A Blaze of Sun (A Shade of Vampire #5)(38)

I grimaced. Tell me something I don’t know. “Get to the point, Emilia. I’m getting tired of this banter. What do you want?”

“I can help you turn The Shade into a true sanctuary, Derek. Just like the prophecy said.”

I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, unsettled by the things that she was saying. “What are you talking about?”

“I can put the spell back up, stop my father’s vampires from attacking The Shade… Basically get all your troubles to disappear. I am even powerful enough to hold back the hunters or even distort their lines if I have to. We can definitely put up quite a defense against the hunters should they try to attack. Better yet, we can work together to destroy the hunters once and for all.”

“Then why don’t you just do it, Emilia?” I shrugged a shoulder. “Why don’t you just help without anything in exchange?”

“Why? Because I want something in exchange for it… I love you, Derek. That’s why I can’t just let you go off with Sofia when I know that it’s me you belong to… I need to do this in order to get us both to where we belong.”

My jaw tightened as I stared right at her. “What exactly do you want in exchange for making all of this go away?” My stomach turned at the notion that she could possibly ask for me or maybe even Sofia in exchange.

I shuddered at the way she smiled. I felt like a piece in a game and she was the game master controlling my every move. Her request, however, was something I couldn’t quite comprehend.

“Let me prove my love to you, Derek. Give me one week. All I want is one week with you, Derek. One week where I can have you all to myself.”

I couldn’t help but crease my brows in surprise. “Just one week?”

“Yes. One week with me. At the Blood Keep…”

“The Blood Keep?”

“The Elder’s castle.”

I knew it was a trap, but when another explosion rocked the kingdom, I knew that it was a trap I was finding hard to resist. The bait she set in front of me was far too good. At that moment, staring at the lovely, but terrifying woman in front of me, all I could think of was, don’t do anything you will regret, Derek.

Chapter 22: Sofia

My jaw dropped the moment I stepped into my father’s cell. I’m ruined for life was the first thought that came to mind when I saw Aiden making out with Ingrid in one corner of the cell. In the midst of all the chaos going on in The Shade, my parents were busy kissing and making up.

When they realized I was there, my father’s cheeks turned red as a beet as he exclaimed, “Sofia!”

If vampires could blush, I was sure that Ingrid would already have been blushing as much as Aiden was.

I stood frozen on my spot as I stared at them, trying to remember why I was there in the first place.

Sam, who was standing behind me, cleared his throat, successfully bringing me back to my senses. “Sofia, the hunters…”

I snapped out of my surprise and blinked my eyes so I could get back to my senses. “Is your tracker on?”

“What’s going on?” Aiden creased his brows.

“Just answer my question,” I snapped at him.

“Yes,” he nodded. “It’s always on.”

“I need you to make a call to the hunters to figure out if they’ve located The Shade. Try and hold back any attacks they’re planning to throw on The Shade for now.”

“I thought you said that the island’s protective spell will keep them from detecting the tracker.”

I swallowed hard, wondering if I ought to trust my father with the information I had at hand. Realizing that I didn’t have much of a choice, I just blurted it out, “The spell is down. The Shade is under attack by the other covens and apparently, the original vampire is also involved. If the hunters attack now, it’s the end of The Shade.”

I looked at him, searching for any sign that that was exactly what he wanted to hear – for The Shade to end, but I was surprised when he took one look at my mother and immediately nodded toward me. “I’ll make the call.”

As if that weren’t enough of a surprise, Ingrid approached me. I couldn’t help but flinch when she brushed her fingers over my cheek and looked at me with concern. “Are you alright, Sofia?”

No, I’m not alright! The Shade is under attack and Derek is facing off with a crazy witch vampire woman he is admittedly deeply attracted to and you and Aiden are acting like a weird couple. You’re acting like actual parents for crying out loud. A muscle in my jaw twitched as I nodded at Ingrid. “I’m fine. I’m not sure I should be trusting either of you though.”

At that, Aiden smiled bitterly. “Can’t blame you there, but I won’t let you down.”

Sam handed him a phone and Aiden quickly dialed a number. I listened as he began talking on the phone.

“Zinnia? It’s me, Aiden. I’m fine… Do you know where I am right now? Are you able to track me down?” He paused and waited for a response. “Ok, great. I need you to hold off on all plans to attack The Shade… Because I said so… Well, I’m talking to you now… I’m alive and well, and as far as I know, that means I’m still in charge… so do as I say and tell them that all plans to attack the island is on hold…” Aiden’s eyes widened with fury before he sealed his lips tight.