Page 31 of Thorn of Sorrow

I had no clue what I’d done to piss off the guy, but for some reason, he loathed me. “So, your gripe is with humans as a whole, or are you directing something specifically at me?”

You really need to learn when to keep your mouth shut.

I was having way too many conversations with myself tonight, but I couldn’t help it. I was scared shitless. Not only was he a vampire but there was so much animosity in his tone, I genuinely feared for my life.

Or what he might do to me before he ended it.

My scars began to throb with a dull ache as images of Osiris’s malicious smile surfaced in my mind. The pure, unadulterated joy he’d derived from inflicting pain and hearing me scream still caused nightmares.

They didn’t come as frequently as they once had, but there were some nights I woke in a pool of my own sweat. Most of the time when it happened, I yanked my pillow and blanket under the bed with me, telling myself the monsters couldn’t reach me under there.

Now I had one in the same room with me, and I had no idea what to do.

I could really use your badassery right now, Giovanni. Malachi had made me stronger, but I didn’t stand a chance against a vampire with a grudge. I’d never stood a chance with any of them, to be honest. That was the sole reason the prince had made my blood smell so revolting.

It would’ve been sweet if I’d had the ability to move as fast as them. Or, at the very least, instantly heal. Now that I thought about it, Malachi had been pretty stingy with his damn powers.

Which made me wonder if he’d made Dane immortal. I’d have to ask if I was ever allowed back over for a play date.

Or survived this situation.

“What’s wrong, petit oiseau? Where are you?”

“Ack!” I slapped a hand over my mouth, my eyes bulging. Oh fuck. I was hearing things, finally losing my goddamn mind. But why it had waited this long to finally crack was beyond me.

But… his voice had sounded so real, like it had spoken through a set of headphones. Jesus Christ. My mind could’ve waited until tomorrow to unravel. I needed to keep my wits about me.

My head snapped to my right at the quiet sound of something scraping. My jaw clenched as my heartbeat thrashed in my ears. Time itself seemed to have stopped as I stood there frozen, waiting to see what nightmare would reveal itself.

A stranger slowly emerged from around the corner, his fingernails scraping along the wall, heading toward me at a tauntingly slow pace.

Wait. I recognized him, though I didn’t know his name. Like all the vampires who lived at Winterhaven, the guy stayed to himself.

Except the dozen or so times the prick had run across me in the hallways. He would lick his fangs slowly, a clear promise in his glowing red eyes. Then a malicious smile would appear before my stench forced him to retreat.

Every time I saw him, my nightmares would intensify. His sinister expressions and behavior mirrored those of Osiris perfectly. It was like seeing my tormentor in someone else’s body. But no matter who was behind those eyes, the fear and dread still remained the same.

He took a step closer, his hands tucked behind him.

I took a step back, trembling so badly my legs threatened to give out.

It was as if this vampire had been trained by Osiris himself, even down to the way he tilted his head in a hauntingly familiar manner.

Giovanni killed Osiris. I kept repeating those words as the side of the vampire’s mouth curled into a mocking smile.

“Where are you, Kyson?”

Whether the voice was real or not, I latched onto it so hard my fingers ached. “In the kitchen. He has me cornered. What do I do?”

“Hold on, baby. I’m coming for you. Just remain calm and don’t agitate him.”

The endearment was lost on me as I stared into cold, flat eyes. The guy had shown up agitated. The voice in my head needed to give better advice.

It dawned on me that it hadn’t been Giovanni following me through the castle. Oh god, I was going to be sick. I’d unknowingly isolated myself. Where in the hell was Dick? I would’ve shouted his name, but my terror had a stranglehold on me.

“You humans are quite skilled at causing chaos.” He glanced up at the ceiling for a moment, idly twirling his finger. “Another of my kind slaughtered because of your worthless asses. Tell me, Kyson…” He walked his fingers across the countertop as he continued to slowly advance toward me. “When did the lives of cattle suddenly obtain any value? Hmm?” He wiggled a finger at me, a smug smile creeping across his face. “The prince was quite clever to pollute your scent.” His voice dropped to a seductive whisper. “Imagine my shock, and, frankly, my rage, when I went in for the kill, only to recoil from your stench.”

He slammed his hand down on the counter, the loud clap causing me to startle.

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