Page 66 of Ashvale: The Vampire's Thrall
"And to think,” she whispered, her voice like venom, “you could have been something. Had everything.”
Her hand tightened and I shook with silent laughter—it wasn’t like I had to breathe after all.
"A waste," she proclaimed, dropping me and following up her sentiment with a stinging slap that made my ears ring.
"I agree," I said with a sneer, snapping my hand out towards her face as I cast an orb of water with my other, flinging it at her head and adding heat at the last moment. The smell of burning flesh made my nose wrinkle but Elowen barely flinched.
"Well, now you've just pissed me off." Her fist crashed into my face, my ribs, but once she moved close enough I snapped my head up and into hers, delighting in the crunch of bone as she swore.
"You little bitch.”
"I am my mother's daughter." Elowen snarled and I beckoned her forwards. "You know, I think you would look so much better with some colour in your cheeks."
Her eyes narrowed and I smiled as I clasped my hands forward and thought of heat, of the anger churning like an inferno in my chest. Lightning burst into being and flowed through the wave of light I cast. Elowen screamed, her hair catching alight and I watched, fascinated as the flames spread easily across her shoulders until she managed to summon her own magic—a combination of water and air to smother the flames. Maybe I should have taken Cal's advice and ran while she was distracted, but it was too late. She leapt for me, unhinged and feral, her lips peeled back from her teeth and hands curved into claws reaching for my chest.
A snarl from the entrance made us both look up. The low rumble sent shivers down my spine as the hulking figure of the wolf filled the doorway.
"Impossible," Elowen gasped and then the wolf leapt for her, missing her throat by mere inches as she ran, revenge forgotten in her desire to flee.
Her shoulder struck me and I flew backwards, my head knocking into the wall until I saw stars. No, not stars, teeth—stretching wide in a smile turned snarl, brown eyes turning cold, hungry as Rowan leapt for my throat, pinning me to the floor and sobbing as he drank, apologising as he bit near-clean through my neck, white teeth floating in the dark until my eyes flew open and blue eyes, not brown, stared down at me.
Elowen was gone and I stared at Hayes, half-wishing I'd never remembered, half-wishing I'd never wanted to. Because I knew who I was, knew what I would do. Even if it broke Hayes’ heart. Even if it broke mine. Maybe if I hadn’t remembered… Maybe if he hadn’t lied…
"Rowan," I said and Hayes shook his head.
"No. No, it's not possible. Leonora, no. You're wrong."
"Rowan," I said again as the rest of the rage I'd known was waiting came flooding in. Everything that had happened, everything I'd lost... and he'd had the guts to become my friend, even knowing what he'd done. To kiss me. Tobiteme, like the last time he'd done so he hadn't stolen my life.
I stood and Hayes gripped my arm. "Whatever you think you have to do, you don't." He was completely naked from his shift back into his human form and I smiled without humour.
"I don't think you can really lecture me right now. Not when you're just as much of a liar as he is."
"Leonora—"
"He fucking killed me, Hayes! He murdered me and then befriended me like it wasn’t fucked up. He lied even though he knew how much it was hurting me not to know what had happened or who I was. He wasnevermy friend.”
“I know,” he said quietly. “But I can’t let you do this, whatever you’re planning. Not for his sake, but for yours.”
I ignored his words and moved towards the door, snarling when he caught my arm. “This is the only warning I’ll give you.Let go.”
He didn’t move, just tried to dissuade me one more time and I exhaled sharply.
“I’m sorry.”
His eyes widened but it was too late. My hand flashed out, connecting with his temple, and Hayes sank to the floor, unconscious as I walked away.
ChapterThirty-One
Hayes
I woke alone,naked, and confused by my presence in Elowen’s smashed up office. But then I remembered. Rowan. Leonora. The look in her green eyes as she’d taken me down.
I scrambled upright and winced at the throbbing pain in my head. I could feel her even now, just about. A warmth near my heart that had drawn me in as soon as I'd seen her—before I'd even understood what it was, before she'd ever tasted my blood. We had been inevitable and I worried that she might make a mistake she couldn't undo.
I swore as I tried to shift and nearly vomited. I was low on energy and blood and my magick wasn't as unlimited as Leonora's seemed to be. I settled for jogging as quickly as I could towards Rowan’s room.
I could only hope I got there in time to stop her, or join her. I was furious at Rowan too—but I knew him. He was good to his core and I didn’t want Leonora to do something she might regret. The very least I could do for her was let it be my soul that carried the weight of Rowan’s retribution.
