Page 185 of The Vampire's Bride

The fourth one tries to make a run for the door, but he trips and falls. Shadows gather around me, spreading across the floor like dark tentacles, as I stalk toward his cowering form. “No, please,” he pleads. “Spare me.”

Extending my claws, I rush forward and slice open his throat. He makes a choked gurgling sound as he grasps at his neck in a desperate attempt to stem the bleeding. I watch in cold satisfaction as he finally collapses back to the floor and the light fades from his eyes.

A loud thump sounds from upstairs. I turn back to Eben and the innkeeper. “I’m going to check on the others.”

I’m desperate to find Juliet, my mind demanding proof that she is all right. But I walk as quietly as I can up the stairs, not wanting to frighten anyone. Eben and the innkeeper are close behind me.

There is no way anyone slept through the fight downstairs, and I can only imagine how terrified Juliet must be. I’m worried she’ll be upset that I’ve followed her even after she told me to leave the other night.

But I couldn’t stay away. I needed to know she was safe. I only pray she is not angry with me. I love her more than myown life, but I resolve not to tell her this. It would kill something inside me if she were to reject my feelings again.

When I reach the top of the stairs, my heart stops. There’s a man lying unconscious on the floor a few doors down. The hallway is dark, but I’m able to see clearly with my vampiric eyes.

Behind the last door on the left, I detect several distinct rapidly beating hearts. The stench of their fear is so strong, it almost completely overpowers Juliet’s delicate scent.

A sudden rush of air whooshes behind me, and I spin back as a candelabra swings toward my head. I twist away and it misses its mark, hitting my shoulder with a loud thwack. Someone slams into me, and I stumble to the side, barely catching myself before I fall.

I turn to face my attacker, but freeze instead when I see Juliet standing before me, a fierce look on her face and the candelabra raised overhead, readying to strike me again. “Juliet?”

She blinks several times, searching the darkness. “Valaric?”

The innkeeper comes up behind me. The light from his lit candle casting just enough illumination for her eyes to widen in recognition when they meet mine.

Juliet drops her makeshift weapon and rushes toward me. She jumps into my arms and I catch her. “You’re here.” She peppers my face with kisses. “You’re really here.”

“I wanted to make sure you were safe.” I wrap my wings around her, holding her close, thankful that she’s all right. “Why did you leave your home? Where were you going?”

“I’m so sorry I told you to go.” Her voice quavers. “And that I doubted you, when all you were trying to do was remind me of us, my love.”

Hope sparks deep within. “You remember our life together?”

“I remember everything. But I was afraid I was too late.” Tears stream down her cheeks. “You left me, and I was coming to find you.”

She was trying to return to me. Happiness blooms in my chest. I cup her cheek. “I never left you, my ashaya. When Eben found out you had gone, we followed after you as soon as we could. We were less than a few hours behind you.”

“You risked traveling in the daylight to reach me?” I nod, and Juliet blinks several times. “But I told you to leave. You—you had Eben give me that letter. I thought you left to return to Greyvale Castle.”

Gently, I drop my forehead to hers. “I could never leave you, Juliet. I love you. You are my heart. My mate. My wife. My everything.” I press a tender kiss to her lips. “You are mine, and I am yours. Forever and always.”

“Sorry to interrupt.” Eben clears his throat. “But would anyone care to explain why there’s an unconscious man on the floor?”

Irritated by his interruption of my reunion with Juliet, I glare at him over my shoulder as I gently set my bride back on her feet.

“He’s my carriage driver,” Juliet says. My head snaps back to her as she continues. “I knocked him out when he tried to force us all back down the stairs so his partners could sell us at the flesh markets.”

“He was working with the bandits,” Matheu—the innkeeper’s son—chimes in as he steps out into the hallway, followed by everyone else who was hiding upstairs.

A woman walks up to us and, despite the wary look she casts my way, she bows to Juliet. “Thank you so much, my Lady, for protecting me and my daughter.”

She must be the innkeeper’s wife. It’s confirmed a moment later as he rushes past us to embrace her and his children.

I’m beaming with pride as I gaze at Juliet. She is as fierce and brave as she is beautiful.

“Is this your… husband?” the woman asks a bit cautiously.

Everyone else falls silent as they await her answer.

“Yes.” Juliet smiles and leans close as she loops an arm around my waist. “This is my husband, Lord Valaric Greyvale.” She turns to Eben. “And this is our good friend, Eben Wolfstark.”

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