Page 51 of The Sorcerer of Shadowholde

Vita

IT HAD BEEN TWO days since the tense meeting in the library garden, Verian’s handsome face shining in Vita’s memory as she tried to sleep each night.

This was the first time she’d been truly tempted to reach out to him, shake him from his madness, kiss him before he could push her away. It would only lead to heartbreak—there was no question about that—but perhaps it would be worth it for a moment of blissful pleasure with her best friend.

Renatus still had not come to see her, not since the night in the astronomy tower. He was absent from all meals, and even Aurora claimed she hadn’t spoken with him in days. He was ignoring her, and despite her desire to remain unattached, she couldn’t help but feel upset.

On top of that, Verian’s research had chilled her to the bone. She had a nagging sensation that Renatus was doing something to her, enacting acompulsionto make her pliable to his seduction.

The thought had already crossed her mind, even before Verian had mentioned it at the library. The question plagued her, and every day she didn’t see Renatus made her more and more on edge.

She felt almost weightless when he was near, dizzy with need, a sensation unlike anything she’d ever experienced. The thought that it was all fabricated made her sick to her stomach.

Her bedroom was stifling and she needed air, needed to breathe. It was late. She should have been long asleep by now, but did anything really matter anymore? There were no rules, no expectations here.

Vita grabbed a candle, then slipped on her sandals and considered putting on a tunic, but decided her underclothes would be fine in the darkness. Once she got some fresh air, all would be well.

She made her way down the empty halls, turning and exiting the palace to one of the interior courtyards. The new moon obscured everything in its darkness, but she could hear the burbling of the fountain up ahead, could feel the mist spraying her skin. She walked towards the noise, her candle doing little to reveal what lay before her.

As she reached the fountain, she dipped a hand in the pool, patting the cool water against the back of her neck.

“Hello,darling.”

The soft voice made her jump, almost snuffing the candle out as she whipped around to face the direction it had come from.

Renatus.

“Where are you?” Vita asked, unable to keep the quiver of fear from her voice. She could see nothing in the shadows, even as she strained her eyes. “Hello?”

For a moment, she thought she might have imagined it, almost breathing a sigh of relief, but then there was a presence at her back. She let out a yelp, lithe arms wrapping around her as a ring of laughter chimed through the silent night.

“Don’t scare me like that!” she said, squirming around and pushing against his chest with her free hand, though that just made him laugh even harder.

“I’m sorry, my dear, I couldn’t resist.”

She could see his face now, pale skin glowing in the candlelight, a sly smile curling his mouth. His hands still rested on her hips, and all the cool she’d felt from the misty fountain evaporated in an instant, replaced with the burning lust that always beat through her when he was near.

“Can you see in the dark?” Vita asked, her heart still racing from the fright.

Renatus chuckled. “Yes, of course. Another vampire perk.”

Well,someoneseemed to be in a good mood tonight. There was something gentle about his smile, genuine contentment caught by the candlelight. His eyes dipped to her chest, the almost sheer fabric of her underclothes not nearly enough to cover her. A subtle flick of his tongue over his lips, and every nerve in her body was aflame once more.

“What are you doing out so late?” His voice was low, gravelly.

“I just… needed some fresh air.”

“Of course,” he mused, as if he didn’t believe her.

“What areyoudoing skulking around in the shadows?”

Renatus scoffed. “I do not skulk, my dear. Perhaps Ialsoneeded some fresh air.”

What did a vampire need fresh air for? Weren’t they used to living in dungeons? Rude things Vita would never say, of course.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were avoiding me,” she said before she lost her nerve.

“Avoiding you? Now why would I be doing that?”

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