“Conner…h-he said he was going to take me and sell my blood.”
I see red, but I do my best to not startle Ember. She already thinks I’m a monster, but I don’t need her to know the true extent.
“As soon as I leave this room, you will lock yourself in with magic. Do not come out until I get you. Do you understand?” I tell her as calmly as I can.
As much as I want to find Conner and dismember him, placing his body parts on stakes outside of the property so everyone gets the memo to not betray me, I have to be delicate with Ember.
My darkness scares her, and I have to shield her from it, that’s the only way I stand a chance of ever earning a sliver of her affection.
“Sunshine, do you understand?” I ask her.
She nods quickly, and I’m out of the room in a flash, trusting that she’ll do as she’s told.
“Conner!” I shout the name with such torment and anger that I think the foundation rattles.
It’s not long before Samantha is in the kitchen with me, still ruffled from sleep. I glance around the kitchen and spot Ember’s ring on the floor and I pocket it.
Rage simmers under my skin. He tricked her into taking it off, or physically removed it from her fucking finger so he could manipulate her.
“Conner tried to abduct Ember. I want him brought to me. Alive,” I tell her, my teeth nearly clenched so I don’t shout the words.
Samantha doesn’t question me as we search the house, both of us pausing as we get to the front door that’s slightly ajar.
A sliver of sunlight reflects on the floor, not allowing Samantha or I to pass without the proper gear on. There’s only a half-hour before nightfall.
“Contact everyone. Conner and the Slayer are to be dealt with tonight,” I say, the words dripping with malice as I seek retribution.
“You need to feed,” Samantha interjects, and I look down at her.
She isn’t wrong; I do need to feed. The hungrier I am, the more reckless and bloodthirsty. But I need to be stronger thanthat. If I want to capture Ember’s heart, then I need to prove my devotion in every way.
“Just do as you’re told,” I tell her, and as her sire, she can’t question me. Her brows pitch in as she goes back to her room to contact everyone in the nest.
Tonight we hunt.
Tonight I kill the beings who dared to put my witch in harm’s way. I’ll rip both of their hearts out and dip them in gold, using them as door knockers so everyone knows that fucking with what’s mine is a one-way ticket to their final resting place.
Chapter 15
Being a vampire’s familiar is such bullshit.
The only perk I get for the endless torment of being at Warin’s beck and call is having found my own love in Fitz, Samantha’s familiar.
We’re hanging upside down in our bat house on the side of the property. It’s cozy and warm as we nestle next to each other.
Just a lovely night relaxing with the love of my life. We’ve been working endlessly trying to find the Slayer and sometimes a girl just needs a break.
Working for a man has been taxing on me over the last century. It’s about time I finally got some R&R.
There’s a tap on the bat house, and I groan.
Fitz grumbles his irritation as I slide down the box.
Lennox, a vampire familiar of Chester, who lives multiple parishes over.
“What?” I ask in an irritated tone.
“The vampire council. They’re headed here tonight. Warn your people.”
