All Chapters of The Devourer: A Vampire's Curse: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Raina's POVTwo weeks. Fourteen days of futile searching. No clue about my parents. Nothing new from the police. And still, Liam kept helping me.We'd pulled up every public record we could find, asked around the restaurants where they used to go for date nights, even circled town again, retracing every possible path they could have taken. Still— nothing.I stared blankly into my bathroom mirror as the last flicker of hope slowly burned out. If a vampire with centuries of generational knowledge couldn't dig up a single lead, what chances did I have?I dropped my towel and got dressed slowly, slipping into a short, floral red dress and a black jacket, matching boots completing the look. My hair fell to my shoulders, and just as I reached for my phone, a message lit up the screen.I'm at your doorstep.I sighed, thumbs flying across the keyboard.Be down in a minute.Going on a date was the last thing I wanted to be doing right now, but Silas had been texting me every day for the past w

Raina's POV Lies.I haven't said anything about a lead, yet he knew. I acted like I didn't notice the slip, or the way his mannerisms shifted a bit when I asked the question. Whatever his reason for lying was, I knew I wouldn't get it out by confrontation. I'd just have to play along for now. I faked a small smile when we reached my front door and let go of him. “Thanks for walking me home.”He shoved his hands into his jeans pocket. “Anytime.”We stood on the porch staring at each other in silence for a while. I half-expected him to break the silence and say he was leaving, but he just stood there, shifting uncomfortably on his feet.His eyes scanned our surroundings, before returning it back to me. “Do you mind me keeping you company till your uncle comes? I just…I don't feel comfortable leaving you home alone.”If it had been any other day before I found out he lied, I would have invited him in. His company usually made me feel safe. But now that I knew he was hiding something,

Liam POVVampires rarely gathered in a place unless it was an emergency or to feed. Since I knew it was neither, I had a growing curiosity just like everyone else as we waited for Ian to address us.Of course, I tried to get a word with Ian when I'd gone back to his mansion in the city, but they wouldn't let me in. According to his orders, any conversation would have to wait till after the meeting.Biting down my irritation, I waited downstairs in a hall big enough to hold a ballroom dance, and sipped on some blood bag I'd gotten from the refreshment counter.I isolated myself from everyone, not bothering to be courteous when I hissed and flipped off any vampire who tried to talk to me. Well, except for the two vampires flanking my side—my informants.“Ugh, I hate meetings in fancy rooms, with fancy lights and arranged blood bags,” Judy scowled, picking her finger with a dagger.Zade laughed. “You're just jealous he's rich and you're not.”She rolled her eyes. “I'm a vampire too, fine

Liam's POV I intercepted Ian on his way to his room, blocking his path just before he could step in. He glared at me, then with a gesture of his hand, dismissed his assistants.“Speak,” he ordered.I arched a brow. Since when did he become cocky?Dismissing it with an awkward laugh, I gave him a playful punch. “Good to see you, too.”His gaze flickered to the spot where my fist met his shoulder and lingered. I swallowed, the air suddenly filled with tension.“So… that was a gripping speech,” I said, chuckling.He brushed past me, hands removing his cufflinks. “Wasn't meant to be. Just wanted to pass a message.”I followed him in, totally not noticing the massive king-sized bed, the humming AC above, or the perfectly aligned suits in his walk-in closet. Not at all.“Consider your message received.”“Good,” he muttered, tossing his jacket onto the bed.I folded my arms and leaned against the door. “Any plans?”He sighed, loosening his tie as he strutted to his almost floor-to-ceiling w

Raina's POV Other than the tattoos on my body, nothing seemed to have changed in my physical appearance—that is, if you count out the black eye, swollen cheek, and cut on my lip. I cringed at my reflection in the splintered mirror, the encounter with those vampires replaying in my mind like a grim highlight.Sure, I’d made myself look miserable, pitiful in front of Liam. But in all honesty, I didn’t regret it. I didn’t care. To me, killing a vampire didn’t count as murder, especially since the bitch deserved it.I smiled faintly, tilting my head as I examined my reflection. Maybe I did look different, but in a good way. Stronger—fiercer even. I sure felt it. Even if everyone thought I was crazy and needed help, I knew I wasn’t imagining things. The tattoos were still there, clearer than ever. Whether anyone believed it or not, something had happened to me.I pulled my hair into a ponytail, then twisted it into a bun. Nina was already outside waiting. It felt like old times, back when