Page 23 of The Vampire's Bride

Relinquishing my grip, I wipe the blood from my mouth and push its lifeless carcass over an embankment. I grit my teeth as pain shoots through me when I turn back to Juliet. “Are you all right?” I barely manage.

Her eyes widen as they travel over my form. “Valaric, you’re bleeding.”

Black blood trails down my front from the deep claw marks scored across my chest, staining the snow beneath me like spilled ink. Forcing myself to move, I take a stumbling step forward. Agony sears through my veins, and I drop to my knees as the weight of my injuries hits me full force.

CHAPTER 8

JULIET

Valaric falls to his knees, and I rush forward, catching him around his shoulders to steady him. Worry tightens my chest at the jagged claw marks etched deep in his flesh. Blood pours from the wounds. The sharp scent of iron so thick in the air, I taste it on my tongue. “You’re hurt. We need to find a healer.”

His face twists in a pained grimace as he pushes himself back up to standing. “There is no need,” he rasps. “I will heal on my own. It will simply take time.”

Panic fills me as the sky begins to lighten in the east, heralding the coming dawn. The wind has picked up and the snowfall is much heavier than it was when I first left the castle.

Time is the one thing we don’t have.

“Come on.” I drape Valaric’s arm over my shoulder and wrap my other arm around his waist as I guide him to the mare. “We need to get you on the horse so we can make it back to the castle before daylight.”

He shakes his head. “We won’t make it.”

“We have to try.” I struggle to keep my voice calm despite my worry. “How far away is Corvania?”

“Close.” He winces as he lifts a trembling hand to point toward the main road. “At the base of the mountain. But it’s not safe for you to be seen with me. The villagers fear my kind. I’m not at my full strength. They might try to harm you if we’re together. It’s safer for you to go on without me.”

After what I just saw him do to the snowcat, I can understand their concern. But as for myself, I’m not afraid. He saved my life. Again. And now, I am going to save him.

“Why would they be afraid of a Vampire? Corvania is part of the Vampire kingdom of Morrowynd.”

“Corvania used to be part of the human kingdom of Aralon before Vampires conquered it during the Blood Wars. Most of the villagers are human and harbor intense hatred toward my people.”

I want to ask why he thought it would be a good idea to take up residence in the castle nearby, knowing this, but decide to save my questions for later. He’s injured and I need to get him somewhere safe before the sun rises.

I gesture to the horse. “Can you ride?”

“I don’t want to put you in danger, Juliet. Leave me.”

“No,” I state firmly. “You are my husband; I won’t abandon you. Now, can you ride?”

Surprise flickers across his expression before he finally nods.

Fortunately, the chestnut mare is much calmer now that the snowcat is dead. With a great deal of effort, Valaric pulls himself up into the saddle. Thankfully he’s able to remain upright, despite the extent of his injuries.

Quickly, I climb into the saddle. Sitting in front of him, I glance over my shoulder. “Hold onto me.”

He wraps his arms around my waist. His lean, muscular form is so much larger than mine, I’m completely enveloped. Hemakes sure I’m protected from the cold by pulling my hood over my head and tucking my cloak tighter around my shoulders.

My heart clenches at this extra bit of care he gives me, even in his wounded state. Clicking my tongue, I urge the mare into a quick canter to guide her down the main road. The storm is growing worse and we must find shelter before sunrise. If we don’t, I doubt either of us will make it through the day.

Hope sparks in my chest when we reach the base of the mountain. In the heavy snowfall, I can just barely make out a thick stone wall and large wooden doors up ahead. As we approach the entrance of Corvania, I notice at least four guards walking back and forth along the top of the wall, each of them armed with bows and swords.

I twist back to Valaric. “Pull your hood over your head to hide your appearance. I’ll do the talking. All right?”

He draws his cloak tighter around him to hide his wings and obscure his face in the shadows of his hood before he gives me a subtle nod.

“Halt!” My heart slams in my chest as one of the guards calls out to us. “What business do you have in Corvania?”

The icy wind bites at my exposed face, and I squint my eyes against the wintry blast as I lower my hood. Cold fire fills my lungs with each breath as snowflakes catch in my hair and stick to my skin. “We’re travelers on the way to Aralon. My husband and I are seeking shelter from the storm.”

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