Allegiance (Causal Enchantment #3)(13)

Uh … I’m not sure. He may have slipped in, but, uh … I don’t know. I fell asleep … Max stumbled over his words.

“Right … so you sleep now.” I glared at him and then pinched the bridge of my nose. I was never one to lose my temper, but if anyone could make me do it, Max certainly could. I sighed with exasperation. “Why didn’t he come by, do you think?” If it was a concern over blood, he should’ve found some blood bags and been sated by now. Shouldn’t he?

Sofie’s probably got him running around, Max offered.

“Yeah, maybe …” I threw off my covers and climbed out of bed. Grabbing the robe and slippers from the armchair, I crept toward the door.

Max groaned loudly. Must you? Can’t you be happy in this bed for one whole night?

“Stay here if you want, Max. In fact, maybe it’s best that you do. I could use a little bit of space. We’re safe here, right?”

Suit yourself, Max answered, flopping back down.

Bloody dog. I chuckled despite my own nervousness. The werebeast who doesn’t sleep and never tires is just plain lazy. It did comfort me, though. If he wasn’t breathing down my neck, it meant he didn’t feel he needed to be. That was rare, especially with Viggo and Mortimer nearby.

As I stepped into the hall, my ears caught gentle female giggles from behind the door opposite me. My chest tightened with panic. Amelie with Julian. In a bedroom together? No … wait. Giggles are good. Screeches are bad. Julian’s life and Amelie’s heart were both safe for the time being.

I tiptoed past and moved down the ghostly hallway. Dim sconces spaced every twenty or so feet lit my way. Gliding down the staircase, I took a moment to stand in the dark, empty foyer, my arms folded tightly around my body. The place reeked of history—hundreds of years of royalty, scandals and treachery, balls and beheadings … and vampires. I wondered where Nathan had died. Was it somewhere in this house? If so, how could Sofie stand being here? If I killed Caden, I don’t know how I’d live with myself, let alone come back to the scene of the crime. Just the thought made me shudder. I could kill Caden. Very easily. All he had to do was lose control. Just one little bite …

From the foyer, I had no idea where to go next. I hadn’t ventured beyond here. When Sofie departed, she headed left. I guessed that was as good place as any to start. With five vampires lurking about, someone would find me shortly. Maybe Caden would find me. I was desperate to ask him why he left in the first place.

I wandered along the long hallway, past dozens of solid doors, light gray walls, and gilded frames of stunning art, all bearing Sofie’s signature. Turning a corner, one of the solid walls gave way to a floor-to-ceiling window, stretching out to provide a panoramic view of a snowy courtyard bathed in moonlight. So peaceful, so quiet, it looked like an artist’s interpretation of serenity. I had to admit, though, after being locked up in those remote Siberian mountains, I could live without snow for a few decades.

I anxiously expected to stumble upon Caden, but a flash of red outside caught the corner of my eye. It was impossible to miss, contrasting so sharply against the crisp white winter. I stopped and focused. It was Sofie. Her hair. Quietly creeping over to the window, I could see that she was kneeling in front of a giant tree. She held something in her hand … a simple white pillar candle, its modest flame dancing in a dull breeze. She leaned forward to place it near the bottom of the tree. Clearly, there was something special about that spot ... If I had to bet on it, I’d say it had something to do with Nathan.

If Sofie could sense my presence, she didn’t acknowledge it. She didn’t turn, didn’t look up, made no indication that she felt prying eyes on her. And that’s exactly what I felt like. I was a peeping Tom. Whatever personal, private moment Sofie was having outside, I was intruding.

With that in mind, I continued on down the hall, walking more briskly until I was beyond the sightline of the glass wall. I reached the end of the hall only to find another expansive one running perpendicular. The Chateau of Long Halls! If I didn’t stumble upon someone soon, I didn’t know if I’d ever find my way back.

Making a conscious effort to remember my steps for retracing, I turned left again and began down another hall, this one exactly the same as the prior. Art, closed doors, no souls. I was beginning to think they’d have to send out a search party for me in the morning.

Abruptly, an eerie wave of familiarity washed through me. I trembled, slowing to a stop as I peered around. There was something about this spot, some connection … like I had been here before. Or, like I was supposed to be here. No … that I was looking for something and it was here. But what was I looking for? I scanned left and right, looking for any clues to remind me what it was. There was nothing here. Just a long hallway with patterned tile flooring and plaster moldings along the walls. You’re losing it! This is what happens when you lose a ton of blood and don’t get enough sleep, numb nuts.

Mortimer’s booming tone from down the hall pulled me out of my fog. Quickly dismissing the eeriness, I followed his voice and found myself in front of a set of ebony doors. “This is dangerous. Don’t underestimate them. Viggo has made one hell of an enemy out of Lilly,” Mortimer said.

Lilly? Who was Lilly? More secrets, I thought bitterly. Oh, well. Two can play at that game.

“I never underestimate a vampire. How do you think I’ve survived this long?” Mage’s smooth response calmed the tension in the air.