31. Montana

Istood in Erik’s room with a sinking feeling in my chest, gazing around the space with emotion welling inside me. Black walls stared back at me and his large bed looked like it hadn’t been slept in for a while. It was hard to believe how much had changed since the last time I’d been in this room. Erik had captured my heart entirely. We were linked in an irreversible way that had nothing to do with the gods’ rune on my palm.

I’m coming for you. I’ll save you from that bitch.

What if Valentina was torturing him? The idea set my blood boiling and my throat tightening. I hated her with an intensity that started an anxious fire in my heart.

I moved to the bed, dropping down onto it with an itching at the base of my throat. It grew to a persistent ache and I sucked in a slow breath, trying to will the sensation away. After the battle, I was exhausted. But not in a human way; it was a feeling deep in my chest and I was sure blood was what I needed to feel right again. Perhaps a good night’s sleep too. But I didn’t think that would come easy knowing Erik was trapped somewhere with Valentina for company.

I ran my tongue across my canines, flopping back onto the mattress and covering my eyes as I tried to will the desire away. Erik’s scent floated over me and I rolled, pressing my face to his pillow and devouring the earthy smell. It might have been one-percent creepy but it also gave me an ounce of comfort that helped me fight the thirst. I lay there until I was sure the pain was going to devour me from the inside out. The ache for blood was nothing in comparison to being parted from Erik. Why was everything against us? Why couldn’t any of this be simple?

I pressed my fingers into my eyes, not wanting to drown in self-pity. It was a pointless emotion, but one that was gnawing on my insides.

I just want him back. I need him to be okay.

The longer I lay there, the more my sadness evolved into a steely determination. I had my family at my back. Erik’s family. Callie. Julius. Today we’d fought those biters and survived. I was certain we could keep doing so. Together, we were a small army. Frighteningly powerful and fearfully protective of our kin. So long as we could keep working together and put our differences aside, nothing could stop us. I knew I was a vital link between the two opposing sides. The bridge between the slayers and the vampires. So I had to be strong and ensure that the fragile ties binding them never wavered.

A knock came at the door and I sat upright, jolting out of my reverie. “Come in.”

Clarice stepped through the door looking freshly washed in a silk dressing gown, the scent of coconut soap sailing from her skin. But the smell was nothing in comparison to the contents of the bottle in her hand.

I bared my fangs, unable to help myself as I sprang from the bed and started hounding toward her. I dug my heels in, forcing myself to a halt as my fingers twitched with the need to grab that bottle from her grip.

“It’s alright. Here, it’s Realm A.” She held it out for me and I gritted my teeth, despising this part of the curse more than anything.

I swallowed hard against the sharp lump in my throat, having no choice as I took the blood from her. I was no good to Erik if I couldn’t focus. And without blood, the thirst would only increase, snaring me in a net. There was only one way to escape that fate.

Twisting the cap off, I shut my eyes and lost myself to the tantalising scent. I started drinking and the thick liquid rolled over my tongue, so sweet and full of nourishment. I swallowed every drop, releasing a growl as I finished, hungering for more.

“It’ll pass,” Clarice promised. “That’s enough to sate you.”

I nodded, digging my fangs into my tongue to try and battle away the clawing urge to find more blood. I blinked hard and slowly the haze lifted from my mind, returning me to myself. In that moment, I was glad I’d chosen to sleep separately to Callie. I never wanted her to see me feed. And I’d known the second we’d arrived at the castle that the curse had gotten its hooks in me again. The less she witnessed that side of me, the better.

“Is it going away?” she asked and I nodded, releasing a breath of relief. She smiled, but there was a sadness in her eyes. “How are you adjusting?”

I chewed my lower lip, shrugging. “It’s fine. I mean, it’s not as bad as I thought. But the blood thing...” I shuddered. “I feel like a traitor to humans. Like I’m still one of them but at the same time, somehow not.”

“Maybe we’ll be human again one day,” she said, her eyes glowing at the idea. “Erik said you’re close to working out the prophecy?”

I nodded, but the possibility didn’t offer me any of the relief it had in the past. With Erik and Magnar in trouble, Callie and I couldn’t focus on anything but saving them.

