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Thea’s moans quieten.
By the time I twist her to face me again, her eyes are drooping. “I love you, Ren,” she whispers.
I stroke the side of her face, tucking a tangled lock of hair behind her ear. “And I love you, my Queen.”
22
Norvyc
Bonus Chapter
Orangeandredsspreadover the landscape as the sun gradually dips in the horizon, reflecting across each roof as it creeps closer to the treeline. From where I rest, against a flagpole on the edge of a ten story building, the view is awe striking.
But the view isn’t why I’m positioned here, high above the cityscape. It’s only the lie I’ve allowed myself to believe in, because it's better than admitting I’m a stranger looking in on what I wish I had.
Thea and Ren’s camp is nearby. I try not to get close, but sometimes I miss the clatter of silent conversation that accompanies dhampir civilization. When a girl, Rhyl, left the gates and ventured out of the fallen human city, I followed her.
I’m bored,I told myself.Simply passing the time. I don’t have to introduce myself if I don’t want to.
The journey led me here. Or… somewhere nearby, at least. The young female is quick, and I had given her space so I could remain undetected. Along the way her mind went silent, leaving no path for me to trace.
I’m sure the girl is doing what most of the others do when they leave Thea’s settlement. They hunt, scavenge, and rebuild.
It’s something I’ve tried to replicate with my meager hut in the woods. When I’m not paying attention to the progress of my fellow peers, I’m there, building and trying to learn how the stupid contraptions humanity crafted work. It’d be easier with a community, with knowledge from someone who has learnt more about humans than I have.
But I have no one, and I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready to return to a compound with a masquerading monster inside.
My hand fists around the flagpole, imprinting the metal with my fingerprints. Ren, no matter howcuredhe may be, is a devious, lyingscumof a male.
He made medothings. Terrible deeds I’m not sure my maddened self would have attempted had it not been for his directional hand. How can someone be so deliberately evil and claim to lack control? Heledus into ruin, not the other way around.
So no, I will refrain from getting close with his mate and her dhampir settlement, despite her saving me. It’s no fault of hers that she mated with a monster, but Iwon’tbecome complacent like the others.
However… If Rhyl should bump into me in the street and wish to hunt with me, I’d oblige her. Not because I know her, but… because I’m tired of hearing myself talk.
Eventually her voice touches the clouds. Her thoughts are weak, coming from a distance, but they’re strong enough for me to track.
I step from the ledge of the roof, greeting the wind as it beats against my face. My landing is perfect, as always. I hit the ground with a crack, splitting the sidewalk into two pieces.I keep forgetting that human infrastructure hadn’t anticipated building-falling dhampir.Within moments I’m moving, brushing my jacket free of the stone dust I kicked up during my landing.
Rhyl is on the move, but she’s creeping along the city at a corpse's pace. She must be on a mission, scavenging for a prized tool or some weird human embellishment. As her thoughts become clearer, though, I realize she’s no longer alone.
There’s another female lingering in her thoughts, and now that I’m closing in on their location, I can actuallyhearthis new acquaintance.
Hear andsmellher.
My feet pick up their pace, moving fast through abandoned alleyways and over shattered glass. The female’s aroma isdelectable.My hunger hasn’t piqued a single time since returning to my un-maddened state, but now, with her scent on the wind-
A low, dangerous growl rumbles deep in my chest.
I steel myself, planting my feet in place and refusing to move. Do I… hunger? Am I reverting to my dark self? Has being away from my savior, the Light Queen, caused my madness to return?
My fists clench at my sides.No.This isn’t me. My stomach doesn’t cramp with an insatiable need to feed, nor does my mouth pool with venom. This is something else, something natural.
In a state of disbelief, I allow myself to get closer. When I feel the others on the opposite side of a two story building, I scale the brick wall and smooth my body over its roof, remaining hidden.
I hold my breath as I approach the opposite side’s ledge.
And then I stare down at her, the most beautiful creature that's ever graced my sights.
