The Vampire's Bride

Chapter 28

Iris heard her steps echoing in the cave corridor. The wind was calling her, whispering past her ears. Cold, then warm, then freezing. She turned a corner, hearing the breeze murmuring her name. She was in the right place. She knew it in her heart.

Iris turned down another passageway and came face to face with a knife. Jason tugged her back, brandishing his sword at the younger man in front of them. He had her stark silver hair and turquoise eyes that gleamed in the darkness.

"Leave before I gut you both," he snarled. Jason scoffed slightly and swung at him. Iris watched as he was knocked onto his arse and breathed harshly from her nose, stiffling a laugh. She lifted her hands slightly and took off her hood, locking eyes with the man before them as she stood in front of Jason.

"My name is Iris Carters. I need you to teach me how to use my powers."

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Evelyn gasped as she woke, her hands flying to the back of her neck. She felt clean bandages there. Her eyes passed over the room, finding herself in a small cabin. Her short hair tickled her neck and cheek as she sat up. The assassin observed the room again. A fire crackled to the side of the chamber, opposite of the medium bed she had been laid down on.

Where was Luca?

Evelyn swung her legs over the side of the bed, throwing off the blankets and stalking to the door. She slammed it open and revealed that the cabin was far larger than she had originally thought. It seemed that she was in a large estate on the second floor, with stairs winding down to a sizable common room. Her bare-footed steps were loud as she descended the silent steps, emerald eyes desperately searching for Luca. Where could he be?

A loud whacking sound began to reach her ears as she wandered the hallways of the estate. Evelyn followed the sound and peeked into one of the rooms, finding Luca with his jacket off sparring with a wooden dummy.

The dummy seemed to be winning.

The prince stumbled forward, thrown by the velocity of his own strike. It was then that he turned and wedged the blade into the neck of the wooden, person shaped object. Luca ripped the blade free with a satisfied expression. It was then that his eyes lifted to Evelyn's. Their crystal blue was filled with shock, and he dropped the blade.

She shoved the door completely open and ran into his arms. She hit him so hard that they both tumbled to the ground with Luca landing on his back below her. Evelyn clung to his sweat-stained shirt and pressed her face into his chest. He was safe. They were both safe. She squeezed her eyes closed as tears began to spill from her eyes, her lower lip trembling with the effort to keep from sobbing aloud.

Her fingers tightened on the fabric as Evelyn cursed herself for crying so easily. What happened to the sarcastic, cunning, emotionless assassin that she had once been? Why hadn't she shut herself down after everything that her mother had done and threatened to do? As Luca sat up with her and cupped her face in his hands, Evelyn remembered.

"Don't cry, we're safe now," he whispered, smiling slightly. Evelyn furiously wiped at her eyes and glared up at him.

"Shut up," she whispered.

Luca only chuckled and shook his head before pressing his lips to hers softly.

Evelyn almost slapped him. Almost.

She let the hand she had lifted go limp at her side and kissed him back. The world faded to a gentle haze around them. As they parted, her emerald eyes snapped upwards, burning with the intensity of dragons.

"Where are we?" Evelyn demanded, shaking him lightly.

"Gentleness one second and fire the next. It's good to see that you're back to normal," Luca teased. He stood, taking her hand and helping her to her feet. "This is where Axel, your brother, had planned to hide Iris. He stopped in a few hours after Cor managed to get us here."