“I hate riddles,” I muttered. “My dad always loved them. He’d be great at this.”
Erik rested his hand on my knee with sorrow in his gaze. “I’m sorry he’s not here to help. It kills me the way he was taken from you. Callie showed me how it happened when she came to me in my dreams...”
I blinked hard, fighting away tears. “He suffered so much,” I said on a deep breath. I’d forgiven Erik for trusting Wolfe with my father’s life, but the sting of his loss still cut deep into me. The curse hadn’t taken that pain from me, and I was glad. Grief was the only way he was still present with me. That and the precious memories of him.
“You have dealt with too much death in your life. And I hate that I can’t make it right.” His eyes dropped and guilt consumed his expression. “Callie also showed me your home in the Realm. She replayed the moment your mother was taken,” he said in a broken tone. “The blood banks were only ever supposed to be for law-breakers. But blood supplies waned over time...the laws changed without my knowledge. I was just happy to keep my people fed with a constant supply. There was always the greater fear that if the empire grew hungry, the humans wouldn’t be safe. It is a fragile balance and one Valentina and her Biters are a threat to.”
I ground my teeth at the mention of her, but my thoughts returned to my mother. She had been taken to feed the vampires. How long had she lasted in the blood bank? I’d seen visions of its interior when my mind had connected to Callie’s at the choosing ceremony. The humans were kept in pods, alive...almost as though they were sleeping. Mom had been in so much pain with the disease that had claimed her. I knew she’d have died one way or the other, but our final days with her had been taken from us. Was it better she’d slept peacefully in one of those tanks?
I shook my head, horrified that the thought had even crossed my mind. She should have died at home in her bed, surrounded by her family. Tears slid from my eyes and Erik pulled me against him, murmuring his apologies. Nothing could bring her back. Nothing could change the past, no matter how much I wanted to sometimes.
I sniffed as I pulled myself together, leaning away from Erik and absorbing the sight of his pained expression. I didn’t want to dwell in pity and the sadness of my old life.
I ran my thumb across his jaw, a question sliding into my mind. “What is it you actually do in the empire? I never see you working.”
He released a rumbling laugh. “I’ve been rather distracted of late.” He squeezed my waist and a slow smile crept over my face, wiping away the ache in my chest.
“So?” I pressed.
“I have jurisdiction over several areas of the empire. My main focus is on clearing the ruins in the south. Miles runs the farmlands that my men clear for him to grow food for the humans. The rest of my efforts are focused on expanding the city, building wind and solar farms in the desert. My sirelings can only work at night there, but the projects have ensured our entire empire runs off of renewable energy.”
“What’s that?” I asked, fascinated by his knowledge of the planet. I’d been kept in the dark in the Realm. There was so much I didn’t understand. My dad’s stories had provided limited knowledge of the life humans had once led. Most of his stories of before had focused on his favourite memories.
Erik continued, “Before the war, the land was pillaged by humans for other means of creating electricity and fuel. There were so many humans in the world...the need for it was great and the cost to the planet was nearly catastrophic. When I gained power over the lands after the Final War, I pledged to improve this country. My life has held too much destruction in it, I wanted to build an empire that could withstand the test of time. One that could live in harmony with nature.”
“That seems awfully noble of you,” I teased, tugging on his sleeve.
He grinned. “I try.”
“Oh do you? How modest you are,” I said playfully, slipping my hands under his arms in an attempt to tickle him.
He laughed. “That won’t work on me. But you however-” He flipped me back onto the bed, tickling my sides and I cried out, laughter tearing from my throat.
He pressed his weight onto me and I fell still as his hands stopped their torment. He brushed his nose against mine, his eyes boring into my own. I felt like he was staring right into my soul and my heart almost beat with how much it wanted to get closer to him.
No words passed between us as he took my wrists, pinning them to the bed and grinding his hips against mine. He started tearing my clothes off and I wondered vaguely if we were going to destroy the entire contents of my closet before this night was over.
