Page 10 of Plug and Tame

Kira could sense his guilt through their bond as he continued.

“Usually, I do not drink blood that is not given freely.”

“Lucky me,” she said sarcastically. “But you may as well finish what you started.”

Nathaniel’s amusement rolled over her. “Such a tempting offer.”

His response was casual, but there was real hunger behind it, raw and edged with nausea. He was trying to mask it from her, but she could sense it.

Her worry deepened. “What will happen to you?”

“I will rest a while. Then I will go forage for something. But first, I need to talk to you now.”

“Most people just talk normally, you know. Without the blood sucking.”

“Most people are not us. And this way, I can show you what happened the night of the Revolution, and the role I played.”

“Why now?”

“Because I should have told you sooner. You deserve to know about your past.”

“My past?” Did that mean he knew who her parents were?

“I must warn you, it may be difficult for you to witness the events of that night.”

He waited for her assent.

She nodded. “Show me.”

Dark smoke of midnight blue filled her vision. It swirled thickly before parting to reveal a fortified castle silhouetted against a starless sky. She was standing at the edge of a forest with Nathaniel, her view of the castle partially blocked by tall trees.

“Wintermaw Keep,” Kira murmured. “I’ve never seen it with my own eyes. At least, I don’t remember it.”

“It’s a mercy that you have no memories of that night,” Nathaniel said. “And I am sorry you have to relive it now.”

Before she could respond, several dark figures emerged from the shadows of the trees. Henrikk was there, his blond hair gleaming in the moonlight. He smoothed his sharp moustache as he regarded the Keep with a smile.

Kira drew a sharp breath and stumbled away from Henrikk. Had she truly been here, she might have stumbled over the tree roots. As it was, she drifted through them like a ghost.

Nathaniel took her hand and drew her close. “They can’t see or hear us. It’s just a memory.”

Henrikk addressed the ranks of cloaked vampires, his voice a commanding hiss. “I can taste victory.”

Kira noticed a young man standing behind Henrikk. She did a double take. He was in his mid-teens, and his stature and facial features were strikingly similar to Henrikk’s.

Nathaniel.

It was obviously him. She could tell from his furrowed brows and the tense set of his jaw that he did not seem to share his father’s anticipation.

The real Nathaniel leant close to her. “Let’s skip ahead. Brace yourself.”

Blue smoke descended upon them again, and when it cleared, they were inside a corridor with a high vaulted ceiling. Elegant carpet runners stretched from one end to the other, and the walls were lined with doors and tapestries. Two guards were stationed before each door.

“The east wing, where the royal family’s living quarters are,” Nathaniel said, stopping before a white door with mouldings. “This is where the children slept.” He peered at her with concern. “We can skip this part if you wish. What happened is…very disturbing. I don’t think you would ever be able to erase it from your mind.”

Kira chewed her lip. She had a general idea what would happen next. “It’s better that I know.”

“Very well,” Nathaniel nodded. Before entering the room, he gestured at the guards. “They both fought bravely. This one on the right nearly killed me.”