Chapter 1
It had taken about twenty minutes to clean the blood from my face and neck and slip one of the leather jackets on from the clothset. I didn’t care about my blood soaked appearance.
The blue shirt under my coat was flecked with blood droplets. Lines of dark, drying blood streaked my neck and chest.
The bood from the Hunter was freah and rushing through me. I felt strong. Alert. Rwady to kill. Morgana left me to gather everyone elae to the Council chamber once I was safe in my room. She didn’t look upset or bothered by what I had done. She didn’t say anything about my brutal attack on the Hunter. No. Not attack. Cold blooded murder. The smell of the Hunyers blood was keeping me focused.
On some, small human level, whatever it was, I felt a little bad I had killed him but then I remebered that Paris was now in the hands of the Hunters in the hands of William, and I got over it in a hurry.
The Hunter had been too dangerous to be left alive.
Now, I walked stiffly to the end of the hallway toward the double doors of the council chamber. Two Deydalien guards, sent from Queen Delphine for extra protection foanked me on either side. I didn’t like the extra security around me but I understood it.
We had been ready to move. Paris had been out checking the caves to make sure it was safe to leave. Then, William himself, had taken him. My Mate. My Maker. My bonded Soulmate.
But how had he found us? Was he still using my blood to atrack me?
My still chest ached and seared as I closed in on the doors. I could already hear Cole amd Morgana talking. I shoved the door open and came up short at the amount of people in the room.
Morgana, of course, sat at the very front of the table, the high back of her wooden chair rose up to form wooden deer antlers, glowing behind the grand fire place behind her. She was now dressed in scaled, red armor. Her blond hair slicked back into a high ponytail briad that ran the length of her spine.
Cole, in black training leathers was to her right and Jon was to her left. Pristess Carmen had arrived too, with Queen Delphine, her crown of crytal and twig glistening in the dim fire light.
Sam sat to her immediate right with Maggie. She looked tired and drawn.
“Diana, come in.” Morgana waved a hand to her left beside Jon. It was the only empty seat in the room. “We waited for you.”
I didn’t move as my eyes scanned the room. “Where is Azuria?” I asked them. Morgana raised an eyebrow.
“Still under the temple,” she reminded me. “Under Drydalien guard-“
I nodded and walked forward to take a seat. “Someone go get him, please,” I said calmly. “I’d like to speak with him.”
Morgana and Jon galnced at each other. “We can do talk to him but the Magic put in place by Paris is still active,” Jon told me. “He won’t be allowed to levae the prisons unless he is dead. We would have to go to him.”
I nodded and looked around. “Then we should go to him,” I saie ready to turn back to the hallway behind me.
“Why?” Morgana wanted to know. “There is no possibe way he got out or had anything to donwith this. He has been our prisoner for some time now.”
“They were here for him,” I explained. “For Azuria and me. Paris just happened to be in the worng place at the wrong time. And now-…”
Morgana raised an eyebrow. “What?” she demanded. I shook my heat at her.
“I’m sorry, Morgana, you’re my sister and I love you!” I explained. “William has Paris. And I-… I have to-“
Maorgana put both of her jeweled hands on the table and stood to her feet. “Diana.” Jon raised an eyebrow at his Mate, seeming confused as her temper.
“You are a Vampire now,” she reminded me calmly.
I nodded. “I know,” I answered confused.
“That means I am your Queen and your are my subject,” she reminded me firmly and I felt my face go blank. “I forbid you from doing anything that would put you in danger!”
I stared at her. “Morgana-“
“I will put you under guard if I have to, Diana. I mean it!” She sighed and leaned back in her seat. “We can’t lose anyone else. I can’t lose anyone else. Paris knows what he is dong. Beaides, Knox and Ambrose are tracking them-“
A sarcastic laugh left me. “And your solution is Knox and Ambrose!?” I asked aloud. “What use are they to us? Knox wants me at the Nest and Ambrose-“
“I would appreciate it if you didn’t slander my name,” Ambrose said as he appeared in the seat next to me, silky red smoke rolling off of him.
“Looks like I haven’t been the only one who has been busy,” he mused as he looked me over a few time. I frowned as I scanned him up and down. His red hair was well groomed, pulled back into a braided down his back.
His green eyes turned about the room as Sam and Jon scowled at him. “Well, well,” Ambrose mused and I shook my head, turing back to Morgana. “The Hunter Bastareds have swtched sides.” His laughed echoed through the room.
I glared at my Vampire sister as she threw daggers at Ambrose in return. The she sighed ane leaned back stiffly in her seat. “I asked him here.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I demanded outrage. Jon raised an eyebrow at me. “Are you fucking seriously- after he-“
Ambrose raised a hand to waved to the woman I hadn’t noticed before sitting beside him. She looked about my age- perhaps younger, with brown hair and brown eyes. Clearly a Vampire. “Meet my Mate, Kyra.”
I blinked and Morgana laughed. “What?” she asked him in sarcastic disbelief. “Since when?”