He thrust his hips and stars dazzled me as he molded his body with mine once more. His kisses were filled with an intensity that spoke of his love for me and we moved in a slow, rhythmic dance as he possessed me in a new way. One that made me feel like we were a single being, as if he was knitting my soul to his with an unbreakable thread.
I lay at Erik's side, still thoroughly awake even though I should have been exhausted after my night with him. His skin called to me over and over again and I wondered at what point I was going to burn out of energy.
He was clean and dry, the scent of vanilla floating from his skin from his shower. That must have been hours ago. Dawn had spilled into the room, but the clouds had quickly stolen away the light and raindrops tinkled against the balcony. It seemed I was in the most blissful dream of my life.
I ran my fingers across Erik's chest in slow circles, thinking about the slayers as I eyed the bandage over his shoulder. They'd be on their way here now and Erik was going to fetch them as soon as they got close to the city. My belly fluttered with nerves, but I was certain I wouldn't hurt Julius when I saw him. There was no way on Earth I'd bite one of my friends. No matter what Erik thought. And as soon as he realised I could handle myself, he'd let me see my sister.
Fabian was watching television downstairs and I was pretty sure it was a romantic film from the emotional music that reached us. Every now and then, Fabian would release a lament at the characters’ actions, demanding they find a way to be together. I blew out a breath as Erik's hands brushed over my spine.
“We have to break that bind between your brother and my sister,” I whispered, turning his right palm over to trace the lines of the silver cross. My own mark throbbed hungrily and I pressed it gently against Erik's, making him sigh in response. Our souls seemed to connect at that very point our palms met, like we were an extension of each other. It sent a rush of energy through me that made me want him all over again. But we couldn't lie here all morning. I had to get dressed, prepare for the slayers arriving.
“I think only the gods can break it,” Erik said thoughtfully, his eyes growing darker.
“She's bound to Magnar too...he's her mentor, but they love each other and the bind stops them from being together,” I revealed. “It’s so cruel. The gods have no hearts.”
“Hm, the last I heard he was betrothed to Valentina,” he said thoughtfully and I wrinkled my nose, certain Magnar had no such intentions toward her now.
Fabian shouted at the TV downstairs, “If you love her then tell her, you idiot! She's going to marry Kyle! Fucking Kyle!”
“Fabian's acting like a lunatic,” I said with a frown. “He can't be here when the slayers come.”
“He won't be, I promise.”
“How are you going to make him leave?” I asked.
“I'll ask him nicely, then order him if he says no. And if he still refuses I'll call Miles and Clarice to take him home.” At the mention of his brother and sister, his brow creased with lines. “I haven't spoken to them yet. They're going to start wondering where we are soon. But they'll listen to me about the gods, it's Fabian I'm concerned about.”
“Why?”
“Because he has no interest in breaking the curse. He enjoys being immortal. And while that mark drives him toward your sister, he's only going to have one task in mind.”
“We can't let him near her,” I said urgently.
“We won't.” He leaned up to kiss me and I slid my hands across his shoulders. He winced as I accidentally touched the wound Callie had given him.
“Sorry.” I bit into my lip.
He caught my waist with a dark grin, pulling me up to straddle him, holding my wrists in one hand.
“It'll heal,” he growled. “But I do have something else you can tend to-”
“Erik.” Fabian strode into the bedroom, shirtless but freshly-washed with his hair loose about his shoulders.
Erik sat upright with a snarl, pushing me down onto the bed and shielding me with his body. I clutched the covers, dragging them over me as Fabian walked toward us.
“Ever heard of knocking, asshole?” Erik snarled. I fought an eye-roll. Erik had never been one for knocking either.
Fabian was disregarding our nudity, clearly not giving a damn. But I sure as hell did. At least Erik had boxers on, I'd been bared to the world when his brother walked in.
