Page 136 of The Vampire's Mercy

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

SILVANUS

Iremembered who Medusa really was at the exact moment I saw her arrive in my chambers.

My loyal snake shifter from my home world who I met in a forest one day. A woman with the ability to open portals to go anywhere she wanted.

My familiar.

“Medusa?” I said, stilling with surprise.

“Sugar,” she answered as she always used to, the s’ pronounced like a hiss.

Some vampires were lucky enough to receive a familiar to be their companion through life, and I’d been one of them. She was immortal like me, but still vulnerable to death.

She hugged me tightly, throwing a scowl at Elio.

“I remember,” I whispered, hugging her harder.

“I know, sugar. I know.” She kissed my cheek. “It’s great to understand some of myself again. But we can’t stay here.”

“Majesty,” Elio said. “I?—”

“Still got your gun?” my serpent friend snapped.

“Pardon?” I interjected.

My thrall had shot at my friend and the elf. I commanded him to leave. Right now, I wanted to know where Paris had gone, how he was alive. The whole thing was discombobulating, not possible.

And why did I feel such…relief?

Medusa explained what’d happened, waiting for the minutes to pass before she opened another portal.

See him again? Face him after what I’d done? No. After whathe’ddone to my kin. He wasn’t an innocent victim here.

I killed him.

I snuffed out his beauty.

Only, I’d done no such thing. I’d avenged the murder of my vampires.

“I have such a headache,” I complained.

“Oh, sugar. I think it’s about to get a lot worse.”

A new portal opened, and I followed her through. Afraid of what waited on the other side, every inch of me alive with anticipation for answers.

And to seehimagain…

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

PARIS

The thick chains covered every inch of the guy, apart from the top of his head, though the bottom of his face was covered by a rusty metal mask. Chunks of dirty golden hair were missing, exposing wounds on his scalp.

Everything else was so gray, his hair the only part of him a different color.

Golden hair? Like the kind Silvanus had seen?