Dark Exodus (The Order of Vampires 2)

Chapter 45

A knock disrupted the solitude of the house and Larissa frowned, fearful that the day’s interruptions would continue long after dark, and she might spend another day alone.

“Go away,” Eleazar grumbled toward the intrusive knock, pulling her close.

She nestled into his side and smiled. “What if it’s someone with council business?”

“The Council can wait. I’m taking the day off.”

Beyond pleased, she trailed her fingers over his thighs and stroked him. “The whole day?”

“Yes. And tonight, when we make love again, you will be Larissa King.”

Her heart jolted with excitement. “I think I will make a good wife to you.”

“Oh, I agree.” The knock rattled again, this time pounding with more insistence.

“Maybe you should see who it is.”

He glanced toward the window and frowned. “It’s your brother.”

“Adam?”

He was already climbing out of bed. “No, the other one.”

“Cain!” She untangled her body from the sheets and quickly searched for clothes. “Where’s my dress?”

“Wear this.” He tossed her trousers and a male-cut shirt.

She laughed. “I can’t wear this.”

He arched a brow. “Two weeks ago, you were wearing much less.”

Her eyes narrowed. “That’s not nice.”

“Are we really going to lecture each other—”

“No. Forget it.” She shook out the attire. “I’ll look ridiculous.”

Another knock pounded. “I’ll meet you down there.”

She quickly finished dressing and raced after him, anxious to see Cain. As she took the stairs, she heard her brother’s familiar voice.

“I have important business to—Larissa? What are you doing here, and what on God’s green Earth are you wearing?”

She rushed to her brother and hugged him tightly. “Oh, Cain, I have so much to tell you!”

He wore a comical look of confusion as she released him and hooked her arm around Eleazar. Her brother’s face paled.

“No.”

Eleazar grinned. “It’s an interesting twist, don’t you agree?”

Cain continued to shake his head. “How…? When…? What?”

Taking pity on him, Larissa laughed and took his hand, pulling him into the den. “It’s a long story, but we’re both very happy about our situation.”

“Larissa,” Cain whispered. “The guy’s older than dirt.”

Eleazar cleared his throat and pulled her to his side. “Watch it.”

Cain did watch him with a look of disbelief in his eyes. “I, uh, have some important matters to discuss. Council business.”

She curled her arms tighter around Eleazar’s. “Is it about Father?”

Cain’s lips firmed into a flat line. “Yes and no. It’s really a private matter among males—”

“Anything you tell me, Larissa will eventually learn, so speak freely.”

Her brother hesitated and took a seat. “Fine, I’ll just come out and say it. I killed an immortal.”

When she gasped, Eleazar sent a calming stroke along her mind and she settled her emotions. His eyebrows lifted, but his voice remained flat. “Who?”

“I don’t know her name.”

“You killed a female?”

“Before you condemn me, let me explain. She wasn’t like us. She was a transition, but not like any kind I’d met before. She was…undercooked.”

“Excuse me?”

“She wasn’t fully transformed. She still had mortal tattoos, and there was something severely off in her brain.”

Larissa looked up at Eleazar, who wore a frown that matched her own. “Someone tried to mate with her.”

“Is that possible?” Larissa asked.

“Anything’s possible. But if an immortal attempts to bond with a mortal that is not their called mate, the transition gets…disrupted. I haven’t seen it happen in centuries, but it’s not unheard of.”

“She was dangerous.”

Eleazar nodded. “The blood exchange leaves them deranged and they must be destroyed just as a rabid animal must. Do you think that is what’s been killing the English women in the woods?”

“No, I still believe that’s my uncle. Before I ended that thing, she mentioned his name.”

Eleazar stiffened. “Then it’s true. He’s still alive. I also had a run-in with an immortal in the woods. He was deeply feeish and looked very much like your uncle. I’ve informed The Council. This incident confirms our suspicions.”

Cain scowled. “More women have died. If they would have listened to me weeks ago—”

Eleazar held up a silencing hand. “What’s passed has passed and we need to focus on the future. The creature in the woods possesses incredible strength and speed but is also limited by its condition. However, we do not know how many others it has created. I believe I heard them in the woods the day I saw Isaiah. There were many.”

Larissa’s hand curled around her throat. “They were all mortals? He killed them?”

“He changed them,” Eleazar explained. “Who knows why he murders some and attempts to transition others, but he has to be stopped.”

“I can stop him.”

Larissa’s heart sputtered in her chest. “Cain, no. It’s too dangerous.”

He ignored her objection. “I’m perfect for the job. I have no ties here, and I never will. Annalise and Adam are expecting their first child, and I’m certain they will have many more. There’s nothing left for me here. Let me do this, Bishop. Let me take the risk so others don’t have to.”