Page 48 of The Midnight Order (The Thorngray Vampires Duet #1)

Silver

Standing around the dining room table, we all look at one another, shifting our glances between the box and each other.

I know they are waiting for me because, even as menacing as they are, they care about me and consider my feelings.

“It seems bigger. Is it bigger?” I ask and am met with Asher’s snicker.

“No, little lamb. I don’t think the box grew in your absence.”

Nodding, I bite my lip. I take a deep breath, letting it out slowly as I walk to the table’s edge. Reaching over the box, I carefully remove the lid.

Tossing it aside, I look inside, finding file after file, more administrative things to do with my name change, and fake documents Soliel had made for me to enter public school that I don’t remember at all.

“These are all forged,” Asher says as I toss files onto the table’s surface.

“Typically, forgers leave their signature somewhere. They can’t help themselves. It’s a pride thing,” Corvin says, grabbing the birth certificate from Asher’s hands as I hand Asher paperwork for a school nearby.

“This is only an hour from here,” Asher says.

Lowell moves closer, looking over Asher’s shoulder. “Do you remember going to school?”

I shake my head. “I remember nothing about when I was young. There are bits of flashes now and again, but they’re not… clear.”

He nods. If they’re frustrated by my lack of memory, they don’t let on.

I’m thankful. I don’t think I could take their disappointment on top of everything else.

“What the hell are these?” Jasper mutters, removing small books one by one and setting them down on the table. Flipping through the pages, his brows only knit together in confusion further. “What the…”

Rushing around Lowell, I grab one of the small leather-bound books off the table and open it to the middle. My eyes scan the pages of symbols, my mind trying to understand what I see. “What is this?”

“That’s Soliel’s handwriting,” Lowell says over my shoulder, and I try to fight the shiver that spreads through me from his proximity.

It’s hard to focus on what’s happening around us when there’s this growing, aching thing between us. Between all of us.

“That’s gibberish, though,” I say, tossing the small book down atop Jasper’s others, piled on the table.

“No,” Corvin says, opening one with a grin. “That’s code.”

“She was always very clever,” Lowell says, and I don’t have to turn to know he’s matching Corvin’s grin with his own; I can hear it.

Their respect and love for her only warm my stomach more. My body is still sore from all yesterday’s activities, and I’m weary on my feet as my vitamins try to keep up with all the feeding. But still, there’s a deep throb shining as it reanimates inside me.

“Silver, we won’t get anything accomplished with you smelling like that. Do you need a moment?” Lowell whispers in my ear, doing nothing for the gnawing building low in my belly.

“Or an orgasm?” Asher adds hoarsely.

I clear my throat, shaking my body out. “I’ll be fine. What else is in there?”

“There are some letters here,” Corvin says, lifting a file. “They’re all in code, too, however.”

“Do we know who they’re between?” I ask, moving away from Lowell before his very presence continues to grow, the hunger culminating in my belly.

“No. The code detracts from any handwriting comparisons we could have made. Once we crack the cipher for this, though, we’ll know what they say, and it should be obvious who they’re between.”

Lowell leans over the now-empty box. “In the meantime, see if there’s a signature on these forged documents. We know Soliel got them, but maybe the forger will have another clue we can use.”

“On it,” Corvin says.

Jasper packs all the rest of the files and books back into the box, shoving it across the table toward Corvin.

“Can I ask a question? Even if I might sound stupid…” Looking around the room, I trail off.

“No question is stupid,” Asher tells me. He cups my cheek, tipping my face back and looking deeply into my eyes. “You’re going through a lot. Your entire world is shifting. We’ll help ease that transition any way that we can.”

I’m breathless as he runs his thumb over my bottom lip. “Thank you,” I whisper.

Corvin clears his throat, and I nearly smirk at how Asher’s touching me has affected him. “What’s your question?”

“If witches are inherently human, how is Ossana still alive? Even Soliel, how…”—I swallow—“How is Aurelias alive?”

“Aurelias is a horse of another color,” Lowell growls, the dusting of arousal leaving his eyes as anger takes its place. “Some witches have found ways around the aging process, but all witches have an aspect of immortality. While they don’t live as long as we do, their lives exceed that of humans.”

I nod, taking it all in.

