LOGINOliviaI sobbed in Damien's arms for a while. Then I stood up and threw the remains of the amulet as far as I could into the forest. And then I screamed at the sky until my voice broke.And when I was so wrung out that all I could do was sit by the creek and stare at the water, Damien came and crouc
Jacob had never doubted that our people could be free, someway, some day."Jacob," Damien said, "That is your name, isn't it?""What do you care?" Jacob snarled."I don't, truly. Perhaps I should. I only know your name because she speaks it with love," Damien said.He put his hands on my shoulders,
OliviaI stepped away from Damien. I didn't know what to think about everything he had just revealed to me. I decided after a moment not to think about it at all.I had been uncertain whether I could take my wolf form or not. She had been silent within me for so long. But when I reached for her she
"Sire?" my Pet asked."I know I said I would not command you to take your wolf form for me," I said, "but I must ask you to do so now. Your senses as a wolf are our best chance to find whoever has done this before they cause more destruction and death.""You think they'll do it again?" she asked."T
OliviaI stepped outside the carriage and followed Damien. If I did not know there had been a slave market there, I would never have known anything stood on that burned ground. There was nothing but ash and lingering traces of smoke to be seen.There were guards walking the grounds. Their leader app
OliviaThe carriage was different from the one that had collected the tributes. That one had been bare and dark, with narrow slits that we had to jostle against each other to look through.This one was plush and luxurious, with wide glass windows and heavy velvet curtains. The seats were padded with
DamienKing Henry was enthusiastic when he learned that I had gifted my Blood Pet with my blood. He took over preparations for her Acceptance Ceremony. He invited vampire nobles from neighboring kingdoms. He spared no expense, even having a massive statue of Satan commissioned for the event.When th
My Pet trembled as she walked at my side. I tucked her hand into the crook of my elbow. As a Blood Pet she should have followed a pace behind me. But she was, in a way, the guest of honor at this banquet. So I kept her close to me. King Henry welcomed me with his usual enthusiasm. I nodded gravely
SofiaThat damned mongrel was insufferable!I watched her wander off after passing every challenge the guards I’d sent to “supervise” her training had offered.How hard was it to exhaust one mutt? I had told them to wear her out. Yet she still had a bounce in her step as she walked. I needed to fin
OliviaI needed to find a way to delay the ceremony. Everything depended on it. I could not become a vampire. I had only just gotten a tiny bit of acceptance back from the other slaves. They would reject me forever if I became a vampire.And if I changed, would I ever see my family again? What if I