“Callie is on her way,” Fabian said with a whine in his tone. “And I know you're going to tell me to go before she arrives, but hear me out. I'll just talk to her. She can come here and we'll go to my room. Just the two of us, no other slayers, no trouble.”
“You're not seeing her,” I snapped before Erik could answer.
“Exactly,” Erik agreed. “And this is my house. You don't own a single room in it.”
“Callie tried to kill you the last time she saw you,” I pressed. “And you hurt her when you tried to kill Magnar.”
Fabian frowned deeply, taking something from his pocket. “Alright...” He gave in with a heavy sigh as if he'd known we were going to refuse. “But give her this, please.” He held out a folded piece of paper and I reached for it, unable to fight the pity his sad expression sparked in me.
I started unfolding it but he shook his head.
“It's for her. Don't read it.” Fabian's eyebrows pinched together and I gave him a terse smile.
“Okay.” I placed it down on the nightstand and he seemed to relax.
“I'll go then.” Fabian backed up to the door as if he expected us to tell him he could stay and see Callie.
“You can take the Ferrari,” Erik said. “The keys are in my desk in the office.”
“Thanks.” Fabian lingered by the doorway like a dog who wanted to be taken for a walk.
“Bye Fabian,” I said, unable to fight a snort of amusement as he drifted out of the door with a look of defeat.
Erik turned to me, shaking his head. “At least he's behaving better now he actually gives a shit about one of the girls he's pursuing.”
“You guys seem like you have some issues,” I said tentatively as he stretched his arms above his head and moved toward the closet. I eyed the flexing muscles on his back, losing my train of thought.
“We have our differences, but I still care about him. He's my brother.”
I smiled, getting out of bed and following him to the closet. He picked out a blue dress and handed it to me with a slanted smile. “For you.”
“Choosing my clothes, Count Erik? Old habits die hard, huh?” I wafted the dress away, reaching for a long black one and taking some underwear from a drawer.
“Ever the rebel, Countess,” he teased, tugging on some jeans and a shirt.
When we were dressed, I moved to the mirror on the wall. It hit me that I hadn't seen myself since I'd been turned. I hadn't dared to look in the bathroom mirror last night, but now...
I swallowed hard as I approached the oval glass and took in my reflection.
My lips parted. I looked just like the vision Andvari had shown me back in the ruins. Ethereal, captivating. I was me and yet not me at all. And I didn't know if I liked it. As I approached the pane, I ran a hand over my smooth cheek. My skin was pearlescent, near-glowing. I was radiant and yet I shouldn't have been anything of the sort after a night rolling beneath the sheets. Even my hair was barely affected. It hung in loose curls, silky soft and seeming even longer than it had been before. The black dress I'd chosen hugged my figure which was thankfully the same. Although...perhaps I was slightly fuller in places. As if the venom had washed away any sign of the starvation I'd faced in the Realm.
I slid a hand across my stomach in awe. I was remade. But I didn't like the idea that my human life was lost completely. I was still the same girl beneath this veil of beauty. And I wouldn't let anything take that from me.
Erik appeared behind me, brushing the hair from my neck and placing a kiss beneath my ear.
“Do you find me more attractive now...like this?” I asked, a knot of concern tying my gut. What if this was an improvement on the human Montana Erik knew?
His mouth skated to my ear. “I have no idea what you mean,” he purred, sending a shiver down my spine.
I schooled my wanton expression, reaching back to cup his neck and pull him around to look at the mirror. “You know exactly what I mean.”
Erik gazed up and down my reflection then shrugged. “You've always looked like this to me.” He turned to me and though I expected to find mirth in his gaze, I only found shining honesty.
“Oh,” I breathed, my heart squeezing at his words. “Really?”
He took my hand, pressing it to his shirt where his quiet heart lay beneath it. “If you could see what I saw the first day I met you, the first time I kissed you, and the moment you woke last night beneath the stars, you would see the girl that holds my heart. And she is the same girl in every single one of those moments, and all of them in between.”