“And Aurelias?” I ask, to which Jasper looks toward Lowell. The look on his face makes me feel nervous about what I asked, regretting it.

“He’s the leader of the Nightshade Coven. They practice a very dark type of blood magic. He’s as immortal as us because of it, and that’s all I’ll say on the matter,” Lowell says, and even Jasper’s brows knit.

Interesting, he’s never told them about Aurelias, which only intrigues me further.

“Asher,” Lowell snaps, breaking me from my thoughts and trying to connect all the little bits of information I keep learning about Lowell. “Have you been sweeping the grounds every hour, as I asked?”

“I have been. Especially after the incident with Corvin. I haven’t found a thing that leads me to believe anyone’s been hiding out there.”

Incident with Corvin? I look to Corvin, who instantly flicks his gaze away.

What’s he hiding from me?

My stomach twists, unease spreading like a nest of spiders broken open. My worries scatter like the aftermath, and I swallow over a burning in my throat.

“Keep checking and let me know what happens. Jasper,”—Lowell turns his attention toward the male who snaps to attention, awaiting his orders—“Do you still have a way to contact Styx?”

Jasper laughs awkwardly. “Sure, but he’s still as fucking insane as the last time we saw him. You can’t be thinking about having him try to help with this!”

Jasper’s disbelief has piqued my intrigue. “Who is Styx?”

Lowell only smirks as Jasper sighs, and Asher hides a laugh with a cough.

The smirk on Lowell’s face has me transfixed.

“He’s a male witch we met in New Orleans when we lived there.” Corvin’s voice pulls my eyes toward him.

“You lived in New Orleans?”

“We’ve lived a thousand lives,” Asher jokes.

It only makes sadness waver in my stomach.

I might be the same soon, and I still don’t know if that’s the fate I want.

But I’ve been suspended in this state for so long that I wonder if this existence that I live will ever end, or if I’ll live in this limbo forever.

Never knowing who I truly am seems like a grim future.

“Styx is… What’s the word?” Jasper asks, rubbing along his jawline with his index finger and thumb.

“Insane,” Asher says. “Too insane to have his magic anywhere near Silver.”

“He’s trustworthy, though.” Lowell’s command is braided into the look he gives the room.

Jasper’s shoulders sag. “I’ll call him.”

I can’t deny that I’m happy they have someone other than Ossana to call because, from what I know about her, I don’t want her anywhere near Lowell or any of them, if I’m honest.

Lowell straightens. “Alright, you have your orders.”

We all disperse, Lowell being the first to exit outside before Jasper turns for his study.

Corvin heads toward the lab with the box.

“Well,” Asher says, turning toward me and tugging me close, “We’re the last ones standing.”

“Seems we are, which is perfect, actually.”

“Because you want to know about what happened last night to Corvin.”

I nod. “I do. Very astute of you.”

“I’m not just a pretty face, you know?”

I giggle. “Oh, you’re not?”

He pokes my sides, and my laugh carries through the house. “I don’t know if Lowell wants you to know about it just yet.”

“Was it Valentina again? Is she back? Her ghost?”

“Corvin thinks it was her, but I can’t say anything. You’re going to have to ask Lowell.”

“He’s not my keeper.” My hands perch on my hips, and I hope I don’t look as bratty as I think I do when I stamp my foot.

Asher’s laugh makes my stomachache. “No, but he’s my keeper, Sweet Silver. You can get away with a lot more than I can.”

I bite the inside of my cheek as he steps closer. My breathing quickens.

He leans down. “It’s not a good day to be near you, but I don’t want to leave you alone.”

“Why isn’t it a good day?” I swallow, remembering the day I was between him and Corvin, him drinking from Corvin’s vein while Corvin kissed me.

My heart stutters, and Asher grins as if he’s heard it. Of course, he’s heard it.

“I’m too hungry to be near you.” His words have my panties dampening at the idea of him at my vein.

It’s what makes me realize he hasn’t fed from me since the first time… in the basement.

He never “re-tested” me, though we all know I’m the key to their curse at this point.

I open my mouth to permit him to use me to feed when he turns and walks toward the French doors, opening one and stepping back. “Come with me. I’ll do my perimeter sweep with a bit of company.”

