Chapter 8

Willow had never known what eternity felt like until she experienced getting dragged behind a horse by an unbreakable chain, day in and day out. Her feet ached. Her wrists hurt. And by the nine, her stomach growled incessantly. If she didn’t feed soon, she would either drop dead from starvation or tear the blood hunter limb from limb if she lost control. She needed to feed. Now.

“I need to feed,” she breathed, shying away from a patch of the sunset that broke through the trees. Thankfully, one act of kindness Adam showed her was keeping her away from the sunlight. Despite everything, she couldn’t thank him enough.

He said nothing as he reached into his saddlebag and threw her a piece of dried meat. Willow didn’t make a move to catch it but grimaced as it flopped right to the ground in front of her, looking pathetically brown and not at all juicy and red.

“Why would you feed me something so foul?” Willow gagged.

“Do you honestly expect me to carry a jug of human blood? Vampires are repulsive. You eat that, or you don’t eat at all.”

She frowned as she stooped to awkwardly pick up the dried meat with her tied wrists, and when he kicked his horse into a trot, she waited several moments before she threw the meat, and it hit him squarely in the back of the head. He turned in his saddle to glare in her direction, and she glared right back.

“By how you’re behaving, one would think you were a young child rather than three hundred years old. Need I remind you to eat your vegetables too?”

“That would be nice, yes.”

She found satisfaction in the eye roll he gave her before he focused on the path in an attempt to ignore her. However, she refused to be ignored. She enjoyed goading him.

“Human food does nothing for vampires,” she said with furrowed brows, walking a little faster to keep pace. Unfortunately, he kicked the horse faster, the chain staying taut. “But I’m sure you already knew that, being a blood hunter and whatnot.”

At first, he didn’t reply, and she nearly let him bask in his silence. It surprised her when he spoke with concentrated thought written in his dark eyes. “If human food does nothing… What of animals? Animal blood, to be more precise.”

She immediately became suspicious. “Why are you asking me? You’re the expert.”

“Bah! Can’t you answer a blasted question for once?”

“Can you not feed me for once? I haven’t eaten in weeks!”

He hopped from the horse and roughly grabbed the chain that bound her, leading her deeper into the trees. He didn’t go far before stopping in a small clearing near the road. Not too deep into the woods but not far enough away to lose their way.

“We’ll stop here for the night. Normally, I would ride until dawn… But you’re complaining my ear off. I don’t want to hear anymore grousing for the rest of the ride, understand?”

She crossed her arms stubbornly before settling on a fallen log, instant relief flooding through her feet at the short break from standing. She quietly watched him collect small branches and kindling for a fire. However, when he tried to spark a fire to life, he didn’t succeed. The damp wood was more stubborn than she was and wouldn’t take to the sparks that rolled right off like raindrops on a bird’s wings.

Eventually, his frustration got the better of him, and he sparked a fire to life using the magic trapped inside his blood gem. The flames defied the damp wood, and soon enough, a fire danced to life, yellow and orange flickering lazily between them. The warmth felt nice, warding off the chill that had sunk deep into her bones.

Flickering sparks filled the silence, and despite feeling his gaze on her, she refused to raise her head. Undoubtedly, he was glaring at her anyway. He seemed incapable of positive emotion. Honestly, what did they teach these men at the “blood hunter academy”?

“How long can a vampire go without feeding?”

The question surprised her, not only because he asked curiously, but because he genuinely didn’t seem to know the answer. Didn’t blood hunters know everything?

“They don’t have to eat to remain alive. But hungry vampires kill innocent people. Even without meaning to.”

He was silent as he took this in. But his curiosity must have gotten the better of him, and he didn’t keep his mouth shut. “I did some poking around in Lakefalls. I found reports of ravaged bandit camps, some of which were making trade difficult for the city, as the bandits would attack caravans. But the strange thing was that their dead bodies were found with fang marks on their neck, and their blood sucked dry.”

“Hmm…Strange.”

Of course, he didn’t see past her indifference. They both knew she killed those bandits.

“And there was another matter that didn’t make sense,” he continued, his gaze still on her.

She finally managed to find the courage to raise her head and hold his intense gaze. The firelight kissed his skin and sent shadows scurrying across his face. It brought out the defining features of his cheekbones, of his surprisingly straight nose, of the handsome scar prominent on his jaw. Blazing hills. Why couldn’t a hideous blood hunter have come to capture her?

