Chapter 77
CHAPTER 77
JULIET
W hen I wake, I turn my gaze to the window. Soft, buttery morning light filters in through the curtains. My sleep was restless, plagued by dreams of Valaric—of his lips on mine, his arms around me, the intensity of his gaze. It all felt so real, but I’m not sure if it was.
Sighing, I push back the covers and swing my legs over the edge of the bed. I walk to the balcony. Perhaps the crisp morning air will help clear my mind. When I step outside, something catches my eye on the railing. It’s Valaric’s necklace. I recognize the Shadow Blade pendant immediately.
The metal is cool against my skin when I pick it up. As I turn it over in my palm, a strange sense of loss tightens my chest. It’s like my heart remembers this… remembers him. But my memories are shrouded in fog—a haze of shadows and colors that I cannot seem to hold on to.
I only know that, for some reason, when I think of Valaric, I want to go to him. I want to run into his arms. And it scares me because these feelings… this longing is so intense. I’ve never felt anything like it before, and I barely know him.
Sighing heavily, I clasp my hand around the necklace and head back inside to get dressed.
Just as I finish, there’s a knock on the door. I open it and find my mother standing in the hallway. “You have a visitor.”
Butterflies flutter in my stomach as an image of Valaric flashes through my mind. But they’re gone in an instant as I realize it’s daytime, so it cannot be him who has come to visit me.
“Who is it?”
“He said his name is Eben Wolfstark.” She frowns. “Do you know him?”
“No. Did he say why he is here?”
She shakes her head.
When I step into the drawing room, a man with silver eyes, short, light brown hair, and sharply pointed ears is sitting on the sofa. He flashes a grin, revealing two rows of sharp fangs.
He’s a Wolf-Shifter. Normally, I might be afraid of such intimidating teeth, but something about this man puts me at ease, but I’m not sure why.
I nod to mother, and she steps back out into the hallway, giving us privacy.
“Hello, Juliet.”
His overly familiar greeting stops me short. “Do I know you, sir?”
He smiles again, but it does not touch his eyes. “You did, but it seems you do not anymore. My name is Eben. I’m a friend of Lord Greyvale’s. I came to deliver something to you from him.”
Before I can ask any questions, he hands me a letter. My fingers tremble slightly as I open it, and carefully held back tears blur the words as I begin to read:
Juliet,
I never wanted to upset you, and I’m so sorry if I did. You are my heart, and I only want you to be happy. Even if that happiness does not include me. Therefore, I have given you the means to have the freedom and independence you wished for. I ask for nothing in return. It is my most fervent hope that you live the life that you want, and live it well.
Forever yours, Valaric
My heart clenches as an image flashes through my mind of Valaric holding me, whispering words of love and devotion in my ear.
“The money has already been put in your name,” Eben says, handing me another document, this one detailing a massive sum that I suspect is greater than the entire worth of my stepfather’s estate. “You can access it whenever you wish.”
As he stands to leave, a wave of familiarity washes over me. “Wait,” I call out. “I know you.” A fleeting memory of him teasing Valaric comes to me. “I feel as if… we were friends, were we not?”
“More than that.” A sad smile curves his mouth. “You are part of our pack. Even if you do not remember this, we remember you. If you ever need anything, send for us, and we will help you however we can.”
He looks at me a moment more, as if searching for something, before he finally turns for the door. “Goodbye, Juliet.”
A tear slips down my cheek as he disappears into the hallway. I want to call out to him again, but I cannot force the words to leave my mouth. I gaze down again at Valaric’s letter and the bank note in my hand. My heart aches with confusion and the fragments of memories that flit just out of reach.
I pull the pendant necklace from my pocket and clutch it to my chest, the metal warming against my skin. When I return to my room, I step onto the balcony and gaze down at the manor gardens.
Everything looks the same as it always has, but as I look at the bench we sat on last night, all I can feel is the sorrow and longing for a life I cannot fully remember… that I’m not even sure was real.
“What was that about, Juliet?” my mother asks as she joins me. “Who was that man?”
“I’m not sure you’d believe me if I told you.” A tear escapes my lashes, but I quickly brush it away. “In fact, I’m not even sure I believe it myself.”
“What are you talking about?” Her eyes flash with concern. “Tell me what is going on.”
Taking a deep breath, I tell her of Valaric and the dreams I’ve had of our life together. When I’m finished, I brace myself for her judgment.
Instead, she takes my hand. “I’ve been having strange dreams too. So has your stepfather and your brother. When I saw you dancing with the Vampire, it was as though I recognized him somehow.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have a memory of you… and him. You were standing in a temple of the old gods, reciting the ancient vows of binding.” She frowns. “And there is something else.”
“What is it?”
“I found a document, detailing a bargain with a blood witch to save your life,” she says. “A deal that involved”—she swallows hard—“a Vampire. You were to become his blood wife in exchange for him healing you.”
I inhale sharply. “Why did you not tell me?”
“I—I don’t know. I’m sorry. I was afraid. Blood witches are powerful and dangerous, and I didn’t want it to be real. So, I pretended it was not.” She looks down at her hands. “It was dated months ago. So, I thought that perhaps… maybe it was some sort of strange blessing from the gods that—that erased it all.”
“Then, my dreams…” My voice trails off. “They truly are memories. All of it was real.” I look at the sky. It’s still several hours until nightfall. “I need to speak with Valaric.”
“No,” Mother states firmly. She places her hand on my shoulders. “Can you not see? This is another chance. Whatever happened, you are obviously not bound to him now. You can be free, Juliet. To live your life as you choose.”
Her words, so similar to the ones in Valaric’s letter about choosing the life I want to live, echo in my mind. “The memories I have of him… they are beautiful, Mother. I believe we were in love.”
“You cannot be serious,” she says, aghast. “He’s a monster—a Vampire, Juliet.”
“I know what he is. But look at this.” I hand her the letter and the bank note. “If he were truly so terrible, would he have given me this? Would he do this for me?”
“He’s trying to seduce you,” she insists. “Can you not see? He wants to make you his blood wife.”
“The memories I have… I don’t think I was ever his blood wife, Mother. I believe he loved me, and I loved him.” I hold out the pendant necklace. “This is his. He was a Shadow Blade. They were honorable men.”
“But he is a man no longer,” she stresses. “He’s a monster.”
“No, he’s not. I need to speak with him. I need to—”
“I forbid it,” she states firmly, the angry tone of her voice shocking. It’s rare for my mother to speak so forcefully. “You will marry Jonathan Harker. Your stepfather and I have already decided.”
“I broke our engagement.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“I love you, Mother, but I won’t do it.” I meet her gaze evenly. “My life is mine to do with as I choose. To live how I want. And I do not want Jonathan. Not now. Not ever.”
She gapes at me, stunned that I would speak to her in this way. I’ve always been a dutiful daughter, but I refuse to shackle myself to a man I don’t love.
“Then what are you going to do?”
“I must go to Greyvale Castle. I need answers.”
“He already left?” she asks.
Although he never said the words, I’m almost sure of it. His goodbye last night and his letter this morning suggested as much.
“Juliet, it’s dangerous. You cannot travel alone. It isn’t safe. Besides, your stepfather will never approve.”
“He doesn’t have to. And I won’t change my mind. I need to know the truth. I have money now and can pay my own way.”
She opens her mouth as if to protest, but quickly closes it again, probably realizing that she cannot stop me. Tears gather in the corners of her eyes. “At least promise me you’ll be careful, Juliet.”
“I will.” I hug her tightly. “I’ll leave tomorrow.”