A Turn of Tides (A Shade of Vampire #13)(32)

They might have been in the sun this whole time.

I hoped they’d be all right.

“Erik?” I called.

“Abby?” “Here,” my brother called behind me.

“We’re here.” The two of them brushed against me as they gripped Patricia.

A few seconds later, all five of us had vanished and reappeared outside the boundary bordering the forest lining the beach.

“Now,” Patricia said, “Hold on to some part of this witch as we walk through.” I did as she’d requested, touching the girl’s arm, and I assumed the other two did the same as we hurried through what had previously been as solid as a brick wall.

This time, as I walked through, it was with ease—as though there was no boundary there at all.

We hurried further into the trees, out of direct view of the beach, where Riona’s body lowered to the ground.

“What is happening? Who are you?” she gasped, tears still streaming down her face as she looked around wildly.

Patricia finally came into view, standing directly next to her, although my, Erik’s and Abby’s forms remained invisible.

Patricia bent down over Riona and looked at her kindly.

“Don’t worry, dear,” she whispered, running a palm over her forehead.

“When you wake up, you won’t remember what just happened.

It will all seem like a bad dream…” As Patricia’s palm caressed her forehead, Riona stopped whimpering and her eyelids began drooping until they dropped shut.

A few moments later, the woman was snoring.

Taking in a deep breath, Patricia stood up and looked toward our direction.

Her form disappeared from sight again as she muttered, “Now the real work begins.”

Chapter 18: Mona

Although my quarters were spacious, and my maid’s rooms were situated so far from my own that I barely noticed her presence, I was beginning to feel claustrophobic remaining inside.

I considered putting an invisibility spell over myself, but instead just grabbed a cloak in hopes of trying to remain at least somewhat inconspicuous.

I left the palace and began walking along the roads through the city.

I avoided eye contact with the witches and warlocks I passed by, hoping that most wouldn’t recognize me after all this time.

I knew that if I was to live here long-term, I couldn’t keep avoiding people.

I’d have to become more sociable and reintegrate myself with the society.

But my heart was still bleeding.

Any company but my own was too much of a burden to bear.

Each street I passed along seemed to have its own set of memories and walking down it unleashed them afresh in my mind.

Hardly anything had changed here, even after all this time.

I’d never thought I’d see the day when I’d be welcomed back home with open arms.

Now that I had been, I couldn’t deny that nothing could replace The Sanctuary as my home—not The Shade, not anywhere.

I walked for hours along familiar streets until I approached the edge of the city.

The buildings were becoming fewer and fewer, while sparkling lakes and fragrant meadows surrounded me.

My breath hitched as I caught sight of a waterfall crashing down into a gorge.

I approached the hanging bridge connecting one side to the other and began walking across it, breathing in the crisp air.

I stopped once I reached the middle of the bridge and gripped the railings.

As I stared down at the churning waters beneath me, my vision started to become hazy again as more tears formed behind my eyes.

Memories of Kiev began to play in my mind.

From our first meeting in Aviary, to the first time we’d made love in my lake house… all that had happened between us washed over me.

I wondered if Kiev felt any remorse over what he’d done to me.

Or whether he was just angry with himself for getting caught and causing me to leave the island unprotected.

I was sure that it was the latter.

He was too besotted with Sofia Novak.

I thought back once again to the night I’d seen them both standing in the Port.

Derek Novak had been watching the scene too.

I hadn’t been able to bear staying there a moment longer, so I didn’t know what had happened after I left.

But I was sure that Derek would kick Kiev off the island.

Perhaps Sofia had left with him.

I brushed my tears away angrily with the back of my hand.

I need to stop wasting my thoughts and emotions on a man who cares nothing for me.

Determined to distract myself, I continued walking along the bridge and, on reaching the other side, I climbed down to the rushing water.

Discarding my dress and stripping to my underwear, I dove in.

Surfacing, I rubbed my face, washing away the tear stains from my cheeks.

Loosening my hair, I swam closer to the waterfall.

I was about to duck down behind it when someone called my name.

“Mona.” A deep male voice.

I cast my eyes toward the direction of the voice to see a warlock with long blond hair standing at the bank, arms crossed over his chest.

I swam closer to him, staring at his face.

It was strangely familiar, but somehow I couldn’t quite put a name to it.

“You don’t remember me, do you?” he said, removing his light cotton shirt and sliding into the water with me.