Ambrose shrugged. “About two months ago,” he guessed and shurgged. “Like I said. We have been busy.”
“And you are here, because?” I asked him bluntly. Ambrose sighed. “We haven’t heard from you in months, Ambrose. Not a word-“
He shrugged. “Yeah, well, I didn’t hear from any of you people, either, now did I?” he asked me. “Nonone called to check in on me while inwas in recovery. I am guessing Paris didn’t mention any of that.”
I frowned, confused. “He said he had you transferred out,” I told him as I recalled my surpirse that Paris would disown his own Brother. I hadn’t anyes to come between them. I hadn’t ppanned in stayng alive. “After he had beaten me to a pulp.”
I shurgged. “You deserved it,” I reminded him coldly causing Sam shifted his gaze between me and Ambrose. “Didn’t you?”
“My brother is missing- taken by your bloodthirsty family,” he reminded me with a sigh as he waved his hand, dismissing me completely. Then he stopped and glanced at Jon and Sam and rolled his eyes.
“Is it even safe for these Bastards to even be within the walls of this city?” Ambrose wondered as he glanced around the table. “Hunters took Paris. How do you think they gained access to the tunnles?”
“Because they had my blood,” I reminded them and sighed. “I had a blood draw the day we ran from Azuria at the airport. I-…I still had Paris’ blood in my system-“
Ambrose stood to his feet and leaned forward over the table, causing me to shrink back a little. I held my back as straight as I could as he glowered at me.
“You took in his blood while you were Mortal and then let your fucking, bat-shit crazy family have your blood?” he hissed at me. “Do you realize what you have done?”
I glanced at Morgana who was shaking her head. “What does he mean with that?” I demanded.
Ambrose laughed at me bitterly. “Because of your inability to refuse my brother or even defend yourself Paris is in the hands of the Hunters with your blood.”
I shook my head. “What are you talking about?” I snapped at him. Morgana was glaring at Ambrose too now.
“William will use your blood to de-sensitize Paris from your blood,” he explained and glanced at the Vampire beside him. “I met Kyra the night-…”
I watched as his eyes swept back to me across the table. “I was under the effect of Silver poisoning and I hardly remeber what happened- I remeber you were there and I am guessing I hurt you in some way because Paris threw me through my bedroom window.”
Sam leaned forward. “I’m sorry, what?” he demanded.
I waved him off. “You deserved it,” I reminded him.
Ambrose laughed and nodded. “I am sure I did,” Ambrose and straightened himself. “And I apologize, deeply.”
I sighed. I knew I needed all the help I could get. “Morgana, we can’t Bond again,” I realized as I verred away from Ambrose’’ topic, my mind running a mile a second. “My blood is now a liability and could get any one of us killed.”
Morgana frowned. “I doubt it is that serious, Diana,” she told me and I looked back at her to see her staring at me, he eyes wide, confused. Jon was staring at her now too. “Paris can handle himself. We can’t-… we cantafford to lose anyone else.”
I shook my head. “He wouldn’t just let himself be taken without at least telling me somehow,” I reminded everyone.
Morgana nodded. “He was Silvered and bound,” she agreed. “My Trackers told me as much.”
I sighed. “So, what are you saying?” I demanded as Inatood to my feet. “That you won’t go looking for him?”
Morgana sighed. “He will come back, Diana,” Ambrose assured me before she could answer. “He wouldn’t just leave you.”
I scoffed at him. “You don’t know anything about it. And I don’t trust you, Ambrose,” I reminded him. “But… can you find him?”
Ambrose stared at me. There were many things thqt needed to be said. However, now wasn’t the time. Then Ambrose nodded . “Yes.”
I sank back into my chair. “Then Track him.” I felt lifeless. Disconnected. I searched the darkness between us bitbhe wasn’t there. I was completely alone.
I turned to look at Morgana. “Silver affects the Bond?”
She nodded grimly.
Ambrose sighed and glanced at Kyra. “About my Mate-“
Morgana stood to her feet. “She may stay with us,” ahe assured Ambrose. “I hope this is truly genuine, Brother. We need you!”
Ambrose nodded and then bowed before her. “I have a lot to make up for, I know.” His gaze swept to me for a moment. I knew what he was thinking. I didn’t need blood or Mana to understand. I jerked my chin at him.
. “We are wasting time,” I pressed. Ambrose nodded and agood to his feet. I watched as he turned to his Mate and bent to kiss her goodbye. She smiled at him and then held his gaze for a long moment before she dropped her gaze to mine.
“Be back before sunrise,” I warned Ambrose. He raised an eyebrow at me. “If you don’t find a trail or you lose the scent, come back home.”
“I can handle myself,” he reminded me as red myst shimmered around him in a bright pulsing aura. “The Bond, as you well know, manifests itself in odd ways. Kyra will know if I need her.”
“I am sure you can handle yourself, but we need all the man power we can get and we can’t afford to lose anyone,” I explained and then glanced at Kyra. “And because your Mate will worry if you stay out passed sunrise.”
