Chapter 4
My stomach heaved as I found myself eye to eye with a hand clutching what I could only imagine were the remains of Ewan’s throat.
My gaze flicked to Ewan, finding his eyes glazed over.
He gurgled, releasing a further spray of blood and spittle into my face just before his body slumped, sinew snapping as he hit the ground beside me.
The coppery scent of death was nearly suffocating as blood seeped out of the lifeless body and onto the cobblestones. Shock paralyzed me, leaving me unable to even scream. A voice sounded above my head, its words barely discernible over the deafening pulse in my ears. “Are you hurt?”
I raised my chin slowly, choking down bile.
Above me stood another hooded figure. He uncurled his fingers, letting the remains of Ewan’s throat fall to the ground.
I watched, voiceless, as he plucked a handkerchief from his lapel to mop blood and sinew from his ivory skin.
The figure was tall and muscular, with jet-black hair that fell like a waterfall over his broad shoulders.
My eyes traced the sharp lines of his cheekbones to eyes that glittered like freshly mined obsidian.
“I know you,” I croaked.
“Are you hurt?” he repeated.
He let the once-white cloth fall as he stooped, his hood pulling away from his angular face. If I had any sense at all, I would’ve cast my eyes downward like an obedient servant.
And yet, I couldn’t look away.
“You have nothing to fear,” he said gently, as if he hadn’t held nearly a quarter of Ewan’s spine in his grasp a few moments ago. “What is your name?”
It took all my effort to speak, like my tongue had been locked away behind my teeth and the key thrown away. “Finwal,” I whispered. “Finn.”
“Do you remember what happened tonight, Finn?” he asked. The rich timbre of his voice was remarkably soothing.
My eyes drifted to the carnage at our feet.
I wouldn’t forget this in a hurry. “He came out of nowhere,” was all I could manage.
I inhaled sharply as my rescuer’s cold fingers swept under my chin, dragging my gaze back to him.
It was as if he held a block of ice in his palm, and the cold seeped into my skin with his touch.
His eyes were impossibly dark, like the pools at the bottom of a cave.
“Do you know this man?” the vampire asked.
“I know him.” I paused, glancing with a shudder at the corpse that lay before me. “I knew him.”
“Who was he?” he pressed. Who was he? He was Ewan. A sweet boy from the Lakes Region who made me laugh. A man with whom I had lain but refused to let into my heart. A friend, more than anything.
“His name is Ewan,” I said finally. “He’s Caleb Brummings’s apprentice.”
“The blacksmith?”
I nodded wordlessly.
“Did he say anything to you?” he continued. “Before he attacked?”
“I don’t think so,” I whispered.
“Come,” he said, offering his hand. “Allow me to escort you home.”
I stared at his offered hand. Fortunately, it was not the one that had torn out a man’s throat mere minutes ago, and so I relented, gingerly placing my fingers in his palm.
As he pulled me to my feet, I staggered sideways, my vision swimming.
The vampire caught me in his arms before my knees could buckle.
My skull throbbed, the pain emanating from where I’d hit it when Ewan threw me to the ground.
“I should take you to the Court Physician,” he said, his tone laced with urgency.
I glanced sideways at him, narrowing my eyes until there was only one of him.
A faint line creased his smooth brow. I could hardly picture the look on the faces of Maxence or Mrs. Cathers if word got back to them that this vampire had wasted his time taking me to the King’s healer.
I straightened as much as I could, but his grip was firm.
He pulled me closer, the corners of his lips curling upwards.
“I’m fine,” I protested weakly. “I can walk.”
“You clearly can’t. Let me help you,” he replied.
I yielded, leaning against him. The dizziness stoppered any further protests as he swept my legs out from under me.
My cheek flush against the folds of his cloak, I inhaled the scent of fresh ink.
His heart beat steadily beneath my ear. We moved swiftly through the streets, the cold air stinging my eyes.
Too swiftly, I thought as my surroundings blurred. I choked down a wave of nausea.
The vampire cupped my cheek in his hand, his black eyes flashing. “Stay with me, Finn.”
My head lolled backward and the stars above blurred like fireflies streaking across the night sky.
The King’s face was the last thing I saw before the darkness pulled me under.