The smell of her grabs me the instant she steps into the room. From the shadows, she approaches. A figure of seduction, donning a cloak of raven feathers. Her hair tumbles unbound, lips stained black beneath a lace veil. A dagger appears from behind her back, slashing open the ribbon. The feathered garment puddles to the floor, along with her face covering. When she raises her lifeless eyes, I thrash against the restraints.
“Come, children,” Vessa coos, bringing the hilt of the dagger to her wrist and slicing deep. She doesn’t flinch, only moving to the other to mirror the wound.
“No!” I cry out.
She stares at me, completely empty. The realization is a sharp knee to the gut. Those eyes . . . they aren’t of this world anymore. They can only belong to the undead. To Somnium.
A vampire scurries out of the dark corner, voraciously licking the red pools that spread along the charcoal stones. Another shoves him out of the way, opening his jaws to collect the stream with its forked tongue.
“Vessa,” I plead. “Stop this.”
She raises the blade to her sternum, burying it there. Blood gushes in its wake, more creatures flocking towards her in a frenzy. The vampires cling to her ankles, licking their way towards her life source. Dragging downward, she reaches inside the cavity, pulling out a fist-shaped muscle of black and purple flesh.
My scream is cut off by an abrupt yank on the silver collar around my neck. The flesh at my throat stings as a fresh burn reopens the skin.
A sickening stench fills the air. Suffering. Decay. Fear.
“Bring it here,” a voice beckons behind me. It has a prickling energy to it, like the kiss of fire.
Her yellow eyes meet his as she ascends the steps, chest gaping hideously. He steps forward to accept her offering. His face I do not see, only the flesh he brings to his mouth and firmly bites into. A sinister smile blooms across her face as she kneels, watching him devour her heart. It’s so revolting I almost miss the dagger in her hand, twitching, taking the shape of a horned centipede. It skitters up her pale arm, hissing as it winds itself around her neck.
The scene dissipates at the sensation of cool fingers pressed to my cheek.
What stuns me first is the tightness in my esophagus. My lungs. If I don’t wake up, they’re going to collapse. Tingling heat singes along my limbs. My arms and legs won’t budge. I wiggle my jaw—nothing. It’s as if my entire body has been cast in a concrete mold.
Nostrils flare rapidly, but all I can manage is short inhalations. Smoke. I smell smoke.Fire.
Panic threatens to implode as my eyes adjust to the dim lights. Candles flicker on gold sconces. Massive timber beams line the ceiling. Am I in the hallway? I retreat into my fleeting consciousness for a moment, calling on my wolf. But I should know better than to try and reach him in this state. I’ve been cut off.
Dark locks tickle my collarbone. Is that . . . ?Fuck.She can’t see me like this. Gods, not like this.
Vessa’s features come into focus as her fingers brush away the hair sticking to my forehead. I study the details of her face, no doubt sculpted by the goddesses of Sempiternus. Someone intended for the ruler of the Underworld would have to be this beautiful. As tempting as the first time he snatched a mortal from our realm.
Over her shoulder, a shadow moves. A pale hand extends, black fingertips stroking the back of her head. I glance up to seeyellow eyes glowing beneath the Blood Master’s dreaded helmet.He’s here.
Though it’s futile, I flail desperately against the confines of my inoperable body. I have to stop him. My eyes dart back and forth, urging her to turn around.Turn the fuck around, Vessa!
Her brows knit. Her soft caress travels downward, gripping my shoulder. Damn it, I can’t hear what she’s saying. Whatever it is, she’s not getting through to me. And if I can’t get through to her, we’re both going to die.
She takes my hand, flattening the palm against her chest.Breathe, I think she’s mouthing.Focus on my voice.But I can’t. The only thing that’s remotely within my grasp is her scent. So, I pull as much of it into my lungs as I can manage. When I release through my nose, I feel it. The relaxed thump of her pulse. The calmness she is channeling to me.
Blinking, I scan the space behind her. The door to the Luna’s quarters has been propped open. No one else is there. Only her.She’s safe.Humming along my skin, I recognize her heartline and grasp it like a raft. It allows my jaw to creak open and draw in a small puff of air. Then another, finding a slow controlled release, eyes never leaving hers.
On the third exhale, her voice finally breaks through. “Nothing’s going to hurt you.”
My mouth parts, lungs expanding to their full capacity. I gape at her like a man who’s been miraculously reformed.
“Fire?” I croak. Silverfire, my voice is pathetic.
“No. No fire,” she assures, threading her fingers through my hair.
The next gulp of air is too much. My throat is torrid and parched. It expels as a strangled cough.
“Small breaths,” she whispers. Her gaze flicks to my feet. To my exposed thighs. For fuck’s sake, if I was going to sleepwalk,would it have killed me to at least put something on over my boxers?
Yes, my wolf answers.
Nice of you to finally join us,I grumble back at him. At least now I can wiggle my toes. Move my head side to side.
