Page 40 of Claim the Twilight
The carriage park staff was happy to provide extra carriages for the tulpas, their human gazes sliding off our dirty, bloodyclothes and the tulpas’ obvious injuries. Whatever spell Loviator had cast on the human population was certainly a strong one.
Godor and another batling drove the two carriages filled with tulpas, and Ordell drove Ezekiel and me.
Once again, the journey was a quiet one, and by the time Branwood Castle came into view, I was a bag of nerves.
We escorted the tulpas we’d rescued into the castle and left them with Matthew to accommodate before making our way to the library to check on how Lorenzo and Holly were getting on with the wards.
I knew immediately from Lorenzo’s expression that the answer wasn’t good, and once he’d explained the situation, it was clear that we were on an even tighter deadline than we’d imagined.
I handed him the box containing the teapot. “Can you create the trap at least?” I winced at the snap in my voice, the irritation that shouldn’t be aimed at him, or anyone for that matter. “I’m sorry. It was rough out there.”
Lorenzo took the box with a frown. “What happened?”
Heat gathered behind my eyes, and the threat of tears had a fist forming in my chest. I exhaled sharply and opened my mouth to tell him about the attack, but Ezekiel beat me to it.
“Cold one attack on the tulpas,” he said, setting Holly’s bag on the table. “But we had assistance. Ghouls and Sangualex helped us hold them off until the white wings arrived. We brought some of the tulpas back expecting wards, but we can take them to Brimswood with us. Have we heard back from Crush?”
“Not yet,” Merry said quickly. “But I’m sure we’ll hear soon.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Or we can just go there and ask when we set the trap.”
“Yes,” Ordell said. “Let’s work on the spell first. Lorenzo, is there anything else you need?”
Lorenzo shook his head. “Now that we have the teapot and Holly’s bag, we can get to work.”
“It’ll take a few hours,” Holly said. “It would help if I could have the library to myself to work.”
“Of course,” Ezekiel said. “It’s been a long day. You should all get some rest. We have guest quarters you can use,” he said to Lorenzo. His gaze fell to me. “Orina and I will keep watch over the castle.”
Lorenzo opened his mouth as if to protest but then snapped it closed and smiled thinly. “Ithasbeen a long day.”
“You don’t need to tell me twice,” Padma said.
“What about her?” Merry jerked a thumb in Jacqueline’s direction.
The witch had been so quiet I hadn’t noticed her sitting in the corner of the room.
“I’d like to stay and help Holly,” Jacqueline said. “Please.”
She sounded sincere enough. “Holly?”
Holly pressed her lips together, and for a moment I thought she’d say no, but then she nodded curtly. “Fine. But no unsolicited advice.”
“I’ll show you to your room,” Ordell said to Lorenzo. “There’s an empty one next to mine.” He fixed his gaze on Ezekiel. “We’ll leave Orina in your care for tonight.”
He didn’t need to say it. It was clear that both he and Lorenzo wanted time with me, and I wanted time with them too. But right now, as a new vampire, I needed Ezekiel more.
Ezekiel slipped an arm around my waist, tucking me against his side possessively.
The two men walked past me, their gazes lingering, and a longing awoke in my belly—desire, yearning, and…hunger?
I dropped my gaze quickly.
Ezekiel leaned in, his breath warm against the shell of my ear. “Hunger and desire will blur to begin with. You will getused to distinguishing the two from each other, and in cases, indulging in both at the same time.”
I looked up at him wide-eyed as I caught his meaning, and he smiled, slow burn and sexy. “Go get showered and changed, then meet me in the dining room so I can get you fully fed.”
My stomach fluttered as I allowed him to lead me from the room. He kissed me softly, lingering at the foot of the staircase. “Don’t be long, Little Silver. I’m getting hungry too…”
I hurried to my room ready for the quickest shower in the history of mankind.
