Chapter 109: Chapter 109

“This is a shopping mall, and this one is a parking lot,” Chump muttered and pointed at the map. “A bridge at the Ashenveil River, a dead-end road, and even a… bar?”

“The incident in the bar was a major issue,” Harry groaned and shook his head. “Not many casualties, but a dozen human witnesses... It was difficult to cover up. Luckily, we were able to keep it a secret from the human authorities and the press. It was brushed under the rug and all evidence destroyed.”

“You reacted swiftly,” Edgar said. “Something like this hasn’t happened in decades… What in the world could be the objective?”

“Just between ourselves,” Declan muttered and fixated Edgar with a stern look. “We have reason to believe this is meant to be an attack on the council. A warning, of sorts. That’s why we fear it might get worse in the future. Not every vampire accepts our authority; some would rather live without rules and murder humans as they please. We can’t let this happen.”

This revelation did nothing to ease Ryder’s anger. He was so tense that his embrace felt rock-solid to Elena. “So you’re saying that a clan might be rebelling against you? Questioning your authority?”

Colin frowned. “Yes, precisely.”

“Your theory sounds reasonable, but we can’t be sure of their objective until we find them,” Edgar countered, remaining his usual calm self despite the bad news. Elena appreciated this very much—his countenance reassured her, contrary to Ryder, who was so rigid and tense she thought he was preparing for a fight. Her soulmate was so caught up in his emotions that he didn’t notice the negative effect his behavior had on her.

“Vampires are known to be vindictive. What if this is a vampire taking revenge?” Dorian wondered. “Some vampires who had encounters with hunters despise humans.”

Colin inclined his head, but seemed hesitant. “It’s a possibility.”

“Whatever is going on, we have to put a stop to it,” Harry said, “And we’re counting on you.”

---

That night, Elena lay in bed alone. She had moved to Ryder’s room and curled up under his blanket, which carried his comforting scent and hints of the cologne he liked to use. It was dark since she had closed the curtains and turned off the light. Silence had settled over the house, although the other vampires didn’t sleep—most of them had retreated to their rooms after Harry, Declan, and Colin had left, their thoughts circling the mystery they were confronted with.

She hadn’t seen Ryder in over two hours, and frankly, she was sad he had brushed her aside earlier. The frustration and the hunger for blood she had found in his expression couldn’t be erased, no matter what she had said to him. She had rarely seen him in such a furious state. He had disregarded her when she asked him to stay with her, and it had been obvious his thoughts had been elsewhere.

His actions tended to become hard to predict when he let himself be guided by his vampiric instinct—and apparently, it urged him to eliminate the new threat immediately. Even when it meant leaving his soulmate for a while. Ryder had headed into town when night had fallen. Together with Chump, he wanted to hunt the perpetrator down—and all of their deadly creations.

Meanwhile, Elena was left to deal with her thoughts alone. She didn’t know what to think or feel—at the moment, she had no reason to be scared. The clan’s mansion was the safest place to be when nearly everyone was home. They would notice intruders and act accordingly. What worried her was the safety of her human friends and acquaintances. She wondered if there was a way to protect her employees, Venus and Rosalind. The next time she saw them, she would have to cast a spell… or perhaps she could use wolfsbane to ward off potential attackers. Vampires hated that stuff. The smell alone drove them mad. At any rate, she herself would never leave the house without Jennifer’s and David’s gift. The dagger lay on the desk in her room and would fit perfectly into her purse.

By the time her soulmate returned, it was three in the morning, and she was beyond exhausted but unable to find any rest. She had been staring at the ceiling when he materialized out of nowhere at her bedside. Elena hadn’t heard the door open and flinched when a pair of gleaming red eyes fixated on her.

“You’re back,” she exhaled.

“Why are you still up, sweet pea?” he asked and turned away to put his jacket on a hanger inside his wardrobe. She heard him shuffling around, most likely changing his clothes. This was an indication that he planned on joining her, finally, after making her wait for half of the night.

“Couldn’t sleep.”

A low sigh reached her ears. His footsteps were soundless, so she was surprised when the bed dipped, and he climbed on the mattress. Cool air reached her legs while he lifted the cover to join her, and moments later, she was tucked in with him by her side. His arms wound around her body and allowed her to lie her head on his chest, under his chin. She loved it when he held her like this, and he knew it—maybe this was his way of apologizing for leaving.

“Did you find what you were looking for?” she asked.

Another sigh left him. “No, I did not. The night was quiet; there wasn’t a single sign of another turned human.”

“I see,” she mumbled. “Are you still upset?”

“Not right now. And besides, my bad mood wasn’t directed at you; I hope you know that. I’m… trying to protect you. It’s my responsibility. Half of my soul is yours, buttercup.”

A smile appeared on her lips. “That sounds very sweet, Ryder. I love you,” she whispered, drawing patterns on his chest while her eyelids grew heavier. A tired yawn got stuck in her throat.

Hearing her heart’s steady beats and her even breaths as she slowly fell asleep was a kind of bliss he couldn’t describe with words. After he had combed the city for hours with Chump, delving into the darkest and dirtiest corners, alleyways, and streets, this was what he needed to find peace. Feeling her warmth was soothing. “I love you too,” he said and held her tighter, nuzzling his face into her silky hair.