by K. A. Tucker
Accepting that, I opened my own book, but savored a small burst of joy at the news that Caden and the others were still alive, that Viggo and Mortimer hadn’t killed Sofie. They’re doing whatever they need to, in order to survive, Leo had said. That meant drinking blood. But whose blood? Aside from Julian and Valentina’s parents, of course. I shuddered at the vivid images that conjured. My choices, my needs, had left Julian and Valentina orphans. And what about Rachel? Was she still hog-tied by Merth, or roaming free? Free to murder my friends or Sofie, as soon as her psychopathic mind decided it was a good idea . . . Those lemon-yellow eyes flashed in my mind. My stomach tightened at the memory of her clawing at Caden, back when she believed they were a couple. Caden had told me she was the most dangerous vampire I’d ever meet. And now I had brought her to Earth, to leave plenty more orphans in her wake.
“Oh, muffins!” Leo exclaimed with over-exaggerated glee, yanking me from my fretting. My nose caught a delicious scent as Magda slid a tray of freshly baked muffins onto the dining room table, and I realized he was being literal. “Come, Evangeline. You must be starving.”
“Not really,” I mumbled.
He jumped up and, grabbing my hand, pulled me toward the mountain of warm, soft treats—no doubt hoping to distract me. Leo didn’t wait for me to choose one; he handed me a chocolate chip muffin with a wink, knowing full-well it was my favorite kind. That same odd mixture of creepiness and flattery raised my short hairs. They’d catalogued my every like and dislike.
I wasn’t hungry, but I knew who might be. Impulsively, I grabbed another and a bottle of water and headed to the staircase, certain that my peace offering would do little to alleviate the pain that I had caused, but needing to do it all the same.
“I wouldn’t, if I were you . . . ” Leo called, finishing with a cluck of disapproval.
I turned to answer him and jumped, startled, as a canine face appeared immediately behind me. Max, already on my heels. “I was just going to get changed.”
“Sure you were.” Leo smirked, shaking his head as he took a bite of his own muffin.
Max’s razor-sharp claws clicked against the hardwood steps as he trailed me up the stairs. I breathed in the mingled scent of cedar and muffins. Under normal circumstances I would find the aroma comforting but now, as I headed toward the one person under this roof whom I should avoid—whom I’d been told to stay away from—my stomach churned.
None of this was your fault, you know, Max said.
“I know,” I lied, then added, “He’s just lost his parents, Max. No one should be alone.” Perhaps I’d be proven wrong soon enough.
Don’t expect a nice reception because you’re giving him a muffin, Max continued wryly.
“He can’t be worse than Rachel . . . Which room is his?” I asked, looking down the long hall with three doors on either side and one on the end, which I knew was mine.
With a loud, dramatic sigh, Max answered. Last door on the left.
I walked up to it and, holding my breath, knocked timidly. No answer. I knocked again, this time harder.
“What?” an angry male voice barked from the other side, sending waves of tension through me. I opened my mouth to speak but choked, no clue what to say now that I was here. It was me who brought back the vampires who killed your parents. Here’s a muffin . . .
I warned you, Max sang.
“Back off, Max. You’re crowding me,” I snapped.
The giant dog grudgingly took three steps back but then set his stance, making it clear he wasn’t budging an inch farther.
“And not so much as a snort out of you!” I whispered harshly as heavy footsteps approached on the other side of the door.
The door flew open. “What do you want?” Julian snapped, glaring at me with red-rimmed eyes.
Has he been crying? My heart swelled. So he is capable of normal human emotions. When I didn’t answer, his jaw tightened. He stepped back and moved to slam the door in my face. “Here!” I blurted, thrusting the muffins and water toward him. “I thought you might be hungry,” I added in a rush.
He paused and looked down at my offering, then up at me. Finally he accepted it. “I thought Valentina would bring me something. She usually does . . . ” His voice drifted off and he frowned.
“She was acting really weird earlier,” I agreed. “It’s just shock. She went to rest.”
We stood in awkward silence for a few moments. “I also wanted to make sure you were okay,” I added hesitantly.
