Chapter 5
Five
CHERYL
T he spell Solomon cast did help contain Karl’s murderous intent toward Ronan, but staying in Italy, so close to that vampire bitch and her asshole lover, wouldn’t be smart.
Plus, I bet everything reminds Karl of what he lost. He’s a shadow of what he used to be.
His eyes are haunted, joyless. I miss the sound of his laughter, of the way he used to be so optimistic.
He doesn’t do any of the things that brought him happiness in the past. In the two months since we took up residency at an inn near the ports, waiting for the ship that will take us far away from here, he hasn’t touched his flute.
All Karl does is drink to the point that he passes out.
I’ve never felt more alone in my life. But for better or worse, I still have Karl.
In a few decades, I’ll be gone, and he will be truly alone, pining for someone who never deserved him.
It’s the cruelest fate, to be immortal when all your loved ones have died—or in his case, stabbed him in the back.
It’s past midnight when I find Karl in his usual corner of the inn’s tavern, sleeping with his head on the table.
If he were a mere human, he would have been robbed a long time ago.
But the patrons here give him a wide berth.
I suspect the owner isn’t quite human either, but I can’t pinpoint what he is exactly.
I don’t dwell on it. As long as we’re left alone, I don’t care if he’s an imp from hell.
I shake Karl’s arm. There’s no way I can carry him up the stairs to our room. “Karl, wake up.”
He lifts his head with eyes that are half shut and unfocused. “Leave me alone.”
“I’ll leave you alone once you’re in bed.”
Loretta, the curvaceous waitress who I know has a thing for Karl, sashays in our direction. “Do you need help getting your brother to your room?”
I’m sure she’d love to assist with way more than getting Karl’s drunk ass to the bedroom. It’d be good for him if he fucked Loretta, or any other female. But mated wolves aren’t capable of sleeping with anyone besides their mates.
That bitch Manu obviously didn’t have any problem in that department. She cheated on Karl with Ronan at the first opportunity.
Thinking about that betrayal makes me so angry that I end up partially shifting. My canines elongate, and I know my eyes are more wolf than human.
Loretta gasps, taking a step back. Shit.
I’ve been too complacent. Nervously, she glances at Pietro, the inn’s owner.
Their gazes connect, and a second later, Loretta relaxes her stance.
The small hairs on the back my neck stand on end.
He definitely did something to her. We’ve lingered at this establishment for far too long.
“Come on, Karl. Let’s go.” I pull on his arm and drag him to his feet.
He does stand up, only to lean against me.
I put his arm around my shoulders and make the slow trek up the stairs.
Once he’s tucked in his bed, snoring, I grab my heavy coat and head out.
I made my decision ages ago, but I’ve been too scared to do what I know I must. But we’re sailing out of here in a few days, so it’s now or never.
I make sure no one sees me leaving the inn, then head to a place I never thought I’d see again: King Raphael’s fortress. The vampires took almost everything from Karl. I’ll make sure they let him keep one thing: me.
A s I get closer to my destination, I realize what a fool I am.
I didn’t shift to my wolf form because I need to be able to talk, but now I feel unprotected, with only my sword as a weapon.
I’ve gotten better at wielding a blade, but I’m nowhere near as good as any of the bloodsuckers.
Sneaking into the fortress undetected will be impossible, so my best course of action is to head to the place in the forest where Lucca likes to practice.
I’ll wait until sunup if needed. If he doesn’t show up, then I’ll try again tomorrow, and again.
But with my trip looming on the horizon, Lucca had better come in the next few days, or I can forget my plan.
Cheryl, you’re an idiot for waiting too long.
But out of all the misfortunes that have befallen Karl and me, missing Lucca isn’t one of them. I pick up his fresh scent as soon as I near his favorite spot, and he’s alone. He’s as foolish as I am, I guess, especially with the ongoing war.
He’s practicing some movements when he stops suddenly, then turns to scan his surroundings. I’m not trying to hide from him, so I step out of the shadows.
“Cheryl.”
“Lucca.”
“I thought for a second my senses were deceiving me when I picked up your scent. Surely you wouldn’t be so foolish as to wander into my uncle’s domain after everything that’s happened.”
I snort. “Who are you calling foolish? You’re practicing alone outside the protection of your uncle’s tall walls when there’s a whole army of nasty vampires who want you dead.”
His lips curl into a sardonic smile. “Touché. Why are you here? If you want to avenge your brother, I’m afraid?—”
“I’m not here to fight with your sister, even though she deserves a black eye or two.”
“So why have you come?”
I move closer. “You know why. Karl is immortal and bound to your sister forever. I’m not. I can’t bear the thought of dying and leaving him alone. I’m all he has left.”
Turmoil shows in Lucca’s dark gaze, but it goes away fast. “I’m sorry. I can’t turn you into a vampire. It’s impossible.”
“That’s a lie. You can—you’re just choosing not to.”
“It’s not a lie,” he grits out, pulling his hair back. “You came all the way here for nothing.”
He begins to turn, but I grab his arm. “Lucca, please. You haven’t seen Karl since your uncle banished us. He’s broken. All he does is drown in ale, trying to forget that the love of his life betrayed him. I don’t know what’s going to happen when I’m gone.” My voice breaks, and tears sting my eyes.
Lucca looks confused. “Love of his life? He’s her familiar, Cheryl.”
“He’s more than that and you know it,” I grit out.
His dark eyes spark as if he just remembered something. Then he swallows hard. “I empathize with your plea, Cheryl, I truly do. But I don’t have the ability to turn anyone, not anymore.”
The ring of truth in his statement finally sinks in, and my stomach bottoms out. He can’t make vampires, because he’s been cursed. I drop his arm and step back. Tears roll freely down my cheeks, freezing almost immediately.
“What about your uncle?”
He shakes his head. He’s been cursed too. I hug my middle, feeling defeated. “Did that bitch curse everyone in the king’s household?”
“No, not everyone.”
“Then—”
“They won’t do it, Cheryl. No one is allowed to make vampires without the king’s consent. To do so would be treason.”
There’s a huge lump in my throat now, and my heart has shriveled into nothing. “So that’s it? Karl is condemned to live a miserable and lonely life forever?”
“Not if he doesn’t want to be.”
“So your solution is for him to die.” I laugh in derision. “You know what, I’m glad the Nightingale queen cursed your family. You’re all vile and deserve nothing but pain.”
Lucca’s friendly expression turns murderous in the blink of an eye. His gaze is crimson now, his fangs on full display.
“Begone before I take you away from Karl sooner rather than later.”
As angry as I am, I’m not stupid enough to engage in battle with Lucca. He would end me. And if I die now, what will happen to Karl?