Inknew it sent me into a blind panic every time Paris had been away. The last time I had had his blood was too long ago. He had been weak. Wounded.
Ambrose looked down at Kyra who was already looking up at him. “She’s right,” Kyra agreed, speaking for the first time. Her voice was not what I thought it would be. It was deep. Raspy.
Ambrose sighed and nodded. “I will be back before sunrise.” He left without another word. Jon shoved to his feet and breezed from the room.
“You should have warned me, Morgana,” I accused her. “If Paris were here-“
Morgana dropped her hand from the table with a sigh. “That’s the problem, Diana,” she reminded as she looked back at me. Her platinum blond hair shimmered in the dim candle light from the bone chandalier above. “He’s not here. And Ambrose is. He can Track him. Paris and Ambros had a falling out. Not a severung if their Blood Bond. They are brothers-“
I sighed and glanced at Kyra who had remained quiet. “I’m sorry, Kyra- I didn’t mean-“
The small, petite black haired Vampire smiled at me. “Ambrose has told me everything,” she explained in a small voice. “I even understand your resentment toward him but he has changed, Diana. And he seeks a second chance with you as his sister.”
I couldn’t stop the surpirse that spread across my face. “If you can give us a second chance, Diana, why not Ambrose?” Jon asked me before I could answer causing me to turn and face him quickly. “You were quick to forgive when-“
I stood to my feet, my hands now flat on the table as light and Power gathered there, lighting up under my palms as anger flushed through me. “Not that it is any of your business but Ambrose tried to force a Bond on me by trying to take my blood.”
Jon fell silent and, his gaze turning shocked. He seemed speechless for once. “Paris put him through a window for it,” I reasoned. Tha shoved at the memory as it struggled to surface. But the pressure and weakness I’d felt that night, and the emotional confusion that followed when Paris had offered me his blood. Again.
I glared at the table as I recalled how Ambrose had tried to take advantage of me. Already knowing that Paris had claimed me. Even if I didnt know or understand it yet.
“But I can not- we can not afford to keep looking over our shoulder’s anymore. I need to be able to trust you.”
Ambrose nodded. “That’s all I am asking for.”
“Heel needs to be able to trust you, too, Diana,” Kyra reminded me as she strightened her shouldes. “Clean slate for everyone.”
I sighed and looked down at my hands. Power rippled from my finger tips and I took a deep breatg. “Diana.”
I didn’t look up at Ambrose as he slowly stood from his chai. My focus was on the Power that now pooled around me. “Does Paris know about this?” he asked me curiously. I shook my head. “Morgana said you were powerful. I wasn’t sure what to make of it.”
I stared down at my hands again and the power summered away and vanished when I raised my hands feom the table, my hands had keft burned markns in the mahogany table. “I don’t know,” I admitted as I called forth the Shadow to Shimmer.
“You-you can control it like Paris does?” Morgana asked me surprised. The shadows tirned to a bleak grey befor a thin fog and then vansihed.
“No, not at all like him,” I admitted and then laughed at the idea. There was no way I was powerful like him. Paris was powerful and beautiful and terrible and vindictive all at the same time.
“You’re right. Paris knows what he is doing and we shouldn’t go after him or interfere with whatever it is he has planne,” I said numbly tring to think if that is what Paris would want me to do. I’d never thought of what I would do if he was ever talen by Willialm. It always seemed like such an impossibility to me. “We shouod wait to hear back from Ambrose and Knox.”
Morgana nodded and waved her guards away. “We can stay inside the Temple for now,” she told me and then turned to eye the two Drydale guards that had followed me inside the chamber. “Away with you! I’d like to speak to my sister alone!”
The two guards bowed and left the room, claimg the doors behind them. I rolled my eyes once we were alome. “Paris sent them,” Morgana reasoned with me.
I nodded. “I know. Does he really think I can not handle myself?” I asked her she smiled a wide smile now.
“Before, the first time he Tunred you, no,” she explained. “At least not without some training. Now? As a full, blood filled Vampire? Definitely. You could be just as Powerful as Paris of you hone and train you skills the proper way.”
I nodded. “Then train me,” I challanged her.
Morgana laughed. “I’m flattered,” she told me. “But I am Queen now and my time is not my own. My own Power needs to still play its part in this war.”
I nodded. “Then who?”
She shrugged. “Ambrose wouod be yoir best bet.”
My face shut like a door. “No.”
Morgana sighed. “You have only been back for a day or so, Diana and I haven’t had the chance to catch you up on everything going on. People- Fey of all walks have come forward and wish to help-“
I frowned. “What people?”
A delicate laugh echoed theough the room and shadow spilled out of the seat at the other end of the oval owk table. I couldn’t hold back the surpirse that creased my face.
The Vampir sitting there was one of perfection and beauty; her sleek bling hair and jewl blue eyes were locked on my face. She smirked.
“Hello, Diana,” she greeted me in her cytal like voice.
Sitting across from me was Kathrin. My Mates Maker.
