
“So I would have thought, but I’m not inclined to brush her story aside so quickly.” I told Valter about our sister’s premonition, and that Callie’s arrival might be more significant than I’d believed.
“A human girl?” Valter shook his head. “Since when does a human have significance, whether born here or outside. Either way, I refuse to accept that her presence means anything.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Valter’s voice came out in a growl. “I don’t trust her.”
“I don’t trust her either.” I stood, then looked in my brother’s eyes. “But I intend to discover the truth. Natasha’s visions have not failed us. If she says that Callie plays a role, then I’d best find out what that is.”
My brother pushed his chair back and got up. “Just remember who you are, Logan. And that this Callie is merely human.”
Prior to meeting her, I’d have voiced the same sentiment. Yet within a brief period, Callendra Mayfair had become a thorn in my side. At every turn, I seemed to be seeing, hearing, or talking about her. I was ready to take charge of this situation and resolve the mystery of her appearance in the realm.
My brother departed, and I followed, heading toward the detention facility. I could have ordered her brought to me but needed the walk. The fresh air and space would be invigorating, so would put me in a better frame of mind before meeting with her.
That I was hesitant about seeing Callie again, rattled me. Striding along the walkways, I prepared for the encounter. The scent of her blood put me at a disadvantage, but not one I couldn’t overcome. It was just blood, after all. And I had access to as much blood as I wished, and of the highest quality that could be attained.
No matter how special her bloodline, I could do without her precious blood. When I was ready, I’d drink every last drop I wanted, and be done with it. For now, discovering more about Callie suited my purposes. But once I knew what she was about and the role she played, I’d take control of the matter.
Chapter 19
Callie
Food was brought to the cell, reminding me of how hungry I was. When I gazed into a bowl of stew, my stomach rumbled loud enough to attract the guards. It was generous to call it stew, because it wasn’t recognizable. Chopped up vegetables were drowned in a bowl of thin broth. Starvation was a strong motivator, so I began eating.
Sienna ate hers too, not seeming to mind how it looked. I took faith that the meal wasn’t poisonous. Taste played no part in it, but the gruel did fill my empty stomach. It didn’t take long to eat it, then I worked on the crusty heel of bread.
I’d lost track of time, since there were no clocks. The tiny cell had no windows and looking out wouldn’t have given me a clue, anyway. It was dark every hour of the day, making sunrise and sunset irrelevant. I took comfort in sharing the space with another human.
Sienna had been locked up for over a week, which partially explained her gaunt form. If dinner was an example of what to expect for meals, I’d be woefully thin before long. There was no way to count the days, or even the hours. But I prayed that soon I’d be released.
There were no charges against me. I’d just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Next time, I’d be more cautious, and gain information before barging into anyplace in the Crystal City. Yet it was too late for regrets. My error in judgment had cost my freedom, hopefully, only temporarily.
It was cold, causing me to shiver. I finished off the hard bread and set my bowl on the dusty floor. Then I wrapped a scratchy blanket around my shoulders. Sienna didn’t appear ready for more conversation. She reclined onto her pillow-less bed, so I did the same.
Loneliness consumed me like a dark master. There was no reprieve from the trap. I longed for my room in Astoria, and my soft, sweet-smelling bed. Even more I missed my adoptive parents, their protection, and my dear sister.
Without Rosamon to share my grief, it was more overwhelming. Yet I dared not give into emotion. With no warning, I’d been thrust into a new world, faced with adult problems. I’d best rise to the challenge, because much depended on how I dealt with this new state of affairs.
Sienna’s steady breathing while sleeping was calming. I closed my eyes, trying to pretend it was Rosamon in the bed across the room. Yet I knew the truth. Turning on my side, I curled into a fetal position, attempting to get warm and find a sense of security, so I could fall asleep.
