Page 9 of The Sins of Silas (The Otacian Chronicles #2)

Chapter Nine

LENA

I t was the evening of our second night. After our small break, the rest of our travels went by quickly.

We were now halfway through this wretched pass. Blessedly, we encountered no problems in the day. Though with the sun now set and the fire crackling, I knew that if there were any Vampires out here, they were safe to emerge now.

Roland had cooked us dried meat in a small pot of boiling water I had started, seasoning it with spices Ayla had also packed for us. We were all eating now, aside from Viola, who had shifted into a bat—just until I was finished eating.

It was smart, keeping an eye on things with night vision. And because Merrick insisted she save her shifting abilities during our travel, she could do so now with ease.

We decided since my magic was more useful at night, I would take the night shifts. I couldn’t believe I had managed to fall asleep against Roland while riding earlier today…but it was nice.

“How’s it taste?” Roland asked me from his spot across the fire.

I chewed, enjoying the flavor. “Meh.” I gave him a smirk as his eyes narrowed, then chuckled. “Very good. You’re a man of many talents, I see.”

He laughed. “Good answer.” He licked his lips, his smile growing. “Believe me, there are many talents I wish to show you, Lena.”

There was something about him using my actual name instead of the nickname he gave that set my cheeks ablaze.

Edmund groaned, slapping Roland’s arm from his spot beside him, though he, too, wore a smile. “Too much info, man.”

I could safely say I longed to know his other talents…longed to experience them firsthand. I wished I could explore them with him right this moment. But, for Merrick’s sake, I tried to reel those feelings back, shaking my head at Roland as I ate.

Finishing my meal, I stood up and stretched just as Viola shifted back, ready to eat her own meal. I walked a small distance from the fire, enjoying the nighttime summer breeze. It was scary in here, honestly, but the moon looming above provided a moderate amount of light. Thankfully, we started our travels at the time the moon would be brightest—it was full this evening.

I heard gravel crunching from behind and tilted my head, watching as Roland strolled up to me.

I swallowed and tilted my head up to meet his eyes. “What’s up?”

The moon illuminated his handsome face as his lips turned upward. “Honestly? I want to kiss you. ”

My eyes shot wide, and I retreated a step. Releasing a scoff, I mumbled, “Quit fucking with me.”

His smile fell, and he took a step closer. “I’m not,” he whispered. “I want to kiss you.” A shy smile emerged, his eyes falling to my lips. “I have since I did in that maid’s room, truthfully. Perhaps even before that…”

“Roland,” I breathed, pressure forming between my thighs as his lustful eyes found mine.

My gaze drifted over his shoulder, looking at our friends conversing over the fire.

Silas locked eyes with mine, and his brows lowered, his arm wrapping around his wife’s waist. My eyes slowly trailed back to Roland’s, then fell to his lips.

“Would just a kiss satisfy you?” I murmured, my heart racing so fast it almost hurt.

He stepped closer, his body just inches from mine. He purred into my ear, “Until we are alone…yes.”

Fuck.

The need for his body became unbearable as his eyes darkened, as his hands grasped my waist, as—

It happened so fast.

The movement.

The scream.

One second, Roland was before me, about to press his lips to mine.

The next, he was on the ground, wailing in agony as a Vampire began ripping through his throat.

I didn’t think, just shrieked—lurching myself forward, engulfing my body in flame as I wrapped my arms around the creature .

It roared, falling back with me holding it still. Silas was running, then managed to plunge his sword through its head just as I released it, backing away. My skin was hot, but I managed to stop before my skin began to burn.

My eyes darted to Roland, who was still lying on the ground, blood gushing from his neck.

I stumbled to him. “ROLAND!” I cried.

He was clutching his throat, choking. His eyes widened as he pointed behind me.

There was no time to react before I was thrown to the ground, almost crashing into our fire. My eyes met the red ones of three other Vampires, and I quickly retrieved my sword, which was sheathed beside me.

My lip curled as I stood. “Elowen, get to Roland!”

The healer was frozen, knees wobbling.

“NOW!” I yelled.

The Vampires just stared, their eyes dilating in hunger. It was two women and a man, the latter staring at me with what almost looked like fright.

Elowen went to move, and one of the females advanced, grasping her.

Edmund chucked one of the nightshade bombs. She was fast, but still, as the contents of the bottle dispersed, the Vampire’s skin began sizzling. She released Elowen, falling back.

El screamed, once again freezing from fear, just as I willed my magic into my enchanted blade. I advanced, piercing the creature's torso as flame crept up the metal, and she bellowed, her body turning to dust.

I heard another bottle breaking and more screaming as I withdrew my weapon, and the Vampire below me disintegrated away. Hendry had chucked another vial of nightshade just as the other female bit Erabella, and I ran, slicing through that one with my burning blade, her body turning to nothing but ash.

My eyes then went to the panicked ones of the male who remained. He went for Silas, moving faster than any creature I’d ever seen.

Silas was ready. He plunged his sword straight into the Vampire’s chest. But steel alone couldn’t kill a creature like that.

Holding the magical sword that Immeron had gifted me, I twirled it in my hands, readying my stance, and charged toward the Vampire.

I roared as I swung it forward and felt the pulse of energy I had charged it with release in a long burst of flame.

The man screeched as the burning sword slashed his skin. The sword didn’t impale deep enough, though—he was still alive.

The bastard pushed Silas off with a quick shove, howling as the steel sword was ripped from his chest. His movements were so quick that by the time I was ready to strike again, he dodged, knocking me to the ground and my sword out of my grasp.

Only a second passed before he gripped my wrist—and bit.

I cried out at the pain, then realized just how hungry this Vampire must have been to quite literally give himself a death sentence .

