A Gate of Night (A Shade of Vampire #6)(66)

“What are you helping the queen of The Shade with, Kiev?”

“Her pregnancy. Isn’t that my task?”

“Don’t play me for a fool, Kiev,” Clara purred.

I fought the urge to gag. She always did that, almost like she thought it was cute.

“Look. I don’t know what you’re up to, brother, but I must say that I’m not pleased to see you mooning over an immune—especially one as tainted as she.”

“Tainted?”

She wrinkled her nose as she spun her head to catch a glimpse of Sofia. “She has an ex-vampire’s spawns growing inside of her. She is and will always be tainted with light. That makes her the enemy, Kiev. Always.”

I can’t wait for the day I see you die, Clara.

“Well, anyway, whatever you’re thinking of helping her with, I’m here now. Father told me to keep my eye on you, and I’m going to do just that, Kiev.” She pressed her palms on either side of my cheeks. “I’m going to love every minute of it. Aren’t you glad I’m back?” She was so close, her lips were pressing against mine as she spoke.

All I could respond with was, “You’re disgusting.”

She slapped me across the face with the back of her hand. She chuckled. “Good. I’d like to know how revolted you are by me once I come to your bed tonight. Be ready.”

I glared at her. I was about to speak against her but her lips crashed against mine. Crushing. Demeaning. Wicked in every way.

By the time she left me, I had one thought ruling in my mind. I need to escape from this hell hole. It’s the only way I can get away from Clara. It’s the only way I can kill her.

Escape was easy. Being safe from the Elder’s rule once I was gone was a whole different thing. My eyes once again wandered back to Sofia.

She really is my only way out.

Chapter 39: Derek

Not long after the conversation I had with Vivienne, I took a quick shower and we were off to breakfast with Arron in a dimly lit room with no windows, as a way of protecting my sister from the sunlight.

Breakfast consisted of pancakes, butter and maple syrup. I was starving, so the moment food was served, I had no inhibitions in wolfing my breakfast down.

Aiden, who seemed to be satisfied with his cup of coffee, stared at me like I had somehow gone mad. Vivienne watched curiously while Arron had his typically deadpan expression on his face as he stirred a cup of tea for himself.

“I see the king’s being human has made him appreciate our delicacies more than the delicacies enjoyed by vampires such as yourself, princess,” Arron said.

Vivienne just shrugged a shoulder. “I can’t deny that I envy him. It’s been centuries since I last enjoyed a meal.”

“Ah, yes… you’re one of the rare few who never killed a human for his blood. I admire that about you, Miss Novak.”

Vivienne seemed ill at ease.

I couldn’t have cared less. I hadn’t eaten since I left The Sanctuary and I knew that if I didn’t enjoy the spread we were given now, there was a big possibility I wouldn’t be able to wolf down a meal anytime soon. Unlike when I was a vampire, I could only last so long without food as a human. I bit into my last slice of pancake and took a gulp from my orange juice.

I swallowed then laid my palms on the table in front of me. “Let’s get to business, shall we?”

“About time.”

“I’m not going to play around with you, Arron. I know who you work for and I know why this organization is so hell bent on ending vampires. But we both know that it’s not this earth’s vampires that you really want to end. You just want to win this war you have with the Elders. We humans are just caught in between.”

“I see the witches have been talking about us while you were in their realm.”

“They have. Now, what must we do to secure your help in rescuing my wife and all the other citizens of The Shade whom the Elders held captive?”

“First of all, you’re going to speak to me with respect, boy. I don’t care how old you are. I am an immortal and you will address me as such.”

I noticed the spark of interest in both Vivienne and Aiden’s faces.

“An immortal? You?” I challenged. “See, I don’t even know what you are. Why on earth should I speak to you with respect?”

“Because it’s my help that you need.”

“Really? So the fact that I was able to kill at least a dozen Elders doesn’t matter to you?”

Arron’s eyes grew wide. “What are you talking about?”

“Back at The Shade,” Vivienne spoke up, “when he arrived to find the Elders making us fight one another to the death in an arena, Derek was able to kill the Elders who’d possessed some of the vampires there, using them as vessels. At first, he also killed the vessel the Elder inhabited, but with Corrine’s magic protecting the vessels, Derek was able to end the lives of the Elders with his fire.”

“Corrine? The now powerless witch?”

We all nodded.

“The Ageless took away her power for helping us.”

“Typical,” Arron mumbled beneath his breath. He then turned toward Aiden. “Is this true?”

Aiden nodded. “I wasn’t there when it happened. I was unconscious after one of their beasts attacked me, bit me right in the neck.” He showed Arron the wound.