Page 18 of Vervain

“His was a toxin. Mine was a declaration. I will never hinder you or your desires. If you want to leave with your brother once we find him, I won’t force you to stay.” He shifts slightly. “But I would like to watch over you, whether it be by your side or from a distance.”

I take a deep breath in and turn away from the flutter in my heart. Facing the exit of this mesmerising room, I say, “Nightwalkers. You are very intense creatures.” My heart steadies enough to look at him. “I’d like to return to Darkovish Feeding Ground to lay the dead to rest. I also want to see your brother off so he can find mine.”

“You will.”

I make my way back to the hallway with the covered paintings. Serun’s stride is far longer than mine, so he quickly joins me. “You are part nightwalker. Does that mean you are part intense creature?”

“The Lord of the Undercity has jokes, I see…”

“I’ve been around long enough to learn a few.”

I grunt a laugh, wanting to hold back enough to avoid giving him the satisfaction of thinking he is funny. Yet, the smirk settling on his face seems all too aware.

With a roll of my eyes, I nudge my chin towards the painting. “Why are they covered?”

Serun’s intense gaze slips away from mine, and we both face the veiled painting of Lucifer and the man, smiles on their faces, holding hands. “Mourning. Paying respects to those who depart the bond of lovers.”

Lucifer lost someone he loved dearly. I shouldn’t care. He looks at me with nothing but hate. Still, my heart sinks to see such a smile lost.

I’m not sure I’d ever smile again if I lost Cole.

CHAPTER SEVEN

REPAST

Saya Claymore

The wall ahead opens for Serun. Bricks part and move like a pulled-back curtain. He doesn’t waver as they open, walking through without losing his stride, while I slow down to avoid bumping into the stone.

We walk down another passage with arched, open doorways. The first room we pass has a seating area in front of a crackling fireplace.

“Fire does not frighten you?” I ask Serun.

He tilts his head as he says, “We fear fire as most do. But also enjoy it. Fire gives warmth, but I wouldn’t be pleased if someone doused me in gasoline and set me on fire.”

“I’d wrap my arms around the one who did it and take them with me.”

Serun lifts a brow and slowly nods, accepting this.

I peek into another room we pass—one bed in the centre, and a painted sunset sky on the ceiling. Candles burn on the dresser, bedside table, and across the rows of books on the shelves.

“I slept there last morning,” Serun says.

“Under the sunset?”

His eyes soften to a sweet cherry red. “It was the time of day I enjoyed most when I was human. Something I’d like to do again after I find Mother’s silver tear.”

“You said it cures vampirism. Is that all it can do?”

He stops for a moment, glancing sidelong at me. “No. It can do other things, but I am not interested in those.”

“And those other things are…?”

“Creation.”

He resumes walking, and I follow. “How long have you been looking for it?”

“A while.”