Page 49 of Winterfall Destiny

No. This can't happen. I glance at the side of Andrei's face. He's staring ahead, face inscrutable, hands deep in his pockets.

The First created these aberrations to punish the hemia rather than kill them outright. She wants to do the same to Maeve—create a living death for her.

The First doesn't enjoy killing. The creature prefers torture. Control.

"I guess you really fucked up when you drank the First's blood, Andrei," says Dorian.

If Andrei hadn't blurred across the room and broken Dorian's face with a single punch, I would've done so. I glare at the swearing hybrid, who's standing straight with a hand over his nose and fury in his eyes.

"And I guess you really fucked up when you had a daughter," Andrei spits back.

Dorian wipes blood on his jeans. "If we get out of this place, you won't see me again. Not now that thing threatened Mia. Good luck."

The First clears her throat. "Did I not advise you to watch your words around me? If you didn't have an important role in the future I've seen, I'd kill you for less."

"Important?" Dorian straightens. "I do kill Oskar?"

"And I won't give you my blood to tie you to me," she adds, ignoring his question. "Giving Dorian Blackwood more supernatural power would be a ludicrous idea. I've other ways to ensure the Blackwoods are bound to me."

"But you just said..." He trails off. "Fuck. No. Please. Leave Mia alone."

"The Winterfall won't allow her lover to suffer; the Blackwood won't want his daughter to."

Dorian's completely still, reduced to something small for the first time in his life as he places a hand on the wall, breath shortening. "Eloise," he rasps out.

"Wow, Dorian," snaps Andrei. "Really? You're offering up the woman you supposedly love?"

He snarls. "She's the only alternative to me, and Eloise would offer in a heartbeat. Will Maeve?"

"No." The First smiles. "Not Eloise. Only Mia."

Somehow, I don't believe this'll be the last we see of Dorian.

Every one of us needs to figure out a way to trap the First before the creature unleashes havoc on the world and destroys those most precious to us.

Dealing with Gabriella's army suddenly seems pointless, but if the First thinks that's our focus still, that buys time. We take down the Dominion while researching how to deal with the First.

Maeve can't take the First's blood and condemn herself to a life controlled by something worse than a curse. The First would harm a child to further its aims and protect herself. If the creature is the goddess it claimed some treated the First as, the thing is as evil as they come.

Did others offer sacrifices to this creature in the past? Because I'll sacrifice everything to stop her.

19

MAEVE

I'm already sick to the stomach with worry about Tobias and Andrei, so don't appreciate the welcome inside the London terraced house.

A dead body, artfully positioned in the centre of the white woven rug that's in the middle of the lounge room floor.

Jamie edges around the thickly upholstered sofa towards the corpse, who's lying on their back, face a mask of the fear they died with. He's a young male, nondescript in appearance and clothes—he could be one of many walking the busy streets outside this house. A student. The kids who sit outside the nearby cafes, or walk along the Thames.

"Not a vamp," says Jamie, as he crouches down.

"You sure?" asks Ash.

I hang back, standing in the lounge room doorway, away from the room's unwanted feature piece.

"He wouldn't still be dead. I'm not an expert, but a vamp would be 'back' after a couple of hours. Shifter?"

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