Don’t swallow, Julian!Ryder reminded him.
But then he was having his own problems not swallowing as gushes of poisonous blood filled his mouth and poured over his snout.The Umbraling’s cry was cut off and became a liquid moan as he severed its vocal cords.He continued to bite down until his teeth met.He spat out the flesh in his mouth even as he used his body weight to force it onto its side.Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Julian triumphantly rip off the whole tail and sent it flying away.The Umbraling gave a few full-body shudders as its life’s blood flowed out onto the forest floor.Both of them backed away from it, panting.
Julian’s white fur was streaked with blood.His muzzle was soaked with it.But his eyes were clear and his mind was focused.Again, Ryder was proud of how in control Julian had remained.It was truly remarkable for one so young, yet he was Daemon’s match, the Vampire prince, so perhaps he should expect no less.
Julian spat several times, drawing his head back as if he could escape the taste in his mouth.Oh, gods!It’s worse than you described!Burnt blood?More like burnt poop!
You didn’t swallow?Ryder confirmed.
I didn’t.I just want to wash this off!Julian huffed.
I think we should shift so that we can look at the body carefully,Ryder suggested.
Julian agreed and, to Ryder’s delight, he shifted easily into his humanoid form.Both of them had chins and lips covered with blood and there were splashes of it across their torsos.Ryder reached down and cupped his hands to gather water.
“Here, let’s wash that off of you,” Ryder said as he scrubbed Julian’s face with it until the water ran clear.
“Thanks.”Julian still scrubbed at his face and he took several mouthfuls of water that he swished and then spat out.
“Good boy,” Ryder said with a nod as he did the same.
Julian wiped his tongue with his fingers.“Gah!I so want that taste out!And my lips are numb.Are yours?”
“A little bit.It will go away soon,” Ryder assured him after he had cleaned the blood off his body.
Turning, he then went over to the body and crouched down beside it.Grasping the corpse’s chin he turned the head so that he could see the face.The young man–he was about twenty-five from the looks of him–had blue eyes.He only had one of them left.The other was missing from its eye socket.The bloodless lips were open in an almost startled “O” as if he had not had time to understand that death was about to overtake him.
“There’s not a lot of blood.Do you notice that?”Julian asked from over his shoulder.
“No, there isn’t.”
“Could the Umbraling have sucked it all out?”
Ryder shook his head.“No, but I’m sure thatsomeonedid.”
“A Vampire?”Julian gasped.
Ryder pointed out the deep fang marks over the young man’s carotid artery in his throat.“Yes.He was drained to death and then tossed aside, I’m guessing.”
“So a Vampire from Nightvallen took a student into the woods and–”
“No, not from Nightvallen,” Daemon’s rich, commanding voice rose up behind them.
Ryder and Julian spun around.The Vampire King emerged from the darkness of the woods wearing a coat made of black feathers that hung down to his feet.Ryder thought of the bird that had lifted off the moment they had gone in search of the Umbraling.
Daemon nodded.“Forgive me for interrupting your alone-time.But I had to see my Childe’s first shift.”
“Daemon!You should have let us know you were there!”Julian cried as he flung himself into the Vampire King’s arms.
“We would have welcomed you, your majesty,” Ryder assured him.
Daemon ran his fingers through Julian’s short hair and kissed his temple.“I know, Weryn, but Julian should have time with hisunclein the woods.Besides, I seem to have caused Julian some consternation when he could not shift before.”
“Performance anxiety,” Julian admitted.“But you saw me this time!Ryder helped, but I did it!”
“Youdid.And I am so proud of you.What a beautiful Winter Wolf you are!”Daemon rewarded Julian with another kiss.
Julian frisked with pleasure, but he quickly shook himself and pointed to the dead young man.“Daemon, do you know who did this?And who is this student?I don’t recognize him.”