Despite my gentle concern, he lashed out at me. “I just found out my parents were murdered.” The glower had returned. “So, no, I’m not alright. But you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
“Actually . . . I do.” At least I had one thing in common with the Colombian drug lord’s son. What a terrible thing to have in common.
The stark shock on his face told me he hadn’t expected that answer. My hands, now empty, fidgeted nervously as his eyes bored into me. When he spoke again, the hostile edge had dulled a little. “By them?”
I assumed Viggo could be categorized in the “them” group so I nodded, offering him a small, sympathetic smile. He stared at me in silence for another long, awkward moment. Then he stepped back into his room. I expected the door to slam in my face. Instead, he said, “You can come in, but not with that thing. And shut the door behind you.”
A deep grunt behind me preceded Max’s declaration: You’re not going in there alone.
“Max, I’ll be fine,” I assured him in a whisper. “You need to let go of whatever issues you have with Julian and make peace. We’re going to be in these mountains for a long time.”
After a pause, Max relented. I’m right here, listening. If I hear the smallest threat, I’ll bust this door down and tear his head off.
“That’s very sweet of you, Max,” I murmured sarcastically as I stepped into Julian’s room and shut the door as instructed, much to Max’s annoyance. This room was smaller than mine, but it had the same cedar-paneled walls, slanted ceiling, and chest of drawers in the corner. A small single bed was positioned under the window, with an oil lamp on a simple pine nightstand beside it.
Julian stood about five feet away from me. He placed his food on the chest of drawers, then turned to face me. He began unbuttoning his black and green-checkered shirt.
“What are you doing?” I blurted, averting my eyes.
What’s going on in there? Max called suspiciously; I envisioned the dog’s massive head pressed up against the door.
My embarrassment brought a chuckle to Julian’s lips. So he’s capable of laughing, too.
“Relax,” he said. “You’re not my type. I need to change into that.” He jerked his chin toward the bed.
Still avoiding his bare chest, my eyes darted to a pair of long johns, several layers of warm clothing, gloves, and a balaclava lying on his bed. “Oh, you’re going for . . . a hike?” I asked.
“More like as far away from here as possible,” Julian confirmed, dropping his shirt onto the floor, giving me ample opportunity to see his tanned, lean torso. It didn’t generate the same reaction I’d had when seeing Caden with his shirt off for the first time, but I had to admit, Julian was pretty attractive, even if he was a world-class jerk. He paused to pick up the half-eaten muffin on his nightstand and inhale the rest of it.
“Um . . . ” I began, directing my eyes to the wall behind him, where a painting of a little blonde girl walking down a sidewalk hung. Good God, I’m everywhere! I gave my head a quick shake. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. It’s dangerous out there, in the mountains. I’m pretty sure there are grizzlies,” I added for embellishment.
“Can’t be any more dangerous than staying here with that lunatic butler and those freak mutts.” He leaned over to grab the long john top and began pulling it over his head.
“But we’re a long way away from anyone else.”
“Who told you that, Leo? I don’t buy it. There’s probably a ski lodge on the other side of t
he ridge. How else would all this stuff get up here?” With his undershirt on, he began pulling on a second layer—a blue wool turtleneck.
“No, there probably isn’t!” I retorted, panicking as I realized that Julian was about to walk to his death for the simple fact that he had no clue what he was a part of. “You don’t know Sofie. We are nowhere near anyone. I guarantee it. She made sure of it. She doesn’t want us to be found!”
“Why?” He turned to look at me.
I faltered. “She . . . has her reasons.”
He reached back to grab a black sweater. “Well, I’m not waiting around to find out what those reasons are.” He added more sarcastically, “They’ll all be lies anyway.”
“But Julian, you have no idea where we are!”
“Yes, that’s exactly my point, Ev—what’s your name again?”
“Evangeline.”
“That’s my point, Evangeline.” He continued to speak as he yanked the sweater over his head. “One minute I’m in Manhattan and the next minute I’m in the mountains in the middle of nowhere, my parents are dead, and no one will tell me a damn thing! Do you know what it’s like to know you’re being lied to?”
