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
When I’m sufficiently dry, one of them steps out for a moment and then is back with what appears to be some clothes and other items they’ll need to get me presentable. They dress me in a long blood red gown with long sleeves. It’s too tight around my chest, and one of the servants has to unlace the
LydiaI wake up in a dark room. I’m lying on something soft. Opening my eyes, I realize I’m on a bed with a fur blanket. My neck aches. I touch it gingerly to find dried blood.I try to get up, clinging to a bed post for support. Moving makes the world start spinning around me. Lying back down on th
KaneLord Gavin reluctantly hands over the Firebird in its cage to Thomas. He does seem regretful at having to lose such a rare bird in his collection, but he’s hardly at a loss. I’ve given him enough land and gold to keep his descendants in the lap of luxury for centuries to come. This Firebird has
KaneI’m speechless with fury. I want to slam my fist into King Myenas’s smug face. It’s not surprising that he would try something like this. Everyone has told me there is no use trying to reason with this madman. This is what I get trying to resolve all this without having to spill any blood.I gr
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