“A nobleman’s house burnt to the ground. Many people I spoke to wrote it off as an accident, as the fire happened during a lightning storm. Others believed the house was haunted.”

“I didn’t start the fire,” she hissed.

“I suppose you know who did?” He looked doubtful like he wouldn’t believe anything she said, no matter what came out of her mouth.

She bit her lip and stared into the fire, remembering the night vividly. For a few moments, she debated on answering. After all, she couldn’t be more damned in his eyes than she already was. But somehow, she didn’t want him to see her as a monster. She wasn’t a monster. Truly.

“I didn’t do it,” she said huskily. “A young lady in the village did. The baron…” She didn’t know how to go on, but she had to. “He took advantage of the young ladies in the city, especially the beautiful ones. And how could they refuse? He was a baron. He…” Honestly, how could she continue? Especially remembering the distraught look in the woman’s eyes.

“This young lady… She lived on the outskirts of the city, outside the wall. In the baron’s district. It was her wedding day, and the baron barged in uninvited. Said he had rights to the wedding night. I’m sure you could guess what happened. The next night, she was vengeful. It was a stormy night, and I was wandering the streets. I didn’t stop her. She threw a torch through the open window. I didn’t want to stop her.”

Finally, he lowered his gaze and fixed his stare on the fire instead. “He burned. And you watched.” His tone wasn’t accusatory. Instead, it indicated he knew there was more to the story.

“The baron was getting off easy being burned alive. The manor burned and I snuck in, already having had permission to enter. I fed on him, reveling in his screams as I sucked his blood from him. I left him half-alive to feel the burn of the flames.”

“You don’t sound remorseful.”

“That’s because I’m not.”

“Did he…” he rubbed his chin uncomfortably, still not looking her in the eye. “…prey on you too?”

“Daggers, no,” she replied, shaking her head. “I can’t say he didn’t try. But I’m a hundred times stronger than him. He got what he deserved. End of story.”

He poked the fire with a branch, sending sparks floating into the night sky. The dance of firelight was beautiful—destructive but lithe at the same time. How could something be repugnant and alluring at the same time?

Just like that, the conversation was over, and he turned to another topic, pulling her from her reverie. “And vampires… They’re stronger when they’re hungry?”

“Are you worried I’ll break free of this chain?” she chuckled. “Why the sudden curiosity about vampires and their diets?”

He shrugged, poking and prodding at the fire some more. “I’ve never had the opportunity to talk to a vampire before. I’m usually cutting their heads off and burning them at the stake.”

A chill entered her, knowing that could have been her. He had said it casually, reminding her that he held her in his power. He could do away with her at any time he wished, and she was next to powerless to stop it.

“I may not have my strength anymore, but I still have my fangs. What I wouldn’t give to slice open your neck and feast from your blood in your sleep.” Her words seemed to make him equally uncomfortable because he squirmed in his seat, averting his gaze.

Instead of reacting to what she said, he dug into his bag and produced a biscuit and dried meat, eyeing her cautiously while he ate. The aroma alone both nauseated her and reminded her she too was hungry. What kind of man refused to feed his prisoners? The type of food he offered her would be like her providing dirt to him. Absolutely no nourishment involved, plus it tasted awful.

“Let me hunt,” she pleaded, her stomach yelling at her for not feeding in a long while. “I promise to come back. You could accompany me.”

“I don’t condone murdering innocent humans,” he replied icily. “I’d rather you starve.”

She shook her head insistently. “I highly doubt their innocence.” Taking a deep breath through her nose, she was able to isolate every distinct scent that greeted her—or disgusted her, for that matter. “I can smell four men. Sweaty. A fire between them. They’re roasting…a boar. There is blood on their weapons. Steel weapons. Animal blood and human blood. I assume they’re marauders.”

He leaned forward with interest sparked in his eyes. “You’re lying.”

“Not a chance.” She strained her ears now, focusing on the sounds and only the sounds. “They’re close, and…” Her eyebrows furrowed while she concentrated on their conversation. Although she got bits and pieces of it, it was enough. “One of them noticed the smoke from your fire… They’re headed our way.”

Again, he said, “You’re lying.”

“Unbind me,” she begged. “I can help you fight them. I’m starved.”

