As Bree leaned against the railing of the balcony with her chin in her hands, she thought about how her blood seemed to make Zane so much more empowered.It frightened her a little, knowing that by giving herself to him he could gain the strength to take on an army.She feared that he would kill more slaves.She feared that he would go into the world where he had found her and kidnap, or drain, countless others.For the first time since all of these things involving Zane happened, she began to think of her mother.Now she realized that it was better for her that she was gone, if Zane had taken Bree while she was still alive, it would have tormented her for the rest of her life.Her only daughter would have gone missing, never to be found again.
Bree thought of how Zane had told her that he would drain her that last night before he took her.He said he would do it painfully.She remembered her confusion and hurt.Again she thought of her mother and began to miss her.What would she tell her if she were suddenly here? Mom, I’ve been taken away by a vampire.But I love him.We’re getting married.It sounded very silly to her now as she whispered the thought out loud.It seemed like such Hollywood nonsense.
But it was all very real.
She felt hurt for Zane.She cried for him, cried for his pain.The curse seemed to hurt him more because of his mother than because of him.Jasmine would have to watch him weaken down to nothing, like someone who has a cancer that grows and reaches out in their body, taking over everything.But Zane would never find release in death.He’d forever grow weaker, he’d forever approach death, but it would never come.Bree wondered if the curse was meant to hurt.Would Zane be in physical pain?
Zane had been gone for a week and a half now.Bree missed him.His presence was everywhere in his living spaces.The crimson he loved so much, the rich midnight blues, and even pale jade green pared with pristine white in one of the sitting rooms.He was so unique, so colorful, and so interesting.She knew that she would have an eternity to listen to the stories he had to tell about his life.She wondered if he had many happy ones.He seemed so tormented. It must have been his violent hatred toward his mortal slaves and his vicious treatment of them that had kept his mind off of his pain and fears for so long.Bree hoped that she could change that.
She pondered what the slaves would do when they found out about her marriage to Zane and their child and her becoming a vampire.They were not to know anything until all the things that were necessary to end the curse were fulfilled.The part about Bree becoming a vampire wasn’t part of what would end the curse, but Zane insisted that he turn her to protect her should any of the mortals try to harm her to hurt Zane.As a human she seemed so fragile, so vulnerable.He couldn’t keep her locked away forever.He could protect her with his strength and power, but it would not be fair to her if she wouldn’t be allowed to roam around on her own without him escorting her. Bree told him that as his wife, nobody would dare hurt her because of their fear of what he would do to them. Zane knew it was true, but he was still couldn’t help but to feel very overprotective of her. Zane wanted her to have her freedom and he felt that by turning her, he would be giving that to her.
Meanwhile, as Bree thought that Zane was busy restoring his resort, he was prowling the miles upon hundreds of miles that surrounded his estate.He knew that the twelve humans he hunted would not be able to escape the forest in time before he found them.And even if they did, there would be other vampires that would see that they have escaped and would kill them.No need to return them, they weren’t valuable.More could just be abducted from the world outside of the vampires’ world.
Zane was an excellent hunter.He was skilled, sharp, and determined.His senses were weakening, though.He thought of Bree and how he didn’t want to be away from her for too long.So he put all he had into finding those twelve people.
