What the hell? I don't know this bitch from Eve, and yet here she is, claiming that I'm some sort of pawn in her twisted game. Anger surges through my veins, hot and potent. "And what thehellis that supposed to mean?"
She looks at me like I'm a particularly slow child, her lips curling into a sneer. "Rhyland, you stupid girl. I'm talking about Rhyland."
My heart stops, then kicks into overdrive, pounding against my ribs like a caged animal. "What about him?" I ask, my voice trembling despite my efforts to keep it steady.
"Oh, please," she scoffs, waving a dismissive hand. "Don't play dumb. It's unbecoming. Rhyland is mine, always has been, and always will be. And you, my dear, are nothing more than a temporary distraction. An obstacle to be removed."
Rage boils up inside me, so hot and fierce that it nearly chokes me. "Listen up, you arrogant bitch," I snarl, my hands curling into fists in my restraints. "I don't know who the hell you think you are, but Rhyland isnotyours. He's mine, and I'll be damned if I let some delusional, entitled psycho like you think to take him away from me."
She throws her head back and laughs, the sound grating and cruel. "Oh, you poor, naive little thing. You really have no idea who you're dealing with, do you?" She leans in close, her breath hot and fetid against my face. "I am his Maker, you insignificant bitch. And I will take back what is rightfully mine, no matter who I have to crush beneath my heel to do it."
Erik
3
Irise to my feet, my jaw clenched as I brush the dirt and debris from my black leather jacket. The vortex hit like a battering ram from hell, sending Lucian and me flying like ragdolls. My head throbs, but I push the pain aside, my eyes scanning the dense forest surrounding us.
Lucian lies motionless on the ground nearby, still knocked out cold from the blast. The eerie silence of the woods is broken by the distant calls of Seraphina and Emily, their voices laced with desperation as they search for Danica. They're undoubtedly getting closer, guided by Seraphina's blood bond with my brother.
I square my shoulders, my voice cutting through the air like a knife. "Over here!"
We need to regroup, assess the situation, and figure out what the hell just happened.
I watch Seraphina and Emily burst through the brush, their faces etched with worry and exhaustion. Blood and dirt cling to their skin, a testament to the chaos that just unfolded.
"Lucian!" Seraphina's melodic voice rings out, laced with concern, as she rushes to my brother's side. Her delicate hands push back his hair, checking for any signs of injury.
Emily's piercing gaze locks onto me, her tone sarcastic. "Well, isn't this just fucking great? Mind telling us what the hell just happened, Mr. Stoic?"
That blasted vortex, or portal, or whatever the hell it was, absconded with Rhyland, leaving me standing here with a myriad of unanswered questions.
I meet her gaze, my own eyes narrowing slightly. "I was about to inquire the same of you, Emily, though perhaps with a touch less sass, if you'd be so kind."
Emily's eyes widen, realization dawning on her face. "Wait, where's Dani?" She whips her head from side to side, her rainbow-colored hair flying as she searches for any sign of her friend.
I sheath my sword, the metal sliding against the leather with a soft hiss. "I don't know," I admit. "I lost track of her after the blast."
Seraphina looks up from Lucian, her honey-colored eyes filled with worry. "This isn't good. We must find her quickly! I can't sense her presence nearby."
Okay, new priority—Danica and ensure she's safe. I'll be damned if I let anything happen to her on my watch.
Emily throws her hands up in exasperation. "Great, just great. Rhyland gets sucked into a vortex, and Dani's missing. Could this day get any worse?"
I clench my jaw, my mind racing as I try to piece together what happened—the vortex, the blast, and now Dani's disappearance. Something's not right, and I'll be damned if I don't get to the bottom of it.
The hairs on the back of my neck stand up as a figure emerges from the shadows, stumbling towards us. In a flash, my sword is in my hand, the blade gleaming in the dim light. I push Emily behind me, my body shielding her and the potential threat. "Stay back," I growl, my voice low and dangerous. "I'll handle this." I take a step forward, ready to confront the bloodlust vampire, one of the bastards who brought this hell upon us. He must have slipped through the cracks during the battle.
Emily's hand shoots out, grabbing my jacket and yanking me to a halt. "No!" she hisses, her eyes wide with recognition. "That's Damon. Dani's little brother. You can't kill him."
I pause, reassessing the situation. Damon staggers closer, his face a mask of confusion and fear. "Help... me," he pleads, his voice barely above a whisper. "Please. I don't... know... what's—"
Emily steps out from behind me, her voice soft and reassuring. "Damon, hey. It's going to be okay. We'll explain everything."
Realization dawns on me. Azrael. That twisted son of a bitch must have turned Damon before he killed him. It's the only explanation for why Dani's brother is now a fledgling vampire. I sheathe my sword as Emily approaches him, but my instincts scream at me to stop her. I reach out, grabbing her arm and pulling her back firmly. "Don't," I warn, my voice stern. "He's new, and his impulses are—"
Before I can finish my sentence, Damon lunges at Emily, his eyes wild with hunger. I react on pure instinct, my hand closing around his throat in an iron grip.
"Don't kill him!" Emily shouts, her voice laced with panic.
