Chapter 126 -Dorothy-

We slowed down before reaching the coordinates. By then, we were deep within the forest. The fauna grew so thickly that it was nearly impossible to traverse on foot.

Ignatius put a finger to his lips, touching my mind gently with a whisper. "It could still be a trap. Tread carefully,"

As we walked, I tried to organize my thoughts and make sense of the whirling storm of emotions that plagued me. There was fear, that was a given. Fear for our children and for our mate. Fear of vampires and monsters in the dark.

There was anger too, a bubbling brew of quiet rage at everything that had gone wrong.

"What are we going to do about Plato?" I asked quietly, taking latius hand so he could help me over a fallen tree. "He's not to blame for this. They got to him somehow.

"I know. Ignatius kept his eyes on the ground, clearing the way for me as best he could. "We need to figure out how they controlled him. We can't fight them if we don't know the full scope of their powers.

We fell silent again and I pondered questioning him about the Sekanne. The vampire's words were still ringing in my head, and I couldn't shake the feeling that my mate knew more than he was letting on. But before I could answer. Ignatius put a hand out in front of me, eyes fixed on something up ahead.

They're here.

The faintest hint of metal on the breeze. I sniffed the air, crinkling my nose when the vampires rusted scent became apparent. The smell of spoiled meat and blood, an uncanny minima of fear. There were two of them.

We both paused in our stride, waiting with baited breath for the figures to approach. A few feet in front of us was a small clearing, and the trees bowed low to the ground in an almost perfect circle. I peered into the clearing, squinting in the dim moonlight

The vampires waited in the shadows on the opposite side. I could vaguely make out the shape of two people, each carrying a small bundled load in their arms.

A voice floated to us from across the clearing, a regal, condescending tone that made me want to pick up mud and fling it back at the shadowy figures. "You can come out from there, shifters: I can smell you. You mutts have a terrible stench"

Ignatius started forward with an infuriated grunt, but I caught his arm to halt him, raising my voice for the vampire to hear. "We'll come out if you do. And only if you bring our children."

A long pause before the vampiric man replied, "Alright then, if you insist. But please do understand, should you try anything foolish I won't hesitate to tear out your daughter's throat." Ignatius stiffened at my side, fur pricking through his skin as he growled.

A small chuckle from the shadows. She is such a little thing. It would be a shame to have to maime her

At that. Ignatius burst into the clearing, striding toward where the vampires were slowly emerging. I followed quickly behind. him, watching our new aquaintances warily

The man was tall and slender, painfully beautiful with skin the colour of sand dunes in the moonlight. His long black hair was held back in a half-braid. In his arms he carried Amelie, seemingly asleep. My heart stopped for a moment when I saw her lolling head, but her chest rose and fell evenly. She was alive, and so was Bliss, who was carried by the other vampiric being 11:07 Fri, Jan 26 G

Chapter 126

The woman, too, was tall: A-slender willowy figure under her flowing skirts. Pale and hauntingly beautiful in the shimmering moonlight, she looked like a ghostly apparition, her dress flowing behind her like she was floating.

The vampires laid the children out on the ground, and Ignatius and 1jolted forward to scoop them up. Ignatius lifted Amelie to his chest and I picked up the unconcious Elias. His head lay heavy on my shoulder and his b*dy twitched slightly like he was fighting monsters in his sleep.

"What have you done to them?" 1 directed my question at the fernale vampire, the more kindley looking one of the two.

While her eyes were wide and full of sorrow, the other mans lips curved into a cruel sneer.

"Why aren't they waking up?!" I demanded..

The woman merely howed her head, avoiding my eyes.

It was the man who answered me, his tone dismissive and blunt. "A necessary measure to keep them safe from themselves, Your children kicked up quiet a fuss"

Ignatius held Amelie close to his chest, baring his fangs at the vampire. The man took a cautious step back, which was odd considering the vampire's supposed strength.

I was partially convinced that this was the vampire that Angie and Fae had run into during their hunt for Johan. He fit the description perfectly, It would seem he was somewhat afraid of Ignatius, I saw the flash of fear in his eyes.

"They'll wake soon. he snubbed sourly before gripping the vampire woman's arm. "Come, Emma, our work is done here."

The ghostly woman nodded obediently. She gave me a final, melancholic half smile before turning away.

Who are you? Are you the son of Elliot Armoundt?" I called after them, clutching Elias in my arms. "What do you want with the Bielke?"

The man only laughed, flashing me a cynical grin over his shoulder. "No, I am not the legendary dhampir you're looking for. My master didn't see it necessary to waste his time with the likes of you."

His voice echoed around us as the two vampires melted into the shadows. "As for the Bielke, you needn't worry your pretty lile head about it. All will be clear soon enough"

After their scent had dissipated, Ignatius and I exchanged weary glances. The sky hung low and sullen above us. The clearing was quiet, the still night punctuated only by the occasional rustle of small creatures underfoot and the distant howl of a lone

coyote

"Ignatius?" I ventured quietly, but my mate had already read my mind.

"You're right," he whispered. "That was too easy."

We huddled together in the clearing, looking over our children in earnest. We checked each child's neck and wrists for any bite marks but could and nome,

After a moment, Amelie stirred and opened her eyes. I nearly wept with relief upon seeing our daughters' bright blue irises: as she blinked up at us. "Mamma?"

"Oh thank the goddess!" I leaned over to k*ss her forehead, holding her little face in my hands. "You're alright."

Ignatius was c

choked his reddened eyes wet as he smiled down at his daughter. When we were sure Amelie was unharmed, both our eyes turned to Elias, Ours son's eyes remained closed, but his eyelids flickered in a rapid pattern, as if the young boy was dreaming the most terrible of dreams. -Unknown-

Chapter 120

She visited me again while I was alone, her face apparating in the large dusty mirror as I strode by. Of all Morganna's tricks, this was the one I hated most, I had shattered every mirror in my side of the wing when I learned of her cunning ability.

1 should have enforced the same tactic in this godforsaken territory that smelled of mutt and ocean brine. I did not condone prying eyes, even if they were of my blood.

I was inclined to throw my coat over the reflective surface, to ignore her voice in my head. Instead, I hared my fangs, my own reflection replaced by the skeletal face of my mother. "What do you want? I don't have time to spare."

You shouldn't have done that," Morganna rasped, her reflection blurring in the grime of the mirror. "Why did you let them

до

nated me endlessly, my mother's inclination for eavesdropping. It was what had filled her head with ideas of prophecy in the first place. A little Morgama, listening in when she shouldn't. They be back in our grasp soon enough. I pulled on my coat, brushing course hair from my eyes.

Morganna had liked it short, so I kept it long

My mother's response was a hiss, spat from her lips like a viper's venom. "You should have killed them when you had the chance. They are a threat that needs to be culled."

"Oh shut up, Morganna." I had lost my patience with the women long ago. Lost my respect for her too. If there had ever been any to begin with. "You're nothing but a burden to me now, I don't need your guidance nor do I need your whispers in

I turned to face her, wiping the grime from the mirror to see her clearly. Even in the crystiline glass, my mother appeared somewhat blurry, like the very atoms that made up her being had begun to dissolve "Look at yourself. You've got one foot in the grave already. I'd suggest you hurry up and get on with it."

Morganna flashed her fangs, wizened lips pulling up over rotting gums, For a brief second, her face was that of a young woman, the person Morganna had been before the poison set in

In the next instant it was gone. Replaced by drawn, papery flesh over protruding cheekbones and sunken yellow eyes.

You're a fool, Gius. A damned fool.

The mirror cracked under the force of my fist. fracturing my mother's face before shattering completely

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