Something important to do.
My gut twists into a knot, but I tell myself I have nothing to fear. I’m just being silly. The Night brothers are safe and well.
Another five minutes pass. The rain falls down harder, so much so that we buy cloaks off a vendor at the festival to keep ourselves dry. A chill enters the air and I find my teeth rattling.
Several more minutes pass and the knot in my gut is now a storm of worry. I wonder at where they could be, and I remember something I had forgotten. Something Derek had said at the trial.
It will be done by midwinter.
There is a pain in my chest, and my stomach burns like acid. I have felt like this once before. When my brother left me his final note.
“What’s wrong?” asks Lily.
But I have no words in reply, my mind a flurry of doubt. Had they gone through with it? I wonder. Had the smiles and laughter been easier for them than telling me the truth? Had the sleepover been a way of saying goodbye?
I notice a familiar face in the distance. Matilda, wearing her cloak tight around her against the heavy rain. Matilda, who said she was too old for such parties. Matilda, who is coming toward us all the same, her face dark and grim.
A sob begins to break from my lips.
And just as it does…
I hear them.
“What’s wrong, Eve?”
“How can we help?”
“What happened?”
“I swear, if someone hurt you…”
I turn around, seeing the four Night brothers crowding around me. And my heart breaks open with tears of happiness.
“Perhaps she’s just upset we’re late,” says Elijah.
“Sorry about that, Eve,” says Derek. “We had a bit of an emergency. You see…” He gestures to his brother.
And Liam moves aside his cloak, revealing a little baby girl, hair red as flame.
“She’s beautiful,” I say, the tears subsiding. “May I hold her?”
“Of course,” says Liam, handing me the baby.
“We picked the little thing up from Ifi and Elal an hour ago,” says Derek. “And we would have been on time, if Liam hadn’t—”
“If Liam hadn’t seen a bit of poop and thought she was dying,” says Sebastian.
The fire druid shrugs. “What? It was an unordinary amount of excrement. And such a strange color. That can't be normal.”
“We had to pick up diapers,” concludes Elijah. “And console poor Liam’s soul.”
I laugh, holding the baby close in the crook of my arm, playing with her little fingers. “Does she have a name yet?”
Liam glances down, looking slightly embarrassed. "I'm naming her Alina. It's Greek for light."
I look down at the cherubic face and smile. "It's perfect. She's perfect." I look at Liam. "Does this mean we're keeping her?"
He nods. "I think it does. She needs her father, after all."
"What about Dracula?" I ask.
"We will keep her safe," Liam says fiercely, and I know this little girl will be the most loved child in any world.
“You look incredible, by the way,” says Derek.
“Thank you,” I say, with a grin. With my worries subsided, I take a moment to admire the Night brothers properly.
Elijah sports a look I haven’t seen on him before. A black coat with purple buttons, a top hat covering his blonde hair, a silver cane in his hand. He looks every bit the sophisticated gentlemen, pulled straight from the Victorian era.
Derek has shaved since I last saw him, and wears a finely tailored suit, a red scarf wrapped around his neck.
Sebastian is a little more rough around the edges. His jacket and boots are black leather. Simple. Sturdy. But he does sport an elegant pink tie at his neck.
Liam is dressed as he often is, but not any less impressive. Custom designed shoes with fine embroidery. An emerald green cloak that compliments his auburn hair perfectly.
I hand the babe back to Liam as Matilda comes to join us. We exchange greetings, while Elijah and Sebastian begin discussing the finer points of Otherworld law. I link arms with them both and laugh. "You guys, it's a party. No work today. Let's enjoy our victory and our evening, shall we?"
Derek smiles. "Right you are, Eve. Right you are. I for one plan on drinking my body weight in liquor. Who's game to join me?"
"I think that might kill me," I say. "But I will partake in a drink or two.” I look at Matilda. “I'll definitely need your hangover cure tomorrow.”
The old woman winks knowingly. "I've already prepared a batch for all of you. Now go have fun, my dears.”
We make our way through the festival, and I notice it stopped raining almost as quickly as it started. Lucky for us. But as Sebastian tries his hand at the strength competition, the earth seems to shift under my feet, and the Ifrit above the water tank loses balance and falls in.
“A small earthquake,” says Elijah. “Nothing to fear. They happen from time to time.”
Everyone seems to resume their activities without a second thought, and so we do the same. Derek and Lily make a beeline for the bar to grab everyone drinks. Sebastian offers to acquire sustenance of some kind for me. "If that includes chocolate, yes, please," I say with a wink.
Liam sees someone he knows and excuses himself to say hi, handing the baby to Matilda who has been vying for her chance to give the little one love. Elijah sits down by the huge bonfire with a book in hand. I shake my head at that. I'm a book nerd myself, but even I know when to let it go for a night.
