Page 27 of Of Shadows and Death

“Step forward, Penny,” Raúl says. “Deep breaths. You are safe.”

I obey, moving one foot forward. I take a deep breath and move my other foot up. Happily, I stare up at Raúl. “I did it.”

“Yes,” he says with a warm smile. “You did it. Farther? Or back in?”

I lean against him and close my eyes. “Farther.”

“Brave Penny.”

A few more steps, and many moments later, my body finally stops shaking. We stand there, almost to the trees. I roll my shoulders, tense after so much shaking. “I’m outside,” I say with joy, warmth spreading through my heart. I feel proud of myself. I’m not going to be punished for this. I’m okay, I think to myself.

Raúl squeezes my hand. “I’m going to let go and you’re going to try one step alone.”

“Okay.”

Raúl gently lets go of my hand. I take another deep breath and step forward. First one foot, then the other. I throw my head back and stare up at the moon, laughter spilling out of me. For a moment, a precious moment, I am free.

A rustling in the bushes interrupts my celebrating, and my eyes snap to the sound. Raúl is beside me in a second, gripping my shoulders.

Chapter Twenty-Three

“Penny,” he says urgently. “Run inside.”

He lets go of my shoulders right before two vampires emerge from the bushes. They stalk toward us, and I stand frozen in fear.

One of the vampires, the one I recognize from my window, glares at Raúl. He has light blond hair and is wearing a dirty white shirt. His fangs slide out and he hisses at us. The other vampire continues to watch, a smirk on his face. His short black hair reflects the starlight. His red shirt is much cleaner, but his pants are covered in dirt.

“What are you doing here?” Raúl demands. “You dare show your cowardly face after the other night?”

Dirty Shirt spits at our feet. “I told you. You’re not our king.”

“Our loyalties lie with King Julian,” says Red Shirt.

Raúl throws his head back and laughs, a bitter, ugly sound. “Julian betrayed all of us, including you.”

“He had his reasons,” says Red.

“Enough,” says Dirty. He flies toward Raúl, who flings a hand out, his nails suddenly longer. Raúl slices into his chest. Blood doesn’t rush out as with humans but seeps out in a never-ending flow. Red takes advantage of the distraction and comes for me.

He wraps his hands around my neck. His fangs slide out, and I can see the hate glittering in his eyes. “Surrender,” he says, malice lacing his words.

“Never,” I say, shaking myself out of my reverie. Determination and fierceness fill my body. He grips my shoulder hard, and I stomp on his foot.

He lets out a yelp, and in a flash, Raúl throws him up in the air. He crashes to the ground, scrambling to stand up.

“How dare you,” says Red. He tries to bypass Raúl, who grabs him by the throat.

“I told you. Touch her and die.” Raúl brings his other hand to Red’s heart. His nails lengthen and sharpen, and he stabs straight through Red’s ribs.

Red screams, and Dirty hauls himself up from the ground. Shaking, he runs into Raúl and knocks into his side. Raúl loses his grip on the vampire, and both run off into the forest, swallowed by the night.

Raúl comes to stand next to me and I reach out, grabbing his waist with shaking hands. He wraps an arm around me, holding tight. Deep down, a part of me whispers, See? This is what happens when we go outside.

I grip Raúl tighter, trying to banish that devilish thought. He rubs his scar, staring at the spot they disappeared from. Abruptly, he turns to me, mouth open. “Penny. You’ve been out here this long, and you fought a vampire. By yourself.”

My cheeks heat. “Technically, you did. I simply held him off for a moment. I am not a fighter like you or my mother.”

Raúl kisses my red cheeks and my heart pounds. “Moments add up.” He checks me over for wounds, and when satisfied at finding none, shifts to take my arm. “Let’s go inside. I need to talk to some of my people.”

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