A Blaze of Sun (A Shade of Vampire #5)(74)

Eli had insisted on it, and Derek agreed under the condition that it would not be seen by anyone as it happened. It would only be used for study purposes after we found out the results.

The unknown was killing me. I wanted to know what was happening and I didn’t even have any idea why. Do you really want to see your husband in sheer torment, Sofia?

Another piercing scream came from inside. I grabbed a hold of my father, hoping to somehow fast forward time and take Derek out of his misery.

“You don’t have to be here for this, Sofia…” Aiden pushed. “He’ll understand.”

I entertained the idea, but quickly shook my head. “No.” I pulled away from my father and leaned against the door. Get a grip, Sofia. Be strong for him. “I’m here, Derek,” I spoke up, hoping that he would somehow hear me. “Survive this. Please. Be strong.”

Right then, Yuri and Claudia showed up. From the grim expressions on their faces, it was clear that something was very wrong.

No matter how difficult it was, I pried my attention from Derek to them. “What’s going on?”

They took one look at me, obviously hesitant to answer my question. Yuri looked at Vivienne and Aiden instead, motioning for them to follow him so they could speak in private – away from me.

“No.” I rose to my feet, the sound of Derek’s screams pounding in my brain. “What’s going on? I’m queen of this island now. Let me know what’s happening.”

The atmosphere was thick with tension. I could practically feel the static in the air.

Yuri and Claudia exchanged glances before Claudia nodded toward him. He then blurted out the problem at hand. “The hunters are coming.”

A chill began to settle beneath my skin.

“I need to talk to them before they arrive at the island,” Aiden announced.

“Should we be preparing for war?” Yuri asked.

Aiden scoffed. “No. They’re not going to risk man-to-man combat. Not against The Shade. I took part in planning the destruction of The Shade, and if they’re going for what we planned. They’re going to blow the island up.”

“Even if you’re here?” Vivienne frowned.

Aiden smirked. “The hawks have no loyalties. Our mission is to destroy all vampires. I am collateral damage.”

An adrenaline rush surged through me. “Someone get my dad a phone.”

Vivienne nodded. “I’m on it.” She then sped away.

I continued to list my instructions to Yuri. “Get Corrine in here. Fast. We need to see if she can do something to ward off the attack or even escort Aiden to the hunters before they get here.”

Yuri nodded and quickly made his way to The Sanctuary.

I looked straight at Aiden, unable to hide the tension in my voice. “Is there anything you can do to convince them not to attack?”

“I don’t know if they’ll listen, but I’ll try. Perhaps it’s best to have Kyle come with me… Our only ace against them is that we’ve found a possible cure.”

I wondered what the hunters would do to Kyle and Derek if we actually found the cure, but I had to shove it out of my mind, and focus on the matter at hand. I nodded. “Do everything necessary to make them hold off on the attack. Let the hunters know that the vampires are surrendering. They don’t have to kill everyone off.”

“Surrendering?” Claudia gasped. “What?! Sofia, they’re going to kill us!”

“Not if you agree to try out the cure…” I responded.

“A cure that we’re not sure works…”

A loud groan came from within the Pit and my stomach formed into knots. “It’s going to work.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Claudia shook her head. “Not all of us want to become human again.”

My jaw tightened. “Would you rather die, Claudia? If we don’t give them a good enough reason to hold off on their attack, this will be the end of The Shade.”

Claudia was about to say something else, but Vivienne came just in time, phone in hand, to listen in on our conversation. She handed the phone to Aiden, before addressing the blonde. “Sofia’s right, Claudia. We can worry about dealing with the consequences later. Right now, we’re just wasting time arguing over this.”

Claudia scowled, but backed down.

Aiden dialed a number on the phone, putting it on loudspeaker.

“Hello?” Zinnia’s familiar voice came from the other side.

“Zinnia, this is Aiden. Don’t you dare hang up.”

“Our superiors want you to know that we value everything that you’ve done for the hunters, but you understand the way it works… this has to happen.”

“We found a cure. One of the vampires is now a human and the cure has been administered to Derek Novak as we speak. By the end of the day, he will be human again.”

I was surprised to hear the conviction in my father’s voice. It was as if he was one hundred percent sure that the cure would work on Derek. I tried to listen in on what was happening at the Pit but it seemed Derek had grown silent. I had no idea if that was a good or a bad sign.

“I don’t believe you,” Zinnia responded.

I could practically imagine the grimace on her face. The petite, raven-eyed hunter had never been a fan of me, but she was important to my father and to my late best friend, Ben. I had to deal with her snarkiness a lot while I was at the hunters’ headquarters.