Dark Exodus (The Order of Vampires 2)

She could disregard his request and sneak out to see her sister anyway, but Gracie was most likely at her parents’, which he specifically ordered her to avoid. Her heart pinched at the thought of her poor mother and she was torn. She wanted to help her, but was there truly anything anyone could do in such a situation? Maybe it was best to stay away.

If only she could talk to her siblings and find out more information. Adam was most likely working, and Larissa had only met Annalise a few times. The female might find her sudden presence intrusive and she didn’t want to overstep.

Larissa wished she knew where Cain was. Of all her siblings, he was the one she held dearest to her heart. He understood what her life had been like as Silus’s wife and why she left. He also understood how intimidating the bishop could be.

She had to stop calling the bishop by his title. “Eleazar…”

She foolishly looked around as if her words could conjure him. She missed him. It was a strange and difficult emotion to accept.

Crossing the room, her palm pressed to the door that led to his office. Was he in there? She listened but heard no movement or voices.

How upset would he be if she waited for him in there? She could explain that the house was too quiet and lonely, and she missed him. Surely, he would understand and be grateful that he had been on her mind.

The door clicked, and she grinned at the discovery that he’d left the door unlocked. Silus had not been so trusting.

Crossing the threshold, she sniffed the air, scenting the trace of a female. Her brow creased. Which female?

The desk was tidy and the room dim. With only one east-facing window and the sun already far overhead, there was little light seeping in.

She paused at the murmur of voices nearby.

“It will only be a matter of time. You must be patient,” a male voice said. “If you dismiss The Council’s orders, you’ll only find yourself out of their favor, and that is not a place you want to be.”

The voice was vaguely familiar but muffled. Heavy footfalls drew nearer and she pulled back into the shadows, creeping behind the open door that led to the common corridor where males often gathered after council meetings.

“He’s right, my boy,” another voice said. “When the time comes, you’ll see it was better to obey The Council. She can’t hide forever. Eventually, something or someone will bring her home, and once that happens, you’ll have every right to discipline her as you see fit. Respect The Council’s authority and they shall respect yours.”

Larissa’s heart plummeted to the pit of her stomach as she recognized the gravelly tone of Damascus Hostetler. They were speaking of her whereabouts, and it sounded like they were talking to Silus.

“When I get my hands on her, I’ll beat her within an inch of her eternal life for the humiliation she’s caused.” Her husband’s threat paralyzed her.

Three gruff chuckles rumbled. “I have no doubt you’ll do everything in your power to ensure this never happens again.”

A shiver raced up her spine and she held her breath, terrified to make the slightest sound.

Why hadn’t Eleazar explained their situation yet? What was taking so long? If The Council understood they were mated, she would be safe from Silus. Did he know she was on the farm? Had anyone spotted them coming in last night?

“Obviously, the bishop failed,” Damascus said in that deep rattle of a voice. “Of course, he wasn’t invested. His mind’s tied up on this Isaiah nonsense. His priorities are not our own and he’s fallen out of touch.”

“He claims, while in the woods, he looked into its eyes,” the third, unrecognizable voice said. “He swears it was Isaiah.”

“Nonsense. I was there the day we hunted Isaiah. He might have escaped us, but he didn’t have long to live. Isaiah’s dead. It’s time we all move on.”

“Bishop King won’t rest until he has The Council’s consent to hunt whatever’s luring in the woods,” Silus said.

“And we’ll give it to him—as soon as he grants you the right to hunt your wife.”

No comment followed, but as their footsteps and shadows passed the office door, she sensed their sneering grins. As soon as she was certain they were gone, Larissa ran back to the private quarters of the house and bolted up the steps.

Her heart pounded wildly, and no room struck her as safe. Every empty space was a cavernous corner to get caught. She fumbled through the halls, terrified someone would find her and drag her back to her husband.

She stumbled up a winding staircase to the third floor, pulling the latch of the attic door tight behind her. Hiding in the furthest crevice, by the low ceiling of the soffit where boxes and old furniture provided a decent clutter of objects to block her from view, she lowered to the floor and pulled her knees to her chest, shivering in fear.