Davina (The Immortal Prophecy 3)

Five.

One—she leapt as the new vampire soared through the air. The first knew they were there and jumped over them already, but this one landed before them. The new vampire was going to stop, land where they stood, and push off against the ground for more speed. As he came through the last of the trees and brush, his eyes went wide at seeing them, but Tracey was attacking before he saw her, too.

She thrust out her arm, hit him across the chest with it, and rotated swiftly so her other arm was wrapped around the vampire’s head. She snapped the neck before she stopped to see who it was, and when the body fell to the ground, her knee was going to his chest. Then, she saw his face.

Horror filled her and she leapt backwards. “Oh no.”

Gregory looked and grunted. “Good one, Tracey.”

It was Bastion.

DAVY

Davy knew there was something wrong with her.

The Immortal was still silent. Davy had shut her off with an extra boost of power. She was surprised for how long the mute spell was working, but she wasn’t complaining. It was nice to be walking with only herself. No vampires among her. No judgments. No disapproval. No quiet condescension. And no voice in her head. When The Immortal was awake, Davy felt her persuasion. She knew she was being pulled in one way, but she wasn’t sure the direction now. All she knew, as she paused with only one more hill to go before she would arrive at the Mori community, was that she wasn’t the old Davy anymore.

She tried to remember who that girl had been. There’d been a reason why she was taken captive. She only remembered the torture. The witches had pulled the thread so it was separated from her. And Lucan—it was Lucan who had taken her. He wanted the thread, but there was more . . .

She frowned, dipping her head down. She couldn’t remember the other reason anymore. A faint stirring began in her. She didn’t like this feeling, of being turned off to the real soul inside of her. A solid plastic wall had been erected in her and she was shut off from everything that made her her.

Davy. She didn’t know who that person was anymore.

She closed her eyes and commanded, “Remind me.”

A memory stirred. “He’ll come after you, you know.”

Lucan shot to his feet, but he didn’t go anywhere. He didn’t leave. He didn’t threaten. He just stood there and waited . . .

She remembered that conversation—there’d been a guy . . . No, he was more than just a guy.

“He loves me. Do you think he won’t come for me now?” I saw how he stood there. “Do you think he won’t go against you for me?”

Lucas Roane.

She remembered him now. He was Lucan’s twin brother. Lucas turned on his brother to save her. He protected her, and then Lucan came into his brother’s house and took her. He took her and all of her friends too . . . but no. Davy needed to remember. She had a purpose before. It hadn’t been about power. It was about . . . friendship, love, trust, making her loved ones safe.

Pippa, the wolf. Brown, the witch. Kates, the best friend. There were others, but those three were her human friends.

Gavin, Gregory, Wren, and Tracey—they were Roane’s vampires. They followed him.

She remembered their first kiss.

As if I had no control over my actions, I watched my own hands grasp the front of his shirt roughly. Roane didn’t have time to react before I pushed against him and slammed my lips over his. After that I felt like something unlocked inside of me. My eyes snapped shut, and I pressed harder against Roane. As kisses went, it was forced and impersonal.

And another time, when they were together. Then I felt Roane’s hand slide around to the back of my neck, and he took a breath before he took over the kiss.

He moved his hand from my leg and slowly reached to untangle my hands from my hair. I gasped as the last finger was detangled, and then my fingers desperately sought his shoulders. He slid in, and I surged forward to wrap my arms tighter around him.

“You have to bear something that you didn’t choose. I understand, Davy. I understand it more than you think.” Roane tucked his head against mine. His lips brushed the tip of my ear. “I know what it’s like to have your life suddenly change, and it’s not what you decided. I do understand that.”

I frowned.

His hand curved around my neck, and I felt the cool touch of his lips when he pressed a kiss to my ear. “You can do this, Davy. We’ll figure everything else out.” She remembered the last time she saw him.

Roane pulled me into his chest for a hug. After we kissed again, he thought, “I will be back soon or I’ll call for you. Stay with Gavin or Wren. They are to protect you from now on.”

“Be safe.”