I burst out in a laugh before I could control myself. My hand flew to my mouth in an attempt to contain it, and knowing I must look like a complete ass, I glanced shyly his way. He was glowering at me again. “I’m sorry, it’s just . . . I know exactly what it’s like to be lied to by everyone around me.”
Yet again, surprise flashed over Julian’s face. He crossed his arms over his chest. “How are you involved in this?”
Evangeline.
I ignored the warning. “It’s . . . a really long story and I can’t tell you a lot of it.” I saw disappointment flicker in his eyes and the sudden, overpowering urge to confess my contribution to his parents’ death, even if not intentional, took over. At least I could tell him that much. “I’m so sorry about your parents. I didn’t mean to bring all those other vampires home with me. It was just supposed to be my friends.”
“Your friends?” Julian asked slowly, quietly. I nodded before his icy tone registered in my mind. “Your vampire friends?” When I saw his eyes narrow to slits, I knew I had made a mistake. “I thought you might be a hostage . . . but you’re friends with those leeches!” Julian suddenly screamed, his face twisting with rage as he stepped toward me.
I don’t know what his intentions were and I didn’t find out because the door exploded into dozens of splinters and Max barreled through, sending me stumbling to the side before regaining my balance. When I had, I saw Julian pinned against the wall with Max’s nose pressed up against his collarbone. Hackles raised, teeth bared, Max growled so low, he sounded more like a bear than a dog
“Max! Don’t!” I screamed. Max didn’t move away. In fact, I think he may have edged closer. His fangs were inches away from Julian’s throat and I knew he would tear it out at the slightest provocation. I’d seen firsthand what this werebeast was capable of when protecting me. “Max, please don’t!” I pleaded, tears welling in my eyes now. “There’s been enough death because of me. I can’t take any more!”
My words silenced Max immediately. He shuffled back to stand next to me, his eyes never leaving Julian. Not that there was anything to worry about—Julian remained pressed up against the wall as if Max’s fangs still held him there, his face as white as the snow outside.
“Get out,” he finally whispered hoarsely, eyes wide with terror and acutely aware of how close to death he had just come. “Leave me alone. Please.”
I nodded, shoving Max none too gently ahead of me as I bolted out of the room. I scampered down the stairs two at a time.
“Did that make you feel better?” Leo asked when I re-entered the great room; I heard the “I told you so” in his smug tone. He stood in front of the bookshelves, leafing through a new magazine, this one with cheetahs on the cover.
I didn’t answer him at first. I walked stiffly over to the dining table to grab a bottle of water. Only when I tried to unscrew the cap did I realize that my hand was shaking violently. It wasn’t about feeling better, I decided as I took a swig of water. As disturbing as it was to admit to myself, I couldn’t help but feel some sort of connection to Julian. We had so much in common—both lied to and both orphans at the hands of vampires. If there was ever anyone I could feel a kinship with in this world, it would be him. I swallowed my mouthful of water and wiped a dribble from my chin before answering Leo. “His parents were murdered and he’s been thrown into a world he has no clue about. Sound familiar?”
After a long pause, Leo inclined his head in assent and said no more, instead scanning the titles of the magazines on one of the bookshelves.
I slowly walked over to stare out the bay window at the wintry abyss. I swore it couldn’t be any later than mid-afternoon, yet it was getting dark. It would be nightfall soon. Treacherous for a human. “And he’s thinking of running away,” I warned, branding myself a tattler. “Out there!”
“That’d solve one of my problems,” Leo mumbled.
“Leo! His parents are dead because of me! Yes, they may have been ogres, but still! And if Julian goes out there, he’ll die too.” A sudden swarm of emotions made my eyes burn. “Everyone’s dying because of me.”
Pity flickered across Leo’s face. He walked over and patted me on the shoulder. “Sometimes I forget you’re not accustomed to this dark world we’ve forced upon you . . . He’s not going anywhere. The dogs will keep guard.”
I’ll guard him, alright, Max muttered indignantly. I’ll guard him right off a cliff.
