Page 81 of To Spark a Dragon's Love
Then I’d lain awake longer, waiting for Malachy to return, needing me like he always did after Earth called. I’d paced his room before coming back here. That was a few hours ago.
I sat on the edge of the bed and listened, still hearing nothing. Feeling nothing. No tug. No pressing need to go to him. Just an empty ache that somehow felt worse than anything I’d experienced through the bond this far.
I tiptoed from the room, pausing to make sure Harper stayed asleep, before closing the door softly behind me.
The lights in the hall were off, but pre-dawn gray misty morning light filtered through the big windows as I walked down the staircase. The tables in the great room hadn’t been stored away last night, but the staff would probably leave a few out to serve breakfast.
Wait… Do vampires eat breakfast?
A cold rush of air breezed past me and as if thinking about them called her, the female vampire from earlier seemed to materialize out of thin air.
It was really hard not to scream.
I clapped my hands over my mouth instead.
“Forgive me, I didn’t mean to scare you.” Her smile oozed sexuality. She was easily the prettiest woman I’d ever seen. If I swung that way, I’d definitely offer a vein or something.
But I was unfortunately attracted to dick. “You’re fine. I’m the one creeping around in the dark.”In a house full of sleeping monsters, I didn’t add.
Not my brightest move.
“I don’t blame you for not being able to sleep. It’s been an interesting night.” She studied me like one would look at a dead butterfly trapped under glass. I didn’t like the chills that followed.
“It sure has. If you’ll excuse me…” I went to step around her, drawn by the soft noise and glow of light coming from under the rec room door up ahead.
“But of course.” She moved to the side. “Let me know if anyone else gets in your way as you do what needs to be done.”
“I’m sorry… What?” I blinked, wondering if I hadn’t fully woken up. “Who are you again?”
“Sabine.” Her smile was hauntingly beautiful and distant. “I was a witch once, before I was turned. But magic still lingers in my veins, like it sparks in yours.”
Her cold fingers brushed against my hand as she leaned close to my ear to whisper, “Be a good girl and don’t let us down.”
She left as fast as she came, leaving me shivering in the empty hall.
Someone must’ve spiked the blood, because she was high as a kite.I reassured myself that the chill I felt was normal. Rational. Not at all creepy and foreboding.
A branch tapped against the window, making me jump.
I hugged myself tighter and hurried toward the rec room, needing to find other hopefully living, breathing people and convince myself I wasn’t still trapped in a nightmare.
The bluish glow from the television lit up the room, illuminating the outline of the couch where Riley and Ember sat with their mates. A few guests lingered on chairs beside themwith their coats unbuttoned, sipping from almost empty bottles of alcohol.
They didn’t notice me.
I wasn’t focused on them either.
The news reporter sat on a daylight scene with the rising sea water behind her, speaking into the headset to be heard over the screams of fleeing people, “As you can see, previous reports claiming the eastern Appalachia mountains were geologically stable for the time being are wrong. What is being termed as the Adirondack shift has chunks of New York falling into the Atlantic Ocean. I’m getting reports of—”
The screen cut out and shifted back to the news station. Only a moment passed before the man at the desk cleared his throat. “Our hearts are with the East Coast. It seems our good luck streak is over. Government officials are starting evacuations now as the death toll is over two hundred reported and rising by the minute.”
Kieran stood up, scratching the back of his head. “We need to go look for him.”
I couldn’t help the cry of pain that slipped out.
Ember turned to the sound of my voice. “Oh, Willow. It’s okay. I’m sure he’s fine.”
I nodded, tears shimmering in my eyes.