I gripped his neck with my free hand, ready to burn his flesh and end his life, when his red eyes flicked up to mine as he drank my blood.

His eyes were fearful, filling with tears at his impending doom, but he was so lost to bloodlust that he couldn’t stop himself from drinking from me.

I felt it then, the wave of euphoria that came from the pulling of my blood .

My hands trembled on his neck.

Kill him. Kill him.

I stared into his eyes, and I felt pity…why?

“Kill him, Lena!” Silas barked.

The Vampire’s eyes fluttered, and tears rushed down his cheeks.

My Gods…

My half-lidded eyes went to Merrick’s, who studied the blood drinker with shock and sorrow. His eyes met mine, and I knew based on his expression that he could feel the humanity of the man before me.

“When you’re satiated,” I breathed. “You run, understand?”

The man’s eyes flashed beneath the wavy black hair that lay messily on his forehead.

My eyes rolled back at the pleasure, only for a moment. “Nod, or I kill you now,” I mumbled.

He blinked, then nodded, his lips pulling away just to say, “Just a bit more,” he rasped.

Hendry readied his bow, arrow aimed at the Vampire’s head.

“Don’t!” I ordered him.

Hendry was gaping at me as he lowered his weapon.

The Vampire finally tore away, panting and gazing at me with my blood staining his lips.

“What is your name?” he breathed, his red eyes widening.

I felt like I was coming down from a high. “Lena…Lena Daelyra.”

His eyes traveled down my body as if trying to log my appearance into his memory. “You shall always be safe here. The Vampires of Half-Life Pass will remember your kindness, Lena Daelyra,” he said .

As he went to move, I blurted out, “What is yours?”

He paused, giving me a soft smile. “Daris.”

Then he ran, gone in a flash.

My hand trailed to my wound, and a strange feeling of both pleasure and pain came from it.

“What the fuck was that?!” Silas demanded, prowling at me before shaking my shoulders. “Why didn’t you kill him?!”

“He…he was just hungry,” I muttered.

His gaze burned into mine. “He is a monster!”

“Clearly not,” I retorted, shoving his arms away. My eyes quickly found Roland, who was being healed by Elowen.

I rushed over, kneeling beside them. He was out cold. “Is he alright?!”

“Yes,” Elowen responded. “He fainted from the blood loss. It’ll take a bit to get him fully healed…this wound is more complex. But he’ll be good as new by morning.”

My lip wobbled as I took in the sight of him. If he wouldn’t have made it…

I wasn't even going to go there. He did make it.

My thoughts drifted back to Daris. “The look in his eyes…” I peered at the Empath. “You felt it too, didn’t you, Merrick?”

He nodded slowly, using his own healing magic on Era’s bite mark, her chest rising and falling. “He feared for his life. He was beyond terrified…and,” Merrick grasped his collarbones, “he was painfully starving.”

“Perhaps the Vampires are like Mages…people believe them to be demons, but really, they wish to survive in this world…to live,” Elowen said softly .

When I stared off into the distance, I realized that Daris and I shared a similarity…and that the flowers wrapped around those bodies were not a sick display, but a sign of mourning.

Morning came, and I hadn’t gotten a lick of sleep. While Daris had promised our safety for the remainder of our time in this pass, I couldn’t be sure.

That, and I found myself nervously watching El as she worked on Roland throughout the night. He slept through it all.

The sun was now rising, and Edmund was up, rubbing El’s back as she attempted to keep her eyes open.

Merrick healed Erabella’s wound quickly. Thankfully, hers wasn’t deep.

“Let me take over,” I offered, walking over. Everyone else was still sleeping.

“He doesn’t need much more,” she murmured, eyelids drooping.

I placed a hand on her shoulder. “I got this.”

Edmund gave me a grateful smile, and El nodded. Almost instantly, she fell asleep in Edmund’s arms, completely drained from her magic usage. He carried her to her bedroll.

I sat down, bringing Roland’s head to my lap, and began healing once I felt that burning in my palms. Elowen was right; it was almost fully healed.

I used my free hand to stroke his cheek and decided I would no longer complain of his incessant flirting or jokes. I would never take any of him for granted again.

Two hours passed, and as the healing was nearing completion, Roland’s eyes began to flutter open.

“Hey, you,” I said softly.

He blinked, clearing his vision, then smiled. “Hey, you.” His brows drew together, his smile dropping as he quickly leaned up, looking around. “Did we—”

“We won. We're all alive.”

He angled his head back to me, and I tapped my lap, wishing for him to lie back down. He smiled and obeyed.

I then told him everything that happened after he lost consciousness.

“I can’t believe you spared one…”

“I know, but I really believe he will keep his word. Ensure our safety.” Despite my nerves, I brought my hand to his cheek again. “I was so scared seeing you like that,” I whispered.

His lips parted, color staining his cheeks, and that signature Roland smirk took over. “Aww…you were worried about me, Ginger Snap?”

I smiled softly, my eyes falling to his neck. I traced my fingers over where the wound was. “Very worried…”

He lifted his hand and ran it along the arm that was caressing him. My eyes found his again, his face serious. “Kiss me,” he breathed.

No one was awake yet…

My stare slid from his eyes to his lips a few times before that desire ruled me, and I leaned down, pressing my mouth to his.

It was a soft kiss, one that sent warmth throughout my whole body. When I kissed him the second time, his fingers weaved through my hair, holding my face as he kissed me a third.

“Roland,” I whispered over his lips.

“Hm?” He kissed me again, sucking my bottom lip into his mouth.

I was about to lose my mind. The need for his entire body, for his touch…

It was almost painful how badly I craved it—craved him.

“Fuck,” I whispered, pushing away.

Roland chuckled, the sound arousing me further, and I pinched his side, holding back my own laugh.