Dark Promise (Darkhaven Saga #3) - Danielle Rose Page 0,27

see how you might think I am responsible for her disappearance, but trust me, I’m only here for you.”

“That really doesn’t make me feel better about this situation,” I admit.

He laughs. “I suspect it doesn’t.”

“Who are you?” I ask, utterly confused by our total encounter.

He smiles. “Well, I could tell you, or I could show you…”

I don’t respond, so he must take my silence as my willingness to continue this odd exchange. I hate to admit that I might have been wrong about him. He truly doesn’t seem interested in harming me, which only leaves one question.

What does Will want with me?

He answers my question without even speaking.

With the flick of his wrist, a fireball sparks to life, floating within his grasp but never fully touching his skin. He bounces it a little, toying with the scorching heat that’s mere feet before me. With one quick snap, he could end my life, yet I don’t feel threatened. In fact, I feel so completely mesmerized by his magic trick, I’m walking toward him, as if my legs are powered by my emotions, not by my brain.

When I’ve closed the space between us, I reach for the small ball of fire, running my fingertips along its edge. I’m not confident enough to actually touch it, but I need to feel it. I don’t feel the heat of the flame, but I do feel the power of his magic. I’ve only felt this kind of raw, pure strength from one other vampire: Amicia.

I tear my gaze from the fireball and glance up at Will. He’s smiling down at me. The space between us is almost nonexistent. I didn’t realize how close we became, but now that I’m just a breath from his skin, I’m nervous. His eyes sparkle, the flame of his magic dancing across his skin, before he quickly extinguishes it. Still, even without the heat of the flame lighting our faces, I stare up at him, not daring to be the first to look away.

“You’re like me,” I whisper. I speak low, soft, but he hears my whisper and the desperation in my voice. I’ve longed for someone like me for what feels like forever, and finally, I found him.

He nods, jaw clenched. He swallows, and his throat bobs. I’m so close, I can see the vein in his neck and the lighter strands of brown in his hair. His crimson irises are swirling with color and life and power. Utterly mesmerized, I can’t look away.

“Why didn’t you come sooner?” I ask.

“I had to find you first.”

“But last night… You found me then. Why wait until now?” I ask.

“I needed to wait until you left your nest,” Will says.

I frown. “But the others—”

“I have no concern for them.”

“They’re my family,” I say, hurt by his confession.

“Just because they made you doesn’t mean you’re indebted to them. Leave with me.” He trails his fingers along my jawline, rubs his thumb gently in the divot of my chin, and angles my head toward his.

Time seems to slow as he waits for my response, but I’ve fallen mute. I don’t want to leave the vampires, but something inside me needs Will to stay. I yearn for him in ways I don’t desire Jasik. Will can offer me something my sire cannot: answers.

Chapter Eight

Witches are strange creatures. Blinded by an unspoken camaraderie, they protect each other, even if they aren’t part of the same coven, even if they don’t understand what’s right, what’s wrong. Being stubborn and headstrong, I succeeded in that life. Prejudice was instilled at birth, and I asked no questions. I believed everything I was told. It’s taken everything I have to break free from the beliefs rooted deep within my soul.

I’ve liberated myself from all save one—my desire to protect those who cannot protect themselves. When I transitioned, I promised myself I would not hurt a mortal. I would not drink from humans, and I would protect Darkhaven from vampires far more terrifying than anything the witches could conjure.

I thought the moment I consciously chose to forsake my upbringing and choose my vampire allies over those who gave me my life’s blood would be earth-shattering.

It wasn’t.

It was just another day. The sun rose, the sun set, and now those very witches I actively protected from the fiends they fear are forcing me to choose yet again.

I sense their approach, and from the twitch in Will’s eye, he does too. Frozen in time, I listen as they chant, knowing full well how