From the corner of my eye, I notice a familiar black cloak disappear behind a tree. Interesting. I didn’t expect him to see him, not so soon after everything that happened. Curious, I snake away from the celebration and towards the shadows, where I find Dracula waiting.
He holds a hand up before I can speak. "I wanted to say goodbye. I'll be leaving the Otherworld for a while, to let all the gossip die down. But I wanted to thank you. You were instrumental in proving my innocence. That won't be forgotten."
I don't know what to say, so I just nod, relieved he'll be leaving. That should make protecting Alina easier.
His eyes are dark, intense, and locked on mine as he speaks. "My sons have a unique bond with you. I haven't seen them like this with anyone else in their long lives. I hope you know what you've gotten yourself into."
"I know enough," I say, a little tersely.
"Oh, but my dear, there is so much yet to learn. How great is your capacity for forgiveness, I wonder? I suppose we'll find out in time."
Another tremor rocks the world around us, sending waves of movement through the land. Most of the partiers don't notice, too lost in the revelry and booze. But a few do, and this time they look around, alarmed.
A small smile creeps onto Dracula’s lips. "It has begun. Guard yourself, Miss Oliver. No one in the Otherworld is truly innocent."
I shrug. "The same can be said of anyone anywhere. I choose faith and love over doubt and fear. It's a happier way to live."
He nods, then lifts my hand to his lips, kissing it softly. "Then I bid thee farewell. May you hold onto that optimism as long as you can."
And with that he disappears into the shadows, and I wonder if we'll ever see him again. I think of Liam's baby daughter and hope we don't. She's safer that way.
I'm about to turn and head back to the party when something in the grass glints in the light of the Dragon's Breath. I bend down to pick it up and see it's a Memory Catcher.
Curious, I activate it.
I see a familiar room before me.
Cream walls.
White carpet.
I appear to be looking at things through a window.
Looking straight into Mary’s chambers.
There’s a scream, and the image tilts to the side, revealing Mary on the bed, dressed in a white gown, half-way through labor. Alone. Crying, calling out for help.
I know what happens next.
Jerry will come in soon. He will kill her and the baby,
though a young girl will live. I am ready to stop the memory, unwilling to see the gruesome sight, when a person comes through the door.
A person who isn’t Jerry.
The man wears a long black cloak I have seen before. When he walks, his steps are achingly familiar.
And when I see his face, my entire body shakes.
This is impossible.
It can't be real.
And yet the memory unfolds.
He steps closer to the bed, silent, expression cold, and Mary pulls back, frightened, confused. Racked with pain.
As she delivers her own baby, the man grabs the child and—
I look away.
I can't have that image in my mind forever.
But I hear it.
What he does with the child. What he does to Mary.
And when I look back at the memory, she is dead. They both are.
A few moments later, Jerry arrives, a letter in hand he quickly shoves into his pocket. He runs to Mary’s side, screaming, trying to revive her though she is clearly dead. When he finally realizes his efforts are futile, he notices the blood all over his jacket, his hands. And then he runs.
Minutes pass. Minutes that feel like hours.
I see her belly moving after a moment, and then Liam runs into the room, a look of utter horror on his face as he witnesses the devastation.
I stop the memory, not needing to see more. I know the rest.
I fall to my knees, a sob building in my throat. My nails dig into the wet earth as I feel the pain wash in waves through me.
This has to be a trick.
The memory has to be a fake.
Otherwise, everything I have ever known will shatter.
And then I see his feet, dark, mud-caked boots.
Then his legs.
And I pull myself up, my beautiful dress covered in dirt, as I face the man I thought I knew.
The man I thought I could trust.
And I face Mary's real killer.
A scent of cinnamon and honey catches on the wind, and I am racked with sorrow as blue eyes I know better than my own look back at me. And when he holds out his hand, my heart lurches in my chest.
"Hello, sister."
My voice catches in my throat. "Adam?"
~ TO BE CONTINUED~
THE SAGA CONTINUES…
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Did you know we also make music? I AM THE WILD has an official fantasy soundtrack that you can find on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, Google Play and more. We also have soundtracks for OF DREAMS AND DRAGONS and MOONSTONE ACADEMY, as well as vocal music all under Karpov Kinrade.
For even more vampire romance,check out Vampire Girl: A complete USA Today bestselling series with 7 books and 3 spinoffs.
Note from the Author
This novel ended up being very personal to me. It deals with themes of suicide and domestic violence, both of which I (Lux) have experienced. (In the case of suicide, with my brother, much like Eve.)