“Why do you want to be human?” I asked, the question popping into my mind. “I mean, you have everything here. Is it the thirst?”

She pressed her back to the door and it clicked shut as she toyed with the belt of her dressing gown. “Partly that, yes. It’s always been a burden to bear. But I...” She glanced up at me, seeming to consider whether to go on. “I don’t want to upset you.”

“Why would you upset me?”

“Because when you realise what you’ve lost, you’ll know why it’s the most terrible of curses. Especially for a woman.”

My mouth parted as I figured out what she meant. “You want children?”

She nodded and her blue eyes sparkled with tears. “I thought if I could have love with a man, that would be enough. But even that’s been impossible to find. I don’t know if it’s the curse or just...me.”

My heart twitched at her words. How could someone as beautiful as Clarice not have found love? And regardless of her beauty, I was starting to see such a warmth in her. A kindness. She’d been good to me, even though her intentions hadn’t always been for my benefit.

“I love my nieces and nephews,” Clarice went on. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m so blessed to have the life I do. But it will never be quite enough.”

“Where are the children?” I asked.

“Miles and Fabian’s wives live in the suburbs with them. They’re protected. Human blood still runs in their veins until they come of age. They’re vulnerable to our kind before their eighteenth birthday, then they become more like us. Immortal, impervious to the passing of time. Although some of them inherit the gifts of the slayers too. But the curse is still theirs to bear...”

I reached out and rested my hand on her arm. “We’ll break it,” I swore.

“But what if we don’t?” she whispered. “What if there was never an answer? If it’s just a riddle to drive us mad?”

Fear spilled into my veins. I hadn’t really considered being stuck like this forever. I’d barely had a day to adjust to this new life, but it hit me hard that Clarice could be right. That the prophecy was a lie. And I would be like this for all eternity. Erik and I could never have children. No family of our own.

It wasn’t something I’d ever wanted in my life in the Realm. But so much had changed in the past weeks. The possibilities of a free life had been presented to me. One where my children would never have to live in the conditions I’d grown up in. Would I choose to have them one day if it were an option?

My heart splintered as the answer came to me in a resounding, instinctive voice.

Yes.

I looked to Clarice with a sense of pity. She’d been this way for over a thousand years, searching for love, for something to make her immortal life worthwhile.

“That’s why you have a harem,” I guessed and she nodded in confirmation.

“I give every man in my harem a chance to see if we’re a good match in the hopes that they’re the one. Don’t get me wrong, I care about them all. But never enough. Never more. Maybe I’m incapable of loving someone that way.” She shook her head and her damp hair fell forward over her shoulders. A tear escaped her eye and she hastily wiped it away. She always seemed so strong and now she was coming apart right in front of me. We were on equal footing in this castle for once and I suddenly felt the need to comfort her. Although I barely knew her, I was strangely protective of her. As if the vampire part of me recognised her as my family. And I supposed she was now. She was my sister-in-law.

I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close and she stiffened in my arms as if the action was unknown to her.

Clarice sniffed heavily. “I always wanted a sister.” She leaned back, brushing a lock of hair over my shoulder. “Silly, isn’t it? I’ve got everything in the world and yet I still long for more. I should just be happy with what I’ve got.”

She reined in her tears, stepping away from me and tilting her chin up as she regained her composure.

“I don’t think we can help what our hearts want,” I said with a sad smile. “When I was brought to this castle, the last thing I ever could have imagined was falling for one of your brothers.”

“I told you they’re not all bad,” she said with a grin. “Well, Fabian can be an ass, but he has a good heart. Deep down.”

“I like him more when he’s in love with my sister,” I said, breaking a smile. “He certainly has a way with words.”

She snorted. “Did he really write her a poem?”

“Yes and it was atrocious.”

She laughed and the sound was light and musical, lifting the heaviness in the air. She glanced down at my filthy attire with a raised eyebrow. “You should get cleaned up.” She gestured to the ensuite across the room. “I’ll bring you some fresh clothes.”

“Thank you,” I said earnestly and she turned with a nod, heading out of the room.

