“Two vampires? Here in Ellnesari? How is that possible?”
“I don’t know, my lady. We received a tip they were hiding at the healer’s house in Featherlight Village.”
Light footsteps approach, barely making the wooden floorboards creak with the weight. The sack covering my head is removed, and it’s hard to keep from moving my eyelids.
“She looks in good health.” The female touches my healing back and sighs. “Hellionflare wound. I’m surprised she didn’t die.”
“That means she’s a strong specimen,” a new male chimes in. His voice is coarse, old. “We need those.”
“Yes, Papa.” The female moves away from me, but she doesn’t go far. If I were to guess, she’s inspecting Ronan now.
“Oh, this one is a beautiful male.”
Fucking bitch. I open my eyes and catch her ogling Ronan as if he’s someone she’d like to ride. Before I can stop myself, I snarl. The female spins around and almost trips on the skirt of her long dress. Her perfect tanned skin seems to go ashen as she stares at me with round eyes.
“What sort of aberration is she?”
Ah hell. I must have partially shifted. I would have gone wolf all the way if I thought I could escape and take Ronan with me. But we’re in an enclosed space and surrounded by the enemy. I could flee if I was alone, but there’s no chance I’ll leave Ronan behind. If he stays, I stay.
The newcomer looks as old and ragged as he sounds. His long white hair is thinning, and his face resembles melted cheese. He looks like a hundred-year-old human, not an immortal.
Unlike his daughter, he doesn’t stare at me with fear or disgust. He’s intrigued as he approaches me. “You aren’t a vampire, are you, child?”
“Who are you calling a child, old creep?”
“Stay the hell away from her!” Ronan roars.
The old Nightingale looks at Ronan and smiles. “Ah, a warrior. Finally, a specimen worth the bags of blood.”
The three jackasses who took us look smug as fuck. If I wasn’t bound, I would wipe the smirks off their odious faces.
“You did well, Mascar,” the old male continues. “Very well.”
“What do you want with us?” Ronan asks, trying to break free of his bindings.
“You’ll know in good time. You must feed and rest first. Nisha, make arrangements for our new acquisitions. I want them to have the best accommodations.”
“Yes, Papa.” She bows her head, then signals for the guards nearby to grab us.
I fight their hold and try to bite the hand of one who gets too close.
“You might need to gag the female. She’s a feisty one,” the old asshole says.
The idea of staying in captivity doesn’t sit well with my wolf. She takes over, and I shift. The bindings snap in the process. I jump on top of the closest guard and bite his shoulder. He screams, trying to dislodge me, but I’m much stronger than he is.
“Papa, do something!” the female screeches.
A pair of hands yanks me off the guard, then comes the burn of another dart pricking me. My eyelids become heavy once more, and the last thing I see is Ronan’s desperate face.
Twenty-Four
MANU
ELLNESARI, PRESENT DAY
Imust have fallen asleep, because the next thing I know, I’m jolted awake from the impact of falling from the tree. I yelp as white-hot pain makes me see stars. In the distance, I hear paws hitting the ground. The beast that was chasing me isn’t gone. Fucking hell.
The mist is thinner, and it allows me to see the looming shape of the monster that’s going to eat me if I don’t move. I jump to my feet and attempt to climb the tree again, but the branch I reach isn’t thick enough to hold my weight. It snaps, and I fall again.
