Page 52 of Eternal Obsession

“Alex, it would be sacrilege for me to let you grow old.”

“You’re scaring me.”

“The greatest bestowal of all is life itself.”

Alex shuffled uncomfortably.

“It’s time I gave you your gift,” I said.

Chapter Twenty-Four

JADEON

A man possessed, I flew toward St. Michael’s, my skin tingling with the imminent sunrise. Alex lingered on the castle steps, waiting for me. I swooped down with dizzying speed and pulled him by his shirt collar, dragging him as fast as possible into the dungeons. We tumbled into the Stone Master’s chamber and I slammed the door shut, shielding us from the light.

The items used in the sacrificial ritual were now scattered upon the floor. The dark room remained disheveled, a cruel reminder of what had transpired earlier that week. The four decaying bodies of the men remained strewn out in a hideous fashion. We both recoiled at the bloodbath. It was too late to escape the sickening stench.

Alex ran to the door and tried to open it.

“No,” I shouted and pushed him away. “We cannot go out. The light, it will kill us.”

“What are you talking about?” Alex panicked, his voice shrill. “How do you move like that?”

I stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

“Move out of the way,” he said and headed again for the door. “I refuse to stay in here a moment longer. Open the damn door.”

“You need to calm⁠—”

“Let me out!”

“Please, let go of the door.” I shoved him hard and he flew across the room, landing on the floor.

I had misjudged my strength. I locked the door and removed the key, grasping it, and knelt at Alex’s side. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

He raised his hand to keep some distance from me. Yet, even in the dim glow, I saw the truth that I had suspected all along that he too had been transformed, that telltale shimmer of hunger in his eyes, the quiet thrum of power coiled beneath his skin.

Only he did not know.

“Who did this to them?” Alex stared at the bodies.

“Alex . . .”

“Father?”

“Not Father, Lord Velde.” I tucked the key into my coat pocket.

“No.”

“Alex, we are in complete darkness and yet your vision is clear!”

“That’s not possible.”

“We are changed. We are . . .”

“What?”

I mouthed, “Vampires.”