Chapter 17 Aurora #2
“The Souleaters were created with immortal blood—we know that much.” I forced myself to focus, even as his ministrations threatened to turn my brain to mush.
“The Black Sheep evolved by consuming more immortal essence. Which would make the Shepherds closer to a pureblood composition than the basic White Sheep. Still, everything you’ve told me about them seems too complex for Russkaya’s resources. I feel like I’m missing something.”
That got his attention. He paused in his massage, amber eyes sharpening.
“Regardless,” I continued, “Blood Aura could seize control of a Shepherd’s mind before it launches another energy strike. It doesn’t have range limitations like my Blood Manipulation, and like any living being, the creature wouldn’t be able to resist Dracula’s power.”
I’d spent hours analyzing this after witnessing the Shepherd’s devastating capabilities. The Black Sheep had fought my mental intrusions, their consciousness slippery but not impenetrable. A Shepherd, though? I wouldn’t dare attempt direct contact after seeing what it could do.
He let out a slow breath and fixed his citron eyes on mine.
“That last attack was Conin announcing he’d found me.
My brother was a great strategist. And now that thing is using his tactical genius to hunt me down.
” He tossed the towel aside, banded his arms around me, and crushed me to his body.
“I’ve accepted that I might die. Made arrangements for it.
But I won’t watch my friends fall, and who knows what monstrosity he’ll become once he absorbs my Chronoportal. ”
“Exactly why I need to reach Dracula.” I let my hands roam up his spine, feeling the hard cords of muscle contracting under my touch. “Whether he grants me his power or wakes himself, Blood Aura is our only weapon against that thing. We could cripple the Souleater advance, save millions.”
He studied my face for a long moment. Through our weakening bond, I felt his hope, his guilt, his desperate need to protect everyone he cared about.
“Use me,” I said softly, making the choice for him. “Portal me outside the Seventh Ward. I’ll find my way to the Sleeping Chamber and be back before—”
“Like hell you’re going alone.” His voice turned granite-hard. “I’m coming with you.”
“What?” I jerked back. “Absolutely not.”
He stared at me as if I’d suggested he sprout wings and fly. “If you think I’m letting you walk into that snake pit alone, you clearly don’t know me at all.”
“I can handle myself perfectly fine.”
The instant those words left my mouth, I realized the irony. Wasn’t my complete helplessness against Lev the whole reason I’d fled the Republic?
“Sure about that?” Radu’s tone suggested he was thinking the exact same thing.
“Absolutely.” I straightened, trying to project confidence I didn’t entirely feel.
A low growl rumbled from his chest, raising goosebumps along my arms.
“You are the most infuriatingly stubborn—”
“Me?” My voice pitched higher. “I’m the stubborn one?”
He leaned down until we were nose to nose. “As a damn mule.”
“Because I don’t want to watch you die? That makes me stubborn?”
“Absolutely.” He threw my word back at me.
My teeth ground together as his silver hair caught the candlelight, suddenly impossible to ignore.
“We’ll be fortunate if the Nightwatch doesn’t spot us the second you portal near the walls,” I snapped, jabbing my finger into his solid chest. “You drop me off and leave. End of discussion.”
“Can’t do that, princess.”
The urge to smack sense into him was overwhelming.
“Radu, please.” I flattened my palm against his chest, feeling his heart thunder beneath my touch.
“The Nightwatch are elite originals with shadow magic at their command. You can’t hide from their Darklings, and speed means nothing when they can track your very essence.
These aren’t ordinary guards. They’ve devoted their entire existence to eliminating threats like you.
” My voice cracked despite my efforts. “They will kill you.”
“Then we don’t get caught.”
I threw my hands up, staring at the ceiling. “They’ll execute me right alongside you, you stubborn ass! Treason, consorting with enemies—they’ll kill me just like they did your mother, only this time they won’t bother hiding it. Is that what you want? How does that help anyone defeat the Shepherd?”
The change in his expression was catastrophic. I’d seen earthquakes level cities with less devastation. His eyes blazed crimson before settling into molten amber, the wolf rising so close to the surface the golden patterns flickered beneath his skin.
Fear clawed up my throat as every instinct urged me to run before the predator decided I was prey. I tried to step back, but his arms locked around me like iron.
“No one,” he snarled, voice dropping to something animalistic, “touches you and lives. I’ll burn the entire Republic to ash first.”
His breath scorched my face, the heat radiating from him like a forge. I opened my mouth, but no sound emerged.
“This isn’t a negotiation,” he said, his words final. “You take me with you, or you don’t go at all. Your choice.”
I met his stare despite the warring emotions in my chest. Pondered whether punching him would knock any sense loose. “You have serious control issues.” I pressed my nail into his chest hard enough to dimple skin.
His jaw ticked, but he remained silent.
Smart man. Or maybe he’d already decided this conversation was over.
“I need to check on Selena,” I said, stepping out of his reach. “And you need a shower.” I turned and left him standing in the bathroom, dread settling like lead in my stomach.
The shower roared to life before I’d even cleared the doorway.