Once finished, we ventured back upstairs and gazed out the windows. It was still dark, but dawn was less than an hour away.
“He possibly has more vamfeers somewhere on his property.”
Kole frowned. “That’s definitely possible, but if there are, how do we find them?”
I glanced toward the Wood, and Kole followed my line of sight. With my sensory magic activated, I could clearly see a group ofcerlikanswalking along the Wood’s floor.
A smile spread across my lips. “We’ll ask the wildlings. If anyone’s been able to see what’s gone on at my uncle’s estate, especially outdoors at nighttime, it’ll be the creatures that inhabit the Wood.”
Kole smirked. “Excellent idea, Princess.”
An hour later,just as the sun was rising and new magic spread across the land, we found the buried crypt hidden at the edge of my uncle’s property. I still held the looking glass, and had not only recorded our walk to this part of Arnel’s estate, but I’d also recorded our conversations with the local wildlings who’d witnessed some of the darker elements at play upon this land over the previous months.
Stairs descended into the dark cavern below us, and sunlight poured down the deep shaft. Sword out and ready, Kole put his arm in front of me.
“I’ll go first.”
But I pushed past him. “No, you won’t. As a vampire, I’m already turned. The vamfeers couldn’t hurt me even if they slashed me with their black claws, but you’re another story. If one manages to cut you, you could be infected, and I’m not willing to take that chance. That’s an order, my love.”
Kole arched an eyebrow. “Yes, Your Highness.” He bowed, and I giggled at his cheeky response.
Sunlight spread even more down the stairs as the sun rose steadily higher in the sky. Between that and my magic, I was clearly able to see that the bottom of the stairwell veered right.
But I had no idea where it led.
I crept down it, Kole silently following, and when we reached the bottom, my eyes widened.
The path opened up to a huge underground crypt.Hundredsof standing slots filled the expanse beneath the soil. Almost all of them were empty, but near the end, dozens of vamfeers stood, their eyes closed, their arms crossed over their chests. For all intents and purposes, they looked to be sleeping.
We walked toward them, our steps silent on the packed soil, but just as Kole raised his sword to decapitate the first sleeping vamfeer, all of their eyes collectively opened.
Hisses filled the crypt, and in a blink, the remaining thirty vamfeers had blurred to surround us.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
They all attacked simultaneously. Most of them went for Kole, but just as many went for me, and since my uncle’s last command had never compelled me not to save myself, I called upon my forbidden magic and flung it out around me.
Caught mid-stride, each vamfeer intent on attacking me froze in action. Some of their mouths were open, fangs glistening. Others were crouched, ready to pounce. And some had arms back, ready to slash me to pieces with their long black claws.
But all of them were silent. Unmoving.
I’d captured their minds completely, and as had happened in Inisville and the maze, calling upon my strongest and most innate form of magic made power flow through me, unchecked and vibrant.
But the vamfeers around Kole were not dissuaded.
Encircled by catatonic vamfeers, all I could do was watch as Kole’s sword cut through the air with zinging precision. I wanted to help him.Neededto kill them all. But my damned uncle’s command, stating I couldn’t help my matetonight, still held. I could only hope that after the sun truly rose, Arnel’s last command would vanish.
Stomach dropping, I continued holding the looking glass in front of me, recording it all. Sunlight trailed into the room from the stairwell, illuminating the space just enough to make the horrific creatures visible.
Two vamfeers sliced their black claws toward Kole’s armor. He spun, his sword ringing through the air. Their heads rolled, just as their hands reached for his neck.
Four more pounced at once, flying through the air, and my stomach jumped into my throat, but Kole was already turned. Sword raised, arms swirling.
He was truly breathtaking to watch. Yet I hated that he was in this position.
Despite my worry, Kole had the remaining vamfeers killed within minutes.
Panting, I sagged against the wall, and the cool packed soil was cold against my skin. “That was close. Too close.”
