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I NEVER IMAGINED A vampire could look as brutal as their souls were.
Scarred more than any Gladiator, as wrinkled and white-haired as an elder, but as sharp-eyed as Tanith Taran, Serkan was a baffling study. His sclera was black and his irises were blood-red, and when he smiled in a fanged greeting, it was more of a grimace, as if he had forgotten how to smile.
He looked us up and down, then at the messenger. “They’re worse for wear than you described.”
“And this is after they bathed in the Jehona,” Leysa pointed out wryly.
“Huh.” Serkan moved around the couch to approach. Aspen and I tucked the girls behind us instinctively. I didn’t sense any ill will from the stranger, but his appearance and our bad experiences with vampires were enough for us to cower. Very unlike an elder, he was tall and straight-backed, nearly towering over Aspen. “My messenger Nolan tells me you’ve been through quite the ordeals. What can I help with?”
My mind reeled with confusion. This was not the vampiric impression I was used to. I shook my head mentally. “My friend Maer needs—”
Sloan stepped out from behind Aspen to gaze fearlessly up at Serkan, whose look turned appraising. “She needs herbs and advanced care. She’s pregnant and hasn’t had adequate rest, food, or water in almost four days.”
“I assume that is who is hiding,” Serkan mused, trying to peer around me.
Defiantly, Maer stepped into the vampire’s view. I had gotten over my twang of hurt when she denied the brush of my hand against hers. I didn’t expect her to take it, but I foolishly thought she wouldn’t mind, not snatch hers away as if disgusted. But I did see her and Sloan exchange a glance I couldn’t decipher—a knowledge shared between them, some sort of secret I wasn’t allowed to know.
“I’m not hiding.”
Serkan suddenly stiffened, eyes flashing, barely stifling a hiss—the kind of reaction a vampire had to human blood that they struggled to restrain themselves from sucking the victim dry. I put myself half in front of Maer again despite her protest.
He looked sharply at Leysa, whose eyes had narrowed in deep thought. When his red glare knifed back to Maer, there was a gravity about his words that made my hair stand on end. “Whose child is that?”
It startled me to see Maer’s expression was suddenly transfixed. “It’s—” Then she snapped out of it. “I’m not telling.”
Serkan cocked his head and bent at the waist toward her. “It’s only half-human. You carry a half-blood.”
Even though I had my suspicions, hating to imagine the worst, especially when Maer had confirmed that the pregnancy wasn’t planned, that the father wasn’t human... It was like being punched in the gut and the face at the same time, leaving me disoriented with grief.
What Maer had gone through... None of us could comprehend... I didn’t want to.
Maer started to tremble, tears brimming in her eyes. She refused to look at anyone, even when Sloan stifled a sob with her hand as she unbiddenly conjured a terrible image. “Maer,” my sister whispered, flinging her arms around her, “tell us who it is. You can trust us. Please, let us in. Let us be here for you.”
I could tell Maer wanted to push Sloan away, believing it would keep her from getting hurt, but I couldn’t help the spark of pride when she chose to instead lean into Sloan’s embrace. “I don’t want to.”
There was a flicker of annoyance in Serkan’s eyes, but he dipped his head. “It matters only to define your care. Different blood calls for different herbs.”
Still clinging up Maer, Sloan gasped, “It does?”
Serkan raised his brows as he strode over to the far wall, where shelves took up the entire height and length. “So you’re the healer?”
The Kairos messenger, Nolan, ducked his head. “I may have given him a rundown.”
Leysa elbowed him. “And taking advantage of his kindness, lazy fangs!”
“I was going to run back at the first sign of evening!”
“You know what trouble came after you left?!”
I wouldn’t call two covens invading their hideout trouble, I thought, tuning out their bickering when Serkan called Maer over.
“I have a bed ready. Come lie.”
Sloan guided Maer by an arm across the room to where a single bed with only a quilt over it was set. Aspen and I made to follow, but Serkan looked up sharply. “I don’t need anyone hovering. Nolan, dunk them in the river.”
I met Maer’s gaze. She looked dead on her feet, but she nodded reassurance. I had the feeling that she didn’t trust the vampire, but for the sake of her health, she would.
I gave her a small nod. “We won’t go far,” I promised, turning my gaze to Serkan, who I felt already watching me as if I was some curiosity. Unease prickled my neck again. He was a pureblood vampire. Did he have a power? I wondered why I didn’t feel any Bloodlust—was it because Serkan wasn’t an immediate threat or threatening to harm those I cared about?
I followed Nolan out with Aspen while Leysa joined the girls. Even though I didn’t like walking away, instinct told me everyone would be all right.
Aspen matched my stride and made no attempt to lower his voice. “What do you think of him?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing,” I said, unexpectedly glad when I saw a river in the distance. The desire to de-sand myself was stronger than my hunger. “Does he make your skin crawl, too?”
“A little,” Aspen replied with a laugh under his breath. “I think it’s because he’s...different. He’s not a member of any coven. Why is he living here alone in the woods by himself?”
“He’ll answer all of your questions once you’re well taken care of,” Nolan noted with an edge of defensiveness. “Clean yourselves. I’ll be back with clothes.” He stormed off.
