Chapter 28
28
M y mind was made up by the time we reached New Haven. I’d spent the hours of our trek contemplating my life, everything that I was, and what I’d failed to be—my people’s liberator. Perhaps I could be their protector instead.
I could feel the sunrise in the air by the time we reached the mansion. My legs were numb and a little sore from riding for so long. When we arrived at the stables, Henry dismounted first and reached for me to help me down. I swung one leg over the saddle and let him lower me to the ground as if I weighed nothing. His hands lingered on my waist as our gazes locked and held. My cheeks flushed as I remembered how his hands had roamed my body on the bed at the witch’s cottage. Henry’s nostrils flared, and his eyes darkened as he held me, his fingers flexing on my waist. I didn’t realize I’d leaned in until Henry dipped his chin, bringing his face closer to mine. His gaze was fastened on my lips, and I dropped mine to his well-formed mouth.
“You’re back,” came Isabelle’s voice to our left.
She stood several feet away from us, undoubtedly having gotten here from the house so fast using her supernatural speed.
Startled, I pulled away, looking anywhere but at Henry.
Reluctantly, he let go of me and turned to his sister.
“You need to get inside,” Isabelle told him. “It is nearly sunrise.”
Henry nodded and led Annabelle inside the stables, where he passed her to the stable hand. I peeked inside the stables, too, and a sigh of relief left me when I saw Onyx in there, alive and well.
“Thank you for helping Henry rescue me,” I told Isabelle as the three of us started toward the house.
“I only helped him because I thought your blood would activate the amulet,” she explained without looking at me. “I wanted to leave you for dead once I heard the Dark Witch say it didn’t work.”
“Isabelle!” Henry threw over his shoulder, walking a little ahead of us.
“What? It is the truth.” She shrugged.
Henry gave me an apologetic look before facing forward. I wondered if he’d, too, only come for me because he’d thought he needed me to activate the Tear. It didn’t matter, I decided. Even after he’d learned that my blood didn’t work, he’d still saved me.
“Henry told me about Wren,” Isabelle said, glancing at me. “I should have suspected something. He was a perfect vassal. Too perfect.” Her brown eyes narrowed.
I realized I had forgotten about Wren. Now, I found myself wondering if he’d survived the wound I had inflicted. I wasn’t sure if I wanted him to live or die. I could never excuse his decision to work for the Dark Witches just to save his own skin, but I did feel sorry for him.
When Henry entered the house and crossed the foyer, heading toward his study, Isabelle and I followed.
The Lord poured himself a drink and quickly threw it back before turning to us.
“We need to have an urgent meeting with the clan leaders,” he told Isabelle.
She eyed the heavy crimson curtains that were already drawn in preparation for daybreak.
“I don’t have time to round them up before sunrise, but I will after sunset,” she said, her gaze returning to Henry. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”
Henry’s eyes flicked to me, and he swallowed thickly before he said, “War is coming.”
Isabelle staggered back, her hands curling into fists at her sides.
“Dark Witches?” she asked.
“Yes,” Henry replied, his tone grave. “They will attack now that they know we don’t have a way to activate the amulet. I don’t know when, but we need to start preparing.”
“They had a century to grow stronger,” Isabelle said. “Henry, what if this time we?—”
“Isabelle,” Henry interrupted. His tone was gentle but firm. “Drink some blood from the cellar and try to get some rest. We will talk at sunset.”
He hadn’t lied and said it would be okay, and I admired his honesty even if despair threatened to take root inside my chest and spread.
I expected Isabelle to argue, but to my surprise, she nodded.
“Okay. I’ll round up the clan leaders at sundown,” she said and swept out of the room.
Once she was gone, Henry focused on me.
“You need to go to Waylon and ask him and the Order to help prepare the people of New Haven to travel up north,” he said, meeting my gaze.
When I didn’t move, he gave me a questioning look.
“Sophie?” he asked, coming to stand before me, his eyes searching mine.
I opened my mouth, but the words wouldn’t come. I needed to say them, though. I’d already accepted my fate. No, I’d chosen my fate, and now I needed to follow through and make it happen.
“I want you to turn me,” I forced the words out. They scorched my throat and broke my heart.
Henry took a step back as his eyes widened in shock.
“What?” he said so low I could barely hear him.
Emotion clogged my throat, and I cleared it before I said louder, “I want you to turn me.”
Henry shook his head and chuckled without humor. “I knew you were too quiet on the ride here.” His expression grew serious when he looked at me again. “You are not thinking clearly. I know you’re scared?—”
“I’m terrified,” I interjected, my voice rising almost to a shout. “Of war and Dark Witches, but most of all, I’m terrified of not being able to do anything about it.”
“You will be doing something about it.” Henry’s voice rose to match mine. “You will be taking the people up north where they will be safe.”
“Safe?” I scoffed. “They will no longer be safe if New Haven falls.”
Henry clenched his jaw, his eyes boring into mine. He couldn’t tell me New Haven wouldn’t fall. He knew he couldn’t promise me that.
“I want to join the fight,” I told him, my voice steady and my tone final.
“You don’t know what you’re asking for,” he growled, turning away from me.
I grabbed his arm to stop him. “It’s my choice.”
His face contorted in rage. “It’s my choice, too. And I choose not to grant your request.”
With a gasp, I backed away as if he’d delivered a physical blow. Then, anger crowded out the shock.
“How dare you?” I seethed, my hands fisting in his shirt as I brought my face inches away from his. “You told me before that the choice was taken away from you. And now you’re doing the same thing to me!”
Henry bristled as his expression turned pained.
“Do not make me do it,” he begged low.
His reaction doused the anger, and I let go of his shirt.
“I want you to be the one to do it,” I said, looking into his eyes. “I…trust you.”
He grimaced at my words. “I wanted your trust. But now I wish I didn’t have it.”
“I will fight alongside you in the war, whether I am a vampire or not,” I stated. “It’s up to you whether or not you’ll give me a fighting chance.”
“You are not being fair,” he said, sounding tired and defeated.
“I don’t care about being fair. I only care about protecting my people,” I said calmly.
“And I am trying to protect you!” Henry raised his voice again as if that would make me hear reason. He looked exasperated, running a hand through his thick hair.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. I truly was. I didn’t want to force him to turn me, but I also saw no other way.
He stared past me for a moment as if he couldn’t bear looking at me.
“Sophie,” he finally said, clasping my shoulders and looking into my eyes. I met his gaze, preparing for what he was about to say. He was going to try to make me change my mind. I could see the intent in his blue eyes. “I know you think you failed because your blood didn’t activate the Tear, but that doesn’t mean you have to forfeit your life and become something you hate.”
His words made me flinch.
“You’re right. I do hate vampires,” I told him, seeing no reason to lie. “But I love my people more.”
Understanding crept across Henry’s face, quickly followed by a glimpse of awe in his eyes. He hung his head, taking a deep breath. I thought he’d finally given up on trying to convince me to change my mind until he looked at me again.
“Before you make your decision, go talk to your father,” he said, and my throat instantly dried and closed up. Now, he wasn’t being fair. The resolve I saw in his features told me I wouldn’t be able to fight him on this. So, I conceded.
“I will go see him right now.”
There was no reason to delay the inevitable, and if Henry thought that seeing my father would make me change my mind, he was sorely mistaken.