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33

VINCENT

Julian’s face was pale, his expression terrified, yet he remained motionless. I saw no obvious injuries and smelled no blood, which was a relief. Julian knew enough about vampires not to flee or struggle, not to act like prey. Nathaniel, in contrast, appeared predatorily calm. He kept his hand casually on the back of Julian’s neck, and I knew it would take less than a second for him to snap that neck if he wanted to. So I stayed still too, not daring even to breathe.

“Hello, Vincent,” Nathaniel said, his voice so like the friend I used to know. I almost felt comforted by the sound, even as he gripped Julian’s life in his powerful hand. “I was passing through the town at the base of the mountain when I caught a whiff of something familiar—someone familiar. Your pet was kind enough to light a fire in the fireplace to guide me to where you’d gone.”

My vision widened to take in more of the scene, and my gaze was drawn to a rounded shape on one side of the fireplace. It was Samson, his body twisted at an unnatural angle and unmoving. Nathaniel followed my gaze.

“The damn thing scratched me,” Nathaniel explained. “He didn’t like the way I was playing with his human.”

As he spoke, my fangs descended and my lip curled back. “Get away from him,” I snarled.

“Oh, I see. You like this one,” Nathaniel said, stroking Julian’s head as one might pet a dog. Julian remained frozen, but his eyes met mine, and the fear in them made my heart race.

“I could smell you all over him,” Nathaniel continued. “He really is beautiful. I don’t blame you. You wouldn’t mind sharing, would you? I haven’t eaten in quite a while.” He twisted his hand and painfully forced Julian’s head to the side.

“If you shed my mate’s blood, I’ll kill you,” I said, my tone leaving no doubt I meant it.

Nathaniel’s eyes widened. “No, you can’t be serious?” he said, looking down at Julian. “You’re mated to this human? I can’t believe it. After all these years, you chose him?” He shoved Julian away roughly, and I moved faster than the human eye could follow, catching my mate before he hit the floor.

I was back across the room in seconds, with Julian tucked safely behind me. I kept my eyes on Nathaniel but reached back for Julian, who gripped my hand to steady himself. “Are you okay?” I asked in a low voice.

“I’m alright,” Julian replied, and I was heartened to hear the strength in his voice.

I squeezed Julian’s hand. Letting go, I stepped forward, ready to move or fight if necessary, without hurting my love.

“So sweet,” Nathaniel said, his tone mocking, yet his words carried a steely bite. His voice felt foreign now.

“What are you doing here, Nathaniel?”

“I was looking for you,” he said. “Things didn’t go as planned. I came to find you, if possible, and to see if you were doing any better than we were.”

“Where’s Anna? Where’s your mate?” I scanned the room again, making sure I wasn’t overlooking any other threats.

Nathaniel exhaled deeply. “She left me,” he said. “I couldn’t give her what she wanted.”

For a moment, I felt pity for him, for the pain he must be feeling from being separated from his mate.

“There were fights,” Nathaniel said, sinking deeper into the chair. He looked exhausted, worn out. “The humans started to die off, and as resources dwindled, tempers flared. Then some idiot brought back an infected human, a carrier of the disease, and soon all the other humans were dead. Anna decided to leave with Rich.” Nathaniel shrugged. “Rich seemed like the better option, I guess. After that, the vampires all scattered, and I came looking for you.”

“Nathaniel, I’m sorry.”

“Are you? She never liked you, you know? Even before you tried to rip her throat out.” He stood, agitation replacing exhaustion. He walked to the mantel and picked up the small carving. “She was jealous. She was always jealous of you. From the very beginning,” he said. He glanced at Julian. “Vincent and I were lovers years ago; did he tell you? I made this for him,” he said, holding up the stone figure of the dog. “But for all our years together, he never felt for me what I felt for him. The way he apparently feels for you now.” Bitterness returned to his voice as he gripped the statue so tightly that it cracked and crumbled into pieces, falling from his hand onto the polished floor. “But what does it matter who he loves?” He dusted off his hands. “He’s going mad, you know?” Nathaniel said, looking back at Julian.

“I’m fine, actually,” I said, gritting my teeth. I wanted to grab the man and throw him out of the cabin before he could say another word. But resorting to violence would only put Julian in more danger. I wouldn’t lay a hand on Nathaniel unless I had no other option. “I’ve never felt better,” I said instead, trying to sound convincing.

“It’s only a matter of time, and not much, I’d bet,” Nathaniel continued. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re already losing your grip, considering how hungry you look and how old you are. How much longer before you’re completely gone? Does he know, your mate? Did you tell him? Does he know about the people you slaughtered just this past December?” he asked. “Starving here in your nest with this human isn’t going to work out. The hungrier you become, the more you will unravel. With vampires, it’s just a matter of time.”

Nathaniel focused on Julian. “He started to drift, as we do when we age. He’ll do it again. He’ll lose control. He’ll be an animal, then he’ll rip open your throat and drink you down until you’re a dried-out husk. There will be nothing you can do about it. And he’ll be so far gone he won’t even feel bad about it.”

He turned to me. “I came here to ask you to come away with me. If you truly care for this human, if you…love him,” he said, nearly choking on the words. “You should leave; you should join me and get as far away from him as possible. I would keep you sane for as long as I could, and then do what you needed me to in the end.”

“Nathaniel, you need to leave,” I said.

He nodded, but his face was hard. “You’re making a mistake, Vincent,” he said, moving toward the door. “You’re going to regret it, or maybe you won’t, and that’ll be even worse.”

He dashed out the door and into the snowy yard. I raced after him, leaving Julian leaning against the living room wall.