A Gate of Night (A Shade of Vampire #6)(68)

Arron raised a brow at this. “You’re talking as if you’re about to die, Aiden. I can’t say I’m pleased with this seemingly last will and testament of yours, considering how your family’s wealth is largely due to the backing of the hunters, but sure. We don’t need your money or your properties, but why are you talking as if you are a dying man?”

“I know you, Arron. I just want to make sure that whatever you ask of us, of me in particular, my daughter and her family will be secure.”

For the first time, Arron took on an expression that was anything other than stoic. It was pure delight. “We weren’t wrong in choosing you to be one of our prime hunters, Aiden. You always were one of the best.”

“What is he talking about?” I couldn’t bear the anxiety any longer.

“I have two conditions. One is that all three vampires now within our custody be turned into humans the moment we rescue their loved ones. I wouldn’t want them to turn human before facing off with the Elders, because the Elders are already a threat to them as vampires—how much more as humans? Do we agree on this?”

“Claudia’s not going to like this,” Vivienne muttered under her breath. We exchanged glances but all I could really do was shrug. She nodded at me.

“Fine.” I nodded. Sacrifices have to be made. Besides, this is what I’ve always wanted for my subjects at The Shade. Freedom from this curse. They may not like it, but it is what it is. “What else do you want?”

“I want Aiden to agree to be turned into a Guardian. Not just a vessel for our kind, like the body that I have now taken hold of, but actually one of us. A true Guardian. That would mean that he would agree to be transported to our realm.”

Aiden trembled, and though I didn’t know the extent of what Arron was asking of him, I could tell that the sacrifice Aiden was about to make was beyond what I could imagine.

“Only after my daughter has been saved.” Aiden spoke before I could object. “Only after I’m able to hold her in my arms and say goodbye.”

“Goodbye?” I burst out. “What? Aiden, you don’t have to do this.” What exactly does it take to become a Guardian?

Vivienne grabbed his arm and squeezed. “We’re family.”

The words made Arron grimace, almost as if it was the most disgusting thing he could think of to be called our family.

“I have to do this.” Aiden nodded. “It’s because we’re family that I need to agree to this. I know Arron and he won’t stop until he gets what he wants. Isn’t that right, Arron? You’ll never stop trying to destroy my family until you have me at your side.”

Arron remained expressionless, except for a slight twitch of his lip.

I wondered what kind of history the two had with each other.

“This is me putting my family first,” Aiden assured both of us.

“It’s a deal then?” Arron asked.

I looked at Vivienne, whose eyes were fixed on Aiden with concern.

It was Aiden who sealed the whole deal. “Fine.” He nodded. “It’s done.”

“You agree to this, king of The Shade?” Arron raised a brow at me.

I felt trapped even though my instincts were speaking against this. “Aiden… Are you sure? Sofia would…”

“If there was any other way, Derek, I wouldn’t agree to this, but you and I both know we need them.”

Trapped in a corner, all I could do was nod. “But not until you show us what you can do.”

A smile formed on Arron’s face. “Very well then.” He stood to his feet and stepped a distance away from us. “First things first…” He drew a deep breath and when he exhaled, massive, magnificent wings sprouted out of his back—wings that resembled that of a hawk.

If I hadn’t known any better, I would’ve thought him an angel, but he was the furthest thing from such honorable creatures. Whenever I looked at Arron, all I saw was a devil in disguise.

Chapter 40: Sofia

Tonight was the night. I woke up in my bed, shaking, breaking out into a cold sweat. The night had been restless. My sleep was plagued with nightmare upon nightmare. My heart was pounding and my breaths came in pants.

I turned to my side and saw Shadow nearby, intimidating as he always was. “Is this really the right thing to do, Shadow?”

He sat to attention almost as if he understood what I asked him—like he tensed at the suggestion of what we were about to do. Our plan was insanity, and that was why I thought it would work.

They’d never see us pulling something so simplistic. The element of surprise is on our side.

I kept telling myself that by the end of the day, we would be out of that place and headed toward hunters’ headquarters where we could seek sanctuary, where I could give birth.

Still, there was a nagging feeling of foreboding inside. I felt a kick inside my belly and I held my breath. Please, please, don’t come now. Give Mommy more time. I was heavy with child and was due to give birth soon. That was why it was necessary to escape then, because if Eli and I waited any longer, I would have to give birth at The Blood Keep and that thought alone was the most terrifying thing I could think of happening.

I was certain that should I give birth at the Elder’s castle, I would never see my children again. I shuddered at the recollection of the Elder’s visit to my chambers and swore to myself that my children would live as far away as possible from evil like that.