It took every ounce of control to keep myself from pulling her to me and kissing her—especially knowing that this time, with my blood in her system making her stronger than the fragile human she normally was, I wouldn’t have to hold back.
“I know it’s night, but I can see as clearly as if it were day.” She gazed around the mountains as if seeing them for the first time. “I can see the details of every leaf in every tree, and hear the soft chatter coming from the village, even though it’s miles away. And I can hear something else—a river. It’s soft, like it’s calling to me…”
“My blood,” I realized. “You’re hearing the sound of my blood.”
“You hear it too?” She refocused on me, looking startled. “In me?”
“I hear it in everyone.”
“Is this what it feels like?” She swallowed. “To crave blood?”
“No,” I told her. “When humans drink vampire blood, they don’t experience the bloodlust like we do. In fact, right now, with my blood in your system, your blood doesn’t call to me like a human’s. I hear it, like I hear it in every supernatural creature, but I feel no urge to drink it. Until my blood leaves your system, that’s what you should feel when you’re around all types of blood—including human blood. You’ll notice it, but you won’t crave it.”
“Oh.” She frowned. “For a moment I thought it meant that if I were to turn into a vampire, I would be able to control my bloodlust.”
I went silent, studying her. She looked paler than before—thanks to my blood—but her eyes still glimmered with hope and anticipation. She was full of so much life. Why was she so determined to have her mortality ripped away from her? To become a creature doomed to Hell?
“You don’t need to become a vampire, Annika.” I spoke slower this time, as if I could drill my opinion into her soul.
“It’s easy for you to say that,” she said. “You don’t have to worry about always being the prey.”
“Neither will you,” I promised. “Once I free you from here, I’ll make sure you’re hidden in a place far away, where supernaturals will never find you—a place where you can live out your human life free of fear. Free from creatures like me.”
“You know of such a place?” she asked.
“I’ve heard rumors,” I told her, since it was true—I had heard talk of a location safe from supernaturals. An island accessible only to humans. “It’s called the Sanctuary. Once we’re out of the Vale, I’ll find it and bring you there.”
“And what about you?” she asked. “Will you go there too?”
“I can’t.” I chuckled. “In case you’ve forgotten, I’m a vampire. I would never be permitted inside.”
Her eyes flashed with hurt, and I pulled my arm away from her touch. Because giving into the attraction between us would only result in pain and loss. So despite how much I wanted to pull her into my arms and kiss her again, I couldn’t. I wouldn’t.
I had to be strong for the both of us.
“Let’s see if you’re able to run fast enough to keep up with me,” I said instead, changing the subject. “See that tree over there?” I pointed to the tallest tree at the end of the clearing.
“Yes,” she said. “Every detail of it.”
“Race me to it.”
I took off, sensing her close behind. Ever since turning into a vampire, running felt more like flying. It was smooth and easy, leaving me exhilarated instead of breathless. I could run for miles on end and not get winded in the slightest.
Her hair—dark against the surrounding snow—flickered in my peripheral vision, and seconds before I arrived at the tree, she reached a hand out and beat me to it.
“Impressive,” I told her. “Are you a runner?”
“I got a fair share of practice in the village,” she said. “What about you? Were you a runner—before being turned?”
“A swimmer,” I said quickly.
“I knew it!” She smiled. “You are that swimmer. The one who was going for the Olympics.”
“I was,” I said, my chest hollow at the reminder of who I used to be. “But I’m not that person anymore. Not since I was turned.”
She lowered her eyes, saying nothing.
For once, I’d left the chatty human speechless.
Then she lifted her eyes back up, her strength returned. “I don’t think you’re a monster,” she said softly. “I know you think you are, but you’re not. If you were… you wouldn’t be helping me right now.”
“Maybe I’m only helping you to try to make up for every awful thing I’ve done this past year,” I said, since that was easier than telling her why I was really helping her—because something about her made me unable to resist doing anything else.
“A true monster wouldn’t care about repenting,” she said confidently. “So… thank you, Jacen. This means a lot.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” I said. “We’re not even out of the Vale.”
She glanced around the surrounding forest, worry crossing her face. “Are you sure the wolves won’t attack us?” she asked.
“The wolves only attack humans,” I told her. “With my blood in your system, they’ll think we’re two vampires. They’ll have no reason to bother us.”
“Okay.” She took a deep breath, shaking away her worries. “I trust you.”
“You shouldn’t.” I regretted the words the moment they were out of my mouth. Hadn’t I been the one asking her to trust me back in the alley? Saying it had been instinctual, since once my blood was out of her system I would want to drink from her again. But I needed her to trust me now. I was her only hope. “I mean, you can trust me now. But in general, you should never trust a vampire. Always remember that.”
“If you were going to hurt me, you would have already,” she said. “I know you think you’re a monster, but you’re not.”
“Tell that to me after we reach the Sanctuary,” I told her, since as much as I wanted to believe I wouldn’t give into my bloodlust, who knew what would happen between now and then? I wouldn’t feed on Annika, but I would need to feed eventually. Would she be so sure I wasn’t a monster after witnessing such a thing?
“I will,” she promised. “Now, which way out of the Vale?”
“Follow me.”
I took off in a run, and she followed at my side.
Annika
The boundary was clear—like a dome over the Vale—but it had a slight glimmer visible to those who knew it was there. I’d seen it as a human, but with vampire vision it was even more apparent. My instincts told me to slow as I approached it, but Jacen made no sign of slowing his pace, so I kept running. As I passed through the boundary, electricity passed over my skin—magical energy—and then it was gone.
I glanced behind, and sadness passed through my body. As much as I wanted to leave, there were people I didn’t want to leave behind. Tanya, Norbert the bookshop manager, and all the others at the Tavern—these people had been the reasons why I’d survived my year in the Vale without giving up.
Now I was abandoning them.
But I wouldn’t leave them forever. No—once Jacen and I found this Sanctuary, I would free the blood slaves of the Vale and bring them there. I wasn’t sure how, but I would find a way. I owed it to them. I had to find a way.
Suddenly, Jacen thrust his arm in front of me, bringing me to a stop.
I looked to find out what made him pause, and that was when I saw them.
Wolves—an entire pack of them—surrounding us. Their teeth were drawn back, and they glared at us, looking ready to pounce.
“I thought you said the wolves wouldn’t bother us?” I said to Jacen under my breath.
“I’ll take care of this.” He sounded sure of it, and he turned to face the wolf that was front and center—a big red one who appeared to be the leader of the pack.
The wolf’s coloring reminded me of another wolf—one from nearly a year ago. But there were so many wolves in these woods. What were the chances I would run into the same one again?