Page 392 of Evil Hearts

A glint of silver caught her eye, a flash of movement in the periphery of her vision. Elena whirled, her heart in her throat, as a figure emerged from the shadows, cloaked in black and radiating menace.

“Aldric Stoneheart,” the figure hissed, its voice a sibilant whisper that crawled over Elena’s skin like a thousand spiders. “You cannot escape your fate. The curse will consume you, and all those you hold dear.”

Aldric pushed Elena behind him, shielding her with his body as he faced the intruder. “I won’t let that happen,” he growled, his voice raw and defiant. “Cassandra clearly did more than we ever knew, but she’s dead and gone, more dust than if you struck me with a hammer while I slept in the daylight.”

“You should know my name, it will be important.” He gave a dramatic bow. “Lucien Bane.” Lucien warned, his icy gaze locking with Aldric’s. “The cult grows stronger with each passing day, we did not sleep as you did for centuries.”

Aldric’s jaw clenched, his hand tightening around Elena’s. “What do you want, Lucien?”

“To remind you of your fate.” Lucien’s lips curled into a sinister smile. “The curse will consume you, Stoneheart. And all those you hold dear.”

Elena’s heart raced, fear and anger intertwining within her. She stepped forward, eyes blazing. “We won’t let that happen.”

Lucien’s gaze shifted to her, a flicker of amusement crossing his features. “Ah, the fiery redhead. So brave, so foolish.”

Aldric’s arm shot out, shielding Elena. “Leave her out of this.”

“Impossible.” Lucien’s voice dropped to a menacing whisper. “She’s already caught in the web of your destiny.”

The figure laughed, a sound like shattering glass, and vanished into the night, leaving only a lingering sense of dread in its wake.

“He’s gone,” Aldric murmured, his eyes scanning the darkness.

Elena sagged against Aldric, her knees weak and trembling. “What do we do now?” she whispered, her voice small and lost in the vastness of the night.

Aldric turned to her, his eyes blazing with determination and something else, something fierce and primal. “We get inside,” he said, his voice a promise and a prayer. “Together, because I’m afraid I know that voice.”

She didn’t dare ask what it meant because for the first time since waking up an immortal being and accepting he was real, she worried what else might go bump in the night.

Chapter Six

The city glimmeredbeneath them, a tapestry of twinkling lights and ancient shadows. Elena’s hair danced in the night breeze as she turned to Aldric, her eyes alight with wonder. He wasn’t certain what she was to him, but he didn’t care. Not when she looked so beautiful against the night sky.

“It’s breathtaking up here,” she whispered. “Like we’re the only two souls in the world.”

Aldric’s lips curved into a faint smile, but it faded as quickly as it appeared. An eerie silence descended, smothering the distant hum of the city. The hairs on his neck prickled. Something was wrong.

“Elena, stay close to me.” His voice was low. Every fiber of his being told him something was wrong.

Shadows shifted in the darkness, and hooded figures emerged from every corner of the rooftop, surrounding them like specters. Aldric instinctively stepped in front of Elena, shielding her with his broad frame. His eyes narrowed as he assessed the threat, counting at least a dozen cult members closing in.

Aldric’s mind raced. He had to protect Elena at all costs. These twisted souls sought to shatter the fragile peace he had found in her presence. Anger simmered beneath his skin, ancient and primal.

“What do you want?” he growled, his fists clenching at his sides.

The figures remained silent, their faces obscured beneath dark hoods. They advanced with deliberate steps, tightening the circle around Aldric and Elena. The air crackled with malevolent energy.

Elena’s fingers curled into Aldric’s jacket, her breath hitching. “Aldric, what’s happening?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted through gritted teeth. “But I won’t let them hurt you.”

He reached for her hand, intertwining their fingers. Her warmth anchored him as the shadows closed in, their intentions as dark as the abyss below. Aldric braced himself, ready to fight with every fiber of his being to keep Elena safe from the cult’s grasp.

A figure stepped forward, his cloak billowing in the night breeze. He radiated an aura of power, his presence commanding attention.

Lucien Bane.

“Aldric ,” Lucien drawled, his voice smooth as silk. “The legendary guardian, reduced to a mere shadow of his former self. Wasn’t it just days ago I warned you to stay off the rooftop?” His lips quivered as if he was quite proud of his grin.

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