Page 104 of Unbound By Shadows
“Do you know of the human he sought?”
“He went out to find her but planned to return here. Do you wish to drain her too?”
“She is my mate! I have come here to save her and destroy Zaybris! Where is he?”
The vampire held up his palms defensively. “Please, I am no ally of Zaybris, and I don’t wish any harm to come to your mate. But I don’t know where he took her.”
Sam took a step forward. “How do I know you’re not lying?”
“Waldron speaks the truth,” a new voice called out. “Zaybris isn’t here. Have you come to rescue us?”
Sam turned and saw a petite Goblyn in a pink dress hovering on leathery wings. More Goblyns began to emerge from dark corners and around doorways. A few vampires shuffled out, looking more weary than fearful.
“Where have you all been hiding?” Sam asked. “Is Zaybris there with you?”
“He isn’t here, and may he never return,” a vampire said in a rasping voice.
“Does your kind not serve him?” Sam asked. “Why are you all here if he is so despised?”
The Goblyn in the pink dress floated closer to Sam. “This is our home. Please, sir. Can we bring you something to eat or drink? At least let our healer dress your wounds.”
The vampire called Waldron said, “Zaybris is nothing but a tyrant. Our kind has been lost without Queen Lilith, but when Zaybris returned, he didn’t bring order and integrity as he promised. He only riled up the greediest among us.”
“To serve his own needs,” another vampire echoed.
Sam eyed them cautiously. The rush of adrenaline that hadpropelled him into the castle was nearly spent, and his legs were shaking. It seemed that neither Selene nor Zaybris were in the castle. Although part of him was compelled to search all of Aurelia for Selene, he knew he was far too weak.
Zaybris could have taken Selene as far as the Vowa territory with the stone, which would take Sam weeks to reach, and doing so was a poor strategy when Zaybris could return her to the castle in a blink. The feeling of powerlessness he had was overwhelming. It wasn’t wise to trust these strangers, but they posed no threats to him and seemed truthful in their hatred of Zaybris.
“You truly believe Zaybris means to return here?” Sam asked Waldron.
“It was his intention, yes. He had prepared a suite of rooms for her and… ah, well… devices to collect her blood.”
Sam growled, and when his knees threatened to buckle, Waldron swept a chair under him.
“Sir, please sit and rest. May I ask your name?” Waldron said.
“Samael.”
“Welcome to our home, Samael. We will do whatever we can to reunite you with your human.”
Sam nodded weakly, resigning himself to living with the agony of waiting. He patted his side in search of the switch pouch before realizing it was left behind in the cave. “Do you have any means of communication here? I need to get a message to the Malkina queen.”
Waldron reached into the pocket of his tweed suit jacket. “We have this crystal that once contained a message from Queen Thema. Would that do?”
“Yes.” Sam took the crystal and considered how to phrase his message. He had to tell Queen Thema of the disastrous end to their scheme and demand that she organize a massive search among the queens for Selene. Unwanted images of Selene lying still and pale with death came to him, inducing panic. What if Zaybris had been so greedy that he drained her? What if he had beaten her or violated her? What if she was somewhere crying out for him, but he couldn’thear her? Surely he would feel it if she had died, Sam reasoned. Zaybris needed Selene’s living blood. It was in his best interest to keep her healthy and whole.
Sam asked the Goblyns if they could bring him some water and food. He clutched the crystal and tried to transform all his fear, regret, and despair into determination and strength.
It’s not too late for us, Selene. It can’t be.
Chapter 44
Selene awoke, lying on her side. Something wet and squishy was pressed to her face, and her head was throbbing. Every muscle quivered with fatigue. When she breathed in, the air filling her lungs was humid and warm. It smelled of dirt, grass, and trees. Vaguely, her mind registered she was above ground.
There was pressure on her shoulder like someone was shaking her. The motion made her head hurt even more, and she tried to pull away. She cracked open her eyes and saw a dark figure crouched over her.
“Sam?” she croaked.
