“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 degrading way 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 vam
pires 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 supernaturals 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.”
From the way she said it, I assumed accelerating healing was another benefit of being a Nephilim.
I did as she said, making an identical cut in my own palm. It stung, but I breathed through the pain, not wanting to show any weakness. I held my palm up, not wanting the blood to drip on any of her furniture.
“I swear that while you, Annika the Nephilim, are on the grounds of the Haven, I’ll do everything I can to protect you, I won’t harm you, and I won’t conspire with anyone with the intent to harm you,” Mary said, her eyes locked on mine. “Do you agree to this blood oath?”
“I do,” I said, and then she gripped her hand in mine.
A warm light rushed through my body, binding the promise.
When she pulled her hand away, both of our cuts were healed.
Annika
Now that Mary had sworn her allegiance, I caught her up on everything she needed to know—starting from my kidnapping, and ending at Laila’s death.
“I killed the three guards, and then reached for the ring and commanded Geneva to bring me here,” I concluded. “That’s how I ended up in the courtyard.”
“Very interesting.” Mary eyed me up, as if seeing me for the first time. “A unique story indeed. But there’s one part that piques my curiosity the most.”
“Which part is that?” I asked.
“To keep up your disguise while you were in the palace, you needed to drink vampire princess blood and transformation potion each day,” she said. “From what I know about witchcraft—and I know quite a bit, since I’ve been around for a few centuries—the vampire blood and human DNA needed to have been fresh each day. How was that managed?”
“I don’t know.” I turned to Geneva, since she was the one who had that answer—not me.
The witch still had her back to me, refusing to meet my eyes.
“Geneva?” I said her name softly, not wanting to startle her.
“Yes, master?” She hissed the last word, leaning back on the sofa and crossing her legs away from me.
She’d always had her fair bit of sass, but this was a whole new level, even for her. However, I needed answers. And at this point, I wasn’t above using my command over her to get them.
“Answer Mary’s question,” I said. “I command you.”
“I kidnapped a vampire princess and two random humans,” she said simply. “I brought them to an abandoned supernatural prison—one that used to be used by Nephilim—and kept them there to get their blood and DNA each day.”
“What?” I gasped. “You never told me any of this.”
“You never asked.” She stared right at me with a look that could kill.
“Which vampire princess did you capture?” Mary asked.
Geneva leaned back and crossed her arms, saying nothing.
“You’ll need to ask her,” Mary told me. “She’s not bound to answer to me.”
“Answer Mary’s question,” I told Geneva. “You’ll answer each one of our questions until this conversation is done.”
“Princess Stephenie.” She looked at Mary as she spoke, not at me. “The princess of the Vale was partying in the Tower, so drunk on tequila that it was easy to sneak up on her and transport her to the prison. She’s known for disappearing for days—sometimes weeks—at a time. No one would come looking for her. She was the perfect princess to use for the plan.”
I’d never met Princess Stephenie, but I’d heard of her a few times—both when I was a blood slave in the human village and passing myself off as Princess Ana in the palace. Princess Stephenie was a young vampire—only a few decades old. She’d been turned soon after the Great War had ended. And what Geneva had said was true—Princess Stephenie spent more time traveling than at home, hopping between all the kingdoms and who knew where else.
She’d been absent during Jacen’s selection process, but everyone assumed she was out on another one of her jaunts and would return home eventually. If she’d remained missing, surely it would have raised suspicion, but Geneva was right. No one had seemed overly concerned about the jet-setting princess’s whereabouts.
“The princess and the humans are still alive?” I asked Geneva.
“Of course.” She shrugged, still refusing to look at me. “They needed to be kept alive so I could get the ingredients for the potion.”
“They need to be set free,” I said. “At once.”
“That might not be a good idea.” Mar
y held up a hand, and both Geneva and I looked to her.
“Why not?” I asked.
“Those two humans now have knowledge of the supernatural world,” she said. “We can’t simply let them loose. Who knows what they’ll do or say?”
“Good point,” I said. “Then what should we do with them? We can’t bring them here, since humans aren’t allowed in the Haven.”
“In normal circumstances, that’s true,” she said. “But these are hardly normal circumstances. We need to figure out what to do with them, and to do that we’ll need them brought here. We can have Geneva cast a spell around my cabin to contain their scents, as to not alert the other vampires of their presence. Once they’re here, we’ll figure out how to proceed.”
“Very well.” I turned to Geneva, ready to give her the command. “You’re to free Princess Stephenie and drop her off at the Vale. Then you need to return to the prison and transport the two humans to this cabin, making sure to cast a boundary spell around it so the residents of the Haven won’t smell the human blood. This is all to be done as quickly as possible, starting now.”
“Your wish is my command,” she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
She gave me one final glare, and then she was gone.
Camelia
I added the final ingredient to the potion and stirred it until it was mixed in. Then I stepped back and glanced at my watch.
Thirty minutes. That was how long the potion needed to sit until it would be ready for me to drink.
Once I drank it, I wouldn’t have to worry about any chance of becoming pregnant.
I wished I could look back at losing my virginity to the faerie prince with disgust—after all, he’d tricked me into it with the deal we’d made—but I couldn’t do that. All I could remember was the softness of his lips on mine, and the way my body had welcomed his as he’d slipped himself inside of me. The pleasure I’d experienced with him in that magical faerie garden had been unlike anything I’d ever known.
The Vampire Wish: The Complete Series (Dark World) Page 47
