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

CHAPTER 41: Derek

The state Sofia was in was tearing me apart. She needed immediate medical attention.

“She needs to go to a hospital.”

Kiev looked at her. “Yes. She does.”

“But if you think you can take her away from me…”

“Save your threats. It’s not her I want.” He paused and stared at Sofia.

I noticed the way he gulped as he eyed her blood.

He smirked. “Well, maybe I do want her, but not more than I want something else that you have.”

Before I could respond, he rushed out of the hut. Corrine screamed outside. I wanted to get up, but Sofia was cradled in my arms and I was afraid that if I let go, I’d never be able to hold her again.

Within seconds, Corrine burst into the door, holding one baby instead of two.

My eyes widened in horror. “No!”

“He took your son! It all happened so fast! I couldn’t do anything to…”

“No!” I screamed. I looked at my unconscious wife, cradled in my arms. How am I ever going to tell you? “Where’s Arron?! Where are the others?! What are they doing?!”

I knew the answer. The Guardians were back at The Blood Keep wreaking their havoc there. Aiden and Vivienne, along with the rest of our crew, were probably lost in the heat of battle.

As if we weren’t already surrounded by enough chaos, another unwelcome guest arrived in a flash of light. The silver-haired vixen herself. The Ageless.

“What do you want?” I hissed at her.

“Forgive me for what I am about to do, Derek, but our intervention at The Shade came with a price. Corrine knows that every time a witch intervenes in the manner that she did, there are always consequences. The Elders are demanding justice for their loss.”

“Justice? After all the injustices they put us through?” I hated the witch more than I’d ever thought I could. “Do you see my wife right now?”

“Sofia is strong. She always has been. Her spirit is perhaps even stronger than yours. I have no doubt in my mind that both of you will survive what is to come.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m sorry,” she repeated, “but the payment they demand for what you did is your wife.”

I clung to Sofia for dear life, afraid that I would crush her, but unwilling to let go. I pressed my lips against her even as I turned desperate eyes toward a creature more powerful than any of us. “Please. Don’t.”

Sadness showed in the Ageless’ eyes. “This must be done. I’m sorry.” The Ageless turned toward Corrine. “I know you risked everything for her, but you and I both know that this is the price that must be paid. Cruor demands her. Cruor will get her. It’s the only way to keep the balance.”

“This is unfair. And you know it,” Corrine pleaded even as she clutched my daughter in her hands. “Sofia had nothing to do with what happened.”

“And yet she is the price they demand, the price we are going to give.” The Ageless turned her eyes toward me. “I trust that she will someday be back in your arms.”

“No. Please,” I pleaded even as I sensed my body heating up. I began to fear that I would burn my own wife to ashes, but there would be no time for that. The witch was about to rip my heart away from me.

It took less than the blink of an eye—just a snap of her fingers. And both the witch and Sofia were gone.

“No!” I screamed out. As if she knew what had just happened, our daughter cried right along with me.

The fire was building up inside me and I knew there was nothing I would be able to do to control it. I was in more pain than I ever was before. I turned desperate eyes toward Corrine. “Get away. Get as far away as you possibly can.” I looked at the child she was holding. “I’m not about to lose her too.”

Corrine ran as far away from the cabin as possible. I held the fire back as long as I could, but what was to happen was inevitable. The ground shook when a loud explosion burst from inside the small hut, incinerating everything within half a mile.

To have held Sofia in my arms only to have her ripped away from me was the farthest thing from justice. As the fire came out of me, all I could think about were the few words Sofia was able to utter to me.

Derek, where were you?