Chapter 12

12

OSSIAN

T he soft glow of the Dracarian sunset shone across the walls of my chambers, casting shadows that danced and swayed with each gentle breath of air.

Last night, my fellow vampires had voiced their concerns, but thankfully, at lunch today, the Dracarians had shared that we'd be supplied with sustenance. It would be provided in our rooms for us, so we could choose whether we attended meal times or sat them out. Whether or not it was a way to keep us away, the stains against all of the other species, I had no idea, but it was better than us going into a frenzy.

The animal blood provided wasn't the worst I'd had, and I knew it would suffice, although it was hard not to dwell on sweeter tastes.

I sat motionless on the edge of my bed, lost in thought, my fingers absently tracing the spot on my wrist where Aria's pulse had thrummed against my skin just days ago.

The memory of her taste, her scent, the way she'd trembled in my arms – it all haunted me in a way I hadn't experienced in centuries. What was it about this human that had gotten under my skin so thoroughly?

A sharp knock at my door jolted me from my thoughts. "Enter," I called out, my voice rougher than I'd intended.

Valeria slipped into the room, her green eyes gleaming with mischief. "Well, well," she purred, "someone looks lost in thought. Thinking about your little human pet?"

I shot her a warning glance. "Aria is not a pet, Valeria. And my thoughts are my own."

She held up her hands in mock surrender. "Easy there, old man. I'm just curious."

I sighed. "What do you want, Valeria?"

"Elowen's called a meeting. Apparently, they're finally going to tell us what all this training has been for." She paused, her expression growing serious. "And Ossian? The others aren't happy about the... dietary situation here."

I nodded, understanding her concern. The animal blood we'd been provided was sufficient to keep us nourished, but for some, it was far from satisfying. It was like asking a gourmand to subsist on bland gruel – it kept you alive, but it hardly made existence enjoyable. I knew how they felt, but that didn't mean I was going to cause a scene or anything. I would survive.

"They're complaining," Valeria continued, her voice lowering. "They're calling it 'going vegetarian'. Marcus, in particular, seems to be taking it rather poorly. I heard him losing his cool when he tried the blood in his room. The other two are of the same mind, but you know how they seem to be following him."

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. Marcus was your stereotypical vampire. One for indulgence, reveling in the hunt and the intoxicating taste of human blood, something he'd discussed with the other two at lengths, expecting Valeria and I to be on the same wavelength. For him, this dietary restriction was likely more than just an inconvenience – it was an affront to his very nature.

Thankfully, Valeria was more like me, having been a rather new vampire, only a few decades turned, and she clung to her humanity like I did. Sure, she hunted, but from what she'd shared, she reveled in enticing men into falling for her then feeding on them, getting more from them than just blood. Feeding could be a sexual thing, after all, but she always erased their minds. She had a few regulars back home that she toyed with, something that I wondered if I should pursue, but I disliked the idea of toying with their emotions like she did, keeping them wanting for her.

Each to their own, though.

"They'll have to adapt," I said firmly. "Aria is the only human here, and she's off-limits."

Valeria raised an eyebrow. "Ah yes, your little human. You know that she's at risk, right? They don't give a rat's ass about anything, and this whole war thing, they're only going along because they have to in order to get home and feed. They're just lucky compulsion doesn't work here, or Aria would've already become their midnight snack bag."

A flare of possessiveness rose up within me at her words, surprising myself with its intensity. "Aria is not to be touched," I growled, my voice lower than I'd anticipated.

Valeria held up her hands in mock surrender, but her eyes gleamed with interest. "My, my. The old vampire has himself hooked. You of all of us should know better."

I chose to ignore her comment, instead focusing on the matter at hand. "We'll need to keep an eye on the others, especially Marcus. The last thing we need is for someone to lose control and jeopardize us. They say they need us, but if we're a risk to the others, they may decide they don't need us that much."

Valeria nodded, her expression sobering. "Agreed. But Ossian… Your attachment to the human girl is noticeable. And in times like these, any perceived weakness can be exploited. You may be the oldest vampire here, so the other three are willing to listen to you to some extent and stand down, but if they think you're weak… you'll lose all standing."

I sighed, hating that she was right. I'd already talked Marcus down once from causing a scene, and I'd stepped in last night, which had caused him to rein himself in, but it was like trying to control a rabid dog. He was not one I could trust, and if he knew of my soft spot for Aria, he'd find it as something fun to mess with, to go after her and cause havoc with me. Some vampires craved the chaos, and Marcus was one of them.

"Be careful, Ossian. You're playing a dangerous game."

With that ominous warning, Valeria turned and left, leaving me alone with my thoughts once more. As I prepared to head to the meeting, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were balancing on a knife's edge. One wrong move, and everything could come crashing down around us.

The dining hall was buzzing with tension when I arrived. Everyone clustered in their chosen groups, their voices a low murmur of anticipation and anxiety. My eyes immediately sought out Aria, finding her standing with the werewolf, Christopher, the panther shifter, Lydia, and the fae, Zephyr.

Elowen stepped forward, her presence alone commanding silence. Beside her, Eirian looked equally grave.

