Page 56 of Shadow Kissed (Marked by Blood 1)

I stared out at the sun, low in the sky, soaking the obsidian, gothic city in red. “Hold on tight,” he said, wrapping a jacket around me. He lifted me up into his arms as if I weighed nothing at all and flapped his wings outward, sweeping them against the gusts of wind and into the sky.

I pressed my chin against his arm, nestling my head into his chest, trying to ignore the iciness numbing my fingers. My breath fogged, even as I pulled his jacket tighter for warmth as we flew into the horizon.

EIGHTEEN

His grip tightened as he landed us in front of a hotel. Leaning my head back, I gaped up at the seven-story building of white stone, which glistened like crystal under the setting sun. The sky pinkened, striking purple and red under the thin, misty clouds. Indigo pinched the distance, bringing darkness to this world.

I steadied myself, heating my hands against my breath. “There are no aniccipere,” I stated as I watched sangaree speeding in and out of the double glass doors to the foyer and onto the grounds. They stretched out in the bowl carved out from the smoky mountains surrounding us on all sides. A thin mist enveloped the ragged edges of the mountain jutting out, and the streams of water running between them. “Wow.”

“Welcome to Black Mountain Retreat, and you are correct. You won’t find aniccipere here. They’re not excluded, but as this is an invitation-only establishment.”

“Ah, so the sangaree rule all the wealthy parts of Sanmorte.”

“Naturally.” He walked me through the doors into a bright foyer with tall, vaulted ceilings and a large, crystal chandelier that reflected off the marble floor.

“Mr. Vangard.” A woman greeted him at the front desk. “Your room is ready.”

“Excellent.”

I arched an eyebrow.Vangard. I hadn’t heard his last name before.

She pushed a keycard across the mahogany surface. “Will you be requiring any champagne tonight?”

“No, but we will also need mortal food.”

She eyed my neck, and I pulled the strings on the jacket, hiding my bare skin from view. “Very well.”

My chest heaved as we walked to the elevators. “She didn’t like me.”

“She didn’t know how to act,” he responded. “She, like every other vampire in here, can sense your magic. It speaks to our immortal blood. The traces of the elixir originally given to Vener when he was made immortal was made from the blood of gods. As you are descendants, it also runs in your blood. So we’re not too different.”

“We’re not cursed, or immortal.”

“No, but there are similarities. While you are made from gods and mortals, we are a creation of theirs. Once mortal, now something else entirely, but still, our blood recognizes yours.”

“Good to know,” I said, feeling vulnerable as vampires stared at me with zero subtlety. Sebastian tugged me to his hip, entwining his arm with mine. I wasn’t sure if it was for show or to make me feel better.

We finally reached our floor, and Sebastian stretched his arms, rolling his neck back until I heard something pop. All that flying must have taken its toll, even for a vampire. He walked inside and immediately headed to the minibar, which I was shocked to find stocked with bottles of blood. He casually poured a glass, as if it were nothing but wine, and gulped it down. I looked away, for his privacy more than my disgust, and found the bedroom beyond the suite.

My lips parted. “There’s only one bed.”

“It’s a king-size,” he said as if that made it any better.

“Will I be staying in another room?”

He finished his blood. “This is our room.”

“I amnotsharing a bed with you.”

“We’re engaged now, well, pretending to be. We need to play the part, and this hotel is used by nobles and dignitaries.”

“Can’t you just fly us all the way to the castle then?”

“Even I need a break now and then.”

I swallowed thickly. “Perhaps you can sleep on the sofa.”

“With these wings? No.” He paused. “You’re welcome to sleep on the floor if you prefer, but I wouldn’t recommend it. There’s no heating in these hotels.”

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