They’d been followingthe scout for about half an hour, the scent of death growing steadily stronger, when screams rose through the air.
Every single vampire, including the royals, froze. Their shoulders stiffened, and as one, they scented the air.
“Blood,” Vivienne snarled.
A growl rumbled through the king. “This creature must be stopped.”
No one argued with Sebastian. How could they, when more screams rose through the night?
Marius’s magic thrummed in his veins as they resumed racing towards the sounds of death, still cloaked in shadows. It wasn’t long before a scene that would’ve given even the most battle-hardened soldier nightmares unfolded before them.
Sebastian held up his fist, and the small army halted as one.More than half of the vampires had remained at Castle Sanguis to protect the humans and servants who called it their home.
A precaution, Luna had called it.
As Marius took in the sight before him, he knew leaving vampires to protect the mortals at the castle had been a good idea.
The First was kneeling in the snow, gripping a struggling human and feeding from his neck. The man was the last of what appeared to be at least a dozen other humans before him. Limbs were scattered, clothes were tattered and torn, and crimson coated everything in sight—the corpses, the snow, and the trees.
Nothingwas untouched.
Death was here, and it looked different from before. The First’s flesh was still grey and lifeless, but her form had filled out.
She was completely nude, having shed the rags she’d previously worn. Her wounds had festered and still oozed black blood, yet she seemed unbothered by them. Scarlet streaked across her body, and the tips of her hair were soaked in blood.
The man in her arms whimpered, and the sound twisted Marius’s heart.
He was grateful that they had already gone over the plan because there was no time for that now. They had to act swiftly if they were to save the dying human.
The king spun his fingers in a silent signal, and the vampire army fanned out around the clearing. Those who had shadows formed them into weapons. Wings burst from backs. Swords and other silver blades were drawn.
They were precautions in case the First ran. Hopefully, they wouldn’t need them.
Vivienne turned to Marius, her wings spread behind her and hersword in her grip. She was fierce, this vampire blood-sworn to protect him, and she looked like a warrior tonight.
Hiswarrior.
Once this was over, Marius planned to tell Vivienne how he felt. He would ask her to stay with him. Not as his bodyguard but as a partner in every way. In adventures, in exploring, and in life.
“Ready?” Vivienne mouthed.
Sebastian had been clear that from the moment they found the First, they couldn’t make a single sound. Taking the feral vampire by surprise was imperative.
Marius nodded. He’d left his pack at Castle Sanguis, and the vial of blessed water hung from a cord around his neck.
Vivienne smiled, and it was like he was basking in the moon’s glow. He could find refuge in the warmth of that expression for the rest of his days.
Her eyes reflected the stars shining far above them as she reached over and squeezed his hand.You’ve got this, the touch said.
He gripped her hand in return and pressed a kiss to the center of her palm before stepping back.
This was it. Marius drew in a deep breath and grabbed the hilt of the Forsaken Blade, the weapon warming. He unsheathed it in one smooth movement, careful not to let the metal hit the side.
Darkness throbbed around the vibrating black blade.
Vivienne sucked in a breath and moved back, her gaze locked on the weapon.
The First was still feasting on the human, the man’s cries growing weaker with every passing moment.