Page 162 of The Vampire's Bride

“What are you doing here? How did you get past the wards?”

“I brought a magic wielder to help me.” A sinister smirk plays across his lips. “Did you think I’d come alone and unprepared to steal from a Vampire?”

Fear trips my heart. “What are you saying?”

“I’ve come to rescue you, Juliet.”

“I’m not a prisoner here.” A chill moves down my spine as he takes a step closer. “This is my home and you are not welcome. Leave. Now.”

He tsks. “You’re not in your right mind, my darling. You’re under the thrall of a Vampire.” He wraps his hand around my forearm, and pulls me toward him.

I jerk away. “Don’t touch me!”

Disbelief flickers across his expression. “But I’ve come to save you.”

“I don’t need to be saved. I’m happy here.”

“No, you are not,” he insists, roughly grabbing my arm. “Now, come with me.”

“No!”

I try to pull away, but he tightens his grip. “You are my betrothed, and I’m taking you back home!”

“Help!” I cry out. “Valaric!”

“If you think anyone is coming, you’re wrong.” Jonathan sneers. “The sun is out. Yourhusbandcannot save you.”

A ring of black smoke appears, and a High Elf steps through. Her long brown hair is braided down her back and her amber eyes narrow as she steps closer, studying me with a scrutinizing gaze. “It’s just as you feared,” she tells Jonathan. “It’s obvious she is under the Vampire’s thrall.”

“No, I’m not.”

“I’m Lena.” She gives me a smile that borders on sinister. “Trust me. You will thank us for rescuing you later.” She looks back at Jonathan. “Let’s go. The others are waiting.”

“Come.” He jerks on my arm. “We must leave here.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you!” Lightning fast, I twist toward him, bringing my knee up to his groin.

He doubles over in pain, relinquishing his grip.

I rush toward the castle, but something slams into me from behind, sending me sprawling. I manage to push myself to standing, but Jonathan grabs my arm again.

“Do not fight me,” he grinds out.

“Let me go, or else—”

Pain arcs across my cheek as he backhands me, and I crumple to the ground, the bitter taste of iron filling my mouth. I bring my hand to my bottom lip, inhaling sharply as blood stains my fingers.

“Do not defy me!” he yells, his eyes burning with anger.

I knew Jonathan had a temper, but I’ve never truly been afraid of him until now.

Fear freezes me in place, but I somehow force my limbs to move, crawling backward, away from him.

“I came here to save you.” He stalks toward me. His blue irises turn pitch black, darkness bleeding through and completely covering the whites of his eyes.

Something is wrong.

“Jonathan, your eyes. They—”

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