When Aric's mother glanced at her son, completely disregarding my presence in the room, I couldn't help but nibble the inside of my lip nervously.Aric began by giving my hand a firm squeeze before rising to his knees and bending over his mother. "Mother," he said, "You did come to me earlier and tell me that Liberty was concerned that I might become like my father, did you not?""Well," Lady Leanor started, no indication that she was ashamed or trying to be deceptive, "sure I did since that's what she said."Aric continued, his tone becoming increasingly agitated as he vented his frustration, "You also insinuated that she had merely been using me until she could find someone with more authority to go on to.""What?"Emily inquired as she abruptly jerked herself upright, interrupting the conversation as her eyes swept over her mother, her brother, and me."Because she did," Leanor yelled at me while directing her murderous glare in my direction. "She leaped at the chance to abandon y
The following morning, Liberty's mother came. She was saddened by the little details she knew about her daughter's ordeals, but overjoyed to learn that she was still alive. She embraced her daughter and her new husband, albeit with some reluctance.The newlywed couple's private apartment, located in a brand-new structure that Aric had selected as his seat of power, served as the setting for the day's festivities honoring them.The tower of suffering built by his father was going to be dismantled and lowered to the ground since this was already in the planning stages.Henry was given permission to transform Alfie, and a ceremony was arranged for them not long after his love awoke into his new existence not long after the ceremony was held for them.Two days after their hasty wedding ceremony, an announcement was made publically declaring the new Lord and Lady of the Northwest Territory. This notification was sent out by the law.Even though many of the lesser lords agreed with Lady Lea
The hunt master yelled at me, "Stop moving!" while pulling my hair to emphasize his point. "Or else I'll alter my mind and place you in the group with the dr*g addicts!"As soon as he completed threading the vividly colored ribbons, glow sticks, and little tinkling bells into my black hair, I immediately pushed myself to sit still so that I could watch him.He said that it was an improvement before reaching for a hypodermic needle.When he injected something into my shoulder, I did my best to remain silent."Remember, '' he continued as he wiped the injection site with alcohol, "if you survive until dawn, you will be granted your freedom and sent to live in the free zone." If you do survive until dawn, you will be allowed your freedom. If you are captured, you become the property of the vampire who captured you, and it is up to that vampire to decide whether or not to keep you alive or immediately put you to death."I said, "Yes, Sir," although I was already aware of everything.When
"Why did I keep going to this dumb hunt?" she asked. Aric questioned himself while taking another sip from his cup of spiced blood.When he looked around the room at the happy expressions on the other vampires' faces, he couldn't help but let out a sigh.He shook his head in disgust as he pushed a stray lock of his blonde hair out of his face and pushed it back behind his ear. Some hunters appeared to be dressed in the style of safari hunters from the human era, while others wore camouflage, and yet others wore shredded flannel shirts, jeans, and hiking boots. All of the hunters appeared to be in an absurd state of attire.The purpose of the hunt was to commemorate the anniversary of the vampires' victory over the human world with bloodshed.His hometown of Spokane, Washington, was one of the cities that hosted the hunt. Other cities' customs varied widely; for example, some cities openly slaughtered individuals in their city square, while others announced a public hunt in which any p
The moment the hunter blew his horn, the doors to our cages flew open, and we were let loose into the arena.The doors opened to reveal a pine forest blanketed in snow, and the limbs of the trees glistened like silver in the moonlight.When I looked at the ground, I realized it would be difficult to cover my footprints. There wasn't enough snow falling for it to cover my footprints.The drugged victims fell out of their cages and limped through the underbrush, making a mess of the freshly fallen snow while I was wasting time considering my alternatives.I took a few slow, deep breaths to settle my racing mind and formulate a strategy.Most of the others who hadn't been drugged had already escaped into the woods, leaving behind clear footprints that even a vampire who was blind could follow.I knew that if I followed one of the others into the forest and proceeded along the same path they had taken, I might conceal my escape. After I had traveled a sufficient distance into the bush, I
Aric sat on a high tree branch at the edge of the arena, observing the others as they participated in the hunt by locating and killing the prey one after another.A fool who thought hiding in the cages would trick the hunters was the first to be caught and killed. This was a very expensive mistake.Not much time had passed when the second of the poisoned prey was finally brought down. She was fixated on the moonlight reflecting off the ice as it glistened on pine needles covered in frost.The prey was brought down one at a time. Some were executed swiftly, and their blood was drunk on the spot. Others were restrained, branded, and fitted with collars before being led out of the woods by their new masters.Aric watched everything going on with a visceral revulsion, and he detested that others of his type enjoyed participating in the blood sport.His attention was drawn to some movement along the boundary fence. When he got a better look, he noticed that one of the female prey was grabb
I watched the vampire approach me, keeping my green eyes tightly shut and listening intently. As he moved, I could feel the force of his heavy tread cutting into the dirt.I worked hard to control my breathing and heartbeat, but I was frustrated that I couldn't burrow any further into the dirt. As things stood, all a vampire needed to do to identify me was staring at me from the appropriate perspective.When I heard the loud crash of something heavy through the trees above me, I didn't intend to make a sound, but I accidentally let out a gasp of surprise.I tried to slow down my suddenly quick breathing by covering my mouth with the dirt-covered hand I was holding, but the panic grew stronger.I was very certain that the vampire could hear my heart throbbing in my chest.After taking a chance and peeking over the corner, I noticed the shadow of the hunter approaching me.Another hunter suddenly materialized out of thin air and pulled me out of my hiding place by one arm. He lifted me
Healing Aric observed as the human's face became white in response to what he said.He ought to have been more mindful that she was not accustomed to following instructions, but this was a skill that she would need to acquire rapidly.He reiterated, pointing to the chair, "I said sit down and take off your top," but she did not budge from where she was sitting.As she moved to carry out his directions, she had a slight quiver in her bottom lip, and one of her shoulders hung lower than the other.While seated, she began a futile attempt to pull her shirt up over her head, gritting her teeth and biting her lip as she strained to move her damaged arm.Aric rushed to her aid after assessing the level of suffering she was experiencing, pleading with her to move quickly.Even though he could see the terror written all over her face as he approached, he didn't give a damn. Because time was of the essence, he had to determine the extent of her wounds as quickly as possible.He assisted her wi