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I want to speak out—to scream and deny Fintan’s claim—but I keep my mouth shut. I would rather Sebastian kill me now than be tied to a vampire and have my free will stolen, my magic and blood slowly leeched for their benefit until I wither away to nothing.
As if he can read my thoughts and is granting my request, Sebastian’s grip loosens on my arm—though not enough to drop me—yet.
I squeal and grab hold of him, clutching to his wrist with all my strength.
“You can’t know that,” he says.
“I know I was drawn to her from the day she arrived in the city, even before the wolves stole her. I felt a pull to go to her the moment I woke. I tracked her through the Quarter, watched her eat her dinner, stood outside the door to her hotel balcony, fighting the pull to approach her.”
What? Stalker much.
Finn’s gaze flicks from Sebastian’s face to mine as he speaks, and it sounds like a confession. “I know that there is something about her I can’t ignore, no matter how hard I try. And no, maybe she isn’t my Sun Witch, but she is meant for a unity bond between one of—”
“—Enough! I don’t want to hear your asinine theories.”
Fintan purses his lips, nodding his head in resignation. “The new moon is only two weeks from now. Give me until then to see if my so-called asinine theories hold any validity. That is all I’m asking.”
“Are you laying claim to this witch?”
“Wait,” I blurt, suddenly finding my voice. “Hold on.”
“Aye, I am,” Fintan says, speaking over me. “I hereby stake my claim on the Sun Witch Josephine Dumont.”
His declaration drains my blood in a rush, leaving me lightheaded.
This can’t be happening.
Sebastian’s lip pulls back to reveal his fangs, displeased with the answer from his second in command. His nails dig into my arm again briefly before he slings me away from him, making me trip over my own feet and collide with Fintan.
The Celt’s arms are around me in an instant, firm and a little claustrophobic when my face is nearly squashed into his chest, but not painful like Sebastian’s hold.
“She is your ward until the new moon.”
“Thank you.”
“We shall see in two weeks if you still want to thank me, brother.” With that, Sebastian is gone in the space between one breath and the next, leaving me alone with the vampire I tried to stake not ten minutes ago.
Awkward.
* * *
My hands are still shaking when Fintan leads me from the rooftop and down a dimly lit stairwell. The only light comes from the flickering flames of candlesticks along the walls—magical flames. They emit the energy I’m quickly coming to attribute to the Sun Witches. It becomes easier to pick up on with each one we pass, the warm glow swaying in our wake.
Apparently, vampires aren’t big fans of overhead lighting. I suppose with their superhuman eyesight, there’s no need. Witches don’t have the same advantage without a spell or potion, though it doesn’t take long for my eyes to adjust.
“These will be your quarters while you stay with us,” Fintan says, and I realize we’ve stopped moving.
My quarters?
I cautiously pass by Fintan and into a large room. The wall opposite the entrance is entirely floor-to-ceiling windows, tinted black to block the sunlight—a necessity for vampires who will combust otherwise.
A towering canopy bed sits in the middle of the wall to the left, the intricately woven frame made from heavy metal and piled high with far too many pillows. In front of that is a small sitting area with a velvet loveseat and two matching armchairs on the other side of a black coffee table with carved feet.
Fintan flicks on the light—a crystal chandelier hanging with crimson droplets that refracts dazzling beams of red-tinted light around the room, bringing an eerie glow.
The entire space looks like something out of a magazine.
Gothic Quarterly, maybe.
