Page 28 of Darkest Heart

I opened my mouth, but Erianna glared at me, and I stepped back. I wanted to destroy him.

Salvor returned his attention to Ravena. “This.” He gestured around us. “Is a small part of Malum Dominor.”

“You don’t need to threaten me,” she said coolly. “I know your reputation and what you’re capable of. I will deliver the elixir to you as soon as I have found my daughter.”

“Good.” He drank his second glass of liquor, smacking his lips as he finished. “One more thing.” He turned his attention to Erianna. “When you see Niall, stick that dagger in him.”

A smile spread over the three of us. She grinned back at Salvor. “That part I’d do for free.”

He nodded to one of his men, who left, then returned with a map. “Cemeteries are such great places to visit. Honoring the dead and all.”

I nodded. “Any in particular you recommend?”

He dragged his finger over three small towns. “This whole area is a hidden gem. Lots of dead bodies and broken-down houses. Perfect for hiding out in.” He handed the map back. “Or so I’ve heard.”

Ravena and Erianna stood. “We will get out of your hair then.”

As Ravena moved to pass him, he grabbed her wrist, pulling her down to eye level. “I expect to see you soon, Your Majesty,” he added with an amused smirk, and let her go. She rubbed her arm, striding away as fast as she could. We followed, ushered out by four men, until we were outside again. A rainy drizzle soaked the deceivingly normal exterior to the darkest club in the city. There were rival organizations, naturally, but none quite like Malum Dominor.

I blew out a long exhale, covering Erianna with my jacket. “That was tense. Is he always like that?”

She shrugged. “No, it seems we caught him on one of his good days.”

Ravena’s brows raised. “Wow.”

Zach’s wings erupted from his back as we all looked up to the night sky brewing with storm clouds. “We should go now.”

Erianna pulled the jacket tighter. Not that she felt the cold, but her armored dress would rust if it got wet. “We will get caught in the storm. With you holding me too, we could easily fall.”

A flash of lightning cracked through the cloud cover, flashing the alleyway purple. “I agree with Zach. We can’t wait a minute.”

Ravena sighed. “I want to find her too, more than anything, but without rest we’ll be useless to her in a fight. Gods know the area will be surrounded by aniccipere. No, we go to a hotel, study a map with those three towns and head out first thing.”

We stepped out of the alleyway and headed toward the city’s center. The sound of a violin from a street musician met my ears. It was one of the beautiful things about being immortal; everything sounded sweeter. The music enveloped me, a light melody with notes played as if by a lover, and all I could think about was Olivia. I pictured us somewhere, hand-in-hand, experiencing everything the world had to offer, feeling everything our soulmate bond gave us. I enjoyed feeling her deep emotions. She made everything stronger, bringing my world into color. I missed the sound of her voice and the way she understood what I meant just from one look.

We reached the hotel, and my chest tightened. I couldn’t take another night alone tossing and turning in an empty bed, knowing she was being tortured. I squeezed my eyes shut, and Zach blew out a long breath right next to my ear. “Remember this place, Brother? Nothing’s changed.”

Ravena chimed in. “Nothing ever does in this kingdom.”

Sangaree hurried out, bowing to the queen when they recognized her from the fronts of newspapers. She rolled her eyes and proceeded inside. The whoosh of a run-down bus transporting mortals sounded behind us as it stopped outside the closest blood den.

Seeing buses in a place stuck in the past was jarring at times, but it was the best way to get mortals around. Meanwhile, vampires just ran or flew everywhere. There was little use for horses and carriages, unless they were transporting heavy packages, or, like Sargon, were lazy.

I turned back, moving my gaze to the falling shutters of the supposed grandest hotel in the city. But like everything else, it hadn’t been maintained. I supposed, vampires felt no need to develop or upgrade anything. Power and privilege was enough for them to survive on for centuries. Mortal kingdoms bowed to them. They didn’t need fancy weaponry or anything like that.

The stone buildings, cobblestone streets and weathered statues left behind from when this kingdom was once run by mortals, were a perfect example that vampire society had never advanced. But the other kingdoms had.

If we didn’t do something soon, our society would cease to exist, especially with Kalon allowing our secret out. There would be a war, and he was smart enough to know that. He just didn’t care.

Erianna stepped into my line of vision. “Tomorrow, we will find her. I promise.”

Zach nodded, touching my arm with the gentleness of an archer. “Let’s try to rest, so we can be alert tomorrow. There’s nothing we can do for her tonight.”

I looked from Erianna to Zach, a lump forming in my throat. “I’m really, I just… thank you for everything you do.”

Erianna smiled, and Zach rolled his expressive, silver eyes. “Don’t go getting all emotional on us now.”

I inhaled deeply, breathing in the city smog, smoke, and liquor. Tomorrow would come fast, and we’d be out of here. I hadn’t yet told them my plan, but I would, as soon as we found them. I was getting Olivia out of here forever. Fuck Sanmorte, the throne, and the sangaree. I wasn’t going to let anyone hurt her ever again. But first, I had to get her back. At any cost.

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