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He spotted my worry, and his expressions softened. “She’ll be fine. She’s trained for this and is far better than any of us.”
I couldn’t help but agree. She’d beaten men twice her size in combat, had mastered spells I hadn’t even heard of, and had a gravitas about her that demanded the attention of a room. She was going to be okay, I told myself.
The smell of toast filled the kitchen. Draven slid a plate holding a perfect grilled cheese sandwich across the kitchen island. “Here.”
I stared at it, and my stomach churned. Carefully, I picked it up under his watchful gaze and took a small bite. Grief had dissolved my appetite, but I couldn’t keep refusing to eat unless I wanted to end up in the hospital. “It’s good.”
“What can I say? I’m a great cook.” He grinned.
I took another bite and set the plate back down. “So?” I arched my brow. “Have any of you killed one yet?”
“Yes. We killed a sangaree. Took off its head.”
“Who? Not you?”
He swallowed a bite. “It’s nice to know you have so much faith in me, but no. It was Aiden who swung the fatal blow.”
I recalled the black-haired, muscular man who’d been my mom’s friend for gods knew how long now. “It’s not that I don’t think you couldn’t kill one,” I defended. “I just don’t want to think of you being in danger like that.”
Something changed in his eyes. “You’re too sweet.”
I shot him a small smile and managed two more bites before pushing it away. “I’m getting tired. Let’s hope I can sleep for more than two hours without waking up again.” Exhaustion crept over me in waves before taking me completely. I glanced at the wall clock; it was almost one. Time had gone by fast.
“Don’t miss me too much,” he said teasingly.
“I was going to say the same to you.” I half smiled, which turned into a yawn. The dreams began right after Astor died. It was the trauma, or so the therapist my mom paid to come by the house said. I only hoped they would go away soon. The thought of Astor brought all my dark feelings back to the surface. Not even Draven could distract me for long. “You should sleep, too. I won’t say anything.”
“I’m not tired,” he said, but we both knew he was simply following orders. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”
Closing the distance between us, I kissed his cheek, breathing in the evocative scent of cedarwood from his cologne. “I’m glad you came this time. The other protectors are awesome and all, but they’re not you.”
His lips curved upward. “I’ll always be here for you.”
I headed upstairs, and vampires filled my thoughts. I’d never seen one; most people in our land hadn’t. The people who were taken by them were never seen again.
My mom said most were kept as prisoners and were fed on or used for entertainment. Only a few mortals had been killed immediately, their bodies left for the guild to find. I shuddered when I thought about being trapped in their cold kingdom of monsters. I’d prefer a swift death by one of them rather than to be made prisoner.
I climbed into bed and closed my eyes, drifting off into a dream-filled sleep.
I felt hands shaking me as I was jarred awake to reveal a pale-faced Draven. “Get up, get dressed, and pack a bag of necessities. Now.”
My heart raced as I sat upright, running cold. I opened my mouth to ask why, but he cut me off. “The vampires are in the city. Two of our own have been killed.”
A lump formed in my throat. “Where’s my mom?”
“She’s leading the hunt. The sangaree ambushed a festival in the city. It’s a bloodbath.” I could hear his phone buzzing in his pocket, but he didn’t answer. He must have been sent pictures. I shuddered, not wanting to see them. “I’m taking you to headquarters. It’s safer there.”
“Surely they wouldn’t come here.”
“Just pack your bag. Aiden is coming to get us.”
A loud ringing sounded around the house, muting Draven’s following words. Someone was in the house. “Draven.” I hesitated. “The alarm.” Aiden knew to turn it off before entering, so it had to mean someone had broken in.
“Stay behind me.” He stood in front of my bedroom door and pulled out his sword. In his other hand was a gun. It wouldn’t kill one, but the bullets would give him a few extra seconds to cut off its head.
The door creaked open. I willed my powers to thrum into my hands, but nothing happened. I’d always been terrible at magic, but now I realized how useless I really was. I took a step back as my bedroom door opened wide, and a man stepped inside.
TWO