Aspen and I exchanged amused glances before stripping off our shirts and wading into the ice-cold water. It was barely wide or deep enough to call it a river but just above being called a stream. At least it was adequate to be called a bath.
“I had sand in places I won’t mention,” Aspen said, tipping his head back to rinse out his long hair.
I laughed. “No need. I know exactly which places.”
That made him laugh, and then there was a silence between us, and I didn’t want there to be, because he could be as chatty as I was. But what did we talk about? There was too much to talk about. So where to start?
“Who do you think...did that to her?” Aspen asked finally.
I stiffened. Of course it had to be that topic first. I scrubbed at the sand clinging stubbornly to my hair. “I...have a guess.”
“Me as well. And I don’t want to say it out loud.” Aspen treaded the clear water, watching its gentle current ripple on the surface. It was no Jehona, but it was still refreshing. “But it makes me want to take up Leysa’s offer. I have a long life yet to live. I don’t mind taking a detour toward rebellion.”
I snorted good-naturedly. “I’ll admit, it sounds tempting. And...” My half-smile faded, meeting the former Bloodfrost’s piercing gaze. “You’re right. It’s not our job to get revenge, much less on Maer’s behalf, but I...I want it so bad.”
Aspen eyed me, but there was no judgment in it. I wanted to get to know him better; he was already a valuable friend. “I’m glad we crossed paths, Koen.”
My smile returned once more. “Not crossed so much as crashed.”
“Indeed.” He chuckled. “This was more of an adventure than I could have imagined—and I wouldn’t change a thing. Well, maybe a few. Anyway. I’ve come to care for you and the girls. They’re brilliant. I’d like for us to stick together as a found family.”
I forgot to tread and ducked underwater, getting a mouthful. I plunged back up, spluttering and coughing.
Aspen turned his back to me. “I said too much.”
“No,” I gasped, regaining my bearings. “I want that, too.”
“Really?”
“Really. I think we’re a great team. Once Maer—”
“Are you two done?” Leysa’s impetuous voice bounced off the trees as she stalked toward us, Maer and Sloan not far behind. “The girls need a wash. Come eat.”
Aspen and I donned new shirts as we passed the trio. Sloan punched my arm playfully. “How’s it feel not to have sand in every crevice?”
“You’ll see soon enough,” I teased, though my attention on Maer was more serious. But to my relief, she looked much better. She even smiled—and it reached her eyes. Maybe things are finally looking up, I thought tentatively.
When we returned inside the cabin, Serkan was waiting at a table for six, all places set with a plate of meat and fruits I’d never seen before. “Sit, friends,” the vampire ordered in his deep, rumbling voice, “and recover. Pretend manners don’t exist.”
The smell of the meat was intoxicating enough that I didn’t need the offer. We sat and dug in, ignoring our utensils, though I didn’t fail to notice that Aspen’s earthenware cup wasn’t water.
Serkan lounged back in his chair, watching us with the faint amusement of a parent proud of their children. “I’m a lone vampire, born pureblood longer than anyone in Sanlow. I moved here to Eshe long before the first migration to Dawnhaven. But I’ve lived with covens; I know how they work. I know how humans work, and I took an interest in the healing arts. I’ve traveled far and wide and had quite a few run-ins with witches. I hear you and yours are descendants.”
I didn’t know what Leysa or Nolan had told Serkan, but it seemed to be extensive. “Apparently,” I said, the lack of bitterness in my voice surprising. Maybe I could come to terms with everything Leysa claimed we were—and could be.
“Hm. Witches are an unproblematic race—unless provoked. Then they can be as vengeful as vampires. Last I heard, the word ‘hunter’ was being thrown around. Leysa said Galen said something about triangles or something...”
I inhaled a mouthful of meat and choked on it. Aspen clapped my back to make me spit it up. “You know Galen Shayla too?”
Serkan’s eyes glittered, the corner of his mouth quirking up. “Oh, yes. She’s the one who cursed me. Leached the color from my hair and wrinkled my skin because I drank from her sister. These scars, now...” He ran a finger along the scar from his temple to the back of his head. “These are from her sister using a cursed blade—a very concentrated form of imb and cinis.
“The history of them, oh,” Serkan sighed with heavy nostalgia, “goes back far. Witches slow their aging almost as long as vampires. Chances are, Galen will be around for a while, still.
“I’ve made allies with the half-bloods,” he continued, switching topics with a more serious tone. “They’ve been stumbling upon me for decades, and it got to a point where I just decided to help to get them off my back. If you four were chosen by Galen—or any other witch, for that matter, if you’re unsure—to be hunters, then you’ll be wise to join the rebellion.”
Serkan grinned again, fangs long, white, and sharp. If he lived out here alone, then what did he feed on?
As if he read my mind, he said, “Animals.”
Aspen grimaced at his cup. “I knew it tasted off.”
I choked again. “That’s possible?”
Serkan wrinkled his nose. “Possible, not preferred, but I make do. There’s plenty of wildlife to choose from. Good luck trying to convince any other vampire it’s a better alternative.”
Then he perked up as if he heard something outside. “Ah, they’re coming back. Time to tell you about your futures.”
