“What the fuck are you doing here?” Vail growled in a low, dangerous voice. Knowing exactly what that tone meant, I raced over and slid between the two males before they decided not enough blood had been spilt tonight.
I had a very logical argument prepared about how we needed to work together to get to safety. Unfortunately, my body realized we’d survived the fight, and the adrenaline started to fade. Blood coated every inch of my clothing, the wound on my shoulder and arm still bleeding profusely, and the darkness that had been trying to claim me for the last ten minutes finally won the battle.
The last thing I remembered before passing out was Draven snatching me before I hit the ground, his eyes still a sea of blood. “Don’t worry, love. I’ll always catch you.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Samara
I woke up with a start,the memory of hungry, vacant eyes, sharp fangs, and long, jagged claws plaguing my nightmares. Strigoi. We’d been attacked by Strigoi. I’d done my best to fight them off, but they’d overpowered me—fed on me. Vail hadn’t been able to get there in time . . . but Draven had.
Draven had found us.
“It’s okay. You’re safe.”
Speak of the devil.
I looked to my right to find Draven leaning casually against a wall. His posture was relaxed and almost bored, the same way he stood when attending the Sovereign House masquerades or all the meetings the Moroi Prince was expected to attend. His leisurely facade was ruined by the ominous, black cloak still wrapped around him, splattered with blood, and the whip coiled at his hip. I stared at it for a long moment. It only looked like one whip, but I was sure I had seen two earlier.
His hood was pulled down, revealing his black-and-silver-streaked hair braided back away from his face. I met his eyes, lapis lazuli blue cracks winding their way through the red. Hehadn’t released his bloodlust, which meant he was still expecting a fight.
“We’re at the cabin.” My head snapped to where Vail was standing to my left. I was pretty sure he hadn’t been significantly injured during the fight, but I still methodically searched his broad frame, looking for any hints of injury.
“You’re okay,” I said with a relieved sigh and took his hand. Vail pulled me to my feet before directing me slightly behind him. My relief quickly turned to annoyance, and I stepped forward so I was at his side, Draven only a few feet away from us. “He saved my life, Vail. I’m not saying we have to tell him our deepest, darkest secrets, but I’m confident he’s not going to hurt me.”
A wicked grin lit up Draven’s face. “And what would I have to do to get you to tell me such deep, dark secrets?”
I matched his carnal smile with one of my own. “I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.” He stiffened, and I laughed. “Thought so.”
“How did you find us? Tell us,” Vail asked. He didn’t push me behind him again, but I could feel the tension rolling off him.
“I don’t take orders from you,” Draven drawled.
“Fine.” Vail shrugged. “I wouldn’t have believed anything you said anyway, but maybe after I beat the shit out of you, something akin to truth will dribble out of your broken jaw.”
“Try it.” Draven bared his teeth and I felt . . . something. Did the ground tremble?
I glanced down and saw that the cabin had no floor. It was just four walls and a roof over a fairly flat, dirt surface. Given that we were in Velesian territory, it made sense. They didn’t like being apart from the earth, even when inside.
“There it is.” Vail narrowed his eyes at the prince. “You have magic. More than just the blood magic of the Moroi.”His steel-grey eyes fell to the bare floor. “It’s earth magic, isn’t it? Is that what you used to sneak up on me in that alley?”
Draven’s face went carefully blank. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Maybe you’re just not as skilled as you think.”
“Enough,” I snapped. They continued to glower at each other, but they ceased with the threats. Good enough. I glanced at Vail. “How much time do we have?”Before Rynn shows up and we all go sneaking around a forbidden lake looking for a lost Fae crown.I left that part out but trusted Vail to understand what I was asking.
“You were passed out for two hours while you healed. I gave you some of my blood to speed it up, but the Strigoi tore through a lot of your flesh and you lost a lot of blood.” Vail’s voice turned raspy as he admitted how badly I’d been hurt. “We have less than an hour now.”
Shit.
My eyes softened as I looked at Draven but I kept my voice strong and steady. “You’ve been trying to play both sides since you arrived at House Harker. Telling me and Kieran you care about us and only want to protect us but in the same breath saying we can’t trust you. We can’t continue like this. Either you’re with us or you’re not. Decide.”
“It’s not that simple.” Pain flickered across his face along with something that looked a lot like fear.
“Make it that simple,” I pushed. He had followed us here, and while I was grateful for him saving our lives, I couldn’t let my feelings for him risk everything. All that mattered was keeping the other half of the crown out of Velika’s grasp. Once we secured it, we’d have to figure out how to rescue Carmilla and get the second half of the crown.
“And if I refuse?”
I swallowed before steeling my nerves. “Then we’ll make the choice for you.”