"Thank you all for coming," Elowen began, her voice carrying easily through the hall. "It's time we explained the true purpose of your training."

A hush fell over the crowd as she continued. "Within each of you runs the blood of the ancient Dracarians. This blood, this heritage, is why you are here, which you are well aware of."

"Long ago," Elowen went on, her voice carrying a weight of ancient sorrow, "our realm was protected by the ancient dragons – beings of immense power and wisdom. These magnificent creatures used their magic to create a barrier, shielding our world from the encroaching darkness of the Void."

She paused, her eyes sweeping across the room. "But as the ages passed, even the dragons' immense power began to wane. The threat of the Void grew stronger, pressing against the weakening barrier. In a final act of sacrifice, the dragons turned themselves to stone, pouring the last of their magic into reinforcing the shield between our worlds and the creeping shadows."

Eirian stepped forward then, his voice deep and resonant. "Now, after centuries of silence, we face a grave crisis. The dragons' magic, once thought eternal, is fading. We can feel the Void pressing against the boundaries of our realm, seeking entry. The stone dragons that have stood as silent sentinels all this time now represent our last hope."

His gaze hardened as he continued, "These petrified guardians stand in the Great Hall, waiting. It is there that your true test will come. For we believe that you, with your unique bloodlines, may hold the key to reawakening the dragons and finally destroying the Void once and for all."

Valeria gasped beside me, and hushed murmurs rolled through the hall.

So it wasn't just us that were supposed to fight the Void. Of course there was a bigger piece at play, a great reason we were here.

"Dragons, actual dragons? How big do you think they are?" Valeria asked excitedly as she turned to me, and I shrugged. The dragon shifters that had rounded us up were the size of buses, some a little bigger than others.

I found my gaze drawn once again to Aria, curious as to how she'd respond. From across the room, I could see her face had gone pale, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and shock. In that moment, I was struck by how fragile she was, how unprepared for the weight that had been placed on her shoulders.

The sweet little human amongst all us monsters.

I smirked inwardly at the thought. Even the fae had been given a bad rap in some lore, as beings who stole children and made dirty deals. To a human, we were all monsters, and yet she'd taken it in her stride.

I watched as Christopher placed a protective arm around her waist, drawing her close. Zephyr leaned in to say something, while Lydia was shaking her head. Even from this distance, I could see the slight tremor in Aria's hand as she nodded in response to whatever was said.

A complex mix of emotions surged through me – concern for her wellbeing, a twinge of something that felt uncomfortably like jealousy at Christopher's closeness, and an overwhelming urge to protect her from what was to come. But I remained where I was, knowing that my presence would likely only complicate matters further.

I shouldn't have felt any of this for her, but ever since I'd fed from her, I'd felt something inside me, something I'd not felt in a long time. She'd stirred something, and now she had me intrigued.

Valeria was right, she was at risk, especially with how I was drawn to her. The other three vampires would find it a fun challenge if they learned of it.

I forced myself to look away, and my gaze moved to the three vampires on the other side of Valeria, to how Marcus was staring hard at Aria, seemingly unbothered by this revelation, his mind focused on one thing only.

The only human.

The dissatisfaction with the animal blood, the pressure of our circumstances – it was all coming to a head. And I had a sinking feeling that before this test even began, we might have a very different kind of problem on our hands.

As Eirian's voice cut through the hall once more, his words sent a ripple of tension through the crowd.

"Prepare yourselves," he announced, his tone grave. "The Trial of the Stone Sentinels will begin in a few weeks. Use this time wisely to hone your skills and strengthen your connection to your Dracarian heritage. The challenges ahead will test you in ways you cannot yet imagine."

The announcement of a few weeks' preparation time changed the atmosphere in the room. Relief mingled with anxiety as people realized they had time to prepare, but also more time to dwell on the enormity of the task ahead.

I watched as Aria and her companions huddled closer, no doubt overwhelmed and shocked by this news. The other groups in the room began to disperse, murmuring amongst themselves.

I watched Marcus and the other two vampires. I needed to keep a close eye on them now. I needed to make sure order was kept and they didn't do something reckless, putting all of us at risk.

Valeria arched a brow before glancing to her side and realizing what was going on. She looked at me, her lips set in a grim line.

This wasn't going to be easy.

Whatever came next, whatever challenges we faced, I silently vowed to do everything in my power to keep Aria safe. Even if it meant watching from afar. Even if it meant going against my own kind.

Not just for her, but for my kind as well. Valeria had proven herself to be an ally, and Marcus was putting her at risk as well. I wasn't close with the other two, Willian and Lionel, but William had been the one to hold Marcus back last night. Lionel, on the other hand, was young and looked up to Marcus for some bizarre reason. From what I knew, he'd been turned fifty years ago, while William was over a hundred. Marcus and I were the oldest, with Marcus at four-hundred-years-old. If it came down to a fight, we were well-matched. And if Valeria decided to swap alliances… no, I had no reason to think such a thing, but it was something I'd remain mindful of.

Our little group was mismatched, but with my being the eldest, it gave me some higher position.

For now.

The game had indeed changed, and now we had a few weeks to prepare for whatever challenges lay ahead. I only hoped it would be enough.