Erik gripped my shoulder. “I can attest to that,” he said. “Stay out of his way.”
I continued watching Rhys until his pitch-black eyes moved toward me.
“Hm,” I muttered, taking a swig of blood from my glass. “I’m going to, uh, use the restroom.”
Chapter 23: Mona
Is it possible he has a twin brother?
I was aware of how ludicrous a notion it was, but so desperate was I for my eyes to have deceived me that I was willing to entertain it.
I ran through the hall and out the entrance. I didn’t stop running until I’d sped past the courtyard, through the woods and reached the beach. I walked to the edge and dipped my feet in the cool waters, hoping to calm my nerves.
He’s still alive. At least that much I should be grateful for. I don’t have to add him to the list of deaths I’m responsible for.
But how is he still alive?
Is it the spell cast over this place that is protecting him?
Or is it that the curse automatically reversed once I’d returned to Rhys?
And how the hell is Kiev here? Why did he leave Matteo’s island? Would he have betrayed Matteo and Saira—after all they did for him—and joined these vampires?
Why have his eyes turned back to red?
Who was that beautiful young woman sitting next to him?
My head began to throb from all the questions and speculations.
I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I didn’t notice a shadow approaching me from behind. It was only when a man cleared his throat that I whirled around. On seeing Kiev, I jerked to a standing position so violently that I lost my footing and fell backward into the sea.
“Wh-what are you doing here?” I spluttered, spitting water out of my mouth and brushing my sopping wet hair out of my face as I scrambled to my feet.
“I could ask the same of you,” he said, his baritone voice expressionless. He stood still, arms crossed over his chest, his blood-red gaze fixed on me.
What do I tell him?
A part of me urged to just reveal the truth to him. But another part of me doubted that that was the best way to repel him, to get him to never want to speak to me again—hell, even look at me—which was what my only goal in this encounter had to be.
I stood in silence, just staring at him, for several moments as the war inside me raged on. Finally the rational side of me won over, and although it ripped me apart, I knew that there was no other way.
“I’m here because of Rhys,” I said. “My lover.”
Kiev’s mask broke for but a moment—his lips parting ever so slightly—before he composed himself again.
“I see,” Kiev said. “I suppose he’s the reason you left too.”
I nodded, gulping back the lump in my throat.
“Well, I won’t take up any more of your time.”
Without another word, he turned on his heel and disappeared back into the shadows.
That’s it?
I stood in shock, staring at his footprints in the sand. I couldn’t believe he’d gone.
Just like that.
That certainly went faster than I had expected.
An empty feeling swelled in the pit of my stomach. And then bitter disappointment fell upon me. He’d heard my answers, yet he hadn’t stayed long enough to answer my questions.
I didn’t have much time to brood though, because Rhys’ voice drifted through the woods.
“Mona?”
He appeared on the beach moments later. He stood frowning at the sight of me.
“Why are you soaking wet?”
“I took a dip in the sea. I was feeling… claustrophobic.”
He walked up to me, muttered a few words beneath his breath and I was completely dry within a second. I could tell my erratic behavior was aggravating him now. He didn’t speak another word to me as he marched me back to the castle. As we walked, his grip was tighter than usual.
We walked back into the main hall. Everyone had cleared out by now—I assumed to start preparing for the night’s ritual—except three vampires in the corner. Kiev appeared to be deep in conversation with the pretty vampire and another handsome male vampire sitting next to him.
I groaned quietly.
“You left before I could introduce you to the Novalics—leaders of this island.” Rhys led me over to their corner. “These are the Novalic siblings,” he announced once we’d arrived next to them.
Oh. Ohhh. She’s his sister.
“Erik, Helina and… I don’t believe we’ve met before?” Rhys stared at Kiev.
“No,” Kiev said curtly.
“Our brother arrived just recently, Rhys,” Erik said, jumping in. “He’s already been initiated though.”
Rhys nodded slowly, and reached his hand out to shake Kiev’s. Kiev gripped it, though the twitch in his jaw didn’t escape my notice.