A Shade of Vampire 79 A Game of Death - Bella Forrest Page 0,47

Valaine clarified. “He’s been helping with our investigation into the Darklings, Maritza. And I had no idea it would make us cross paths with your husband. Please, accept my condolences.”

“I… I don’t understand,” the Aeternae sobbed. “Egan is a good provider… a gentle husband. A patient father. A loyal Aeternae. It doesn’t make sense. Why would he do such a thing?”

“We don’t know.” Valaine sighed, lowering her gaze as she stared at the black-and-white thread she’d retrieved from Egan’s pocket. “This is a distinguishing mark among the Darklings, it seems. Do you recognize it? Have you, perhaps, seen it before—maybe around the house?”

Maritza stared at the braid for a while, then shook her head. “No.”

“Did Egan stay out at night for longer than he should have? Did his behavior seem off at any time?” Valaine asked.

Maritza shook her head again. “No. Milady, believe me. I had no idea this was going on. I would’ve talked to him about it. I would’ve notified the master commander himself, if necessary. We are the empire, and the empire is a part of us. I would never have anyone in my family associated with the Darklings.”

“Do you know anything about this faction? Has Egan ever talked about them?” I asked, analyzing her expression carefully. Her heartbeat was rapid and irregular. It did not exude grief, but rather… anger. Red-hot anger.

Valaine glanced at me for a moment, and I could see it in her eyes. She had a hard time believing what Maritza was telling us. But we had to go easy on her, nonetheless. She was probably simply trying to defend her family honor, but surely she must’ve seen the signs. Egan couldn’t have led such a perfect double life—not without his spouse noticing.

“No. Egan did his job, he came home and put blood on the table. He never gave me any reason to doubt him,” Maritza insisted.

“You don’t think he kept any secrets?” I replied, raising an eyebrow.

For the third time, she shook her head, this time more vehemently. “Never! Egan was a good soulmate… and now he’s gone.” She was about to cry again, when Valaine offered her a handkerchief.

“I need you to focus, Maritza,” she said, watching as the Aeternae wiped her tears with delicate patting motions. “Maybe Egan didn’t tell you anything specifically, but he must have let something slip without even realizing it. Or maybe you noticed something shifting in his behavior, something that didn’t quite fit the Egan you know and love.”

Maritza stilled, her head low. She started trembling, then looked up at us—she was laughing. It wasn’t healthy-looking laughter. It sounded more like a maniacal cackle. And it made my blood run cold.

“You silly cow!” Maritza spat. “First you kill my husband, and then you expect me to participate in your garbage attempt at psychology?”

Valaine froze, her eyes blank with confusion. “Maritza.”

“Maybe I’ll be the one to kill you. Maybe I’ll be the one to end the cycle this time around,” she hissed. The glint of a silver dagger caught my eye as she produced it from a hidden pocket in her skirt.

Maritza lunged forward, going straight for Valaine’s head.

I intercepted her, and we tumbled across the floor, taking down the coffee table with its pitcher and glasses in the process. Glass shattered and blood splattered. I struggled to get the knife out of Maritza’s hand, but she was vicious and remarkably strong.

“Tristan!” I heard Valaine scream, followed by the familiar thudding and jingling of gold armor soldiers. The two we’d had with us had already stormed into the house, but no one could do much, as I was too close to Maritza.

She clawed at my neck and managed to cut deep. I hissed from the pain and slapped her hard, enough to momentarily daze her. I grabbed the knife and threw it to the side, but Maritza quickly came to and kicked me away with such strength that I was projected backward like a rag doll. I rammed into the bookcase, the wood shelves splintering against my shoulder blades and knocking the air from my lungs.

I saw Maritza darting toward Valaine with her claws out. She was going for the kill, and my heart stopped for a moment.

Valaine ripped her throat out in a fit of rage, and Maritza fell to the floor, her head almost fully severed—much like I’d done to one of the Darklings back in the orphanage. Looking at it now, I realized how feral I must’ve seemed to her, for she looked