Page 88 of Shifting Tides

Sometimes, I’d hear Alice’s voice in my head, answering my questions and guiding me. I knew those thoughts were likely my own, a mask I placed on them to help me feel she still existed in some way. I would never believe she was completely gone.

But Alice’s voice didn’t fill my mind. Only Caesar’s promise did. The gryphon had proven himself to be a man of his word in the past. Our alliance had lasted for fifteen years, and in that time, we had grown to trust each other.

I looked down and kicked at a few loose rocks, causing them to skitter down the mountainside.

“I’m doing this for you,” I whispered, nodding my head. “Iwillbring you back. I promise.”

I continued my descent, my perfect balance and superhuman speed moving me quickly down to the base of the mountain.

Finding myself at the foot of the grand staircase, I angled my head up. Fifty-four stairs ran up to an enormous doorway like a dark tongue hanging out of the maw of an enormous beast. And I was about to enter it, knowing it might swallow me and never spit me back out.

I began the climb up the steps, and as I came closer to the door, I found one solitary figure standing at the top, arms crossed, seemingly waiting for me.

Marguerite Morton. The woman responsible for making me a vampire over a hundred years ago. And just twenty years ago, we had worked as a team to search for the shifter school that had been located in South Dakota. I had known Marguerite since my first day at the Skye Boarding House, where she resided for a time.

It seemed as if heavy weights had been fastened to my legs as I continued to approach her.

“Well, well, well, look what the werecat dragged in,” she said as I got closer.

“Good evening, Marguerite,” I said calmly.

She had a band wrapped around her wrist, and I saw her tap on the small screen with black polished nails. She was in her customary black jeans and black hoodie, with her platinum blonde hair streaming out like a budding flower—a poisonous one.

“Julian Asher, I can’t believe you’ve returned,” she said, shaking her head. “Did life on your own prove too difficult for you?”

“Still as lovely as ever,” I replied, not answering her question. My lying would start soon enough. For now, I just wanted to get away from her. “I need to speak to Hadrian.”

She grinned slyly. “Fancy that. He’s on his way down to greet you personally.” Marguerite’s face grew serious. “You do know that Hadrian swore he’d personally rip your head off if he ever saw you again, right?”

I nodded once. “I’m sure he won’t be as happy to see me as you are.”

She closed the distance between us, lifting her hand to my cheek and sliding her delicate fingers down my face in a deceptively gentle caress. I stood stone still, wary of her every move.

“As a matter of fact, I am pleased to see you,” she purred, a slight pout to her rouged lips. “I’ve missed you, Julian. Life just hasn’t been the same without you.”

Then she inclined toward me and planted a kiss on my cheek.

I had the sudden urge to push her away, but she wrapped her arms around my neck and brought her red lips close to my ear. “I hope you’ve finally forgotten that witch and have come back to be with me.”

I gently took Marguerite’s arms from around my neck and held them between the two of us. Then as quickly as I could, I grabbed her by the shoulders and made to trip her down the stairs.

But she was just as quick as I was and just as strong. She smacked my arms away, her leg speeding into a blurry kick aimed at my chest.

I blocked it with my forearms, putting all my force into pushing against it. She spun from the velocity and strength of my counter, and I took advantage of her unbalance, sweeping my leg into hers.

Marguerite went sprawling, and I grabbed her out of the air to launch her down the stairs. But she dug her fingernails into my arms as I went to throw her, locking her grip. I lost my balance, and we ended up tumbling down the stairs like wet clothes in a dryer.

I impacted at the bottom of the stairs with a hardthumpbut felt no pain. Marguerite was lying on top of me, smirking down at me like we were only playing a game.

“Thanks for the dance, Julian.” She pecked my lips before jumping off me.

The vile feel of her lips on mine made my veins writhe in disgust, and I leapt to my feet, spitting and wiping at mymouth. Throwing Marguerite a glare, I saw that she was grinning impishly.

“Are you two children finished yet?”

I looked up to see the dark form of the vampire leader standing ominously at the top of the stairs.

“We were just catching up,” Marguerite said, her hood down and her blond hair bouncing as she pranced up the staircase. “Julian stole my heart a century ago. I was just hoping to get it back.”

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