Page 33 of Ashvale: The Vampire's Kiss

“He’d have to find us first.”

“You mean, not go back to Ashvale?” Now Novalie seemed surprised and I shrugged.

“I’m not sure about that new head. Carina. She basically told me to be on my best behaviour at court. I don’t know… What do you guys think of her?”

Emerson bit her lip. “She’s okay. It’s been weird at Ashvale since…”

“Since I left and killed Rowan.” I sighed. I couldn’t fault them for that, really. “I’m sure we could find somewhere to hide out for a while. Maybe Cal would take us in.”

“Normally, I’d take the piss out of you for considering running to daddy,” Novalie said, stretching as she grinned. “But in this case, I think you might be right.”

“We’re doing this, then?” I looked between the two of them for confirmation. “We should probably travel light, I have to imagine Adrian will be on the lookout for us, so the less we have to carry the better.”

There was a heartbeat of tense silence and then Novalie nodded decisively. “I’m in.”

Emerson relaxed. “I’ll do whatever you guys want.”

“What I want,” I murmured softly, “is for us to all be safe. I don’t think we’ll have that here.”

“I don’t know,” Novalie said with a laugh, “the assassination attempts really shake things up a little.” I rolled my eyes and Emerson laughed. “Should we do this thing then?”

“You want to go now?” Emerson stood and looked between us and I nodded slowly.

“Why wait?” I gestured to her bag by the bed. “If there’s anything you desperately want to bring, then grab it now.” I headed for their door, intent on packing a couple things of my own. “I’ll be right back.”

They were already busy grabbing things as I stepped out of the door and into the corridor. My smile faded as I met a familiar pair of eyes, ancient power lurking in them despite his relatively youthful appearance. Adrian.

Before I could say a word, he moved. The air seemed to blur around him with his speed and he reached me faster than I could breathe, his hand pressing to my sternum with the gentleness of a petal landing on the floor. And then the pain hit me.

His fingers punched straight through me, the tugging and twisting of him pulling at my skin as he drove deeper making me scream.

The door flew open behind me and I gasped a warning before Novalie and Emerson could take a step, not wanting Adrian to turn his ire on them.

“I thought you might require a little more persuasion,” he said, voice even and calm, like we were discussing the weather as he snapped my ribs open with the tiniest movement. “So I hope this warning might serve you well, my dear.”

I was held in place by his hand, my magick fleeing me as his own aura eclipsed me, pinning me into place even if he hadn’t wrapped his fingers around my unbeaten heart.

“You’re strong, Leonora. One day you may even have the power to kill me. But until then, you would do well to harness your rage, girl. I could end you in less time than it would take you to scream. And what would happen to our beloved, formerly lost heir then?”

I choked, all thoughts fleeing as his hand tightened and my body grew taut.

“Do you understand me, Leonora? Or do I need to demonstrate my point again with one of your little friends? Maybe the fledgling you’re so keen to protect? Or the new vampire you somehow managed to claim?”

I shook my head, fingers scrabbling at his arm until he relinquished his hold on me and I fell to the floor. The sound of his retreating footsteps never reached me, but I knew when he was gone by the absence of his suffocating power. I gasped for air, despite not needing it, my body healing slowly as Novalie and Emerson dragged me inside their room.

“Shit, shit, shit,” Novalie chanted under her breath and I grabbed her hand as she pressed it to my chest.

“I’m okay.” My voice was weak, but getting stronger. What I needed was blood.

“Adrian just had his hand inside your chest,” Novalie hissed and Emerson growled. “You are not okay.”

“I am,” I insisted, sitting up and wincing as I pushed her hand away to show them the smooth skin through the rip in my corset-top. “Though, this top is ruined.” Bastard. It had been one of my favourites. Novalie’s hand shook in the air above my chest, the shock hitting her and I pulled her to me. “Everything’s alright. You and Emerson, you’re the reason I’m okay.”

“How?” she said, face muffled against my shoulder.

“Because you’re House of Romilly. We’re stronger together.”

Novalie was quiet and I couldn’t tell if she believed me. Eventually, she pulled back and nodded. “I guess we’re staying then.”

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