Page 103 of Unbound By Shadows
“I’ve been injured.” Sam tried to sit up, but the motion made him dizzy. “I was trapped in a cave above us and escaped over the waterfall. I’m trying to get to the Goblyn castle.”
“What for?”
“My mate,” Sam said thickly. “She is being held there against her will. By vampires.”
“Oh no, we can’t let that happen,” Kye said. He began twisting his torso in a stretching motion and rolling his shoulders. “I’ll take you to her. There’s nothing I hate more than vampires.”
The fear of what danger Selene could be facing at that moment made Sam’s words come slowly. “No. I can’t swim now. I’m too weak.”
“Yeah, I know,” Kye replied. “Don’t move. I just have to grab something from home.” Quickly, the Nereid dove back into the river. A few minutes later, a thin boat-like structure shot to the surface, followed by Kye. He emerged wearing a chest harness made of netting with two thick straps secured to the boat at his back.
“Climb aboard,” Kye said.
Sam crawled on his hands and knees toward the water. When he gripped the boat’s edge, black spots clouded his vision. He felt Kyecome up behind him and unceremoniously push Sam in until he was lying with his back against the shell-like bottom of the boat.
“Hey, sorry about that, but I had to get you in somehow,” Kye said cheerfully. “Just relax. I’ll get you to your mate soon.”
With a splash, Kye dove underwater and began swimming at a fantastic speed, pulling Sam behind him. The steady motion made it impossible for Sam to keep the darkness fogging his consciousness at bay. He couldn’t say if the journey between the waterfall and the Goblyn castle took two minutes or two days, but the next time he opened his eyes, Kye was poking his shoulder.
“Samael, wake up. We’re here!”
He sat up, noticing that the rest he had gained made his head feel clearer. The sun was setting, and the air was cool. When he laid his eyes on the Goblyn castle before them, vengeful anger strengthened his will.
I’m coming for you, Selene.
Gingerly, Sam hauled himself out of the boat. “Thank you, Kye. You have my gratitude.”
“It was my pleasure.” Kye bobbed in the water and gestured to the castle. “It’s pretty grim in there. You need a hand? I haven’t been on land for a while, but I could change into legs.”
“No, you’ve given me enough help,” Sam replied. “This is my vengeance to take.”
Kye shrugged. The motion flipped his blue and green braid over his shoulder. “I’m glad I could help. Now we’re even, demon!”
“We are. Farewell, Kye.”
“Bright blessings,” Kye replied. Sam watched the Nereid wave and then swim away, dragging the boat behind him. Sam was grateful that his time in the blood wagons had brought him such a boon.
Slowly, Sam approached the decrepit castle. No lights were shining in the windows, and it looked like no one had inhabited the castle for decades. The outer gardens and orchards were so overgrown Sam nearly walked straight into the iron gates defending thecastle’s entrance. No guards stood outside, which Sam found odd. Wouldn’t Zaybris be more careful to protect himself? Perhaps the vampire assumed Sam was dead and wouldn’t be coming for Selene.
Wrong.
The rusted gates opened easily with a push. Sam crept toward the large oak entry doors that bore a brass plaque depicting a bat in flight—Queen Lilith’s royal crest. One door was ajar, and Sam slipped in. He tensed for a surprise attack. Nothing happened. Only the sound of his ragged breathing filled the empty entry hall, then the scuttle of a mouse disappearing under a loose floorboard.
“Selene!” Sam shouted repeatedly. Each time he paused to see if he could somehow connect with her through their bond and find where Zaybris had hidden her in the castle. He waited for some kind of response, either by sound or internal feeling, but nothing came. Enraged with fear and desperation, he began tearing through the castle. With what little strength he had, he started opening doors, searching each room he encountered, and even destroying bookcases and walls in search of secret passages.
Panting with exertion and covered in sweat, Sam finally made it up to the throne room on the top floor. He had found nothing in every space he searched but bats and cobwebs. Everything stank of mold and dust, leading him to a heartbreaking realization.
Her scent isn’t here.
Even if Zaybris had hidden her someplace, Sam was certain their bond would make him able to catch her scent. She wasn’t in the castle. Sam didn’t know where she was. Every bit of rage and frustration rose and came out of him in an ear-piercing roar. Before the throne of the lost queen, Sam fell to his knees and dropped his head in his hands.
“We don’t have any gold,” a voice called out. “There’s nothing here of value.”
Sam’s head whipped up. A well-dressed but tired-looking vampire was watching him from behind a table Sam had overturned. Sam shot to his feet and charged toward him.
“Where is Zaybris? Where did he take the human?”
The vampire’s mustache twitched fearfully. “I don’t know. Zaybris left with some guards a few days ago. I haven’t seen him since.”
