A Shade of Vampire 80 A Veil of Dark - Bella Forrest Page 0,48

said. “He’s very protective.”

“I completely understand,” I replied. “If I had a daughter as gifted as you, I’d be just as fierce regarding her safety.”

“He’s worried the other Aeternae will fear me. That they will turn against me.”

From what I could tell, the soldiers were definitely afraid of her, but I had a hard time imagining them in a bloody rebellion. There was more respect than fear in their eyes. “I doubt that would be the case. You’re part of a powerful dynasty. You may be taking over the armies, too, when the time comes, right?”

She nodded. “It’s an option, yes. But with the Darklings infiltrating every layer of our society, driven to kill me, I’m not sure how that will work out. Given this ability of mine, even I sometimes worry that I’m giving our people more reasons to destroy me.”

“I think you’ll be fine, Valaine. The Crimson guards are definitely on your side.”

Indeed, I’d noticed their behavior around her. They were less wary, and they obeyed every single order she gave. They never faltered, and they seemed ready to die in order to keep her safe.

“Yes, they’ve known me since I was a child. They’re more used to this darker side of me than the others,” Valaine replied. “Perhaps they’re not as afraid.”

“I think you just need to practice more,” I said. “I suppose that’s not something you’ve tried before?”

Valaine shook her head. “My father has always encouraged me to keep this ability to myself. He worries for my safety. Not all the Aeternae are as understanding as he is.”

“But your ability could be honed into something extraordinary,” I said. The caravan was moving again. I knew the nearby Crimson guards could hear us, but I didn’t really care. They were the most loyal soldiers I had ever come across. I doubted they’d even tell Corbin about this conversation—not without asking for Valaine’s permission first.

“I suppose. But I’ll be honest, Tristan: it scares me,” Valaine replied. “When it takes over, it’s like I’m possessed. I lose all common sense. I latch on to the Darklings’ brains, for example, and I push… and poke… and prod, and I feed on their misery. The more they suffer, the better I feel. How can I control something that gives me so much pleasure through its intensity?”

I reached out and took her hand in mine, squeezing gently. “We’ll figure something out. I just don’t think it’s healthy or safe to live with fear of parts of yourself.”

She gave me a soft smile, and for a second, I felt us both reconnecting, the touch of her skin making me unsteady in my saddle.

Voices ahead broke our moment, though. Shouting. Orders barked by Corbin himself. Tussla opened before us, but it wasn’t the sight I’d expected. Some of the houses were on fire, orange flames blazing across the roofs and licking at the night sky.

Rimians were running away, covered in soot and blood, crying and screaming.

Corbin and his crew of Crimson guards bolted forward, fearless as they entered the inferno through the main street. I wanted to go ahead, but the Crimson soldiers in charge of our safety held me back.

“Don’t. The master commander knows what to do,” one of them said, eyeing me carefully. He looked at Valaine. “I’m sorry, milady.”

“It’s okay.” Valaine sighed. “Father is certainly capable of handling this.”

“What is this, exactly?” I asked, my heart throbbing as I watched the Rimians flee their homes. Shadows moved between the burning buildings. Children screamed, crying out for help, while the Crimson guards spread through the village.

“It’s a raid, milord,” the soldier said. “Darklings come through these parts, kidnapping Rimian and Nalorean settlers.”

“They sell them for blood,” I muttered, remembering my sister’s recent accounts from her trip with Kalon. It seemed like the trend was not exclusive to the north of the continent. The Green Road was plagued by these bastards, too.

Half an hour passed as we waited for Corbin to come back. The fires were dying out, plumes of black smoke rising from the embers of Rimian houses. The smell of burnt flesh invaded my nostrils, and I had to put my mask on to be able to breathe properly. People had died in this place. The Darklings had nearly destroyed the village of Tussla in order to get their blood slaves.

The thought alone was infuriating.

“They’ve spread all over,” Valaine said to me. “We have to find a way to stop them.”

“We must capture Zoltan first,” I replied. “He is one of