My throat constricted and a smile crossed my features. Before I could respond to his beautiful words, the phone rang and anticipation spilled through me.
Erik released me, heading across the room and answering the call. “Hello...right, see you soon.” He hung up and turned to me with an anxious frown. “Ready?”
I nodded firmly and he moved toward me in a flash of movement, pressing a lingering kiss to my lips. When he stepped back, he pushed a hand into his hair, revealing his concern. “There's blood in the refrigerator. Drink some. You'll want to be as well-fed as possible before you see Julius. I'll bring him here within the hour.”
He stepped out of the room and my shoulders dropped as the weight of what he'd asked seeped over me. I didn't feel hungry but at the thought of blood, a small fire lit at the base of my throat, urging me to drink.
The front door sounded as Erik left and I figured I should give in to what he'd asked. If it would ensure I didn't hurt Julius, I had to do it. But I liked to think that even if I was a starving husk, I wouldn't lay a hand on my friend.
Still...better to be safe than sorry.
Days turned into weeks which bled into months and years.
We hunted the monsters who now called themselves the Belvederes across the great continent they’d discovered, often slaying their foul creations but never coming close to them. They ran from us whenever we drew near and their damn rune-stones made it almost impossible for us to track them down again.
I was beginning to lose hope. It was pointless. What was it all for? I’d given my whole life to this cause and I’d achieved nothing. It had been eight years since they’d murdered my father and justice still hadn’t been served.
I felt cheated. Cheated by fate, the gods, life. I’d sacrificed everything to this search and what did I have to show for it?
A betrothal to a woman I could never love. A vendetta which I was beginning to fear would never be set right. An aching desire for revenge which tainted every good moment that was presented to me so that I couldn’t fully enjoy it. For all that I had offered the gods, they’d given me very little in return. Idun never answered my calls anymore but I was sure I could feel her presence, her amusement, when I was feeling my lowest. As I did at that moment.
“Why watch me if you won’t speak with me?” I demanded of the deity. “Is my misery so interesting to you?”
The wind shifted in the trees and I looked up at the rustling branches with a scowl. It was the height of summe
r; there was no natural reason for such a cold wind to blow. She wanted me to know she was here. She wanted me to know she still refused to speak with me. Cruel whore.
“I hate you,” I murmured. “I hope you know it. You’re stealing my life from me with this crusade and you offer me no assistance. I would end them all, each and every one of them if only I could find them. But you won’t help me, will you? Even though I’m sure you know where they are.”
A rat scampered out of the hedges and paused before me, tilting its head as it inspected me. I frowned at the rodent as it rubbed its paws across its face before shifting closer to me.
I stayed still, wondering if this creature had been sent by the goddess. It certainly seemed too tame to be natural and yet I knew it was no Familiar.
The rat hopped up onto my boot and proceeded to take a shit before scampering away from me again.
I couldn’t help but laugh as I shook my head. “Bitch,” I muttered. She could force a rat to take a shit on me but she couldn’t guide me to my enemies.
I got to my feet, shaking my boot to remove the animal droppings from it before heading into the trees. I was late to return and no doubt my betrothed would be scouring the camp for me already. I’d promised to dine with her tonight out of sheer frustration from the amount of times she’d asked me but I was sincerely regretting it now.
It took me longer than expected to make it back to camp and by the time I arrived the sun was setting and the blue sky was streaked with pink and orange. I must have wandered further than I’d realised and I sighed as I passed the sentries, knowing I was about to get a mouthful from Valentina.
No doubt she’d already been informed of my arrival by one of her many loyal followers within the clans. I wasn’t entirely sure how she’d managed it but Valentina had gathered a sizeable group of admirers from each and every clan. They called her my queen even though they knew we weren’t wed yet and I was fairly sure their loyalty to her now rivalled their loyalty to me.
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