‘Don’t you dare,’ I hissed under my breath.
Raleigh elbowed the wardrobe door to shut me up.I didn’t doubt his cousins had heard me just as clearly.If he said another word, I was about to make the worst decision of my life.Perhaps the last decision of my life.
‘I’ll go with you,’ Raleigh said.‘And Clara goes free.’
I had to stop him.
I didn’t know if it would work.I didn’t know how long it would take, if it was already too late.
I didn’t know.
I didn’t know.
I didn’tknow.
But I had to try.
My fingers shook so much as I broke though the seal that I nearly dropped the vial, spilling away Raleigh’s last chance at life.The smell hit me instantly.
Was I really doing this?Trading the rest of my life for a single moment?But if we didn’t survive this moment, there wouldn’t be a rest of my life to trade.
I forced myself to pour the contents down my throat, suppressed a gag and swallowed the lot.
The wood around me creaked as Raleigh stepped away from the door.I waited for power to surge through me, for bloodlust and magic to run through my veins.Nothing happened.If anything, my heart was beating faster than ever.The only sensation coursing through me was a sickening realisation.
I fought back another wave of nausea and panic, racking my brains for what I knew about the transformation process.How long did it take before the curse took effect?A full transformation could take days, but the sources I’d read implied the early signs would be immediate.At the very least I should have feltsomething.
It hadn’t worked.I’d lost my only advantage.And all the people who had died tonight had wasted their lives because we were too selfish to give ourselves up.We were all going to die here, all except Raleigh, who had an altogether worse fate in store.
I’d spent my whole life listening to terrible sounds.A father’s howl over his wife’s cold body.The crackle of flames consuming a soul.My own cries, when I woke to find a corpse in my bed.But the worst sound of all was the resigned silence of Raleigh giving in.I was human, powerless, but I would’ve killed every vampire in the world if it meant protecting his freedom.I shoved my hand back into my pockets, searching for the dagger.
‘She’ll be pleased you came willingly,’ Elif said.‘I hope she isn’t too harsh with your punishment.We’ve all missed that beautiful face of yours.’
‘Well, I’m sorry to say I’m already sworn to another,’ Raleigh said.
I threw my pockets to the ground and hurled open the wardrobe, ready to fight them both myself if I had to, but Raleigh was already in motion, a blur of flesh and fury.He fell upon the man who must have been Randal and tried to wrap his hands around his throat, but Randal was stronger and quicker.He threw Raleigh off, sending him flying.The walls shook as Raleigh made contact, plaster crumbling around him.
The woman, Elif, gaped at the sight of me bursting from the wardrobe.I wanted to kill her, but my chances were better if someone else took the helm.In her moment’s hesitation I sprinted past her and out the door.
‘Moira!’ I screamed over the railing.
I heard a thump and a curse and hoped that meant she’d heard me.I rushed back into the room, righting my grip on my dagger, holding the cross out in front of me for protection.Elif hissed as I advanced, backing her into the corner.
‘Don’t comeback,’Raleigh grunted.Randal had him pinned to the wall, holding him up with one hand at his throat.Raleigh’s feet didn’t reach the ground.He kicked helplessly, trying to free himself.
‘So arrogant for a whore, aren’t you, Raleigh?’Randal squeezed his throat tighter.A bead of blood welled to the surface in the crest where nails met flesh.‘You think you can stop us?Stop her?You were only ever good for one thing, and it sure as hell wasn’t fighting.’
Randal’s grin was sickening.I’d seen it before, from lecherous drunkards, from Yorik and Lukas.Every woman has.I thought I was used to it, that I could ignore it, but seeing it directed at Raleigh awoke something primal in me.
‘Don’t you dare speak to my fiancé like that.’
Randal turned his gaze slowly to meet mine.‘So you’re the human who was stupid enough to steal from Her Majesty.’
I narrowed my eyes.So she’d noticed.I’d hoped in all the chaos of the coup she might not have spotted the missing vial.‘If she spent less time worrying about trinkets maybe she’d be able to keep her subjects in line,’ I said.
Randal snorted.‘She’s going to rip you to pieces.’
‘Not if I do it first.’That was Elif, back arched like a cornered street cat.