I made a beeline for the bathroom, slipping inside and finding a room decorated with navy tiles. A circular mirror encrusted with tiny stars hung on the wall above the sink. I eyed myself in the reflection, wrinkling my nose as I spotted the blood and muck lining my flesh.

I took a long shower, cleaning my skin until its pearly white colour was revealed again. As I dried myself off with a towel, I gazed at the silver cross glimmering on my left palm. I ran my fingers over it, tracing the X, wondering if it would let me know if Erik was hurt, or even dead.

I blinked hard, jamming that thought to the back of my brain. If there was one thing I knew about my husband, it was that he was a force to be reckoned with. And wherever he was, he would be fighting his hardest to escape. Valentina had bitten off more than she could chew if she thought she could break him. And from what I’d seen of Magnar, I suspected the same of him.

I headed back into the bedroom, finding a pile of clothes left on the bed. Some silky pink pyjamas beside jeans and a black shirt for tomorrow.

I tugged on the pyjamas, feeling a little exposed in the tiny vest and shorts, but I wasn’t cold, even with my damp hair hanging around me.

I moved toward Erik’s closet, opening it and searching through the rack of expensive suits until my hand landed on a casual black sweatshirt. I shrugged it on and it hung down to my thighs. Leaving the zip undone, I rolled up the long sleeves and tugged my hair out from under the collar.

I padded to the door, no longer feeling tired even though I’d probably have been desperate for sleep if I’d still been human. My thoughts turned to Callie and Fabian. I knew she could handle herself with him and the ring’s power gave her a weapon over him anyway, but I still didn’t like the fact that they’d been left alone together. She was injured and coping with Magnar being taken. The last thing she needed was to deal with Fabian’s bullshit too.

I stepped out into the corridor, finding Julius leaving my old room further down the hall at the same moment. He was dressed in navy sweatpants and a white t-shirt. His scent reached me. Blood and shower gel, but as the thirst prickled the base of my throat, I focused on the other scent and the hunger died away a little. I was fed and no longer under the curse’s spell. But I wasn’t about to tell him about the blood I’d recently consumed.

“Hey,” I called and he turned to me with a grin as his gaze flitted over me. “Shit Montana, if you weren’t a bloodsucking parasite, I’d almost have thought you look hot right now.”

“Thanks,” I said tersely, slightly hurt by his reference to me.

“Sorry,” he muttered. “You’re not a parasite.”

I smiled awkwardly, walking toward him, wanting to move on from the massive roadblock between us. We were sworn enemies by the gods’ standards. But I didn’t give a damn what they thought. And the mere idea made me hook an arm through Julius’s in an attempt to prove how much that wasn’t true.

“I was going to look for Callie,” Julius revealed and I nodded.

“I had the same idea. She’s with Fabian.”

His expression hardened. “Then let’s go save her from him in case he starts spewing poetry again.”

I left my arm around his and we headed toward the stairway.

Callie’s scent called to me as we descended the red carpeted stairs into the expansive hallway below and I guided Julius along, breathing in deeply as the smell of her untended wounds guided my feet.

“You’re sniffing her out,” he commented, frowning at me.

“Yes...” I said carefully. “Does it bother you?”

“It bothers me that you have to deal with this curse. But, I guess I’m glad you’re like this. Otherwise you’d be dead. And although being a vampire would have seemed like the worst thing on Earth to me a couple of days ago, now I’m having some doubts. And I really don’t want to dwell on what that means.”

I frowned as we walked, moving down another staircase into a large library. “Because you’d have to accept that the Belvederes might not be all bad?” I guessed.

“I didn’t say that. I’m not enjoying keeping the company of the Golden Whore and her siblings.”

My frown deepened and my heart tugged painfully. “Don’t call her that. She’s not a whore. And maybe if you knew her motivations for keeping a harem, you wouldn’t think it either.”

I released his arm as Callie’s scent drew me toward a large metal door which stood open at the back of the room.

“What motivations?” he grunted, but I didn’t think it was my place to share Clarice’s secrets.

“Maybe you should ask her some time,” I said lightly, pushing the door wider and stepping through it. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled to attention and I frowned.

