KaneEmory and I both agree to have Mikey stay at Cerise Port while King Myenas is in Crimson Peak. We feel better knowing Mikey is far away and safe from any nasty surprises the old king might bring with him. Call it paranoia, but we’d rather be safe than sorry. My mother has met the vampire king a
KaneEmory stays close to me, holding my hand as King Myenas enters the ballroom. His entourage of guards and favored courtiers are with him. He’s an imposing figure, tall and muscled at six feet five inches. Some might consider him handsome, but there’s a wildness in his blood red eyes that’s unner
“The Firebird is also called the Phoenix. She dies and is reborn from the ashes,” I explain. “She’s the rarest in this collection. I thought you might like to see her resurrection.” I’m overjoyed that our timing was so perfect. I look to her owner and see a delighted look on his face as Sir Gavin ha
RainerDr. Montgomery is an interesting man. He's a bit kooky, a bit unorthodox, but as I'm wandering around the castle after most of the other shifters who weren't wounded in the escape have left, I find myself carrying on lengthy conversations with him just to have something to do. During one of m
KaneI can’t hide the irritation I feel as I’m told that Rainer has sent a telepathic message back to the castle through several of our allies to let me know there’s been a problem with Lydia. She’s gone–back with the Blood Takers. That changes everything as I begin to deliberate with Myenas.Damn
RainerAlpha Gerald is furious when we both realize that Lydia is back in danger. Toman has managed to kidnap her right under our noses. Nurse Janie is profusely apologetic when she realizes the mistake she’s made by letting Toman take Lydia from the hospital wing. The nurse looks like she’s on the
RainerIt takes me time, but I’m able to get into Castle Pestera. The castle is named for the fact that it’s built into a cave. Nearby is a waterfall which the kingdom is named after. During the summer, the water turns red due to the algae. Some people call it Blood Falls. It’s fitting territory for
LydiaThe guards drag me out of the dungeon and through a series of labyrinth-like hallways, making it difficult for me to remember the path. They walk quickly, forcing me to jog to keep up with them. They don’t slow down, but I manage not to trip as we go upstairs into what I’m assuming is the firs
MichaelThe emissary to Red River–the real one–isn’t anyone I recognize. He’s tall and pale blond, his red eyes gleaming in the brightly lit ballroom where he and his posse of royal Red River guards have gathered. He scans the group before him–myself, my father, and my uncle, and smiles faintly, hi
I listen intently, watching a myriad of emotion play over her face as she knits her fingers together. “We spent an entire summer sneaking around,” she says softly, closing her eyes. “He’d find me in the garden, in the library, sometimes going as far as to sneak into my room at night. We couldn’t st
FayeStill in the library, I listen intently as Emelda discloses far more than I expected her to.There was a point in Emelda’s life as a vampire that she’d accepted she’d always be alone. Her bed would always be cold, her skin unblemished by a loving touch. She’d never know love again, and for deca
Faye“It really is gorgeous,” Emelda says the next morning while walking with me to the library. She runs her thumb over the massive sapphire ring and smiles faintly, raising her brows. “I think it’s a family heirloom, too. You should expect a load of fine jewelry to follow.”“You know I don’t care
FayeKing Kane is a slightly terrifying man. His presence is all consuming–like he sucks the light out of the room. He doesn’t look his age, like all vampires. The only indication that he’s a senior vampire compared to his son is the faint gray glow around his temples where his dark hair is starting
MichaelI watch Faye run a comb through her hair, over and over. The golden strands shine like golden silk in the pockets of sunlight shimmering through the curtains. Beyond the glass, knee-deep snow covers the castle grounds in a blanket of pure, untouched white. Deep inside, I feel a flicker of m
I shake my head, sniffling, trying to pull my tears back into my eyes but fail miserably. They trickle down my cheeks, freezing to my face. “We would have been caught.”“I wouldn’t have cared. I still don’t!”“You were getting married–”“I’ve been betrothed since I was a child,” he says hotly, gritt
Emelda“Why are you out here?” Cole asks, his hand moving up my back as he presses me closer. “You’re freezing.”“I wanted to check on Ravenfell–”“I was on my way–”“It’s not your responsibility–”“I was on my way to find you,” he cuts in, taking a breath. I open my eyes, breaking out of the haze
Finn leans against the fireplace while Cassidy stokes the fire, but everyone is waiting for me to start talking. That’s why I came here, after all. To share news from the castle about our duke and our friends. “Lowe is likely going to survive,” I say to the group, ignoring the shuffle of feet as pe