A Blaze of Sun (A Shade of Vampire #5)(63)

“Get ready. We’re leaving in an hour.”

“Leaving?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at her. “Where are we going?”

“You promised me you’d kill her.” She looked away from me, opened her armoire and began rummaging through her clothes. “You’re about to make good on your promise.”

A wave of nausea came over me – a sensation I couldn’t quite explain. “Today?”

She halted and turned to face me completely. “Don’t you want to do it anymore?”

Something was different about her. She seemed exhausted, beat down. I wondered what was wrong. She seemed different than the sweet woman I made love to the night before. I smiled at her, hoping to ease whatever worries were plaguing her mind. “Of course I do. If she’s the only person standing between us, then I wouldn’t hesitate to end her life in a heartbeat.”

A small sigh of relief escaped her lips. I made my way to her, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her to me. She buried her face onto my chest. “I’ve always wanted you. From the moment I first laid eyes on you, I’ve wanted you, Derek.”

“I know. I want you too, Emilia. I’ve always wanted you.”

She moved away from me, contempt on her face. “No. That’s a lie, Derek. What we have is a lie.”

I was confused. I couldn’t understand what she was saying or why she was saying it. I swallowed hard after I realized that that wasn’t the only thing that was confusing me. Her words rang with so much truth – a truth I couldn’t completely fathom, a truth that was echoing in my head even as I shook it and attempted to assure her. “Emilia, what are you saying? What we have is real and beautiful…”

A deep sorrow the likes of which I’d never seen before flashed into her eyes. She kissed my lips – her teeth grazing my mouth, causing it to bleed. She then pulled away and nodded. “Of course. Real and beautiful – just like it’s supposed to be. You’re mine now, Derek. That’s what matters.” She then gave me a sharp look. “Now, get ready.”

The moment she said the words, a knot formed in my stomach, twisting and causing me agony. Every step I took toward The Shade, I felt even worse. I couldn’t understand why, but something about the island’s name was familiar. I’d been there before and I knew it, but I couldn’t remember anything about it.

As we took a ride on the submarine that would lead us to the island, Emilia never left my side. She held on to my hand like her life depended on it. I could sense her anxiety and I wondered what was causing it.

“You love me, right?” she asked me for what felt like the millionth time. “You’ll do this for me, won’t you, Derek? You will kill Sofia?”

Sofia. The name put butterflies in my stomach and I was revolted by the idea that such a sensation could be caused by anyone other than Emilia. I noticed how Emilia gasped and bit her lip the moment she said the name, as if she never should’ve done it.

I squeezed her hand. “This is the last day you will ever have to worry about her, Emilia. I promise.”

“You’ve had her blood, Derek. You will crave her the moment you lay eyes on her. You will want to drink her blood, but you can’t. Promise me that you won’t. I want you to rip her heart out. I don’t want a drop of her blood to ever enter your system again. Do you understand me?”

I narrowed my eyes at her, wondering what kind of powers this young woman possessed, so much so that even Emilia trembled at the thought of me being around her.

I was soon able to find out, because after they made us wait at the Port for Sofia’s arrival, I found my senses in complete overdrive the moment I laid eyes on the girl, who was surrounded by a group of vampires. Everything about her screamed at me to feed on her. Her long, red hair, her green eyes, her lovely nubile form… She was a siren begging me to partake of her.

If it weren’t for Emilia holding on to my elbow, holding me back, I would’ve lunged at her and fed on her the moment she came within sight. Instead, I just stood there and stared at Sofia, wanting her. I wondered why she had such a look of delight on her face.

She broke into a smile the moment she laid eyes on me. “Derek!” she exclaimed. “You’re back.” Tears began to moisten her eyes. “I missed you so much.” She then looked at Emilia and back at me, most likely sensing something amiss. She gulped nervously. “What’s the matter?”

The thought of ripping her heart out suddenly became sickening. This is why she is a threat to me and Emilia. Emilia was right. I must end her.

“Remember what I told you, Derek,” Emilia hissed. “You can’t drink her blood.”

Sofia furrowed her brows. “What’s going on, Derek?”

Her voice was music to my ears – sweet and intoxicating. I couldn’t understand the sensations and emotions coursing through my entire being, but I knew that I had to gain back control of myself and end Sofia like I promised. I have to do it or I will lose the woman I love forever.

I was about to lunge toward Sofia when to my surprise, she pulled her hair back to expose one side of her neck to me. “Why can’t you drink my blood? Did she tell you why?”

I couldn’t respond, because my eyes were already fixed on her neck and all I could think of was taking a bite. Despite Emilia’s admonitions for me not to, I wanted this young stranger’s blood coursing through me. Ignoring Emilia’s screams for me to stop, I threw Sofia against a wall and took a bite. My claws came out. I wanted to rip her heart out as I drank her blood.