Kole cocked his head. “Again, it’s only theories, but scholars suspect that all of the magical creatures here had ancestors that originally came from the fae lands, and they arrived here through these doors. But here, in a magicless universe, their magic morphed and changed from generation to generation, especially after breeding with indigenous magicless creatures, which resulted in species that aren’t just fae. But again, it’s all theories. Nobody knows for certain.”
My scholarly mind began to buzz. “That aligns with what we learned of Heleveer, the Goddess of Light, being the original creator of modern vampires.”
“It does.”
“And where are we now? Is this planet like the fae lands? Do they have multiple continents and seas too?”
“Yes, I’ve come to learn that our lands are similar in that way. They actually have more continents than we do, and right now, we’re on one of their northern continents in an area they call Idaho. Idaho is a common area the supernatural creatures of this realm inhabit.”
I grinned up at him. “How did you learn all of this?”
“Nathaniel’s Ironcrest friend informed me. He’s quite knowledgeable of this realm.”
“That’s where you’ve been? Consulting with his friend and then traveling here?” I clapped in delight.
Kole smirked, and his dark hair ruffled in the breeze. “That’s right, Princess, but we still need to do a bit of traveling. This portal dropped us close to where we need to be in Idaho but not quite. I’ll mistphase us there, but first, I want to ask you something.” He took a deep breath, his expression turning grave. Eyes as blue as the great sky above us flickered with emotion as he gazed at me intently. “Primelle, did your uncle Arnel turn you into a vampire?”
My eyes widened, and panic fired through me. I took a step back, raising my hands as though I could ward off Arnel’s control of me, but the magic I expected to rise, the magic that made me a slave to my uncle’s bidding, didn’t come.
I froze, my hands still raised. Slowly, I lowered them. “My magic isn’t activating.”
A look of intense relief washed over Kole’s face, and I realizedthiswas what Kole had been betting on. That here, in an entirely separate universe, the power from my Maker wouldn’t hold, that it couldn’t cross to a new realm and follow me.
And his bet had been right.
I flew toward Kole and flung my arms around him. He caught me just as fast, crushing me to him.
“Oh, Kole, yes, yes, yes! That’s exactly what happened. Arnel used his potion to turn me into a vampire when I went to visit him. He’s behind everything—the assassination attempts on me when I was a child, Verin infiltrating Gwenery and Timith’s home, the vamfeers that have been roaming the fae lands—all of it is fromhim. And now, because he’s my vampire Maker, he’s controlling me completely. After he got me to his estate, one of Varkin’s siblings was there. He has unique Lochen magic that he used to suppress my abilities. And once weakened, Arnel restrained me. Can you believe it? Finally,somethingis able to suppress my magic. Nothing in my life has ever been able to do that.”
Kole growled, pulling back. “Varkin’sfamilyhelped your uncle do this to you?”
I shook my head rapidly. “No, I meanyes, but not intentionally. Arnel kidnapped Tylen’s son and was holding him hostage. Tylen had to do what Arnel wanted, or Arnel would have killed his child. Tylen isn’t guilty of anything. He didn’t want to hurt me, and he’s just as much a victim in Arnel’s schemes as I am.”
It struck me that I was speaking rapidly and that not being required to breathe helped. I didn’t need to pause to take a breath, so I said in another rush, “And without my magic, I couldn’t fight Arnel off. He held me down and forced me to ingest one of his potions, but that potion was slightly different than the one Verin gave Timith. Arnel said he’s perfected the recipe, so it worked faster. It turned me into a vampire within hours, and since he forced me to feed right away, I never grew emaciated or skeletal as Timith had. I became a vampire nearly immediately, and it’s all because Arnel was able to call on thegods. He has a temple outside his house. I’m certain that’s where he contacted God Tenevris to create his initial potion.”
Kole tensed, and I wondered what part of my confession had caused it, but I pressed on.
“Once I fully changed, I became tied to Arnel. I couldn’t control that or undo it. Arnel said that since he’s my Maker, I’ll always have to obey him, that vampiric magic commands it. You saw firsthand what his control did to me. That day at House Torleaf”—I grimaced—“You saw me manipulate Lordling Torleaf, but that wasn’tmedoing it. It was my uncle’s command that forced me to do it, and Arnel has horrible plans. Awful plans. He’s already forced me to do several awful acts, even to my father.”
I clung to Kole more, and the energy surrounding him soared.
“It’s exactly as I thought.” He shook his head, and anguish distorted his features. “I’m sorry, Primelle. I’m sofucking sorry. I should have been there. I should have protected you.” He seethed, his lips peeling back. “And where was Royden? How could he allow that to happen to you?”
I shook my head. “Please don’t blame Royden. It’s not his fault either, especially since he tried to stop me from entering my uncle’s home without him. The wards had stopped him and not me, but I didn’t listen since I blindingly trusted my uncle.” My eyes dipped. “Royden was the second victim of my magic. Varkin’s brother was the first. I’ve donehorrificthings, Kole. Such horrible things.”
Shame cascaded through me, but Kole used a fingertip to tilt my chin up. “What does your uncle’s magic do to you?”
Tears filled my eyes despite trying to stop them. “I can’t deny what Arnel commands of me. When Arnel asks something of me, it’s like my body moves of its own accord, and his magic forces me to act. I have no control over it, just as you saw at HouseTorleaf. Arnel’s commanded me to enter minds at his whim, and anyone who grows suspicious of what I’ve become or who I’m working for will be subject to my magic. It’s why I’ve tried to keep you away from me. I don’t want to hurt you or anyone else, but there have been times I haven’t been able to stop myself.” I balled a fist to my mouth, hoping to stop the sob that wanted to work up my throat.
But Kole gently clasped my wrist and pulled my arm down. And since his eyes were filled with remorse and compassion, I pressed on.
“My magic is why Arnel’s been trying to capture me. It’s his vamfeers that have been roaming the land. He commands them. And from what I can surmise, he tasked them with retrieving me and bringing me back to him, but they were never successful.”
“Because your magic was able to stop them. You thwarted their attack on you in the maze.”
I shrugged. “Thankfully, yes. Arnel probably didn’t realize they would also be subject to my magic until he saw firsthand that I couldn’t fall prey to them. But with enough of them attacking me at once, even I would have succumbed. All it would take was a blow to my head, knocking me out, and then they could have taken me.”
Kole’s nostrils flared.
