Dark Exodus (The Order of Vampires 2)

So much discussion about Adam and Anna’s baby filled Larissa with envy. She was delighted for them but curious why she had never conceived once married. She understood conception didn’t always happen right away, but more than a year of marriage with no results struck her as troublesome.

Although she was grateful she didn’t carry Silus’s young, she hoped there was no reason for concern. Her mother suffered several miscarriages. Larissa secretly wondered if their infertility was somehow linked to them being bedded by males who were not their true mates. She would ask the bishop if he knew of any such issues in the past.

As the sun set, she grew impatient. It had been gloomy and cold for most of the sunlight hours, but she could manage the walk. “Mother, do you have a cloak I can borrow?”

“Of course, but should you not wait for the bishop.”

“He’s still with The Council. I think I’d like to surprise him.”

She made her goodbyes and promised to visit again soon. It had been a lovely day and more than a year since she enjoyed her family without the pressure or worry that Silus would punish her when she returned.

Bundled in her mother’s cloak, she drew the fabric closed and walked briskly toward her mate, excited to return to the shelter of his body—and anxious to have him warm hers.

The wet air chilled her to the bone. Clouds shrouded the sky as the sun faded behind the trees, and the wind whistled through the naked branches. There was nary a soul about in such dreadful weather.

The scent of burning wood seeped from chimneys and filled the air. Shutters clattered, whipping against the distant houses with each hard gust of wind. Icy rain drizzled against her face, and she was grateful her mother had lent her a cloak. Relief washed over her when the safe house came into sight.

The Council doors were shut when she entered the hall, and Adriel’s bench was empty. She could hear the murmur of masculine voices from within, and once more, she tried to notify Eleazar of her return, but his mind was still blocked.

The corridor leading to Eleazar’s office was dark and empty. She walked quickly and grinned when she found a fire lit and an ottoman sitting temptingly before the hearth. Stepping into the room, she removed her damp cloak and bonnet and rushed toward the fire, chafing her hands and eager to get warm.

Her skin burned and tingled as warm blood circulated through her fingertips. She settled onto the ottoman, her joints stiff from the frigid walk, eager to be close to the crackling blaze.

The door slammed shut and she jolted back from the flames, startled by the bang. Her eyes searched the shadows. Her spine stiffened, the hair on the back of her neck tickling like a spider’s tiptoes.

Silus stepped from the dark shadow, and her breath left in a woosh. “Hello, wife.”

Chapter 37

Dane glared at the man standing in his doorway, certain something wasn’t right. His grandmother had been lying that evening when she left. He could sense it in the finality of her goodbye as the cab arrived to take her to a new facility to run some tests.

She had gone with the man, Jonas, and left him and Cybil alone in the house with Cain. Now, they were being told to pack a bag.

Dane had a terrible feeling about whatever was to come. His grandmother left with teary eyes after kissing both him and Cybil and making them promise to do as Cain said. But he didn’t trust the man and had no clue why his grandmother would trust them to his care.

This sudden change of plans made no sense to Dane since his grandmother had been adamant that she no longer wanted to undergo treatment. He demanded she give him more information, but she was firm in only telling him that she loved him and he should look after his sister.

As the cab drove away, he watched her look back and suffered the cold fear that he might never see her again.

“Are you guys about ready?”

Dane’s glare narrowed on Cain. “What’s the rush?”

The man shrugged. “No rush.”

Cybil packed her suitcase in silence. Nothing had been right since Cain arrived, and he didn’t understand his sister’s fascination with the strange man. Every time Cain was around, Cybil’s mind filled with warm orange, pink, and red colors. Dane wondered with repulsion if she had a crush on the man.

His reluctance to leave with this stranger gnawed at him. “I don’t understand why we have to leave. How long do a few tests take? And who has a lab open at this time of night? You aren’t telling us something, and I don’t want to leave. Why can’t we just stay here? I’m old enough to watch Cybil.”