“What is she to me?” He pointed at Thea with his unwounded arm. “What is she?”
The witch looked at his human and held out her hand in invitation.
Slowly, as if resistant but too curious to deny the request after all, Thea walked to his side and put her hand gingerly into the witch’s upturned palm.
Marie placed her other hand on top of Thea’s and closed her eyes. The stench of magic increased, and something dark seemed to pass between the two women.
“Do not interrupt them,” Zet warned before Warin could move to rip his human away. His tone allowed for no argument. “You have my word your human will not be harmed here tonight. Let the witch do what you asked of her.”
It mercifully only lasted a few moments. The second the witch released her grip on Thea’s hand, Warin wrapped her in his arms and pulled her away, anxious to put his own body between her and the threat of magic.
Marie slowly opened her eyes, but when she did, there was no longer a faraway look in them. They were crystal clear and filled with hatred and fear.
“What is she, Marie?” Zet asked, his voice cracking like thunder.
“No!” She bared her teeth at her Master, defiance flaring in her darkened eyes. “No, you cannot make me! I will not break my sacred vows!”
“Tell him, witch! I command you,” Zet snarled.
Marie let out a pained howl and ripped at her hair, but despite her magic, even she could not fight against the command of Compulsion.
“She is your soulmate,” she said, face twisted with revulsion. “She is your salvation. If you bond with her, you will never be who you were again. She is the light that was snuffed out the day Death Embraced you. She is doomed to love you, and she is fated to betray her sisters to stand by your side.
“That is what she is, vampire. And if she values the light that still flickers in this world, she will end her life before you can use her against her own sisters.”
Chapter 9
Thea
“That… that can’t be true. She’s lying,” Thea croaked as she stared at Warin. He looked dumbfounded.
“She can’t lie under my influence,” Zet—the scary one with the dark hair and golden eyes—said. He looked at her with his head cocked, as if he were a cat and Thea a particularly interesting mouse. “And she confirmed my suspicions. What your Master told me sounded too similar to the old stories to be a coincidence.” His disturbing gaze shifted to Warin. “You have been granted a gift unlike any other bestowed upon our kind. Why, I cannot tell you.”
“How long will she live?” Warin asked, his usually so confident voice betraying something sounding an awful lot like fear.
Zet lifted his eyebrows in surprise. “I do not know if her lifespan is different from a regular human’s, but I cannot see it mattering. Surely, you will wish to Embrace her?”
“Never,” Warin hissed. “I will never damn another, let alone my… my soulmate.”
An incredulous look lingered on Zet’s face for a moment before he shrugged. “I suppose others of our kind may know more about this phenomenon. They might be able to tell you how long she may live without the Embrace.”
“Do you know where I might start my search?” Warin asked, unconsciously grasping her waist and tugging her closer. He’d done that a lot since they entered London, and much to her surprise—and confusion—she found she didn’t mind. She should mind, she knew she should. This was the same creature who’d slaughtered her village and hunted her through the forest to lay claim to her like some kind of a… a pet.
And yet… it felt… safe.
Thea frowned. Nothing about this… this monster should feel safe. He was dangerous—she’d seen what he was. His achingly handsome face and blazing blue eyes couldn’t erase the horrors he was capable of.
But… he’d also saved her.
She had run from him, certain that any other fate would be better than staying with him. When she’d first seen the bandits in the forest, she’d been so relieved. Other humans. Help.
She bit the inside of her cheek at the memory of their rough hands and salacious threats. Warin had come for her, his monstrous wrath not aimed at her, but the humans who wanted to hurt her. He’d saved her from her own kind.
“I first heard of this phenomenon from the Lady of Rome,” Zet said, breaking Thea’s swirling thoughts. “Perhaps your search for answers should begin in Italy.”
Warin nodded. “I know of the Lady Elyse. We will begin our travels south tomorrow night. I thank you for your time and your answers, ancient one. We will retire for the night.”
Zet and his witch watched them as Warin led her back toward the door, but when Aleric—Warin’s auburn-haired travel companion—made to follow, Zet said, “Stay, young one. Leave your Elder to his human for the night. London has much to offer, and I sense I would enjoy a night in your company. Your lip is most refreshing.”
Aleric exchanged a glance with Warin, who nodded almost imperceptibly.
“Well, I wouldn’t say no to a taste of witch blood,” Aleric drawled as Warin closed the door to the disturbing room behind them.
Thea looked back at the now closed door while Warin led her down the hallway. As any God-fearing Christian would, she’d been raised to fear witchcraft, but she still felt a pang of empathy for the woman trapped in the room with two vampires. Ever since Warin had cornered her in her hut back home, she’d feared his fangs. But he hadn’t bitten her, despite his obvious urge to bury those razor-sharp daggers in her neck.
She feared the witch would not be so lucky tonight.
They walked down the narrow streets of London, safe from the night’s rowdy drunks and lurking dangers on the arm of the monster who’d chosen her as his.
Her soulmate.
She had never heard that expression before, but it resonated through her like a church bell.
Soulmate.
Thea looked up at her silent protector—her kidnapper and savior. Yes, she had recognized him the first time she saw him, even though she was certain she’d never seen him before. Recognized something buried deep within those startling blue eyes of his. It was that same thing that had kept her from running again, after he’d saved her from the robbers. That delicate, beautiful something that seemed to tie the deepest parts of her to him, pulling her toward him even if she knew she should do anything she could to flee.
Was it his soul?
Did monsters even have souls?