Page 20 of A Castle of Broken Memories

“Of course,” I hurried to say, grateful for the redirection. “And I’m sure you’ll want to hear about your family,” I rambled nervously. “They’re doing well. Healthy. Sean’s friggin’ tall.”

Jack nodded without looking at me. “Good. That’s good.” He cleared his throat. “No one leaves the room until I get back. It’s fairly safe here, but you don’t want to go wandering about the rest of the castle, for obvious reasons. If I’m not back before the sun goes down, get in the cabin and bar the door. There’s a fireplace inside—light it, and keep it lit all night.” His gaze flicked to Tenebris, still lying on the ground, then to Calum before finally settling on my face. His fingers twitched at his side. “I’ll be back in a few hours.”

He turned on his heel and jogged off toward the free-standing oak door rising up from the grass. Fear hurdled to the forefront, freeing my muddled tongue as I shouted, “Wait! What about the… the shadow monster? Shouldn’t you stay here with us?”

His shoulders stiffened, but still he didn’t look back. “I’ve managed to keep myself alive for ten years on my own. I’m sure I can manage one more day.” Cracking the door open, he peeked into the foyer before slipping outside.

I bit my lip, watching the door click shut behind him.

I hope he’s right.

12

Ican’t believe she moved on. With that guy, no less. I took the stairs two at a time, one eye on the massive shadow giant lumbering through the foyer. He seemed more agitated than usual, his clawed hands wringing as high-pitched whimpers filled the marble hall. Vulnerable even. I added a burst of speed before he noticed me, making use of the restless energy that’d been simmering beneath my skin from the moment I saw the three of them standing in the foyer.

Saw her.

An outraged shriek filled my ears as my luck ran out, and the giant finally caught a glimpse of me, but I’d already reached the ballroom door. Diving inside, I kicked it shut while earthshaking footsteps thundered toward me.

Vulnerable, right. More like homicidally violent.

I stormed down the gilded steps leading to the marble dance floor. Swirling gold designs decorated its surface, which gleamed with the reflection of the chandeliers’ soft lights. It was a room of elegance and opulent beauty, but it might have been a filthy pit for all I cared—the only thing I could see was red. Planting myself in the center, I raised my head to the jewel-encrusted ceiling and yelled.

“Fuuuuuuuuck!”

The pluck of a chord—C sharp—echoed back at me, followed by a glissando that filled the room with a flowing lift. The familiar music eased some of the tension from my shoulders, providing the relief I’d sought in coming to this particular room—the only room I’d discovered to be inhabited by something not bent on killing me.

“Harp.” I crossed the dance floor and braced my arms against the raised stage she sat upon, her youthful, golden visage a welcome balm after the madness of the last half hour. “Thank goodness you’re awake.”

“Surely you didn’t expect me to remain asleep with all that shouting,” she replied, a gentle reprimand in her lilting voice. She stretched out a golden arm, beckoning me closer, and I leaped, grabbing onto the edge of the high stage and pulling myself up. Her hand rested on my head as I sat down, leaning my back against her column in the way I’d become accustomed to. Her fingers combed through my hair in time to the soft harp music emanating from her strings.

“Now then,” she said. “Tell me what’s got you all worked up this time. Has that cheeky monkey been mooching off your stockpile again?”

The mention of my mischievous little friend brought a smile to my face. “Shockingly enough, no. I haven’t seen Hickory since he scampered back to the jungle.”

“And you didn’t go with him?” Harp massaged the back of my neck.

The smile faded. “Didn’t feel like it.”

“Hmm.” She pressed her finger against my skin. “Not even the faintest hint of pink when I do that,” she scolded. “You’ll make yourself ill if you don’t drink soon, and tiger blood is the only thing here strong enough to sustain a pureblood vampire such as yourself. A diet of fish and greens isn’t going to cut it.”

I was well aware of my body’s needs. I was equally aware of its limits. Not that I was going to admit to Harp that I’d waited too long between hunting trips and now the distance up to the jungle room felt impossibly far.

And I was just so fucking tired.

“Actually, it’s not the only thing strong enough anymore.” Mariana’s brown skin, sprinkled with freckles, floated through my head, making my fangs extend. Running my tongue over them, I allowed myself one, indulgent moment to recall the taste of her. Gods, she’d been as sweet and rich as the finest port wine. And the way it’d amplify the closer she got to reaching her peak…

Shit. Now it wasn’t just my fangs that were extending. Envisioning a swarm of shadow bats crawling over my body, I willed the ache between my legs away.

“Explain,” Harp prompted, working her way into my shoulders.

“We have… visitors.”

Her hands stilled. “Visitors? In the castle? But that’s…”

“Impossible, I know. And yet, they’re here. Two werewolves and a human, waiting for me back in the glen.” Well, technically Mariana was a werewolf-vampire-witch hybrid, but the werewolf side had always been the most dominant.

“But… how’d they get inside?”