A sob climbs up my throat and tears leak down my temples. Laurent lowers his mouth, his nostrils flaring as he inhales. Red flickers behind the white fog in his eyes. I expect my throat to be torn out, but he seems frozen, a war battling inside my head.
“Laurent,” I croak. “Please don’t do this.”
He’s ripped off me in an instant. I scramble to my feet, my chest heaving. Laurent roars and struggles, trying to get to me, but the man—er, teenager—behind him, holds him tight.
“I need to kill him,” I whimper, fighting tears. “It’s what I came here to do. It has to be me.”
“Darling,” the teen says, “I can’t let you do that. I’m here to save him.”
“No,” I bark out. “He can’t live like this. This isn’t him.”
I take a step forward and the boy shakes his head. “Don’t move. I’m an ancient vampire, darling, and I could take you out in a second, especially with this feral beast to distract you.”
I pause, scowling at him. “Why?”
“Because he deserves more than to live his life diseased by those monsters, untrained and driven by thirst alone.” He sighs as he bites into his own wrist. “He deserves a chance.”
“Bloodsucker—”
“Beck.” He narrows his red eyes at me. “And you’re Castilla. I know where you live and that you have a daughter named Mercy.”
I stumble back, which causes Laurent to growl harder. “W-What? You stay away from my daughter!”
“I don’t make promises I can’t keep, but I assure you, I’ll stay away for the time being,” Beck says as he brings his bleeding wrist to Laurent’s mouth.
Laurent ceases his struggling as he latches onto it. He greedily gulps down the blood. It leaks from the corner of his mouth, dripping from his chin. I’m frozen, watching with rapt fascination.
“What are you doing to him?” I croak out. “Are you hurting him?”
“Quite the contrary, darling. I’m hoping to chase that wretched illness from his veins.”
“What then?”
“Only time will tell.” He smiles broadly at me, showing off his pointy incisors. “Until we meet again.”
A flash blurs past me and before I can even suck in my next breath, I realize they’re gone.
Defeat washes over me. For years I’ve waited for this moment. Years. And in a blink, the chance is gone. It bothers me that he took Laurent, but at the same time, I feel relieved he’s away from the pale-haired twins. Beck, though outwardly young in appearance, seemed wise. Maybe he can help Laurent.
Then what?
Then, I’ll kill him. I’ll kill them both. And the pale-haired twins too.
Something tells me it won’t be that easy.
Nothing ever is.
Castilla
Three months later…
He’s made of stone. Hard, solid muscle pressing into every inch of my body. I fight against his hold, but his grip on my wrists is unyielding. His dark brown messy hair has been clipped short on the sides and is longer on top, flopping over one brow.
White, cloudy eyes are gone and flaming crimson ones bore into me.
And fangs.
Dear God, his fangs are sharp.
As though he’s clued into my thoughts, he smiles wider. It reminds me of when I was a little girl. The urge to free my hands to wrap them around his solid body rather than trying to drive a stake through it is strong.
“Castilla,” he rumbles, his voice a deep growl as it caresses every letter in my name. “I’ve missed you.”
I whimper, which makes his eyes flash with hunger.
“Castilla…”
“Castilla.”
Jude’s voice has me jerking upright, a slight blush burning over my cheeks. For three months, I’ve had the same recurring dream. Laurent. A vampire, but different. Somehow more like his old self, not the monster who wanted to tear my throat out at the park.
“What’s going on with you?” Jude demands. “You’re off your game. Is it Mercy?”
I shake my head, sighing. “No. Just thinking about Laurent. I screwed up and it haunts me every day.”
“You need a break,” Jude says. “You’re tired.”
“I’m not,” I lie.
He’s right, though. I’m beyond exhausted. Mercy’s health has steadily declined despite her treatments and it’s worrying. Furthermore, I haven’t been able to get ahold of Loey. She’s missed our monthly meetups, which makes me wonder if she finally met the death she so badly craved. I haven’t been able to locate the pale-haired twins or Laurent. To add insult to injury, Griffin stops by the apartment a couple times a week and I have to force him to leave.
“Any word on Loey?” I ask, hating how my heart clenches painfully in my chest. At the end of the day, she’s a vampire. I wasn’t supposed to grow so close to her, but I have. It hurts knowing she may be dead, or worse, captured.
“None, but I have people on it. I’ll find her for you. Dead or alive.” He leans forward, resting his elbows on his desk. “I need a favor, Casti.”