“You would never leave me, would you?” Scarlet asked.
Caitlin swallowed.
“We would never leave you,” Caleb began slowly, nervous. “You are our daughter, and we will be together forever, and nothing will ever change that. Do you understand?” Scarlet nodded, wiping away her tears, seeming to feel better.
“We will always be together,” Caitlin repeated, “but at the same time, sometimes Mommy and Daddy might need to go away for a few days. That doesn’t mean we won’t come back. We will always come back. But now is one of those times. We do need to go for just a few days—and then, I promise, we will be back.”
“NO!” Scarlet screamed, bursting into tears as she hugged Caitlin. “I KNEW you would say that! You can’t go! It’s just like my dream. And now you’re never going to come back!” Scarlet was hysterical, inconsolable, as she sobbed in Caitlin’s arms.
Caitlin turned and exchanged a look with Caleb. It was almost enough to give Caitlin pause, to make her wonder if they should change their plan, and bring Scarlet with them.
But Caleb, reading her mind, slowly shook his head, and she knew that he was right. They could not bring her with them. It would endanger them all. Caitlin sensed that wherever it was they were going, danger would not be far. After all, it was the final key they were after. The final key that would lead them to her father, the final key that would lead them to the ancient vampire shield. Who knew what adversaries might be awaiting them? It was hardly a mission suitable for a child.
Caitlin leaned back and looked Scarlet in the eyes, trying to get her to focus on her.
“I promise you, Scarlet,” Caitlin said, over her cries, “that nothing bad will ever happen to you.
Or to us. We will be back in just a few days. And then after that, we’ll be with you all the time. You have to trust me. Do you trust me?”
Scarlet blinked, wiping away her tears, and finally, reluctantly, she nodded.
Scarlet seemed to calm a bit. But Caitlin, on the other hand, was feeling increasing foreboding.
Indeed, for the first time in as long as she could remember, Caitlin wondered if they would, truly, make it back alive.
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
Sera awoke in the King’s chamber at the crack of dawn. She threw open her eyes, immediately remembering the night before, and turned and stared at McCleod, naked, in bed beside her.
The two of them lay under the covers, she in his arms, and he sound asleep. That did not surprise her. She had seen this before: when people were first turned, they often slept long and late—sometimes for days. And this had been an epic turning. They had been together all night long, and she had never met a more willing human victim.
Sera jumped out of bed in a single bound, needing to clear her head from the night before. The body warmth from the sheets immediately evaporated, leaving her cool in the November morning, and she grabbed a silk robe and put it on as she made her way to the windowsill. She looked out at the first crack of dawn, the blood red sun on the horizon, and felt it was a good omen. She contemplated her next move.
So far, all had gone according to plan: soon McCleod would be one of hers, of her kind, and he would be putty in her hands. He had vowed to do as she wished, and she would call in the vow.
Then, finally, they could execute their plan. Kyle and Rynd had been smart to come up with this: the vampires here would never expect an attack from within their own island, a human attack from within their own ranks. What she would demand of McCleod would be the ultimate treachery: he would rally his human warriors, with all their silver-tip weapons, surround Aiden’s people, and catch them by surprise. If all went as planned, Aiden’s entire coven would be wiped out by nightfall.
Along, of course, with Caitlin and Caleb.
McCleod would provide a crucial attack on one front. And Kyle and Rynd, at the same time, would attack on another, using their own treachery. With this two-front war, there was no way any of them could escape.
Sera smiled at the thought of it. Finally, she would have vengeance. She would spend hours torturing Caitlin. And then she would make Caleb be hers again—right before she killed him. No one crossed her.
“Leaving so soon?” came a dark voice.
Sera wheeled, startled.
She was shocked. Standing just inches away was McCleod. He was awake. Already. And judging from the vicious look in his now-red eyes, he was fully turned. Somehow, he had managed to cross the room without making a single noise.
Sera had underestimated him. His recovery was quicker than she could have imagined, and he was more nimble on his feet than she would have guessed. She had created a far more powerful vampire than she could have ever predicted. She was at a loss for words.
He smiled back. “You did your job well,” he said.
He lifted his arm and stared at it in awe, slowly squeezing open and shut his fist, admiring his newfound power.
“I’ve never felt such power in my life. Despite years of training, years of sparring. I’ve never felt this quick, this nimble. I feel a thousand times the strength I’ve ever had.” He looked around. “In this room, even in this dim light, I can see so much better. Sharper.” He turned and faced her, his eyes darkening as they locked onto hers.
“I vowed something last night. I owe you something. What is it?” he demanded. “Tell me now, so I can move on with my life. I have wars to wage, kingdoms to conquer.” Sera smiled back, admiring his pugnaciousness.
“But you can’t conquer anything until you first give me what I want,” she reminded, enjoying having him in her power.
He frowned back.
“And what if I don’t? You can’t stop me. I am a vampire now, as powerful as you.”
“Perhaps you are,” Sera retorted, “but I can summon an army of vampires to destroy you in an instant. You can’t run or hide from all of us.”
He stared back at her, and slowly, he seemed to soften, to become slightly less arrogant.
“Then I ask again: what is it you want?”
Sera smiled, relishing the moment. Now she had him exactly where she wanted him.
“Just one small favor, one tiny task. In fact, it is amazing how small it is, given what I just did for you. It will take you but a day, and then you’ll be out of my debt forever.” He stared back impatiently.
“You are going to summon your army of human warriors,” Sera continued. “Everyone in your kingdom, all your best warriors, all who carry silver-tip weapons. All those who are closest to Aiden’s people.”