Page 22

CHAPTER 22

Carolina

Carolina snuck out of her house and rode like hell on horseback to Lalo’s casa. He did this. He killed the guards. Could that be why he hadn’t gone home? Had he lost his composure and given in to his unholy ways?

She flicked the reins, and her stallion galloped faster.

“I should have killed him.”

This was her fault. Everything was her fault.

If she hadn’t been so careless and allowed herself to be ambushed by the feral sediento that night, her abuelo would still be alive. If she had listened to her papá and not tried to be a hunter, if she agreed to marry Rafa, she would have never made that deal with the devil. But she had because she was stubborn and foolish. And now people were dead.

Her father and his men raced for Boca de la Muerte, but Carolina knew exactly where her vampiro was. Or at least where she could find him when he returned, and riding directly through town was the fastest way to his home.

A lone figure stumbled out of the cantina.

Carolina recognized that thin silhouette instantly. Fury overtook her.

“You are dead!” she bellowed.

Lalo had hardly a moment to act before she flung herself off her stallion and slammed into him. They tumbled in a tangle of limbs and curses into the mud. Carolina punched out, landing a hard blow to his cheek.

They bumped into a horse trough. But she wasted no time. She clambered on top of him and raised the stake in her hand. “I should have done this the second I met you.”

“All this because I was late for tea?!” he screeched.

His nonchalance infuriated her. She grabbed him by the collar and pulled him up so they would be face to face when she pierced his heart.

“You killed our men.”

His jaw dropped. “I did not!”

“Liar!”

The tip of the stake dug into his skin.

Lalo hissed. “Please. Whatever you think I did, I can assure you it isn’t true.”

She searched his eyes; they did not glow blood-red like the sedientos she’d seen before. His skin was ashen. His lips were tinged blue around the corners. He was weak in her arms. Had he recently fed, he would have been stronger, healthier in complexion.

“Where were you?” She twisted her fingers deeper into his shirt. “Where have you been?”

“In la cantina,” he said. “Ask Roberto. He’ll tell you!”

Carolina narrowed her eyes.

“Honest! I was in the cellar underneath the cantina, researching. You said there was a trove of old books, did you not? So, truly, you are to blame for my absence.”

Her nostrils flared.

“I found something,” he said. “A clue. If you release me and apologize for pummeling me into the mud, I might share what I’ve learned.”

“We have more pressing matters at the moment.”

She pushed off him and stood. Lalo raised his hand as if he expected her to help him up. She swatted his palm away and stepped back.

Lalo flattened his lips as he staggered up.

A scream tore through the air. Carolina whirled in the direction from which it came and shuddered. Two monsters in fine-looking suits raced toward them.

“These must be the leeches who killed our guards.”

Lalo staggered slightly. And his skin blanched the rest of its color as if he were seeing ghosts, as if he recognized these men.

Carolina dug her fingers into her boot. “Here,” she said, offering him a tiny pistol.

His brows raised. “Do you not remember the duel on your ranch?”

“I told you I would fight any monster I came across. Ready yourself.” She raised the stake and pulled a rapier from her belt, then ran to meet them.

Their glowing eyes were a shock against the fog rumbling in. They were nothing like Lalo. She couldn’t see an ounce of humanity within them.

And they were going to die.

Carolina ducked low as the first sediento swiped its claws in the air. She slid through the mud and sank the blade deep into its thighs. The beast shrieked with fury as it fell to the ground on hands and knees.

“To your left!” Lalo yelled.

She somersaulted, dodging a fatal blow from the second vampiro. Carolina scrambled to her feet and pulled a throwing dagger forged with obsidian from the holster on her chest. She sent it flying right for the second vampiro. Just like Abuelo had taught her to do. The knife hit its mark, slipping through the tendons and bones and into its rotting heart. The beast screamed as its body began to convulse. The glowing red of its eyes dulled, and it fell flat into the muck.

“Kill it!” she ordered, pointing at the vampiro crawling straight for Lalo.

The pistol in his hand shook like a leaf on a tree. She stomped over and snatched the weapon from his grasp. Without looking, she aimed at the beast who she first felled and let the wooden bullet fly.

She and Lalo stood there, panting, staring hard into each other’s eyes.

“Why did you hesitate?” she hissed.

“I’m sorry. I wanted to shoot, but it was like staring down at the hell that is to be my fate. It unnerved me.”

His face went paler than it already was. He swayed for a moment before his knees gave out completely. Carolina caught him by the arms.

“What is happening to you?” she asked.

“Nothing. I’m fine.”

“Lalo.” Her tone was stern, like what her mother would use when she or her siblings crossed a line.

“I need to feed, that is all.”

“Fine. The butcher…”

He shook his head. “Can wait. I need to ensure Fernanda issafe.”

“Your sister will be fine. My papá and his men are hunting in the forest now. They will check for monsters near your home. But you won’t be able to move at all if you don’t feed soon.”

He glared at the dead vampiros. “No time. We must go to Orilla del Río,” he said.

“Why?”

“Take me to the cemetery, and I will explain.”

Carolina blinked at such a peculiar request, but what wasn’t strange in her world these days?

“I will take you there after we get you some blood.”

She started for her horse but halted when he added, “We’re going to need a couple of shovels as well.”