Page 36 of The Vampire's Bride

Vampires have long lives, and I wonder how many years ago this was. “How long have you been twenty-six?”

His eyes slide to mine, a hint of sadness reflecting behind them. “Fifty-two years.”

He’s not as old as I thought. I had no idea he was born human. I’ve heard the process is very painful and not everyone survives being turned. At least a dozen questions sit on the tip ofmy tongue, but the first one I’d like to know, I’m unsure how to ask.

“Did you”—I hesitate, picking my words very carefully before I continue—“chooseto become a Vampire?”

“I was not given a choice.” Bitterness laces his tone. “I was turned against my will.”

I cannot imagine how terrible that must have been. “What happened?”

Sadness flits briefly across his expression before he clenches his jaw.

Perhaps I shouldn’t have asked. Maybe the memories are too horrifying. I open my mouth to take back my question but stop when he begins speaking again.

“My family lived in Stargrad—a small village along the northern border of Aralon… not far from here.” He looks down at his cup. “This was, of course, before this entire region was conquered by Morrowynd, during the Great Blood War.”

My great uncle fought in this war. It began a little over fifty years ago, when the Vampires invaded Aralon. It’s strange to think that Valaric lived during that time. So many of our soldiers were lost in the conflict that the King of Aralon was forced to surrender, ceding the vast region in the north to the Vampire Kingdom.

“I remember learning of this,” I tell him. “This town—Corvania—used to be Elspeth.” It was named for one of Aralon’s legendary queens of old. I wonder if the name of Valaric’s village was changed as well. “Is Stargrad known by another name now?”

“No,” he replies soberly. “It is gone.”

Horror fills me as his words sink in. “What happened?”

“TheNoctvacame during one of our winter storms.”

My heart stutters and stops. The Noctva are vampire warriors. The word itself means “warriors of night.” Everyoneknows of them. I’ve heard terrifying stories of their absolute ruthlessness and brutality toward their enemies in battle.

Valaric continues. “The snowfall was so thick we could barely see anything through the blizzard. We were stationed at the Fortress of Belgrane. Our orders were to hold the line—to keep the Vampire army there, buying time for our people to escape.” He curls his hands into fists on the table. “The king promised to send reinforcements to evacuate the towns and villages to the south, but they never came.”

“Why not?”

He grits his fangs. “King Duras deemed our warriors, including his loyal knights and the people in this region an acceptable loss.”

I inhale sharply. I’d never heard this version of our history. I only knew our king had surrendered the northern territories. I didn’t know he abandoned his own people to die.

Suddenly, I remember where I’ve heard the term Shadow Blade before. They were an elite group of knights that served King Duras during the Blood War.

I dart a glance at Valaric’s wrist. Minda is convinced he’s one of them, and I wonder if it’s true.

Before I can ask, he continues. “The Noctva used the cover of the storm to skirt our defenses. When we realized what happened, we went after them. Because we were familiar with the land, we were able to reach Stargrad before they did.” His nostrils flare. “But it was too late to begin evacuations. Our only choice was to defend the wall and make a stand.”

His gaze drifts to the flames of the hearth. “I lost everything in one night. My family: my mother, father, younger brother, and sister… and my sworn brothers-in-battle.”

Wanting to offer him comfort, I reach across and rest my hand gently atop his. “I’m so sorry, Valaric.”

Even as I tell him this, I know it’s not enough. No words could ever possibly begin to express such terrible loss.

“I should have died that day.” He swallows hard. “When darkness fell, they came. There was no moon that night, and the fog was so thick we could barely see more than two paces in front of us.” His voice is thick with emotion. “We were outnumbered, five to one.”

“I fought with my sword until it shattered beneath their obsidian weapons. Then, I picked up an axe from one of the fallen. When the handle gave way, I wielded the blade by itself. And when they finally managed to take that from me, I used my bare hands. I was covered in so much blood, I had to wipe it from my face so I could see.”

He closes his eyes as if reliving the terrible memory. “I fought until I finally collapsed. And when I awakened, it was to a terrible thirst unlike anything I had ever known.”

“They turned you,” I whisper in shock, the horror of what he endured forming a terrible knot in my stomach. “But why?”

“Vampires only respect one thing: strength. They turned me because I was a fighter. A Shadow Blade—one of the fiercest warriors in our kingdom and the last one to fall on the battlefield that day.” He clenches his jaw. “And myrewardwas to be reborn a monster.”

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