Gabe looked at me, lingering for a moment before he turned back to the hushed council. “In a small valley within the mountains. I don’t know exactly where, but I remember the general location and various markers to find it.”
The council members threw their heads back, laughing. “So youdon’tknow where it is? Fabulous!”
“Hold on.” Arthur raised his hand. “I’m confident that if Gabe were in the mountains, he’d be able to find the location. Am I right?”
I turned to look at the man beside me, a sneer twisting his lip. His eyes flickered from one person to another before resting on Arthur. “Absolutely.”
“So it’s decided.” Arthur clapped his hands together. His chin pointed at Jude. “My qualified son will organize a group to head into the mountains with Gabe as our navigation.”
“B-but Dad,” Jude stammered, his voice shaking nervously. “I cannot trust that-that vampire. Will he have a mask and handcuffs on for the whole trip?”
I gasped and spun my head. Is Jude really saying this in front of me? The way he spat the word ‘vampire’ left a sour taste in my mouth. My lip curled, a grimace tightening my jaw as my fingers clenched into a fist.
“Not at all.” Arthur extended an arm toward me, his palm facing upward. “Our friend Vincent here will join you on this mission. He has taken full responsibility for all of his friends’ actions.”
“B-but…”
“And you trusthim, correct?”
Jude’s head jerked toward me, his eyes both scared and confused. “Of course I do.”
“Then it’s settled.” Arthur’s jaw tightened, a snarl on his lips as he addressed Jude. “Gather a group, pack supplies, and ensure the snowmobiles are charged.” He snapped his fingers, and the two guards who were pointing their guns at the back of Gabe’s head ascended onto him. “Restrain the vampire and get him back into his cell.”
My knuckles turned white as I squeezed Gabe’s hand, terrified of letting go. “If I take responsibility for him and you’re confident enough to have him join us on the mission, he shouldn’t spend the night apprehended in jail.”
Arthur narrowed his eyes, a calculating glint in them, as he considered my request. “As you wish, but if any harm comes to my people, it’ll be both of your heads.”
I looked at Gabe, who gave a silent nod in understanding. “You have nothing to worry about.”
“As you wish.” Arthur slightly bowed. “Our meeting is adjourned.”
Jude turned to leave, his gaze lingering on me, a silent, burning intensity in his eyes that made my skin tingle. A negative vibe permeated my soul as daggers were being thrown my way by the man I loved.
Well, one of them, anyway.
“You saved me.” Gabe’s voice was appreciative, and his body enveloped me in a meaningful hug as Jude left the room.
“Someone had to.” I laughed and hugged him back. “Let me show you around.”
Leaving the movie theatre, no words escaped our mouths as we were surrounded by the growing number of guards, their presence a heavy weight. There was one in front of every door with guns crossing their bodies, their eyes watching us from beneath their metal horse masks. Exiting the tense area, the palpable tension in the air dissipated, and Gabe and I both breathed a sigh of relief.
“Was that weird or is it just me?”
“It was weird.” He nodded, lowering his voice. “Are you really trusting thesehumans?”
Passing by bustling shops, the vibrant energy of the mall enveloped us as we turned right toward the center. “I don’t know who to trust anymore,” I admitted. “But I know my dad is the enemy. The humans have only been kind and supported me while I’ve been here.”
“You know you can trust me, right?”
I glanced over my shoulder, noticing a lone guard trailing us. I didn’t care; it made sense if Jude couldn’t be with me, someone else would protect Silvertown’s residents. “You’re one of the only people I can trust, Gabe.” I needed to figure out what my relationship with Jude meant now that my boyfriend had shown up.
We entered the bustling center of the mall, where a sea of people bustled before us. As twilight deepened, people gathered around the carts, their hands reaching for the steaming dinner packages.
“Should we grab something to eat?” Gabe asked, looking at the lines of dirty humans. “All I’ve had is slop while in my cell.”
A sharp, acidic taste developed at the back of my throat. My hand flew to my mouth as a spasm of nausea hit me, but vanished as quickly as it appeared. “The food out here is probably comparable to what you ate in jail.”
“Are you okay?”
