Chapter 16 Astraea #3
“Don’t you see what this could mean for us?
I was hoping Drystan would be with you; he’d be an invaluable leader to us.
Vampires have never in history been documented to bond with dragons.
They’re the most legendary and powerful creatures to exist, and if more could bond with them …
it could be the beginning of shifting our reputation and giving us back some power. ”
That was the most highly sought-after currency: power. People bled for it, betrayed for it, lied and cheated for it. I’d never known a pursuant of power to be worthy of holding it, and those who might have once had noble intentions … power could become a corruptive addiction like any drug.
“If you trust me like you once did, then trust there’s an order to gaining the peace and equality we’ve all fought lifetimes for.”
Her jaw set; it wasn’t what she wanted to hear and I couldn’t blame her. To ask for patience now, after all this time, was like asking her to trust the rain would come after centuries of drought.
“Can we accompany you, wherever you might be heading?” she asked.
The casual mention that Laviana wasn’t alone made me subtly survey the establishment. It was moderately busy with chatter flowing, tankards thumping, laughter bouncing. I spied a few pointed ears around the room, but they didn’t pay us any attention.
“I don’t think that’s best this time,” I said carefully.
“Nyte can’t always get what he wants in keeping you to himself. You must long for other friendly company.”
“He’s not … in the best of spirits for extra company right now.”
I feared Nightsdeath would sooner kill them all.
The alcohol had been creeping over me slowly until now. I pushed the rest of the second away when a wave of dizziness swept over me, and my throat tickled worse now.
I raised a hand to my neck when the sensation dawned on me and I slipped clumsily off my stool, pinning Laviana with a horrified look.
“I had a feeling you might resist. It’s nothing personal, Astraea. You won’t be harmed, I promise.”
I stumbled back, knocking into a tall form, but as they grabbed me my magick flared to life and a male hissed at the burning of his hands.
Then in my utter shock and rage—rage because I would never be someone’s captive again—silver and violet flame erupted through the room, but I held control of it so it would not burn anyone or anything.
“You think nebulora in my cup was enough to stop me?” I snarled, not recognizing the sinister malice in my own voice. This was pain, betrayal, and I’d never felt more aligned with Nightsdeath than right now, which only broke me more.
“It was quite a powerful dosage. Far more easily hidden in your favored drink,” Laviana said carefully.
I trembled with the hold on my magick and my skin was quickly slicked with sweat. The nebulora had some effect, I had to admit, but now I had Lightsdeath, which infused the edges of my vision with a shimmering silver.
“Everyone get out!” I yelled. Most scrambled for the exit. Those who stayed were on edge, and I assumed they were with Laviana.
“Why?” I said through my teeth. My eyes pricked. Though we’d become estranged over all these years, and I’d broken many promises with my death, it cut deeply to think she would take me by force for her gain.
“If you didn’t react so hastily you would have awoken perfectly well back at our camp.”
I chuckled without humor, adding heat to my flames licking around all of us. “Then what?”
Her expression began to shift, not from my question but, as she glanced from the magick to me, as she began to reassess exactly who she’d confronted.
“What happened to you?” she asked again, and the gentleness of it nearly broke me down.
“What did you want with me?” I bit out again.
“To convince you to join us and show us where the dragons are so the vampires might have the first chance at securing their rider bonds.”
“And you thought kidnapping me was a good start to that alliance?”
“I thought there was no chance of Nyte being agreeable and I needed you alone.”
“He’s not here!”
In more ways than one. I took a breath through the tightness swelling in my throat to stop my voice from breaking.
I warned, “You’d best leave before he returns because I promise he won’t be as hesitant as me to destroy you and this whole place.”
“Which is why you need to come with us alone.”
I pushed my feelings aside to understand her desperation.
“I want to help you, trust me I do. But there are things I need to do first, and the dragons … they belong to no one. There is no telling who they will bond with. There could be a courtyard full of vampires and it may not choose any of them. It’s not as simple as that.”
“It seemed that way with Drystan and you,” she said, slipping a hint of bitterness.
“Nothing has been simple or easy,” I said steadily. My emotions threatened to make me volatile.
I couldn’t hold the magick much longer, but it was all that kept Laviana’s people from advancing on me.
“Leave, please,” I said. “I’ll find you again when I can. We’re on the same side of this war against Auster, and I desire equality for the vampires as much as you do.”
Her laugh was dripping in bitterness, and that hurt worse than her anger. It was like she’d given up trusting my word, and the worst part was, I didn’t know if she should either.
“You might say you’re unbiased and fighting for us all, but time and time again you choose a side whether you realize it or not.”
Those were her parting words before she motioned with her head and the other vampires started filing out. I held onto my magick with tears pricking my eyes right until I watched the last flick of her dark hair disappear around the corner.
Then I let go with a choked sob.
I had to brace myself on my thighs as my balance wobbled. The surge of magick had burned a lot of the alcohol from my system but not all of it. Paired with the exertion to hold the flames with the nebulora coursing through me … I swore.
I’d come in here to get warm and a quick rest; now the thought of trekking through the snow for hours again weighed my eyelids with more fatigue I had to fight.
“Someone upset my star.” I shivered at the controlled calm of Nightsdeath easing into the room. “Though it seems you might have upset them worse, considering how vacant this place has become. I like it.”
His shadowy fingers curled under my chin, and I forced myself to straighten. I didn’t last a few seconds before my balance swayed, but Nightsdeath caught me, lifting me into his arms, and I didn’t fight it.
“Do I need to go hunting?” he asked quietly.
“No … it was just a misunderstanding.” I was suddenly too tired, and though he wasn’t warm, I craved the very faint notes of Nyte’s scent so much I let my head rest on his shoulder.
“That sounds like a cause to go hunting.”
“Can we just go?”
He was already moving, and I braced for the cold to hit us. Outside, it was so surprisingly mild that I lifted my head in confusion. The wind still whistled by, but I could hardly feel it.
“Your shadows are like a shield,” I murmured in realization.
Nightsdeath hummed. “If it prevents you from whining for us to stop and find fire for warmth, I will tolerate this closeness, as much as it repulses me.”
I didn’t take offense at that. Contrary to his words, his arms held me tightly and he marched on carefully while he carried me.
He was still my Nyte, always.