Page 40 of The Book of Legends
Finnas moves closer, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand in fear. “Don’t worry; he wouldn’t leave you out here if he thought we would kill you.”
I glance at the small house, imagining what they’re doing inside, but I shake that thought from my mind. It’s none of my business.
“How long will they be…”
He raises a dark brow. “I don’t know. Kiera is an adult, and so is he.”
His meaning is crystal clear. “Got it.” He was impatient to come here because he wanted to fuck. My head starts to pound. My braid is too tight. My chest tightens in anger and something more bitter twists inside me.
“Is everything alright?” Finnas asks, concern marring his brow.
“Yeah, I’m just thirsty.”
“I can fix that. Care for a drink?” He holds out his hand, his nails black and sharp. “Come on, Selene. I promise not to bite.”
“Fine. Lead the way.” I slide my hand into his. The palm of his translucent skin is cold to the touch.
He leads me to a dimly lit tavern, the walls draped in deep red, like veins beneath the skin of the earth. Music plays—strange and haunting—strings that pull at the edge of fear. The room is filled with Nightweavers. Their crimson eyes burn against my skin.
Finnas ushers me to a table cloaked in shadows in the far corner. He watches me, his expression veiled but not unkind.
“Your hair…” he reaches forward, fingers brushing the strands as I unravel my braid. “Beautiful.”
Heat rises to my cheeks, an unwelcome warmth. “Thanks.”
I wasn’t used to compliments. Not from men with teeth like knives.
“What do you eat?” I ask, more to fill the awkward silence than out of curiosity.
His smile widens. “Blood.”
“So, you are vampires.”
His eyes glimmer, hunger and humor entwined. “Like I said earlier, we prefer to be called Nightweavers.”
My pulse thrums like a rabbit’s heartbeat. “What do you actually hunt?”
He doesn’t answer. He doesn’t need to.
He motions to the man behind the bar with long white hair.A woman appears with two pints of beer, setting them on the table. “Here you go, Ma’lady.”
I smile and take a sniff. “Beer?”
“Ale. Don’t drink it all at once. It can knock you on your ass.”
I take a sip; the beer is surprisingly cold, but then I feel the burn down my throat pooling in my belly.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Kainen’s voice slices through the music.
Finnas leans back, his expression unreadable.“She was thirsty. I thought I’d keep her company.”
Kainen’s presence fills the room, shadows pooling at his feet. His hand shoots out, gripping Finnas by the throat. The music falters, then dies, but no one turns to look. It’s like we slipped into a separate reality, a bubble where pain and fear exist for us alone.
“It looked like you were going to be awhile, and I was thirsty and had a headache,” I blurt, panic wrapping around me.
“So you took the first offer on the table?” His eyes rake over my hair, making me wish I never unraveled it.
“Kainen,” Finnas manages to get out.
