Adriel didn’t have to speak. We both knew what the other was thinking.
We had to find Lark.
Simultaneously we lunged into the hallway. Margaret lurked at the far end of the hall, holding something close to her face. Not something - someone.
Margaret meant to drink Lark’s blood. The sight nearly made me sick to my stomach.
“Margaret!” Adriel snarled.
A sob ripped from my throat. “No!”
I couldn’t watch. I couldn’t see my niece - a brand new life in this world, barely minutes old - be killed in front of me. In front of her whole family.
The next moments were a blur. Shadows flew around the hall as Pierce and Adriel surrounded Margaret. Everything happened so fast. The brothers saved Lark from Margaret’s grasp, but that didn’t stop the deep sense of dread permeating in the air. Margaret had tried to drink the lifeblood of her own granddaughter.
I couldn’t stop shaking. I clung to Benji as the events unfolded. Lark whimpered in her father’s arms. I just wanted this to be over.
My own safety, and my own fear of Margaret, was forgotten. Above all, I wanted Lark to be safe. A fiercely protective urge gripped me, and I knew I would do anything to defend that baby.
All three of us humans - me, Benji, and Maxwell - huddled around Lark as the vampires took their fight outside. The surreal nature of it all dazed me. I could barely think anything beyond wanting to care for Lark.
Margaret’s screams outside were sharply cut off.
I snapped to attention when Adriel and Pierce returned, both wearing somber expressions.
Adriel’s voice was hollow. “It is done. Margaret is no more.”
There was no celebration, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t full of intense relief. Benji held Lark closer to his chest. He probably felt the same way.
I gazed at Adriel. He was trying desperately hard to keep a neutral expression, but it was clear to see the conflicted storm of emotions broiling beneath the surface. Judging by the wooden stake in Pierce’s hands, Adriel wasn’t the one to land the final blow. But it still couldn’t have been easy.
Margaret was the one who saved Adriel’s life all those years ago,I thought sadly.She saved the lives of all the vampires here. And yet, in the end, things had to turn out like this.
Margaret had only been using Benji and Pierce to create a dhampir - a half-vampire, half-human child - to save herself. While a dhampir could manipulate the fog, that wasn’t the real reason Margaret had been so intent on producing one. She was going to drink Lark’s blood to restore her own life essence. She was going totradethe newborn’s life in exchange for extending her own. She had no real interest in her own granddaughter beyond what ran in her veins.
I shivered violently. I couldn’t stand to think about it any longer.
The conversation passed. I listened, numb. The newcomer - the doctor named Maxwell - was given a place to stay at the mansion until they could figure things out further. Among the chaos and heavy atmosphere, I didn’t think anyone noticed Adriel and I’s fingers laced together as we sought some wisp of comfort.
Pierce and Benji left together, holding Lark close. Theo showed Maxwell to his room. Not knowing what else to do, Adriel and I decided to return to the cottage.
Silence hung in the air. Adriel took a seat on the couch, absentmindedly toying with his papers. I sat next to him, but not too close. I didn’t know if he needed space right now.
“I can leave you alone, if you want,” I offered.
“No,” Adriel said quickly, more forcefully than I expected. He reached out for my hand and gripped it tight. “Don’t leave. Please.”
My heart clenched at the raw pain in his voice. “Okay. I’m right here.”
He gestured for me to come closer, and I brushed my shoulder against his. A slight tremble shook his frame, almost imperceptible.
“I can’t imagine how you must feel, but I know that was hard,” I murmured. “You were very brave.”
Adriel didn’t speak, but he nodded.
“I’m sorry things ended up this way,” I continued. “It’s not your fault.”
“It feels like it is,” Adriel muttered. “She was foolish. We could have saved her. We didn’t try hard enough.Ididn’t try hard enough, and now she’s gone.”
