Page 73 of Unbound By Shadows
“Probably just Brunie and Eldridge coming back,” he said, turning his head to listen.
The sound happened again, followed by a shout.
Selene sat up on her elbows. “Someone’s outside.”
That someone was about to die.Using a power of will he didn’t know he possessed, he pulled away from her to stand.
Sam’s senses for danger tingled. More vampires could be lurking. Some could have strayed from the hall, or seen the Harpies carry off Selene. Cautiously, he peered out the window. The yard was empty and dark. “I don’t see anything, but I’ll go down and check. Stay here.”
Selene sat up fully. He watched with regret as she belted the robe closed. “Be careful.”
Sam crept down the stairs. The house was still dark, but there was movement outside. He went to the window and pulled back the curtain a fraction.
It was Brunie and Eldridge. Each filling buckets of water from the pump at the side of the house then pouring the contents over each other. Eldridge spotted him in the window and beckoned. Sam trudged out, right as Brunie poured another bucket of water on Eldridge.
“C-c-cold!” Eldridge cried.
“You’re not tracking vampire blood inside!” Brunie scolded. She turned to Sam. “Are you all right? How is Selene?”
“She’s fine. My thanks to you and the Harpies for rescuing her. All is well back at the hall?”
“Fine, fine,” Eldridge said. He gestured to the sky where Sam could see a tower of smoke rising. “We had to set fire to everything, but the threat is gone.”
Eldridge shook water from his ear. “There were more than a few vampires who cried out for Zaybris before their finalend. One even asked me to tell his king that he never wanted the gold, only his gratitude. Why would they say that?”
Sam shifted his weight uneasily. Queen Thema must have sent word to Zaybris that a human gift was forthcoming. And naturally, being the greedy parasite Zaybris was, he didn’t want to wait. Sam cursed Queen Thema's recklessness. Her obsession with finding her lost sister was endangering more than just Selene. It was putting Aurelians in jeopardy too.
"I'm not certain," Sam said.
"Selene should give up her quest to go home and build a life in Aurelia,” Brunie said. “Perhaps with you, dearest. There's a darling little cottage for sale just past the mill--"
"I don't want to discuss this,” Sam said. "Selene and I will leave as soon as the sun rises."
"It's late, and we're all tired,” Eldridge said. “Let’s all get some sleep. There’ll be no more violence tonight."
Sam had not forgotten he had left Selene unfulfilled, and when he climbed the stairs he imagined her fully naked, arms outstretched waiting for him. However, when he crept into the room, she was tucked under the covers, sleeping peacefully. Her hair fanned out over his pillow, while her chest rose and fell softly.
Looking down at her, his throat choked with emotion. He had nearly lost her tonight. If the Harpies hadn't intervened, he was certain she would have been taken from him. She would have been drained on the spot or turned into a blood slave for Zaybris's pleasure. This human, who had been ripped from everything she knew and brought to a strange realm just as he was.
My mate.
Was it possible that she was truly his fated mate? His feelings were deeper than an infatuation, more fervent than an obsession. She was calm when he was volatile, gentle as he was fierce. He was full of secrets and shadows while she brought light to all darkness. There was no one he could imagine more perfectly matched for him. He could no longer deny the pull that drew him to her.
In that moment, he made a decision. They would continue their journey north to Queen Lilith's castle. He would keep up the ruse, and use Selene as bait to gain an audience with Zaybris. However, when they met, Sam would kill the vampire quickly. A true act of mercy when he deserved nothing but an eternity of pain. And then once the traveler's stone was in Sam’s possession, he would scry for Thema’s lost sister, as he promised, before using the stone to transport himself home.
But he would not be leaving Selene behind in Aurelia.
He was taking her to the Underworld with him.
Chapter 30
Selene woke to a sharp rap at the door. How did she end up in such a huge bed? And why was everything so bright? She squinted against the rays of sun pouring through the windows and remembered she was in Brunie and Eldridge’s attic. In Sam’s bed. Alone. And it was morning. Sunlight meant safety. They were free from the vampire threat, at least until nightfall.
The knock sounded again, more forceful this time.
“Selene?” came Sam’s urgent voice.
“I’m awake! Just a minute,” she called back. Scrambling out of bed, she cinched her robe before opening the attic door. Sam stood in the doorway.