“Yeah, maybe we’ll share a picnic on the lawn under the light of the stars. Or maybe I’ll gouge my own eyes out with a rusty spoon instead. That would definitely be preferable.”

“Don’t be a jerk,” I said as he followed me into the stairwell and voices reached my ears.

Julius stilled then hurried past me, seeming impassioned by something as he ran down the stairs with a skip in his step.

I followed at speed as a strange humming ran through my veins. It was familiar and yet alien too. I arrived in the room and spotted Callie with a giant golden sword in her hands, standing between racks and racks of slayer weapons.

My mouth fell open as I took in the huge armoury, unable to believe how many of the blades stared back at me.

Fabian was watching Callie with an amused expression, but as we arrived, his eyes darkened.

“This wasn’t an open invitation,” he growled, his gaze following Julius as the slayer moved between the racks, looking like a kid who’d been handed a bucket of candy.

“Well I’m making it one,” Julius said with a grin and Fabian’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“Callie?” I said as I approached her, a smile gripping my face. As I took in her dirty clothes and the scratches and gouges on her body, my smile fell away. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine now I’ve got this.” She beamed as she swung the huge sword through the air. “Maybe I should test it out.” She pointed it at Fabian and he gave her a dry look.

I spotted Tempest leaning against the closest rack and sensed the angry vibrations it was giving off.

“Pretend all you like that you want to kill me, but I know I’m under your skin, little slayer,” Fabian said coolly and I realised the ring’s power was now affecting him. He was back to his cocky I-don’t-give-two-shits-about-the-world demeanour.

“Yes!” Julius cried with a wild laugh and I turned towards him as he picked up a beautiful sword with rubies encrusted in the hilt. “Vicious,” he announced, turning to us. “This is Valentina’s old sword. And now it’s mine.” He continued laughing, swiping it through the air. “She’s going to die at the sharp edge of her own beloved blade.”

I turned back to Fabian hopefully. “Have your Familiars found anything?”

“Not yet,” he said, pressing his lips together. “They’re searching the Brooklyn ruins. But that’s nearly a hundred square miles to hide Erik in.”

“And Magnar,” Callie added, arching a brow.

“Who?” Fabian said coolly. “Oh yes, your half-wit slayer boyfriend.”

“You’re just jealous that Magnar can grow his hair twice as long as yours,” Julius called from across the room. “Your little ponytail would be more fitting on a twelve-year-old girl, Fabio.”

“It’s Fabian.” He bared his fangs, stalking toward Julius. “And the weapons in this room are Belvedere property. You don’t get to take a blade without my say so.”

Julius angled Vicious towards him with a casual smirk. “These are all designed to destroy your kind, Fabio. You don’t own a single one of them. They were stolen from my people.”

“It’s not stealing if the owner is dead,” Fabian said with a nasty grin.

Julius gritted his teeth and anxiety clutched my heart. Why the hell was Fabian goading a slayer in a place like this?

“Stop it,” I said, stepping between them before their bickering escalated. “We’re working together now, so can you drop the shit so we can start making a real plan?”

Julius lowered the sword slightly, giving in to my pleading look.

“The plan is this,” Fabian said. “We wait for my Familiars to find Valentina and then we go after her covertly.”

“Excuse me, sire?” a female voice called from the door and I glanced back, spotting the blonde Elite from the battle stepping into the room. She wore a pair of jeans and a tank top that showed off her ample curves. She was beautiful with full pink lips and lake green eyes, her skin holding a shimmer to it that seemed to light up the room.

Fabian’s eyes raked over her. “What is it, Danielle?”

“I had an idea...” She bit her lip and waited for Fabian’s encouragement.

“Go on,” he growled.

“Well I noticed you only sent birds to scout Brooklyn for Valentina, but you’re forgetting about the miles of tunnels beneath the city. Perhaps rats would be more useful for this task?”

Fabian’s brows pinched together as if he was going to berate her.

“That’s a great idea,” I said quickly. “If they’re hiding underground, birds won’t spot them.”

