Davina (Davy Harwood #3)(44)

SAREN


As the female vampire got to their side, Saren stepped back and tucked her head down. The Christane wolves should be aware of what they are going against, but this vampire that Davy loved had proven his intelligence. She must have a reason for her silence. However, she was uneasy. She needed to move ahead and find her Immortal sister. The sooner she could merge her power to Davy, the better for her sister, but as the days had been progressing Saren found herself more and more reluctant to leave these group of warriors.

They were simpletons. They were weak, but spending time in their presence was like a sickness. An infatuation grew for them. She found herself wanting to protect them, to aid in their survival. It was because of Davy. Her sister would want her to make sure this vampire lived. Saren tried to reassure herself it was because of the true Immortal—that was why she hadn’t left them to enter the Mori land.

Roane and his comrades weren’t aware, but the protection spell wasn’t cast to keep Saren out. She had already crossed the water and explored a day’s trek inwards before she realized the others were kept outside.

As Roane moved forward to intercept the female vampire, Saren felt it was time to pull herself away from this group and so, as she thought it, she vanished from their sight.

Sireenia felt her presence and greeted her. “I have missed you, sister.”

They were on their plane, though Saren kept a window open. She could watch Davy’s vampire and materialize if her presence was needed. She said to her other sister now, “Jacith is near them.”

“Yes. He didn’t travel with his army. He went somewhere first.”

Saren heard the fear in her voice. “We aren’t aware where he went?”

“He cloaked himself, even to us.”

“How is that possible?”

Sireenia didn’t respond, not at first. It was a beat later when she said, “We don’t know.”





DAVY


Davy realized she had cloaked their entire group the first time they ran into a Mori. It was unexpected, and none of them realized the other vampire was there until they stepped around a tree. The Mori was right there, in the middle of a path. Davy froze while the others drew their weapons. The humans were behind them so they didn’t know what was going on, but as soon as Davy thought about casting a spell, it didn’t matter.

The Mori never reacted.

Wearing a dark brown robe, the hood was pulled over its head. Davy couldn’t sense if it was female or male. Its back was to them, but they bent down and picked up a flower. It turned halfway to them, and they watched as she sniffed the yellow flower.

There was still no reaction.

“We’re cloaked.” Tracey put her sword away and turned to Davy. “Have we been cloaked the whole time?”

“Um . . .”

Gavin twisted to her, too. He raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know?”

“I remember wanting to protect all of us and I thought as we left the river that I wanted us to be invisible, but I didn’t know I actually cast a spell.”

Tracey moved closer. “There’s five of us. My sister had a hard time cloaking one individual and she could only keep it up for a few moments.” Fear, wonder, and another emotion, one that Davy didn’t like seeing and one she didn’t want to identify, flashed in the vampiress’s eyes. “We’ve been traveling for days.”

“Are you going to wear yourself out?”

Davy stepped back. The question was almost hurled at her from Gavin. She shook her head and held up her hands. “I didn’t even realize I was doing it. I . . .” She couldn’t keep them in the dark anymore. They had to know what danger they were walking into with her. “I’m not in control of my powers.”

“I thought they were coming back just fine.”

That was what she had told Gavin earlier when she relayed The Immortal’s wish to take over. Once that slipped out, Davy instantly regretted revealing that truth. They looked at her like she was an atomic bomb waiting go to go off, one she couldn’t diffuse herself. She lied after that. She made it sound like she was in control, that she could hold off The Immortal, that there was nothing to be worried about.

“Did you lie to us?”

Davy nodded, waiting for Gavin’s response.

What she got was instant anger. It slammed to his surface and she felt it, stepping back from reflex. But, balling her hands into fists, she stopped herself from taking another step. He had reason to be upset. They all did. She hung her head. “I’m sorry. I—”

“So what.”

The three looked over. Gregory had joined the conversation. His plump lips pressed together, and he was putting his own sword away, too. He added, swinging his head to look at both vampires, “There’s nothing you can do about it. The only choice you have is not to travel with her.”

“You’ve known?” Gavin’s tone was accusing.

Gregory didn’t answer, not at first. A beat of silence passed before he nodded. “I did.”

“When?”

“Since a day after she woke up in the cave.”

Tracey went rigid. She resembled a warrior statue, made in stone while Gavin’s nostrils flared. He hissed, “Are you kidding me?”

Gregory was unmoving. “She didn’t even have powers at that time.”