Chapter 25
SERA
The carriage stops outside the Assembly Rooms, just as the heavens open with another summer storm. We make a dash inside, Lizzie clutching the diamonds at her neck.
“Will they be waiting for us, do you think? It can hardly be a good idea to send us into a vampire ball without an escort.”
“They will be waiting.” The bond pulls at me. Nate is inside.
“When I heard other young ladies in London speak of the Assembly Rooms, I am not sure I imagined this,” Lizzie mutters as we step into the grand foyer. It is opulent, dripping with crystal chandeliers that cast their warm glow over the marble floors.
The noise from the ballroom spills out into the hallway, calling us forward. We straighten up, hold our heads high, and stride in with the confidence of seasoned young ladies. They will know what we are, of course. But at least we will not look afraid.
The moment we step inside, the great surge of conversation and laughter stops. The room falls to silence, save for the string quartet who keep up their frenzied playing whilst every head in the room turns and looks at us.
I have experienced it before — humans of the ton stopping their gossip to stare at me. But it was always the type of silence that confirmed you had been the topic of conversation. This is something else. Hundreds of hungry eyes and flashing fangs are on us.
My magic twitches in my palms as Lizzie squeezes my arm a little tighter.
“Where do we go?” She whispers. We are still walking, cutting through the crowd, but with no direction. “I feel like a lamb with the wolves circling.”
Ahead of us, there is the smallest movement and Rafe comes into view. He is always easy to spot with his sheer height and even I feel a wave of relief at the sight of him with his charmingly floppy blonde hair hanging in his face. He pushes it away with one hand and grins at Lizzie.
She pulls away from me, mumbling something about thanking Rafe for the necklace, totally entranced. She would tell me it was the glamour, that she had no choice. But I have seen such looks before. And I have met rakes like Rafe Blackwood.
I step into the shadows of the ballroom as the crowds burst back to life. I watch Lizzie and Rafe come together, Rafe’s hand settling on the small of Lizzie’s back, his head dipping low to murmur something in her ear. She laughs, the sound bright and sparkling, and tilts her face up to his.
I have not seen them together since she became his pledge and the strength of their connection is a surprise. Rafe’s eyes soften when he looks at her. There is a hunger there, but it isn’t the dark-eyed oblivion I am used to seeing on ravenous vampires. And the way Lizzie’s cheeks flush under his gaze can surely be nothing to do with Rafe’s mind tricks.
A pang of longing hits me, sharp and bittersweet. I want that. That sense of belonging, of being cherished and protected.
I want Nate.
As if summoned by my thoughts, I feel it. That familiar tug in my chest, the invisible cord that binds us together. I scan the ballroom, my eyes searching frantically for a glimpse of dark hair, broad shoulders, those fathomless black eyes.
But he’s nowhere to be seen.
Panic rises in my throat. I have magic. I am not defenceless. But it is not being taken by another vampire I am concerned by. The thought of being apart from Nate for one more moment is what steals the breath from my lungs.
Why has he not come to me, as Rafe found Lizzie? If something had happened to him, I would surely know. But what if I’m wrong? What if he’s not here? What if he’s?—
There.
My heart stops beating.
There he is.
He’s standing at the edge of the dance floor, his back to me, his head bent in conversation. The feeling of knowing I would recognise him from any angle, with any manner of haircut or in any state of dress, leaves my lungs in a rush. My entire body sags with relief.
He’s here. He’s safe.
As if feeling the weight of my gaze, Nate stiffens. He turns, his eyes locking with mine across the ballroom as the rest of the world falls away.
In a heartbeat, there’s no one else in the room. No vampires, no pledges, no scheming nobles with their false smiles and hidden agendas. There’s only him and me, and the restless, frantic pull that draws us together like moths to a flame.
Nate takes a step towards me, then another, leaving the vampire he was conversing without apology. His movements are slow and deliberate, as if he’s walking through sand; fighting a great wall of resistance. But his eyes never leave mine. They are dark and intense and full of a hunger that makes my knees weak.
I’m moving too, my feet carrying me forward. The crowd parts around us, the music fading to a distant hum. All I can hear is the pounding of my own heart, the ragged rush of my breath in my ears.
