A Shield of Glass (A Shade of Vampire #49)(57)

We talked and kissed and held each other before sleep got the better of us and made us hide beneath the blankets. We were both exhausted after all the running and fighting. I was surprised we’d even made it to midnight without crashing.

I slept like a log. When I peeled my eyes open, I couldn’t even remember my dreams. Instead, I was enveloped by Field, his arms wrapped around my waist, his chest against my back. It felt so good, I didn’t want the moment to end.

His breath warmed the back of my neck, his face hidden in my hair. Judging from his breathing, he was still sleeping.

I didn’t want to wake him just yet. I looked up and noticed the pale orange and blue shades of sunrise stretching across the sky. It was quiet, and his embrace softened my senses.

It seemed like a reasonable time to check on Vita—I wondered whether Bijarki had made it to Luceria yet. I closed my eyes and shut everything out, focusing on the universe expanding in the darkness and the sound of Vita’s heartbeat.

The blackness dissipated, and my surroundings became clear. I was in Vita’s room. She was standing by the window, the iron shackle heavy on her ankle. She brightened when she saw me, once again expressing regret at not being able to hug me. The feeling was mutual. I couldn’t wait to hold her close again.

I brought her up to speed with the concealment spell Draven had found for us Oracles, the alliance meeting, and our current plan. She expressed the same concerns that I had about Jovi and Field putting themselves at such risk, and she too frowned and rejected the notion of Bijarki failing.

“I know,” I muttered. “Serena said the same thing. But we had to consider the possibility nonetheless. Best to be prepared, you know?”

“I guess.” She pouted, looking out the window.

“Vita, we need your help,” I said. I hated asking her to do anything that could jeopardize her safety, but we needed her inside support. She looked at me with raised eyebrows and twinkling turquoise eyes, as if eager to do whatever we asked. I figured she felt restless and useless in there.

“Go on,” she said.

“We need you to find out where Azazel keeps the little Daughter in the castle. A precise location.” I sighed. “Do you think you can do that? Without getting yourself in trouble?”

“You know, I was actually planning on doing just that.” She gave me a mischievous smile. “Damion let it slip that she’s in here somewhere. I figured that if I find out where they’re keeping her, Bijarki and I could snatch her. You know, since we’d be using the invisibility spell.”

“Hah, great minds think alike, then!” I chuckled, then frowned at her. “Can you do it, though? You’re shackled to the bed, honey…”

“Like you said the other day, when has that ever stopped me from doing something?” Vita grinned with impressive confidence. I loved the person she’d become since we’d landed in Eritopia. I’d loved the earlier version of her as well, but this Vita standing before me was even more incredible, stronger and more self-assured. My heart swelled with pride.

“We figured that if we take the little Daughter away from Azazel, it’ll cut off an essential power supply for Azazel’s magic,” I said.

“Do you think it would get the Daughters to intervene, then, if he no longer has her as leverage?” Vita mused, crossing her hands on her chest.

“It might, but we’re not counting on them. Not after what they did to us at the mansion,” I muttered. “Our main focus is to weaken Azazel.”

“Okay then!” Vita took a deep breath, suddenly energized. “Patrik will come by soon. He’s so close to breaking the control spell; I can feel it. The sooner he does this, the better. Since I’m trapped here, I can’t do much without stirring attention. But if Patrik is free of Azazel’s control, he can go look for the Daughter and give us a precise location. Hopefully Bijarki will be here soon…”

I noticed the shadow passing over her face and the glossy brightness in her eyes. She was worried about him, and with good reason. He was supposed to be there already.

“He’s probably assessing his way in, Vita,” I told her reassuringly. “I’m guessing the invisibility spell isn’t enough for a safe extraction. He’s probably making sure he can get you out of here without anyone noticing. I mean, this place is riddled with corridor mazes and staircases, right?”

She nodded slowly, looking out again.

“Hang in there, honey! This will all be over soon.”

“You be careful, too, Aida.” She gave me a weak smile.

I grinned and allowed myself to return to my physical form and sink back into Field’s arms. I worried about her and Bijarki, but I couldn’t do much more from where I was. A new day had come, and with it, the prospect of taking the fight to Azazel and ridding the world of him, once and for all.

I couldn’t wait. He’d been so intrusive and evil, even bullying me in my visions. I hated bullies. I looked forward to watching him fall.





Serena





I woke up feeling weightless and warm. My heart fluttered in my chest, and my body hummed with the memories of last night. My soul was overflowing with love and golden light, as if my bones, my flesh, and my skin had been neatly wrapped around a star.

Draven was lying in bed behind me, holding me tight and nibbling my earlobe, sending a rush of hot blood through my limbs. I was in heaven, and I didn’t want to come down.