I nod, hopeful we’ll get up to a bit more while walking the property. Also, I’m confident he’ll give me more information with some space between us and the manor.

We walk past the fountain, and I do my best to keep my eyes and mind off it.

Asher’s got his arm thrown nonchalantly over my shoulder, and it feels like it weighs a million pounds.

Asher has this dominating presence about him, not as much as Lowell, but enough where it seems all the surrounding oxygen has been sucked up, and we’re outside.

Any male who can suffocate you in the presence of oxygen-producing vegetation is dangerous.

“Tell me what’s running through that pretty little head of yours,” he says, and I realize he’s been leading me along a path through the woods, probably put here by his hourly checks of the grounds.

“So much. Too much to put into words.”

He nods, stopping as he turns me towards him, his hands on my shoulders. “I’m going to get this done with, and when I get back, I’ll show you the pool house.”

“Okay, but we’re going together, right?”

He grins, his red eyes gleaming as it reaches them. “I can run this property and return to you in under five minutes. Then we’re free to do what we want for the rest of the afternoon.”

I bite the corner of my bottom lip. “Alright. I’ll wait here.”

He brushes my lips with a soft kiss. “Be back soon, Sweet Silver.”

In a rush of air, he’s gone, and I’m standing in the woods, suddenly very aware of each noise surrounding me.

I keep vigilant, my eyes tracking the thick, untamed forest. Turning in a circle, I feel ferns brush the back of my legs. Gasping, I turn, nearly leaping out of my skin, when I hear a twig crack.

For a moment, I think it’s Asher coming back, but he’s only been gone for a minute. There’s no way he can run the entire property in that amount of time.

“Asher?” I call out, feeling stupid for speaking to the verdant woods.

However, they’ve seen something out here twice and are worried enough about it to have Asher conduct hourly checks. But Asher didn’t seem too concerned, I remind myself.

“No. Not Asher,” a voice says, and it’s female. It doesn’t sound like it came from a person or even a vampire.

The voice sounded like it came from all around me as the mysterious, shadowed woodland had come to life, sentient and evoked by my presence.

“Who are you?” I manage, my voice shaking.

A flash of white flicks through my eyes, darting between two limbs on the fir tree in front of me.

I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly feeling chilled to my bones. So much they itch.

A laugh follows the creature circling me. Now and again, it moves slowly enough for me to see, but I can’t make out any definition.

It’s like a phantom, moving through the wind as it embodies it, becomes it.

“I’m nothing you’d understand. But I come with a warning.”

“Valentina,” I breathe.

“I am many things. I go by many names,” the voice sings, like it’s in surround sound as it moves in circles.

I’m becoming dizzy as I try to track her movement through the trees, wishing Asher would hurry and capture her so I could still.

“What is your warning?” I ask breathlessly, stopping and bending over. My stomach churns with nausea as I try to catch my balance.

I feel a cool rush of air that has me snapping back to attention, dizziness forgotten, and the voice is now so close to my ear.

I can’t turn to look at her, however. I’m frozen in fear, my body seeming to know we’re in the presence of something dangerous.

“Everything they think they know is wrong. I’m wrong. It’s all wrong.”

I swallow, my brain running in a million directions. The sun chooses this moment to peek through the canopy overhead, but even with its warmth on my skin, I’m quaking with fear.

“What’s wrong?”

“All of it!” She screams, and it’s so loud that it leaves a ringing in my ears. “The closer they get to breaking the curse, the closer he gets. They need to be ready.”

“You loved them,” I breathe.

“I love no one. For I am nothing.”

My mind reels. “What?!”

“Tell them. You must tell them.”

“I will. I’ll tell them,” I promise her.

The forest goes still again, and a bird chirps overhead, landing as he, too, feels the presence dissipate.

When Asher returns, I’m sobbing, curled into myself on the ground.

“Hey! What happened?” He drops beside me, pulling me into his lap.

“I don’t know. I don’t even know how to…”

“Shh,” he coos, pulling me into his hug. His chin presses into my hair. “You don’t have to. It’s alright.”

“Shh.”

When everything was making a bit more sense, I felt like I was tangled in webs of murk all over again. I have to wonder if I’ll ever get free.