He didn’t heed her words. Instead, he kicked his feet up and took another deliberate bite of his dried meat while staring her directly in the eye. “I wasn’t born yesterday. Why should I trust the word of a vampire? I’d no sooner trust a thief.”

“Fine!” she snarled, shrinking as far back away from the fire as her chains would allow. “Deal with them yourself. I wouldn’t mind seeing your shriveled corpse on the road to be trampled on by passersby.”

He snorted and lifted his meat to her in acknowledgment. “That would be the day.”

They didn’t talk to each other after that, mainly because he was incredibly smug, and she was…irritated. The blood hunter wouldn’t listen to a word she said because she was a vampire. He didn’t try to get to know her character. He saw what he wanted to see—a savage animal.

The more seconds that ticked by, the clearer the footsteps became as the marauders picked their way through the woods toward them. They moved deftly on practiced feet. Their breathing was nearly inaudible as they geared themselves for an attack. This was about to become one bloody brawl. Perhaps she could convince one of the bandits to set her free.

“Here they come…” she commented casually, inspecting her nails without glancing up.

“I’m not going to fall for that.”

He poked the fire once more, and that was the last thing he did before a chorus of battle cries rang through the air, and the marauders burst into the clearing, charging with their axes and spears held at the ready.

“Daggers!” he swore. He scrambled over himself to reach his weapons, and she watched in amusement as he blocked the first blow, barely managing to maintain his grip on his weapon.

She didn’t lift a finger to help him fight the bandits, four against one. The clamor of metal on metal resonated in the clearing as he made quick work of the first marauder, and then the second. But still, they outnumbered him. Despite apparently having a higher skill set, he looked to still be struggling to recover from the sneak attack.

She couldn’t help but admire how quick the blood hunter was on his feet. While he fell short on speed, the power behind his attacks was a force to be reckoned with.

She drew her knees to her chest and calmly watched the battle unfold. He moved with precision as if he had practiced every move for hours every day for years. Fighting seemed to come naturally to him as if he had grown up carrying a sword. She couldn’t help but watch his footwork—always ready to move toward the target or retreat if necessary. He knew what he was doing, and bloody crows, he was good at it too.

The remaining bandit got in a lucky hit and sent Adam sprawling backward, tripping on a log, and he lay still in a patch of tangled weeds. The man grinned triumphantly, turning his attention to her, his eyes raking over her hungrily. He was a heavy-set man with two chins rather than one. She could hardly see his eyes through the plumpness in his face.

“Well, well, well. It looks like my lucky day!”

“Stay away from me,” she spat, tugging at her chain but it didn’t budge. Not even an inch. Her money had been on the blood hunter, but now she was stuck with another dilemma—the plump marauder seemed just as ill-hearted toward her.

“With a face like yours, you would fetch a fine price as a strumpet.”

He reached a hand toward her and she got ready to bite, but before she had the chance, the man pitched forward and hit the ground face first after Adam hit him on the back of the head with the hilt of his sword. Adam breathed heavily but finally sheathed his weapon.

She let out a shaky breath, having felt more helpless than she ever had in her life. But she didn’t want him to see her fear. She hid it away before he had a chance to notice. She would escape these wretched chains if it were the last thing she ever did.

“Don’t give me that look,” he growled.

“What look? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“That look!” he gestured to her face begrudgingly. “All the smugness and attitude.”

“You should have listened to me.”

“Well, you’re not exactly trustworthy. Do I have to count how many times you’ve already lied to me? How would I have known this would be any different?” He didn’t wait for a reply. Instead, he quickly packed his things, kicked dirt on the fire, and grabbed Willow by the chain, yanking her away from the clearing—and the mess of bodies. “Time to go.”

Willow fought against him, pulling the chain one way while he pulled it the other way. “I need to feed! I’ll be quick. I swear.”

“No,” he growled, pulling harder on the chain, and now that he was much stronger, he eventually won the tugging war. “I’m sure more will come. We need to leave while we still can.”

With aching feet, she followed him to the horse with a glare that could kill. “I’ll remember this next time I have you prisoner. You say I’m the monster but look at yourself. You have it wrong.”

He paused with his back to her, but shook his head and mounted his horse, kicking the creature forward. “Let’s get a move on. I want to cover as much ground as possible before sunrise.”