Fabian glared at me then turned his attention back to Danielle. “I’ll have it done.”

“I have my own vermin Familiars. I could send them? It would save you the bother of making more,” Danielle offered.

“Fine, do it,” Fabian agreed.

Danielle turned to leave, but Fabian shot to her side in a jolt of motion, catching hold of her arm. “If you need a place to stay tonight, my quarters are available.” He threw a surreptitious glance at Callie, but my sister seemed more interested in the sword in her hands. Fabian’s eyes darkened as he turned to Danielle again. “If you don’t mind bunking with me?”

Danielle raised a brow then laughed. “It’s fine, sire, I’m not tired. I’m happy to work through the night and keep an eye on my Familiars.”

Fabian shifted uncomfortably, her laughter clearly mortifying him. “Right...sure. But if you need anything-”

“I know where to find you,” Danielle said, fighting a smile as she headed out of the room.

“That was embarrassing,” Julius remarked. “You’re getting shot down left, right and centre, Fabio. It must be really bruising that ego of yours.”

Callie snorted a laugh and Fabian snarled, glaring at him. “Shut your mouth.”

“Make me,” Julius taunted, swinging Valentina’s blade through the air.

I sighed, giving up on them ever forming any kind of real bond. So long as they continued working together, that would have to do.

“Callie, are you hungry?” I asked, hoping to escape the tension in the room.

Her eyes widened and she nodded eagerly.

“I’m ravenous,” Julius agreed, moving toward me, but Fabian sped into his path, pointing at the rack.

“Put it back,” he commanded, but Julius just gave him an amused expression.

“I’m taking this sword. And if you’d rather not end up as a pile of ash in the next few seconds, I suggest you move out of my way, parasite.”

Fabian bared his fangs and Callie moved into action, twisting the ring on her finger as she approached them.

“Let him have it, Fabian,” she purred.

Fabian blinked hard, turning to her with wide, adoring eyes. “Oh... okay, sure. If it makes you happy, my love.”

Julius clapped him hard on the shoulder as he moved past him. “It makes me ecstatic, thanks bud.” He headed toward the door and Callie threw me a grin.

“I’ll fetch a servant to bring anything you want to your room,” Fabian said, his cold front lost to the power of their bond.

“Thanks. Maybe some cheese and bread?” Callie asked and Fabian nodded keenly.

“I’ll have a feast made,” he announced, hurrying from the room and barging past Julius in the doorway. With him gone, Julius moved back toward the weapons, picking up a golden bow and a quiver of arrows before shouldering them.

“I prefer love-sick Fabian,” he mused. “I don’t even have to try and humiliate him, he manages it all by himself.”

Callie released a laugh, placing the sword back on one of the racks and picking up two short daggers instead. “I suppose this bind does have some positives.”

“I think you could make him dance for you if you wanted,” I said, grinning. “The gods really don’t know what love is if they think acting like a doting moron is it.”

Callie stilled at my words, her mouth opening. “Shit you’re right.” She clutched my wrist, her eyes glimmering with hope. “That’s their weakness, Monty. It’s love. They don’t get it. The way Idun made me and Fabian behave over this bond, it’s just lust, infatuation.”

“So?” I questioned. “What difference does it make?”

“It means they’ll underestimate real love,” she said with a triumphant look in her eyes. “That’s why we were able to stop Magnar and Erik from killing each other before. Because they love us. Truly. So maybe we can overcome anything the gods throw at us with that strength on our side.”

“As long as you’ve got the ring though, we’re safe anyway,” I said.

“Yes we are. But Erik and Magnar aren’t.” A crease formed on her forehead. “They’re on their own. And maybe that’s what the gods want. To cut them off from us.”

“Why?” I asked, fearful of that possibility.

“I don’t know...to punish them? They’re helping Valentina. But the gods won’t be expecting Magnar and Erik to work together.”

“Great,” I said, realising what she meant. “So we have to hope they put their differences aside because of their love for us?”

“Yes,” Callie said uncertainly. “If we don’t find them soon, they’ll have to make their own plan.”

I sighed heavily, shaking my head. “I hope Fabian finds them in the next hour then.”