I simply rollmyeyes and step through the doorway.
Riven’s instantly by my side, serious again, his sword out as he scans for potential threats.
The area’s clear. So, we climb the spiral staircase, and with each step, the air grows colder. My heart pounds, and through our bond, I feel Riven’s matching anxiety. Not for himself, but forme.
Always for me.
Finally, we reach the top, where a stone door identical to the others awaits. Again, Riven presses his palm to the stone. And again, ice spreads across the surface, the symbols blaze to life, and the door swings open.
The chamber beyond is circular, with tall windows that let in streams of sunlight. Books and various trinkets line the wallsand sit on the tables, and an ornate bed sits in the center of the room, draped in midnight blue silk.
There, on the bed, two figures are wrapped in each other’s arms.
Dark wings spread wide around them like a protective cocoon. I catch a glimpse of long, dark hair spilling across silk pillows before they spring apart, moving with inhuman speed.
The man—tall and devastatingly beautiful, with midnight eyes and massive black wings—positions himself in front of the bed.
And behind him...
The world tilts beneath my feet, every breath frozen in my chest.
“Zoey,” I say as I take in the sight of my best friend, as if looking away for even a second will make her disappear entirely.
SAPPHIRE
Zoey’s hair is longer,her skin paler, and she’s alarmingly still. Calm. As if she’s shellshocked, or in some sort of trance.
“Zoey,” I repeat her name and start toward her, relief flooding through me so powerfully that I almost stumble. She’s alive, she’s here, she’s?—
The night fae—I assume he’s Aerix—steps between us, stopping me before I can get closer. His wings flare, ice crackling around his hands, deadly intent in his midnight eyes.
Riven launches himself forward, his sword swinging in an arc aimed at Aerix’s heart.
Before the blade can connect, Zoey moves.
She’s fast—impossibly, unnaturally fast—and she throws herself between Riven and Aerix with a speed that makes my breath catch. Her hands come up, catching Riven’s wrist and deflecting the blow with strength that shouldn’t exist in her small, human frame.
“Don’t touch him,” she growls, and there’s something in her voice that makes my blood run cold. Something predatory and inhuman. And then there’s the way the air moves around her…
There’s only one type of supernatural species humans can become: vampires.
Fae, shifters, and witches… we’re all born the way we are. Which means that unless Zoey has supernatural heritage I’m unaware of—which is possible, given thatIhad supernatural heritage I was unaware of—she’s been turned into a vampire.
And she’s barely paying me any attention. Instead, she raises her hand and blasts a gust of wind at Riven. It slams into him with enough force to send him staggering backward, but he recovers quickly, his sword raised as he prepares for another attack.
Air magic.
Zoey just used air magic. Which means my suspicion was correct—she’s been turned into a vampire. Although I barely have time to process how I feel about any of this, because she spins back toward Riven, wind swirling around her hands as she prepares to defend Aerix again.
Water shoots out from my hand and wraps around her waist like a lasso, yanking her away from the fight.
“Let me go!” she snarls, thrashing against my magical restraint. She’s strong—too strong. As if whatever twisted emotions she feels for the Night Prince are fueling her, driving her to protect him.
Even if it means going againstme.
“Zoey. Stop fighting me,” I beg, tightening my hold as she struggles like a caged animal. “We came to rescue you. We’re here to take you home.”
“This is my home.” Her eyes blaze with feral intensity as she twists in my restraints, wind whipping around her in violent gusts. “Aerix is my family now.”