If you are struggling with thoughts of self-harm or of ending your life, please reach out for help.
And if you are in an abusive relationship, I know how hard it is, but please get help. There are resources for you.
There is hope. There is light.
In lumen et lumen.
~Lux
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call 1-800-273-8255
National Domestic Violence Hotline
800-799-SAFE (800-799-7233)
TTY: 800-787-3224
About the Author
Karpov Kinrade is the pen name for the husband and wife writing duo of USA TODAY bestselling, award-winning authors Lux Karpov-Kinrade and Dmytry Karpov-Kinrade.
Together, they live in Ukiah, California and write fantasy and science fiction novels and screenplays, make music and direct movies.
Look for more from Karpov Kinrade in Vampire Girl, Of Dreams and Dragons, The Nightfall Chronicles and The Forbidden Trilogy. If you’re looking for their suspense and romance titles, you’ll now find those under Alex Lux.
They live with their three teens who share a genius for all things creative, and seven cats who think they rule the world (spoiler, they do.)
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Also by Karpov Kinrade
In the Vampire Girl Universe
Vampire Girl
Vampire Girl 2: Midnight Star
Vampire Girl 3: Silver Flame
Vampire Girl 4: Moonlight Prince
Vampire Girl 5: First Hunter
Vampire Girl 6: Unseen Lord
Vampire Girl 7: Fallen Star
Vampire Girl: Copper Snare
Vampire Girl: Crimson Cocktail
Vampire Girl: Christmas Cognac
Of Dreams and Dragons
Get the soundtrack for I AM THE WILD, OF DREAMS AND DRAGONS and MOONSTONE ACADEMY wherever music can be found.
The Nightfall Chronicles
Court of Nightfall
Weeper of Blood
House of Ravens
Night of Nyx
Song of Kai
Daughter of Strife
THE FORBIDDEN TRILOGY (complete sci fi thriller romance)
Forbidden Mind
Forbidden Fire
Forbidden Life
Our ALEX LUX BOOKS!
The Seduced Saga (paranormal romance with suspense)
Seduced by Innocence
Seduced by Pain
Seduced by Power
Seduced by Lies
Seduced by Darkness
The Call Me Cat Trilogy (romantic suspense)
Call Me Cat
Leave Me Love
Tell Me True
(Standalone romcon with crossover characters)
Hitched
Whipped
Kiss Me in Paris (A standalone romance)
Our Children's Fantasy collection under Kimberly Kinrade
The Three Lost Kids series
Lexie World
Bella World
Maddie World
The Three Lost Kids and Cupid's Capture
The Three Lost Kids and the Death of the Sugar Fairy
The Three Lost Kids and the Christmas Curse
Acknowledgments
FEATURED POEMS FROM THE KK COVEN inspired by I Am the Wild
by Jennifer Borak
I am the daughter of the moon
Part darkness, part light
One with the stars
Forged with twilight
My betrothed, my love
With whom I’m beguiled
Beautifully paradoxical
I am the wild
by Rhena Le Moucheux
I walk through the darkness but do not fear the light,
I stare at the sky and the stars so bright,
I have seen this sky before so many times,
I can map the stars without a second glance,
for you are my sky my stars so bright
you will always be with me my guiding light.
THANK YOUS…
Thanks to Joe for all the editing and for going above and beyond in all the ways! And Bam for all the awesome graphics a
nd brainstorming and help launching this new series. You two are rockstars!
Special love to the KK Coven for always being our tribe.
And to our patrons for being our rock and support.
We’d like to also thank all those who helped hunt down poems to use for the chapter heads:
Lynn Wright, Kathryn Fothergill, Jillian Falaris, Kimberley Tuong, Allison Woerner, Sharon Lynn Hughes, Melinda Kahler, Jennifer Borak, Darla Stone, Amber Sanders, Alexandra Marie Leith, Rhena Le Moucheux, Billie Cutcher
And finally, to our patrons. We love you all! Every tier, every single one of you is everything. We’d like to especially thank those who are going so far above it all to support us. To Billie Cutcher and Brittany Geary. Holy shit. You two. Wow. And to Sara, Kayla, Brooke, Bunny, Rebecca Silvers <3, Carrie, Ali, Michelle, Christal, Jill, Melodie, Mariana, Laura, Abby, Brandie, Heaven, Mandy, Alexandra, Kala, Kimi, Kira, Meghan, Troi, Sharon, Jenni, Chantelle, Crissy, Jeanette, Allison, Marcie, Jennifer, Shelah, Charity, Sarah, Natalie, Mas, Karen, Kayla, and Kathleen. You are the start of a new kind of magic for us. Thank you.
Love,
Lux & D
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