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It’s as if Kaithar, snoring in his warm bed high in my castle, is playing some infernal trick on me in his sleep.
His drunken words ring in my head.
You know what you need? A woman, that’s what. I wish you’d get over yourself and stop being such a fucking prude. Vampire or not.
I donotneed a woman. Look what just happened. The one I’m carrying in my arms? She’s the first woman I’ve encountered in over three years. And in an instant, she demolished every last sliver of self-control that I possess.
I don’t know what came over me. Her scent was so strong; so overpowering. I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life, and I’ve beenthisway for over three years now. As soon as her essence reached my nose, I was gone. Nothing was going to stop me from tasting her.Nothing.
So I did.
And it was glorious.
And for the very first time since the infernal death-curse dragged me back into the world of the living,my terrible thirst is completely sated.
I drank from her and I would do it again, because nothing I’ve ever known compares to the taste of her blood.
Now she’s in my arms, trying to pretend that she isn’t afraid, even though she’s so obviously terrified.
It’s in the stiffness of her body; in her shallow, flighty breathing. It’s in the way she looks at me, her eyes wild and wide.
My footsteps are light upon the ground. The snow and mud and the gravity of the earth do little to restrain me. I’m simply stronger and faster, capable of moving great distances in the blink of an eye.
I follow the road—myroad, although she doesn’t know that yet.
What is a nobleborn woman doing, traveling through Tyron in the middle of winter?
What was shethinking?
I cannot even fathom.
The nobles in Lukiria all know to leave me well alone, and even if they didn’t, not a single one of them would be foolhardy enough to travel to Tyron in winter.
Why wouldanyonecome all the way out here?
The scent of blood reaches my nose again—someone else’s blood. It’s dull and lackluster; nothing at all like the pure, heady sweetness flowing through this woman’s veins.
I slow down. I can hear voices. Male. Two of them. Arguing in the background. I detect the slow clop of hooves and the creaking of carriage wheels.
“Told you I should’ve gone,”one of the men says. He sounds young; probably barely out of adolescence.“What if Finley’s gotten lost? Or been caught by brigands?”
Finley.
Is that her name? I store it in the back of my mind for later.
At the mention of brigands, cold anger flickers inside me.
How dare they entermylands?
I will deal with them later.Personally.
“You underestimate her, Garan. She’s not going to get lost,” another male says adamantly. “She’s got an uncanny sense of direction, and she’s a damn good rider. Besides, she’s the one who’s betrothed to Duthriss. She’ll probably have a lot more sway over the Archduke than you or I. Fin can be pretty persuasive when she wants.”
Wait… what?
Not much can take me by surprise these days, but this time, I almost choke.
Betrothed?To this sweet little thing?
