He appears on the balcony above me, accompanied by his daughter. I look up so he can see my glower.
“Is this you’ve been doing? Kidnapping vampires from the human world and bringing them here to fight shadowbeasts?”
“Oh, you catch on fast, warrior,” the male replies. “When the royal houses declared the shadowbeasts extinct and all of Ellnesari rejoiced in celebration, I knew better. Sure, they disappeared for a while, but I knew they’d be back. Then that bitch queen from Aquila convinced the other kingdoms to seal the portals to the mortal lands, banishing the vampires—the only weapon we had against those monsters.”
“If the portals were sealed, how did you manage to travel to the human world?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” He chuckles. “Tell me about the connection you have with the female wolf shifter, and I might consider telling you my secret.”
Mightbeing the key word here. “Not a chance.”
“Suit yourself.”
The metal door on the other side of the pit opens, the hinges creaking loudly. I focus my attention on the opening, which reveals nothing but absolute darkness. But I know the beast is there, biding its time, waiting to attack. I part my legs, assuming a defensive stance. I’d love to have a sword, or any other type of weapon, but fangs and claws will have to do.
Sweat dots my forehead, and with each passing second, my chest becomes tighter as panic tries to overwhelm me. I bite the inside of my cheek, using the pain to remain sharp.
The first thing I see is a pair of glowing red eyes. A second later, the shadowbeast emerges, running at full speed in my direction, its grotesque mouth open to reveal several rows of sharp teeth. I hold my ground until it leaps, then I jump out of the way. The momentum sends the beast careening toward a wall.
I notice silvery markings painted on its back, but I don’t have time to investigate further before the shadowbeast is back on its paws and coming for me again. For the next few minutes, I can’t do anything but evade getting mauled to death. This isn’t a solid plan. Adrenaline is propelling me, but eventually, I’ll run out of fuel. One second too slow will cost me my life. I have to find a way to hurt the monster.
You need to get on its back, Ronan.
Instead of running away this time, I wait until the beast is closer, then I run toward the wall. The heat of the shadowbeast’s foul breath brushes my neck. If it pounces on me before I reach the wall, it’s game over.
“Watch out!” the female Nightingale yells.
I don’t look back or at her, but I use her warning to make my decision just the same. I jump toward the wall and use it as a springboard to do a backflip in the air. The shadowbeast missesme by a hair, but my timing is perfect. I land exactly where I wanted, and before the monster can shake me off, I wrap my clawed hands around its neck and twist until the muscles give and its ugly head comes off in a shower of dark blood.
The headless monster collapses underneath me, and I finally jump off.
Breathing hard, I scowl up at the Nightingale prick. Then I toss the head of the shadowbeast to the side. “Did you enjoy the show?”
“Oh yes, very much so.” He turns to his daughter. “Make sure he gets everything he needs. The very best.”
“Yes, Papa.”
She glances at me, no longer with disgust. It’s desire that shines in her silvery eyes, and my stomach coils. More than ever, I can’t let them know what Cheryl means to me.
Twenty-Six
CHERYL
ELLNESARI, PRESENT DAY
My head is pounding, and my eyelids are heavy. I’m tired, and I want to sleep, but an insistent poking in my arm won’t let me rest. I open my eyes to glare at whoever is disturbing my peace and find a pair of bright blue eyes, wide with wonder, staring at me. It’s a youngster, no older than five, with round, pink cheeks and the most adorable mane of curly black hair.
She looks over her shoulder and shouts, “Mama, she’s awake, she’s awake!”
I wince. “Ugh, not so loud, please.”
A female with pale skin and brown hair walks over. She’s wearing a simple blue dress with long bell-shaped sleeves. It’s something I’d see at a Renaissance fair—or in Ellnesari, it seems.
“Hush, child. Let her rest.” The woman pulls her daughter away.
I sit, groaning as I do so. My back is sort of healed, but the skin is still tender. But the most glaring problem is the lethargy. I need my full strength back so I can escape.
I look around and realize I’m in a big room with several beds and a common area with a couple of couches, a wooden table, and a fireplace, but no windows. I’m not in a prison cell, but taking into account that the only way out seems to be through the one door I see, I might as well be.
