Page 29 of A Dream Shrouded in Fury
To his credit, not even Corban dragged his feet as we hurried out of the room and into the tunnel, though he remained wary when we turned into the large cavern.Even I wasn’t sure I believed our escape would be so easy.I’d known Kalla for a few days.It was possible everything I’d learned about her had been a lie and even while she accused me of being the trickster, she was the one playing the dual face.
But when we reached the main room, all I found were vampires slumped against walls or lying curled around each other on the floor.A few were still awake, but their eyes were glazed, their stares directed at the ceiling as sleep dragged them under.
We moved with ingrained fae stealth, our footsteps silent across the stone.A shiver ran down my spine as Hethyr pulled on her magic, gently drawing the shadows around us to help us blend in where the candles hanging from the ceiling didn’t cast their light.
Even so, I caught the gaze of the vampire in the chair across the room.Thorn sat with her head propped on her hand, her posture so slouched it was obvious she fought sleep the same as everyone else.Yet her grey stare was sharp when it landed on me, and I prayed to the sun Kalla wouldn’t come to harm because of her actions.
She didn’t seem to notice that her leader had spotted us.With resolute focus, she ushered us into a tunnel leading towards outside, and we broke into a jog.
Before we could get too far away from the cavern, Cliff stopped at the front of the line.Corban skidded to a halt behind him, his teeth bared, and Hethyr and Pimmin looked to me.When I didn’t panic, they turned their attention to Cliff, who held up a strip of white cloth.
“Blindfolds,” he said.“Only vampires can know the way in and out of this place.We’ll need to cover your eyes until we get you to the edge of our territory.”
Corban sputtered.“You’ve got to be fucking kidding.You say you’re helping us escape, but you don’t trust us to keep our fucking eyes open?It’ll take us days to reach the carriage.What are you going to do?Lead us all the way like we’re fucking sheep?”
“You should be dead,” Cliff said, his tone bland.“We’re breaking every rule for you fae fucks.You want to go back to your room and wait for someone to drain you?Be my guest.”
“Wear the damn blindfold, Corban,” I said.“Be grateful you’re still breathing.”
He cursed under his breath but stood still when Kalla stepped forward.
She took the strip of cloth from Cliff and tugged harder than necessary on the knot at the back of Corban’s head.When he let out a grunt of discomfort, she sneered and turned to the others.They eyed her warily, but her handling of them was much gentler than with our mouthy compatriot.
Hethyr relaxed as she twined her fingers through Pimmin’s, and I experienced another frustrating twinge of jealousy.How nice it was for them to have someone to lean on when the world unravelled.What I wouldn’t give for the same.
Again, my gaze turned to Kalla, and this time she made no show of looking away from me.Her blue eyes were deep with emotions I couldn’t name but that made my mouth go dry, recognizing them as the same feelings raging in my own chest.I wanted to run my fingertips along her throat and taste the faintly metallic flavour of her lips.
I resisted all such temptations, kept my hands by my sides, and bowed my head to make it easier for her to wrap the blindfold around my eyes.My heart thrashed against my ribs at the idea of being trapped in darkness for the next few days, but I stifled my terror.Either I allowed this to happen, or I could die right here.Resolved, I clenched my teeth and squeezed my eyes shut as the material brushed against my face.When all sight of Kalla was gone, everything else about her exploded through my senses in bursts of vibrant detail.Her sweet, earthy scent, the softness of her hands where they drifted over the back of my neck, the warmth of her breath fanning over my cheek.
My body warmed at her proximity, and for a few brief moments, I hoped I would get my wish and she’d kiss me one last time here in the sanctuary of this mountain before the emptiness of my life consumed us again.
But then she was gone.Cool air wafted over my face, and a light hand on my arm guided me forward.The dream was over.Only death awaited.
Accepting my future, I allowed Kalla to guide me into the unknown.
Kalla
XXII
We led the four fae down the tunnel that would take us into the woods and towards where the princess’s carriage had last been sighted.Cliff, Ria, and Birch hadn’t said a word against this plan since I’d approached them, but I was certain they thought I was mad.Fortunately, they were my closest friends, so at least they’d judge me among themselves and not bring anyone else into it.
Also fortunately, they were the type of vampire who would treat the blindfolded fae with care and be strong enough to deal with trouble if anything came up.We were on high alert to run into any other fae, but we also had to consider the threat we travelled with.I didn’t think we had much to fear from Jael, Hethyr, or Pimmin, but the fourth one—Corban—he’d already pissed me off a few times.The sooner we dumped him with the guards, the happier I’d be.
Even if it meant I’d also be saying goodbye to Jael.
By the blood, the thought of leaving him shouldn’t have pained me so much.Growing attached to him—our one frantic night together—had been a mistake.While it had been the two of us in our tucked-away haven, everything had made perfect sense.He had been broken, and I’d helped him heal.I’d watched life return to his empty eyes, heard those first rough, unexpected laughs spill from his throat.All I’d wanted was more of it.More than blood, more than to see the sun.I’d given in to the temptation of his fae allure, and now I was walking beside him, my fingers around his arm, his scent in my nose, and all I could think about was the feel of his hands on my skin, the way he’d stared at me as though I was everything he’d believed lost to him, the way he’d made my soul dance with his music.
I wished we’d had more time to explore each other.
I had five nights left in his company, during which he wouldn’t be able to see me.Maybe I’d leave and let one of the others remove the blindfold when we arrived.I didn’t know if I could handle staring into his emerald eyes again and walking away.Those nights with him had meant everything.It would probably be best to leave it at that.Pretend he was already gone.
My throat squeezed, and I swallowed through the discomfort.
This wasn’t fair.I’d spent fifty years longing for my life to change.Then it had, and it had been wonderful, and now…
But maybe those few days were all we were meant to have.Something to hold on to and treasure.Maybe it was impossible for it to have lasted.
I gritted my teeth and gave Jael’s arm an unnecessary tug as I quickened my pace.