And then he’s there, standing before me, close enough to touch. His hand comes up, hovering just above my cheek, his fingers trembling with the effort of holding back.
“There is something about you that would have me seek you out on every dance floor on this earth,” he mumbles, just loud enough for us both to hear. They were words he spoke to me in Mayfair after he had promised me fear in his grandmother’s garden. Did he know, even then, what would form between us?
“You have found me.” I lean into his touch, my eyes fluttering closed as his palm cups my face.
He lets out a shuddering breath, his forehead dropping to rest against mine before his hands grip my waist and he pulls me against his chest, guiding me in the next dance.
“Stay close to me tonight,” he murmurs, his voice low and urgent. “I have been a fool to stay away from you for so long.”
I nod, my throat too tight for words. I don’t want to leave his side. Not now, not ever.
I believed staying away would give you the motivation to break the bond. He speaks in my mind and I realise how much I have missed it; craved the comfort and warmth his voice delivers.
I fear all your absence has done is make me more desperate to cling to it.
Then we shall try a different tactic. He presses me closer and my pulse thrums in my throat. We will stay together and find the answers we need.
I believe there will be some to be found at House Azarov — both to help us understand the bond and to learn more about the luna child. Mrs Hawley told me of their records and Charles is there. He said he would help.
Nate stiffens slightly, his eyes narrowing. You told Wentworth about the bond?
I nod. He was different entirely without the glamour holding him. I couldn't keep it from him any longer. And he deserves to know the truth if he is to survive being Nikolai’s pledge.
Nate’s jaw tightens, but he doesn't pull away. And you trust him with this information?
I do. I meet his gaze steadily. We need allies, Nate. And Charles... he cares for me. He’ll do what he can to help.
For a moment, I see a flicker of something in Nate’s eyes, but it is gone as quickly as it appeared.
Very well. What exactly did you ask of him?
I lower my voice, even though I’m speaking directly into his mind. I asked him to look for any information about luna children; about the Court’s involvement with the hunters; about... us. Blood bonds between vampires and witches. Any mention of my mother.
Nate’s eyes widen slightly. For Charles to know so much… If he’s caught?—
I know. I cut him off. But we need answers. I’m tired of being in the dark. I squeeze his fingers as his hand meets mine, palm to palm. I won’t sit idly by anymore, not knowing who I am. I can’t.
He studies me for a long moment. You do not intend to just let Wentworth be the messenger, do you?
No. I lean in closer, the top of my head resting against his cheek. I will speak to Charles tonight and see what he has learned. But I intend to find a way to get to the Azarov estate and look for myself..
Nate pulls back sharply, but his grip on my waist tightens. What did I just say about staying together?—
I’m going, Nate. With or without your help.
For a moment, we’re locked in a silent battle of wills, Nate’s teeth grinding as he glares at me. You’re impossible, witchling. Do you know that?
It takes another dance with Nate and a broken conversation with Lizzie before there is an opportunity for me to be alone with Charles. He has spent much of the evening with Nikolai and a rabble of other vampires from their House — laughing, smiling, and looking almost like one of them in his fine evening clothes. They are smarter by far than anything he was given when he served House Blackwood.
When he moves to the drinks table and away from Nikolai, I follow. I feel Nate’s eyes on me as I make my way across the ballroom. Him watching me is a comfort, but the others… There are at least a dozen eyes on me from different angles. No one dare approach me, but it doesn’t make it any less disconcerting to feel like I am being devoured by a look alone; like I am nothing more than a piece of meat in a room full of hungry carnivores.
“Charles, good evening.” I reach for a glass of champagne and he cuts across me, handing me the glass so our fingers knock together.
“Sera.” He smiles and in that one small expression, I know something has changed.
The glamour is different to Juliette’s, but there’s no denying it has taken root — ensnaring his mind, pushing his shoulders back, giving him the very look of a vampire lord.
“It is good to see you. I trust House Azarov are treating you well?”
“Oh yes, quite splendidly.” His smile broadens.
Even when we were children together in London, I cannot recall him beaming. It is a foreign look on a face that I am more used to seeing soft and subdued.
“You have enjoyed your surroundings? I have heard how beautiful the estate is with its grounds.”
