AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My throat works to swallow my heart back down.
With or without the mark, I love him.
I love Alaric.
It’s why I went to a demon for help, and why I will never stop trying to save him from the waking nightmare Elizabeth has trapped him in.
I hold my breath and nod because I can’t allow myself to confess aloud to anyone else when I haven’t even said the words to Alaric.
“Did you tell him?” Cassius asks tentatively.
My heart squeezes. Before Alaric stepped into my life, I never knew what it meant to have someone care about me for who I am, and not because they find me useful or convenient.
Of everyone in this world, it was a vampire who loved me first.
“No.” I look away in shame then say, “He deserves to know…”
“You will get your chance.” Cassius slides his arm around my shoulders and hugs me. “But I still care for you, little bird.”
My spine stiffens. I feel soft laughter against my back rather than hear it. “Cassius—”
“I will not come between you, but just how you cannot change your feelings, I cannot change mine.”
After that silence settles like a heavy weight between us. Chewing on the remaining teek bread, I take in the details of the forest as we approach.
Breaking off another bite I glance toward Della. Her face seems thinner than yesterday. It hasn’t escaped my notice that they have yet to consume more than a small amount of blood since we left. What Della and Lawrence managed to bring from town is already running low. I doubt they have enough to make it any farther than the oracle witch.
I have no idea what we’ll do for the journey home, especially if we take the mountain pass. How long can a vampire last without fresh blood? Will I need to feed all three of them? I suppose we will cross that bridge once we come to it.
Chapter Fourteen
Clara
The forest’sedge looms ahead. We will be there in about an hour. Grass springs up from the ground, dry and brown from the winter. The closer we get the more blades of green appear sporadically, until the lively color takes over. It should be long dead, but the trees are full as if it was the height of spring rolling into summer.
The horse’s rocking gait lulls me into relaxation. I lean back against Cassius, his arm bands around my waist. My eyes slide closed as I mentally run through the plan over and over.
Find the oracle. Get the spell. Return to Nightwich. Break Elizabeth’s hold over Alaric.
There is a lot to figure out after that, but at least Alaric will be there with me to help.
The horse lurches to the side with a loud whinny, tossing its head. My eyes fly open from the sudden jerk. Cassius’s arm tightens as he steadies the mount with his free hand.
He turns the horse’s head to face the opposite direction, then leaps to the ground sweeping me along with him. My pulse is still hammering loudly in my ears as the others dismount their spooked horses as well.
“What happened?” I ask breathlessly, turning in a half circle to scan the trees and surrounding area. But find nothing that might scare a horse.
“The power here is too strong,” he says matter-of-factly.
The vampires remove the bags from the horses and drop them on the ground then begin removing the tack and brushing them down.
Cassius slaps our horse on the rump. It takes off at a full run as if its life depends on getting away from us. Seconds later, the other two horses follow after it.
“What are you doing? The witch is in the heart of the forest. We still need them.” My protest falls on three sets of deaf ears.
Cassius kneels to rummage through the saddlebag. He pulls out a waterskin and shakes it. Only a small amount of liquid sloshes around inside. When he stands and faces me, he says, “We need to feed.”
“Are you sure it was necessary to release them so soon?” Lawrence grumbles.
