Page 78

Glancing at the trees above me, I tried to picture it alive, tall and brown, its branches heavy with green. I imagined flowers climbing through the hedges, bursting with color. The scent of life was thick in the air. Sunlight danced across the grass. It would’ve been overwhelming, all that beauty. This place would’ve been brimming with growth. Not silence. Not bone-deep winter.

Many lives had been shaped around that one night, and it sat on my chest heavy and unyielding. Soft greens and yellows flickered at my wrist, pulling me from my thoughts. I had almost forgotten about the gem. Tracing my thumb over the stone, I looked over to my mom. “What is this, anyway?” I asked, lifting my arm so the gem caught the light.

Martha’s eyes twinkled at the question. Crossing one arm over her chest, the free one waved in the air in explanation. “One of the women gave it to me. Said it was a seed of some sort.” A smirk lit her cheeks as she winked. “I’m fairly sure she’s never seen an emerald in her life. Gorgeous, isn’t it? I thought you’d like to keep it. A little reminder of our time there.”

“So you hustled them.”

“I accepted a gift,” she corrected, shaking her head,

Laughing, I leaned back against the tree, the quiet folding over us again. It felt like hours had passed since Valentina disappeared into her home. My thoughts had wandered too far. I was going to send myself into an anxiety attack if I hadn’t heard the squeal of horses. The neigh jolted me back to the present.

Adjusting my gaze in the thick fog, I watched as the thick metal gates of Draco’s castle slammed against the brick wall. The sound echoed through the valley, breaking the hush of the day and stirring the quiet creatures in the forest to howl. Two gray stallions emerged from the veil of snow, their hooves crunching against the ice as they pulled a gleaming carriage behind them. It was a royal midnight indigo trimmed in gold. Draped along its side was the Eari family crest, a symbol I knew too well from my dreamwalks. The windows were so clear, not a tint in sight. As the carriage rolled past my line of sight, I caught a glimpse of its driver, the first vampire I’d seen beyond our small circle.

The man’s profile was sharp and unreadable, carved from something ancient. Blond hair brushed the edge of his ears, pale as bone. He looked like a statue set in motion, cold, composed, and built for war. The moment was brief; the horses pulled the carriage out of sight. In seconds, it vanished into the forest, swallowed whole by the trees and heavy mist.

“I wonder who that could be,” I murmured, my gaze still locked on the end of the road. There was something about that carriage, about him, that set me on edge. Not only was that the first vampire outside of my group, but that had been the first time that crest had haunted me in the wake. It made it feel all the more real.

“Whoever it was, that carriage was beautiful,” my mother mused beside me, her tone light, unaware of my unease. “Did you see the crown on top of it?” She leaned forward, eyes wide with wonder. “Like something out of a fairy tale.” Her voice softened, fading into a wistful hum as the glittering snow slowed to a radiant hush around us.

“I did,” I answered, my voice more strained than I wanted. Standing, I brushed the thin layer of sleet from my coat and pants, both damp from sitting too long. Reaching for my mother’s hand, I lifted her easily to her feet. Brushing the snow from her shoulders, she gathered the folds of her dress, dusting them off.

Whoever had been inside that carriage… I’d figure it out later.

For now, there were more pressing matters. Kleitos and Mark were still missing, and I could only hope Arianna had already run them down. I hadn’t known her long, but I’d seen enough; she was more than capable. I hadn’t expected the tension between Kleitos and Mark. I thought Mark would’ve respected him, maybe even admired him. But I should’ve known better. There was too much pride. Too much unspoken fury.

And Mark… Mark was the fire. Quick to flare. Quick to burn. Ready to lash out at the slightest spark. Powers were one thing, but what he’d done wasn’t training. It was intent. Deliberate. Dangerous. Almost barbaric.

Another loud metallic clang charged through the air and snapped both our attentions. The iron gates creaked slowly open this time. Through the white haze, silhouettes emerged, sharp against the snow. Valentina was no longer in her yellow. She now wore silver silk that clung to her frame like liquid moonlight. Her hair, once pinned, spilled in soft curls down her sides, brushing past her waist. A sheer black veil covered her face, the trim echoing the edge of her flowing cloak. Draco walked beside her in his usual black, the hood of his cloak drawn low enough to shadow his features. Together, they looked composed. Unified. Almost ceremonial. Each carried a cleanly folded cloak in their arms.