The dark sky loomed, a blanket of stars overhead. Alone and lost, sitting on a mountainside, I gazed into emerald green eyes. A vampire with copper hair and glowing eyes hovered close, studying me. I trembled, and hugged my knees to my chest.
There was no way to run, nowhere to go. The vampire was tall, and his sculpted form attracted me. I resisted the urge to rise and go to him. I could tell that he was drawn to me. When he took a step forward I cringed.
His eyes went to my neck, so I covered it with my palm. Instinctively, I knew what he had in mind, and I shuddered to think that he craved my blood. The handsome creature could kill me. There would be little I could do to prevent it.
He was strong. His power was intimidating. I shrank back against the tree behind my back, staring up into the green depths of his eyes. Waiting. Fearful.
Then a huge form glided through the sky, blotting out the twinkle of the stars. I seemed to know the dragon from before, but couldn’t recall when. The magnificent creature soared close; his hot breath seared the ground.
The vampire didn’t react, didn’t look up. The dragon glowed in the pale light, its golden scales glimmering like jewels. For a fleeting moment, I considered riding on his back, flying through the sky. The creature was powerful, its wings sweeping at the air and sending its body speeding through the night.
The spectacle was awe inspiring. Then my attention reverted to the threat standing over me, the vampire I’d had the nerve to ignore. His eyes hadn’t wavered from me, yet he kept his distance. Electricity radiated between us. A connection that was unfamiliar.
Maybe I knew the vampire, but I struggled to recall. Leaning forward, I realized that I didn’t want him to go. A force beyond my control pulled me toward him, and I was incapable of rejecting the attraction.
In the dark of the night, there was only the handsome vampire, his green eyes willing me forward. I stood up, then took a step toward him. He reached out his hand. I looked at it, uncertain. Danger lurked, yet I wasn’t as afraid as I should have been.
Then loud, crashing sounds disturbed my peace. Gazing at the vampire, I was confused. His unearthly form began to vanish, like fog. I stabbed my arm into the space where he’d stood, disbelieving that he’d been there at all.
The loud noise penetrated my sleep, reverberating through my small cell. My eyes opened then I sat up, alarmed. “What w
as that?”
Sienna was already up, standing at the metal bars and peering down the hallway. Clanging noises assaulted my ears. The sound of pounding feet echoed against the stone walls, getting louder, coming closer.
It could be day or night, which was no different there. I had no idea how long I’d slept, no concept of time and space. All was a blur. The hours I’d been locked up were indistinct, blending together in a kaleidoscope of fear.
Sienna wrapped her hands around the bars, gripping so tightly her knuckles turned white. She stared, wide-eyed, down the darkened walkway. Seeing her gave me no confidence that this would turn out well.
I leaned closer to the bars, pressing my forehead against the cold metal. “Has this happened before? Is someone coming?”
“I’m scared,” Sienna said. “I haven’t heard anything like this before. Who could be coming?
I clenched my jaw, praying the scene was part of a nightmare, that I was still asleep—yet I wasn’t. I was very much awake, and the commotion was very real. Dread washed over me. The sounds drew closer and my heart pounded.
Trapped in a cage like a skittish rabbit, waiting to be killed, I hugged my arms around my waist. The guards should block the path of anyone attempting to enter our cell. Yet I didn’t see a guard, and didn’t hear any recognizable voices.
It could be that we’d been left to our own devices, that the prison hadn’t been protected as I’d assumed. The guards had been frightening enough, but now, I wished more than anything to see one. At least, the guards had been armed and could fend off an attack.
Still I didn’t see anyone. But the noises grew louder, more raucous. A mob was coming our way, but to what end or for what purpose, I had no clue. It was quite possible that I’d die in this dank jail, and be robbed of the chance to find Rosamon.
I cringed to think that my sister might have already met with a similar fate. Yet I couldn’t allow such negative thinking, especially not when I needed any strength that I could muster. It was ill advised to cower in the corner of the cell, to await whatever disaster was coming my way.
