than is your due and I will
end you. Understand?”
Craning his head back, Raj nodded, eyes darting
every which way to avoid locking with mine. “I g-get ya. Not a d–drop
more than ya said.”
Grimly satisfied Raj would destroy himself rather
than face my wrath I spun to my Children. “Go. Rest. I return directly.”
I left without another word, and blithely ignored
the panicked reservations shouted at my back. This failed crusade certainly
stirred them since they were bold enough to doubt me.
Faintly aware of the vampires watching me approach
the mainstay of their Nest, I called for Gwendolyn, waiting in the stone
courtyard for her shabby self to appear.
“It’s raining.” Her tone was as flat as her stare.
She stood at the top of the steps twisting her hand around a buckled railing.
“Tomas loved the rain.”
I snapped my fingers and pointed at the ground.
“Come here.”
With preternatural speed, she rushed to me. “ You look like her. ” She screamed in my
face, eyes wild, fangs bared. Digging her nails into her cheeks, she drew blood
that mingled with tears streaming from her lower eyelids. “ You smell like her. Your blood reeks.” Shaking, she scrubbed her
hands over her neck and chest. “ I feel
your magic, and it burns like hers. Go away.” She shoved me. “Leave me in peace. ”
Batting away a swipe of her clawed fingers to my
face, I grabbed her neck and squeezed to silence her hysterical babbling.
A prickling sensation washed over my skin. I winced
as my ears picked up a low rumbling followed by a screeching high note.
Gwendolyn sobbed and clawed at my hand.
I shook her hard. “Quiet. Listen.”
She wailed louder.
“Shut up.” I slapped my other hand over her mouth.
“Can’t you feel it?” Her bloody tears wet my hand and ran down my forearm. I
dropped her in disgust. “You leak.”
Shaking my hand to rid myself of her foul bodily
fluids, I tried to focus on where the powerful hum of energy originated.
My mood darkened when my fairy nature made itself
known. My instincts riled, reacting to the advancing threat growing in potency
from all directions. “We’re under attack.”
CHAPTER SIX
Cael
What
should have been a panic inducing announcement was met with incoherent sobbing.
I glowered at the vampire blubbering in the dirt.
Curled into a ball on her side, she bashed her head on the ground in
self-flagellation.
Pathetic
creature.
“Up,” I snapped. “Fight or die. What approaches is
powerful.”
“She comes to kill us?” Gwendolyn hiccupped, her
white face slack and dazed. Tracks of red lined her sunken cheeks, and copper
ringlets hung damp across her temples and neck. She grinned. “The fairy who
stole my love returns to kill me.”
Grabbing her by the hair, I yanked until she stood
on wobbly legs. “When did you last feed?”
“Humans? She brought humans. I wish I sipped before
Raj snapped their necks, but she wanted to meet you.” Her eyes sharpened, and
her fangs ran out. “Has she brought food?”
“Raj killed them?”
“He’s soft.” She palpated her stomach, agitated.
“He doesn’t enjoy the suffering. Hunger will devour that weakness.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. The Queen was more
unhinged than usual, a worthless state in a fight. “What kind of demon did you
drain last?”
“Goblin. Nights ago.” Her head rolled about on her
shoulders as she giggled. “Endless night and darkness that drips in blood.”
“Needs must.” I ripped the leather cuff from my
wrist. Gritting my teeth, I pressed the fang-scarred tissue to her lips.
“Drink.”
She recoiled even as her bony hand clamped down on
my forearm and dragged it to her mouth. Her eyeteeth sank in, and she
shuddered. Mewled as she suckled like a babe to teat. Closing her eyes, she
swayed into me seeking to snuggle.
Her thin-armed embrace was unbearable. This is the last time. After this no leech
will take from me. I leaned back revolted by the whole
end you. Understand?”
Craning his head back, Raj nodded, eyes darting
every which way to avoid locking with mine. “I g-get ya. Not a d–drop
more than ya said.”
Grimly satisfied Raj would destroy himself rather
than face my wrath I spun to my Children. “Go. Rest. I return directly.”
I left without another word, and blithely ignored
the panicked reservations shouted at my back. This failed crusade certainly
stirred them since they were bold enough to doubt me.
Faintly aware of the vampires watching me approach
the mainstay of their Nest, I called for Gwendolyn, waiting in the stone
courtyard for her shabby self to appear.
“It’s raining.” Her tone was as flat as her stare.
She stood at the top of the steps twisting her hand around a buckled railing.
“Tomas loved the rain.”
I snapped my fingers and pointed at the ground.
“Come here.”
With preternatural speed, she rushed to me. “ You look like her. ” She screamed in my
face, eyes wild, fangs bared. Digging her nails into her cheeks, she drew blood
that mingled with tears streaming from her lower eyelids. “ You smell like her. Your blood reeks.” Shaking, she scrubbed her
hands over her neck and chest. “ I feel
your magic, and it burns like hers. Go away.” She shoved me. “Leave me in peace. ”
Batting away a swipe of her clawed fingers to my
face, I grabbed her neck and squeezed to silence her hysterical babbling.
A prickling sensation washed over my skin. I winced
as my ears picked up a low rumbling followed by a screeching high note.
Gwendolyn sobbed and clawed at my hand.
I shook her hard. “Quiet. Listen.”
She wailed louder.
“Shut up.” I slapped my other hand over her mouth.
“Can’t you feel it?” Her bloody tears wet my hand and ran down my forearm. I
dropped her in disgust. “You leak.”
Shaking my hand to rid myself of her foul bodily
fluids, I tried to focus on where the powerful hum of energy originated.
My mood darkened when my fairy nature made itself
known. My instincts riled, reacting to the advancing threat growing in potency
from all directions. “We’re under attack.”
CHAPTER SIX
Cael
What
should have been a panic inducing announcement was met with incoherent sobbing.
I glowered at the vampire blubbering in the dirt.
Curled into a ball on her side, she bashed her head on the ground in
self-flagellation.
Pathetic
creature.
“Up,” I snapped. “Fight or die. What approaches is
powerful.”
“She comes to kill us?” Gwendolyn hiccupped, her
white face slack and dazed. Tracks of red lined her sunken cheeks, and copper
ringlets hung damp across her temples and neck. She grinned. “The fairy who
stole my love returns to kill me.”
Grabbing her by the hair, I yanked until she stood
on wobbly legs. “When did you last feed?”
“Humans? She brought humans. I wish I sipped before
Raj snapped their necks, but she wanted to meet you.” Her eyes sharpened, and
her fangs ran out. “Has she brought food?”
“Raj killed them?”
“He’s soft.” She palpated her stomach, agitated.
“He doesn’t enjoy the suffering. Hunger will devour that weakness.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. The Queen was more
unhinged than usual, a worthless state in a fight. “What kind of demon did you
drain last?”
“Goblin. Nights ago.” Her head rolled about on her
shoulders as she giggled. “Endless night and darkness that drips in blood.”
“Needs must.” I ripped the leather cuff from my
wrist. Gritting my teeth, I pressed the fang-scarred tissue to her lips.
“Drink.”
She recoiled even as her bony hand clamped down on
my forearm and dragged it to her mouth. Her eyeteeth sank in, and she
shuddered. Mewled as she suckled like a babe to teat. Closing her eyes, she
swayed into me seeking to snuggle.
Her thin-armed embrace was unbearable. This is the last time. After this no leech
will take from me. I leaned back revolted by the whole
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