Martha shifted beside me, instinctively stepping forward to greet them. Even without knowing better, she always chose kindness before caution. I knew they wouldn’t harm her, but I gently stopped her, laying an arm across her chest. If one carriage was out, I didn’t know who else could be. I scanned the forest again just to be sure.

As Valentina drew closer, her scent drifted to me on the air, warm, sweet, wrapping around me like a shield. Like home. As if catching the same current, her eyes locked onto mine instantly. Her eyes scanned me from head to toe, looking for any sign of injury. The careful inspection pulled a crooked smile from me, and I dipped my head in a subtle acknowledgment. Once they reached us, she wasted no time. She unfolded the cloak and draped it over my shoulders, her fingers squeezing lightly before she stepped back. The warmth enveloped my body; this shroud was thicker than the one beneath it.

“I thought you said you’d only be a moment,” I murmured, in an attempt to sound offended.

Valentina saw right through me, as her lips turned into a smirk. “I had a detour to make,” she teased, then turned slightly. “Father, you remember Martha.”

Draco stepped forward with the second cloak over his arm, his gaze steady but gentle. “Yes, we meet again.” He paused as he approached, appreciating my mother’s beauty. “This time kissed by new life, I see. You look exactly as I remember, as if time itself refused to touch you.” He leaned in slightly, inhaling the soft warmth rolling from her skin. It was similar to his own scent, and his eyebrow lifted a breath as he glanced between Valentina and my mother.

Only then did I notice how still my mother had become. She stood frozen beside me; her eyes fixed on his face. Not with fear… but with something quieter. Deeper. A memory, maybe, tugging at her from some buried place.

“You okay, Mom?” I murmured, nudging her shoulder gently.

She blinked, returning to herself, and looked at me, then at Draco. “No, I’m fine. I’m fine,” she said, reaching for the cloak and pulling it around her shoulders. “You…” Her voice trembled, barely there. “I never thought about how I’d feel seeing you again. You gave me my greatest joy and reunited my life’s purpose. I just… needed to take you in for a moment.”

A flicker of pride crossed Lord Draco’s face, but only for a heartbeat. Valentina and I both noticed, sharing a quick glance. “I’m honored to be part of your story,” he said softly, offering my mother a genuine smile. He slipped a hand into the inner pocket of his cloak and pulled out two blood bags, tossing one to each of us. “Take these. I imagine you’re both parched.”

The red liquid swirled inside the translucent pouch, still warm. Heat radiated against my frozen fingers, sending a sharp sting through my nerves that made my fangs drop without warning. There was no thought in the action as I brought the plastic to my lips, letting my fangs puncture the synthetic seal. With a soft pop, it gave way. Rich warmth spilled over my tongue. Thick and hot, it coated my throat like melted chocolate as I drank deep.

Beside me, my mother hesitated. Her eyes wandered to mine as I drank. I could see the discomfort in the depths of her gaze until she smelt the blood dripping from my lip. It only took her a moment before she followed, piercing the pouch with her glossy new canines. A brief look of surprise flickered across her face as the flavor hit her.

While we drank, Lord Draco continued, “We need to return to Arianna’s home. Your mother’s scent lingering here is complicated. And the potion we use to conceal Alex is already weakening, and adding more aromas only increases the risk.” His gaze shifted to my mother, his voice softening. “I mean no offense.”

“I understand,” she said, pulling the empty bag from her lips. “I’m not one to complain, I’m a guest in your kingdom.”

Satisfied, warmth settling through my stomach, I wiped my mouth and slipped the empty pouch into my coat pocket. “You’re not just a guest. You’re part of the realm now,” I promised. “Valentina told me there’s a whole city here for those who’ve been changed.”

Lord Draco glanced between the three of us before clearing his throat. “You’ll have time to see it first-hand soon enough. For now, we move quickly.” He stepped forward and gently raised the hood of my mother’s cloak, and she offered him a small, appreciative nod. We followed him around the rear of the estate toward the stables.