Now it was my turn to glower, at my guard dog. “Max, I’m having a hard time dealing with all of this. Can you stop being so . . . you?” I whirled away, stopping with my back to him.
“Why don’t you go and get some fresh air, Max,” Leo suggested, walking over to open the side door. I knew what that meant: go kill something. Probably a good idea. He hadn’t gone hunting since we arrived.
In my peripheral vision, I watched Max slink out the open door, leaving behind an air of rejection and a brisk chill that had crept inside with his exit. Guilt drew creases on my forehead. Toughen up, Evangeline.
“Now, what set Julian off, exactly?” Leo asked as he pushed the door closed.
“I told him I’m friends with vampires,” I mumbled, pulling my stack of pictures out of my pocket once again. I flopped down on the couch, no longer interested in conversation. Leo took the hint and focused on feeding the flames in the fireplace with more wood. I flipped through the entire stack, recalling the nights with my friends. They were the best days of my life. Now I had to be kept away from them because they’d kill me. Could I even call them friends anymore? As long as I was human, I would never be safe around them.
I flipped through the pictures three times before resting the stack on my chest and closing my eyes. I was far from falling asleep so I simply lay there, listening to the soft crackles of the fire in the silence of the cabin. My eyes were still closed when an eerie scratching sounded against the side door. I sat up immediately, my body rigid.
“Oh, not to worry.” Leo chuckled, walking over to turn the knob. “It’s just Max.” He yanked the door open and a large black rump backed inside. It was Max, alright.
“What the . . . ” Leo muttered.
Max was dragging something in with him. A body.
Julian.
I found him about a mile from here, waist-deep in snow, Max reported, gripping Julian’s jacket in his teeth.
Leo rushed to grab Julian under his armpits. Together, they dragged the still body over to lie beside the fire. I jumped off the couch and dove to his side, peering closely at him. Not a moan escaped him. No movement. “How did—” I began, then scrunched my face up in thought. Had I fallen asleep after all? Had Julian snuck past us and left? Or . . . I shot a questioning look at Leo, my eyes narrowing with suspicion.
He went out the window, Max quickly confirmed. I found prints leading from there.
He must have pried it open and scaled down the wall.
“Determined fool,” Leo murmured, crouching down to inspect Julian’s pewter-colored lips.
“Is he . . . ” I couldn’t finish. A hollow bubble grew inside me. Another death.
“He’s not well, that’s for sure.” Leo hovered over him, his hands floating inches above his face. “Not well at all. Go and get some blankets and a pillow.”
I was on my feet and running up the stairs two at a time toward Julian’s room. Sure enough, I felt chill air the second I rounded the corner. I stopped at the shattered door and looked into the bedroom. The window still sat open a crack.
I scrambled inside, scooped the duvet and pillows from the bed, and half-dragged, half-carried them out of his room. Only when I was running down the hall did I remember his sister. She needed to know! “Valentina?” I called, my eyes roaming the hallway, wondering which room was hers. No answer. “Valentina! You need to come quickly!” My voice faltered for only a moment. “It’s Julian!”
“I’m sleeping,” Valentina called groggily. Where had that come from? Second door on the right. I grabbed the knob and turned it, only to hear a thud and feel resistance on the other side. Something was barricading the door. “I said I’m sleeping!” Valentina shouted.
“But it’s your—”
“Leave me alone!” she screeched, making me jump two steps back.
“Evangeline!” Leo bellowed desperately from below.
“Coming!” I ran back down the stairs, gripping the railing to keep from tumbling over the blankets.
I found Leo rolling up the sleeves of his shirt. “Make him comfortable and warm,” he instructed.
Comfortable . . . He’s unconscious and frozen. Possibly dead. Make him comfortable . . . I gently slid a pillow under Julian’s head, then draped the duvet over him, covering every inch of his body short of his face. “I don’t think this will help raise his body temperature,” I murmured warily.
“Of course not. Give me some space now,” Leo announced, kneeling beside him. “This will take a while. The trouble these bloody kids are causing me . . . ” he finished in a quiet grumble.