Page 87 of Blood Lust

Ms. Leblanc rises and straightens her pants. I do the same, adjusting the strap of my bag, careful of my precious cargo. “That’s all I ask. Here’s my card,” she fishes out a piece of cardboard that labels her as a higher-up in a research lab. “Call me with your decision, please.” I tuck the card into my wallet and nod. “Take care, Wren,” she says casually, before striding past Becky and out the door, her hair gleaming in the sunlight.

Stepping out of the restaurant, I head home, unsure what will happen for my coven, for vampire kind, for me… But I am thoroughly excited to find out.

EPILOGUE

THE DREAMWALKER

Cold air wraps around the manor tonight. Another meeting, another death sentence for a young woman who deserves so much better than this. This is wrong. All wrong.

I can’t do a damn thing to stop it.

Large oak doors open for me as I approach, nameless, faceless nobodies doing the grunt work of the council to keep intruders and undesirables out. But not me. No, they let me in without a second thought.

I am a General amongst vampires. I have status, and I have power. But not enough to save them. Not enough to keep her.

The marble floors beneath me allow the steps of my boots to echo in the foyer. My stride is long and my pace is fast as I cross to the hidden door at the end. An elevator disguised as the regular wall opens at my approach, and I nod to the camera in the upper left corner of the room.

Stepping in, nerves clench in my gut. The doors close, and the unmistakable sounds of machinery whir to life as the cab moves downwards.

I have never doubted before.

Not before this last week.

I have always been loyal.

So certain.

So sure.

With my jaw wired tight, the doors open as the elevator completes its descent. Around me is a well-built underground cavern. Strong columns offering support to the ceiling and torches mounted every few yards, looking like something out of a movie, and it makes me want to roll my eyes at the obviousness of it all.

I am late.

I almost didn’t come at all.

I almost took her and ran.

But I can’t do that.

Not yet.

Setting down a path lit well enough for anyone to see, I approach a chamber where voices drone back and forth without ever saying anything of substance. The council loves to think of themselves as essential when only a few hold actual power. I step into the room, slightly bowing to the nine men around the table. One seat is still open. At least I’m not the only one late.

Spotting my friend Hiram in the corner, I join him by our leader’s side. In this region, Isaac is the authority. Not based upon being his disciple, or even his creation, I know he is the most powerful vampire in the entire room. He is why I want to abandon my posting, lose my status, and disappear.

I need to be careful here tonight.

Isaac sits at the head of the table. The newest council member usually fills the empty seat to his right. I pay no attention to the mutterings of the other members. They aren’t that important, not here anyway, not in my world. The only part they play here is that they are Isaac’s puppets. They bend to his whims and desires and will destroy us before long.

The faint ding of the elevator lets me know that Rafael has finally decided to join us. His footsteps grow closer, and my back and neck muscles grow tighter with every step he takes. He is the youngest council member and loves revering Isaac’s plans—the one who always finds a way to take the darkness our leader crafts and make it worse.

I despise him.

I loathe him.

I want to rip him limb from limb.

My nostrils flare as he takes his seat.

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