Chapter 4
It felt like someone was prying my old blood bond open, and it burned so badly that I almost couldn't stand.
Isabelle felt it, too.
She cursed quietly, "He's here."
There was a screech of brakes at the corner.
A car skidded to a stop sideways.
The door opened, and I saw Darian step out.
He was thinner than I remembered, his black coat seemed to carry the winter's chill, and his eyes were shadowed with a deep gray.
His eyes passed over everyone and locked onto Danny, who lay unconscious.
Then he turned his gaze to me. "Elizabeth."
I clutched the silver knife, my voice rough. "Don't touch my son."
Darian looked deathly pale.
He moved toward Danny, each step deliberate.
Isabelle stopped him. "Darian, the Council of Elders wants a living specimen."
Darian didn't spare her a glance.
He spat, "Move."
Isabelle stood there, stunned.
The next second, she was sent flying, crashing hard into the car door.
Darian crouched down and scooped Danny up from the two men's grip.
His hands were shaking.
Darian stared at Danny's face for what felt like forever.
I rushed forward, trying to snatch Danny from his arms.
I shouted, "Give him back to me."
He didn't dodge.
My silver knife was pressed hard against his chest, cutting through his jacket.
Darian looked up.
His voice was barely more than a whisper, almost shattered. "What's his name?"
I gritted my teeth. "That's none of your concern."
Danny stirred in his arms, his eyes fluttering open, still dazed.
His gray-blue eyes met Darian's.
Darian froze.
Danny scrunched up his nose, baring his little fangs. "Bad... guy..."
Darian got down on one knee.
He cradled Danny in his arms, as if he were holding a piece of glass that could shatter at any moment.
He said softly, "Hi, I'm your father."
I mumbled, "You're not."
I snatched Danny back, hugging him close.
Darian's hands hung in the air.
He stared at his empty arms for a few seconds and then slowly let them fall.
Danny slumped against my shoulder, still groggy from the drugs, his voice soft and weak, "Mom, he's lying."
"Yeah," I said softly.
Darian looked up. "Elizabeth, I'm not lying to him."
I gave a cold, mocking laugh. "Like you haven't lied to enough people already?"
Isabelle got up from beside the car, her expression dark and unsettled.
She asked, "Darian, are you really going to go against the Council of Elders over a blood slave?"
Darian turned to face her. "I should've done it five years ago."
Isabelle was stunned.
I was just as shocked.
Darian pulled off his gloves and tossed them to the ground.
"Grab her," he ordered.
The men in black behind him closed in at once.
Isabelle stepped back, then suddenly bit into her palm and smeared her blood on the gemstone at her chest.
Leo had once told me that nine out of ten of those fancy things nobles wore could kill someone.
Red light erupted, blasting through the air.
The silver chain grazed her wrist, burning a charred streak into her skin.
Isabelle's body turned into a swirling cloud of blood mist. Before she disappeared, she stared hard at Danny.
She sneered, "Darian, you'll never be able to hide them."
Darian's expression turned grim.
The men in black behind him dropped to their knees.
"My Lord, we failed," one of them said.
Darian didn't look at them.
His eyes were fixed on Danny's pale face.
"Get the doctor here," he ordered.
I backed away, clutching Danny protectively in my arms.
"I don't believe you," I said.
"I know," he replied.
"Then get out of my way," I said.
He didn't move.
I lifted my silver knife.
"Darian, I told you to get out of my way," I snapped.
Everyone's attention snapped to us.
Five years ago, I wasn't allowed to look him in the eye at a banquet.
Someone once asked him, "My Lord, who's that human who's always at your side?"
He answered, "A blood slave."
That night, I stood in the shadows with a wine glass, the bite marks on my wrist still raw.
The whole hall laughed.
He didn't look at me.
Now, he stood outside a human school, cornered by me and my small silver knife.
Darian shifted aside.
I hugged Danny tight and headed out.
But after a couple of steps, the blood bond mark suddenly flared up, sending a sharp pain through me.
My vision went black, and I nearly collapsed.
Darian reached out to steady me.
I shoved his hand away. "Don't touch me."
He murmured, "The blood bond's still intact."
"All because of you," I shot back.
"How did you make it through these five years?" he asked.
I didn't answer.
Leo's name was off-limits.
But Darian looked like he'd figured it out.
"Was it that last vampire?" he asked.
I looked up. "Have you been checking up on me?"
"I've been looking for you," Darian said.
I laughed coldly. "How romantic. So you found me. What now? Want me to hit you again?"
He narrowed his eyes.
"No," he said.
Danny's little hand clutched at my collar.
He whimpered, "Mom, it hurts."
I glanced down. Danny's face had gone pale, sweat breaking out across his forehead.
Darian jumped in. "The sedative is messing with his bloodline. He needs the antidote."
"Where is it?" I demanded, my voice sharp.
"I have it," Darian answered.
I fixed my gaze on him. "Are you threatening me?"
"I'm begging you," he said.
Those three words slipped out so quietly that it barely felt real.
Darian never begged.
He was the kind of man who only gave orders, but never begged.
I stared at Danny, feeling him grow weaker and weaker in my arms, and it was like something was choking me from the inside.
"If you're lying to me..." I managed, my voice shaking.
He cut in, "Then stab me in the heart with that silver knife."