“Would you like to feel this good every day…” He tilts his head and I assume he’s searching for my name.
“Warin.”
“Do you want to feel that all the time?”
I look around the room, there are a few more men here, but I can’t make out their faces.
“Yes, sir. I promise if you let me join your night crew, I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t.”
“I can change him,” a deep voice says from the shadows and Oz clicks his tongue.
“No, I think I might take him for myself. He’ll be better than the last one,” Oz says and I swallow thickly. What the fuck does that mean? “You’ll leave your old life behind. Whatever familyyou had is gone, you’re dead to them. But you, young Warin, as long as you listen to me, you’ll have everything.”
Everything. Money, respect, and maybe one day I’ll be as powerful as this man.
“I sure hope you enjoyed the sun today,” Oz says with a feral grin and my brows furrow as he leans forward. I try to shuffle away from him, but it’s no use as something sharp digs into the side of my neck, making me gasp.
There’s no moving, there’s no getting away. All I can do is sit here and slowly feel my consciousness drift away. My head feels light and my throat is stinging as I blink.
Oz is holding my face.
“You must drink for the transformation,” he says, holding his wrist to my mouth.
What the fuck?
The coppery taste fills my mouth and I find…it’s not so bad.
The man pets my hair in a nearly affectionate way. “Now you are a son of darkness,” he whispers.
Looking back, if I would have known that was the last time I’d ever feel the sun against my skin, I would have spent it more wisely.
Chapter 13
Ipull out of Warin’s memory, blinking wildly at him.
The memory felt so real. Like I could feel the humid summer air, like I could scent the blood of the men Warin killed before he was even a vampire.
I know my heart rate is up, that I’m doing a shit job of hiding my expression. I knew Warin was dangerous, but seeing what I saw shed him in a more complicated light. He did something wrong, but he also never knew what he was getting into, what being on night crew meant.
I reiterate in my mind he’s made a vow to never cause harm to me or those I care about.
“It is not a pretty story. Most of my existence isn’t. I’m not a good man.”
I take a deep breath, trying to really take in everything he showed me. He was greedy, proud, and he hurt people. But he was also young, naive, and hopeful.
“I meant what I said. I’d never hurt you, Ember.”
“What about other people?” I ask softly.
I believe that he won’t hurt me, even if he won’t tell me why, but I have to know what kind of man I’m dealing with.
He closes his eyes, his hands resting on his chest, almost like he can’t bear to face me. Why should he give a single shit about what I think of him?
“Those men that I killed. They would have killed me. There’s no doubt in my mind. It was kill or be killed in that situation.”
“And what about now?” I ask, a little too sharply.
