Chapter 21

Oriel was in a sour mood.

He slouched in his chair in front of the fire down in the commons, staring at the flames as they crackled and danced in the hearth. No one else lingered in the room, for which he was grateful because he found himself gazing somberly at the fire.

“What did I do wrong?” he whispered to himself.

Four weeks had passed since his ceremony with Cosette, since he had become her mate. And ever since then, he had tried his very hardest to make her feel safe, to make her feel comfortable, to make her feel loved. Everything seemed to have been going well, so he thought he would try to mate with her, to complete their bond.

What a disaster.

Running a hand down his face, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

What if he was never able to make her feel safe around him? What then? Would they return to his estate in Ichor Knell, and she would continue hiding from him while he basked in heartbroken loneliness? What if nothing changed and this union trip had been a complete waste of his time?

He released a shuddering breath. If she hid away from him again, it would break him. He loved Cosette. He didn’t want to lose her.

His love for her was real. But he feared it was only one-sided.

An ache formed in his heart. He’d had no doubts he would be able to love his mate no matter who she might be. But he had never considered his love might never be returned.

What a lonely thought.

Although difficult, he pushed away his despondent spirits and reached deep within himself for a sliver of optimism. This was only a minor setback. It had only been several weeks. Maybe Cosette needed more time. She was painfully timid, after all. This wasn’t something he should rush her with. Perhaps there was a chance—albeit small—she might be able to return his love someday.

Hope returned to him, and he breathed it in like fresh morning air. He would go upstairs and apologize, and then he would slow things down again. Holding her hand here. Kissing her fingers there. One step at a time, even if he had to move backward to do it.

He started toward the stairs with purpose in his stride.

However, before he climbed a single step, Henry stepped in his path with wide eyes.

“Something terrible has happened!”

Oriel’s first thoughts turned to panic. Was Cosette all right? “What is it?”

“A young boy. He is injured in the woods. You must help!”

With determination set in his jaw, he hurried after the lodge keeper into the cold of the night, not even thinking to find his coat. The snow crunched beneath his shoes, and he shivered as a chill wind swept up with a promise of a storm. They had to get the boy inside. He could freeze out here.

“What happened?” he asked, fighting off another shiver.

“He must have been attacked.” Henry’s eyes widened with fear. “I’ve never seen anything like it. He’s deathly pale. He’s bloodied. But he’s still alive. I can’t carry him by myself.”

Oriel nodded with renewed determination. He could carry the boy himself—an easy feat for a vampire as old as he was. And now he started to think back on his encounter with the trapper from the woods. Could these parts really be inhabited by vampires? Did a vampire attack the boy?

“There!” Henry pointed to a dark form lying in the snow within the woods. “I desperately hope we’re not too late.”

He bounded toward the still bundle lying on the ground. But when he turned the bundle around to see the boy’s face, shock burst through him to find a cloak filled with straw. It wasn’t a boy at all. It was—

Something smashed hard against the back of his head. And then everything went black.