‘We can.’ He presses another kiss to my lips. ‘But if things do get rough, follow my lead.’
I nod.
Headlight beams slant across the clearing. A van appears, black against the shadowy trees, stones crunching beneath the tyres as it comes to a stop. A few moments later several figures stagger from the back.
‘Be ready.’ Light catches the blade in Michael’s hand.
The van stutters into darkness. Someone cries out, like a bird. Dark shapes appear in the clearing. Moonlight silvers the golden fall of Cass’s hair as she approaches the stumbling humans. Michael cups his hand around his mouth and makes several soft hooting noises, like an owl. One of the vampires moves closer to us, holding his clenched fist behind his back, three fingers raised.
Three minutes.
At least, I’m guessing so.
The vampires round up the humans, escorting them from the clearing. Eddard is last, closing his fist but not looking in our direction.
‘Now!’
Michael and I burst from the bushes, running towards the van. The door is still open, the driver climbing back into the cab.
We almost make it. Almost.
‘What the fuck is this?’
It’s Cass.
ChapterForty-Six
IF ONLY
The Greenwood at night is like fairyland, or at least how I imagine it. Despite our situation, I can’t help but feel yearning for the life I see.
Faint golden lights decorate the buildings, more glimmering deep in the woods, like fireflies in the dark. During the day, the street hummed with human activity, people shopping, dining in cafés, socialising. It still hums, but this time with vampires. Shops are still open, cafes filled with elegant lounging figures sipping from blood pouches. It’s a parallel world, a world of night. There are humans here, too; a young man working in a café, a woman sitting with a group of vampires while one of them drinks from her wrist, the gesture gentle and affectionate, all of them talking and laughing. An older woman with a small crate of blood pouches, nodding to the shopkeeper before heading down the street. It’s fascinating.
And it makes so much sense.
Desire burns in me, brighter than ever, to implement the same system across my realm. But I need to tread carefully. Especially now Cass, who is escorting us along the street, has caught us trying to leave. Our only option now is to tell her who I am and use it as leverage in the hopes I might be allowed to leave, instead of having my throat ripped out. My hand comes to my neck as Cass bangs on the front door of a large red-brick building, long windows with leaded glass lining both storeys.
The door opens.
A tall handsome vampire, broad-shouldered, clad in grey sweatpants and a tattered T-shirt that does nothing to hide his muscles, is standing there. He runs a hand through his tousled brown hair, then breaks into a crooked grin. ‘Captain. And Michael, with the lovely Emelia. Come on in.’
How in darkness does he know who I am? But his voice is familiar and, after a moment, I place him. Flynn, who’d sat with me at the fighting ring. He leads us down a long corridor towards the back of the building, pausing to turn on a candle-lamp set into the wall.
‘Nice of you to bring Emelia to see me without my mask, Michael.’ His tone is teasing as his gaze moves to me. ‘I told you I was pretty.’
I snort, despite our circumstances. Michael shoots me a fierce look. ‘You’re prettier,’ I whisper.
‘You just haven’t got to know me yet,’ Flynn drawls, winking at me. Damn vampire hearing! Cass brings us through to a large room running along the back of the house. Couches sit on soft rugs, bookcases lining the walls. There are several vampires in the room, relaxing on the couches.
‘Look who came to call.’ Flynn flops down on one of the sofas, folding his arms. ‘I’m just trying to convince Emelia that I’m the better option.’
‘Stop fucking around, Flynn.’ Cass’s voice is sharp. ‘I just caught these two trying to make a run for it.’
‘Can we talk about this?’ Michael’s tone is casual, but his arm is tense against mine.
‘Talk about what?’ Cass tilts her head. ‘About why you were trying to escape again, or why you’ve brought the heir to Raven into our cell? Because I’d really, really like to know,lieutenant.’ She snarls the last word.
God and darkness.