“It is magnificent indeed. And the library is exceptional. I have enjoyed exploring it.”
His comment feels loaded with the task I set him, but it is difficult to ask him a single question now he seems so changed and there are all numbers of ears listening in around us.
I choose my next words carefully. “I would love to hear what you have read, if you have a moment to share your discoveries with me?” I look up at him, hoping he can read my intent through my eyes alone.
“Of course.” He loops his arm through mine and, to my relief, guides me away from the drinks table and towards the door. “Perhaps I can tell you about my favourite volumes somewhere we might hear ourselves think?” He glances around the ballroom, then leans in close when I nod in agreement. “Come with me.”
We slip into an octagonal room off the entrance hall. It is set up for the declarations of allegiance — a large altar in the centre surrounded by thirteen thrones.
As soon as the door is closed, Charles’s face crumples. He runs a hand through his hair, looking a little more like the friend I remember. Was it all an act?
I know we will not have long together — the evening has worn on and it will soon be time for the ceremony to begin in this very room. It is now or never.
“Nikolai was responsible.” The words burst out of me, my voice low and urgent. “He was the one to order the attack on Nate.”
Charles takes my elbow, pulling me away from the door. “Why would he want Nate dead?”
I shake my head. “I was rather hoping you might have found something to give us the answer.”
“There are hardly details of assassination attempts just lying about the place, Sera.”
“I know, I…” I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to slow the speed of my thoughts. “Have you discovered anything of note?”
Charles lowers his voice to barely more than a whisper. “I was able to spend time in the library. There are mentions of a blood bond between a human and vampire centuries ago, but according to the histories, it could not be broken.” He hesitates, licking his lips. “It ended in death for both of them when they attempted to break it.”
The bond with Nate pulses defiantly. I stamp it down. “I am not purely human, Charles. Was there nothing else? No mention of witches?”
“You cannot comprehend how vast the collection is, Sera. It will take me weeks, months even, to begin to scratch the surface. But…” He breaks off, glancing at the door. “This luna child… I did not want to look into it, I will admit, but what you told me… It is almost as if it wanted to be discovered.” He takes a deep breath. “I believe the Court is taking a great deal more interest in it than even Juliette knew.”
“Why? What did you find?”
“I have befriended one of the young vampires from House Azarov — Lev. He is as cocky as they come, but he was keen to show me how important he is. He has access to their archives. His task is to add names to a ledger when they arrive every few months. He is so stupid he barely realises what he’s doing. But the names… Juliette can’t have known unless she had been to House Azarov.”
“What are the names he is writing?”
“All the human children born under a blood moon. The records are being passed to them from parishes around the country and Lev’s job is to compile them into one record.”
“Are they required to consult the ledger before siring? I suppose that would explain why the gutterfangs are such a threat.”
“Sera—”
“Valeria banished her own son for doing it. They killed Nate’s wife. Gregor — he was not a gutterfang, but perhaps his heritage was a concern. How could we not see that they were behind this all along?” My mind leaps ahead again, tangling my thoughts in knots as I pace around the room.
“Sera, please…” Charles reaches out to me, catching my arm. “You need to listen. I don’t believe they are just keeping a record.” He sighs. “I think they are killing the children.”
“What?” I spin to face him and he nods.
“The names in the ledger are crossed out with other dates next to them. Lev didn’t know what it was all about, of course. But what else can it be? It seems they do not kill them in infancy, not all of them anyway. I suppose they need to ensure there is no detectable pattern. But none of them reach adulthood.”
“Juliette had concerns over their methods. She must have known this is what they were doing.” A wave of nausea crashes through my stomach and Charles puts his hand out to steady me.
“I’m sorry to say that there is a final thing. Do you need to sit down?” He takes my glass from me of champagne from me before I drop it.
“No, no I’m fine.” I shake my head, a roaring flooding my ears. “Go on.”
“Very well. I looked through the ledger to see if there was any pattern to the dates. I wondered if that might mean something. There seem to be three or four blood moons each year.” He swallows hard, looking away from me. “There were three occurrences in the year 1795. One of them was the eighteenth of December.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. “The day I was born. If my name is in that ledger?—”
“It might not mean?—”
“Charles, I have to see it. I need you to get me into House Azarov.”