I yanked my hand from his grip. Embarrassment heating my cheeks. “What if I am?”
Everyone knew I was the virtuous granddaughter of a clergy. The girl who wore a purity ring and vowed to remain pure until the day I married. I was seven back then, and it sounded like a wonderful plan. But I’d grown up since, and now, the glittering silver ring shackled to my finger was strangling me.
His eyes softened. An affectionate smile blossomed on his full lips. “It doesn’t change anything, Calla.”
I knew nothing about him, yet he knew my name and spoke it like he’d known me for a lifetime.
I was never one to attract attention from the opposite sex. Not like this, and especially not by someone like him . . . otherworldly beautiful who exuded a strong, masculine energy.
Caressing the sides of my face, he pressed another gentle kiss to my lips, my stress melting into a puddle. He continued planting kisses down my throat and across my collarbone until . . .
A searing pain stung my shoulder. I wailed, shoving his shoulders back, but he was like stone, unmoving.
Suddenly, his beautiful face was in front of mine, hovering inches above me. I gasped in dismay as crimson liquid dripped from two sharp incisors protruding from his blood-smeared lips. Shrieking, my cry was cut off by his mouth plunging down over mine. His lips were wet, a coppery taste coated my tongue. Blood. My blood.
He bit me. The bastard bit me.
The world around me started whirling. My body weakened as darkness slithered into the corners of my eyes, threatening to fill them entirely.
I struggled to force him off, but my arms were fastened beneath the power of his heavy grip.
“I’m sorry, Calla,” he sighed, his cool breath nuzzling my ear. “I had no other option. And soon, you will understand why.”
“Get the hell away from me,” I cried. Anger and confusion erupted inside of me like a violent river. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. And I was losing consciousness.
“Go away!” I wailed again as darkness embraced me.
I woke to Brynna and a few other girls standing over me. Brynna was shaking my shoulders and calling my name. Concern swelled within her blue eyes and crumpled on her brow.
Blinking, I took in my surroundings and finally remembered where I was. And still groggy, the inquiries began. Questions I couldn’t answer. Questions hammering my skull . . . pounding, pounding, pounding until I couldn’t take it anymore.
They all demanded to know who the newcomer was, and where he went. They wanted details on what took place between us while we were alone.
“Please. Not now,” I whined, massaging my closed eyes with the palms of my hands.
Brynna rose, telling the others that I needed rest and to be alone, then showed them out of the room. I heard her tell her goodbyes, and not long after, she returned with a glass of water and handed it to me. I gulped it down.
“Do you need me to send for a physician?” she asked, carefully examining me.
“Gods no. I'm fine,” I exhaled, pushing a finger to my temple, hoping it would release a bit of the building pressure. “I’m just a little woozy and tired.”
“Did—did he drug you?” she asked softly.
I shook my head, causing it to throb even more. “No.”
But realization crashed into me like a stone wall. He was real. He had been here.
“Who was he?” she asked.
I let out a heavy groan. “I don’t know.”
“You didn’t get his name?”
“No.”
She let out a sharp sigh. “Well, he clearly knew you. He knew your name and knew it was your birthday. But I didn’t invite him, and no one else has ever seen him before either.”
There was nothing I could say. I truly knew nothing about him, and it made me feel entirely pitiful.
Fear coiled around me, slithering into my mind as I visualized the mysterious stranger with those penetrating azure eyes and sharp incisors stained with my blood.
I warred against the growing pressure tightening my chest. “I need to go home.”
Brynna nodded and helped me gather my things before fetching the carriage to take me home. She traveled with me. The clatter of hooves and wooden wheels against the cobbled street didn’t help the pulsing pain in my skull.
I needed to be alone. I needed to get home and sift through my night.
A few months ago, my parents had given me the cottage which sat on the edge of our land, overlooking the Argent Sea.
On most days, I’d relax out on the stoop, curled up with a novel, listening to the wind rustling through the surrounding oak and sycamore trees. The birds would sing their lively tunes, while the waves of the sea crashed against the rocks below. To me, it was the most peaceful place in Sartha. It was my safe place. My sanctuary.
When we finally reached my home, I leaned over and enclosed Brynna in a hug.
“You know where to find me if you need anything, right?” she questioned. Settling her palms on my shoulders, her eyes scrutinized me. “Are you positive you don’t want to stay at my place tonight?”
I shook my head. “No. But thank you again. The party was one I’ll never forget.” I forced a smile and she beamed back.
As I opened the carriage door, she grasped my arm. “Wait!”
Brynna dug through her handbag and shoved a small, white box into my hand. “Happy birthday, Calla.”
I let out an exhale, shaking my head. “Brynna, you threw me a party and bought me a dress. You didn’t have to buy me a gift too.”
She shrugged. “You know me. I was in town the other day, and some relentless force drew me into this antique shop. As I wandered around, something just happened to jump out at me, imploring me to buy it. So, I did.” She wiggled her fingers at the present, her face radiating with a wide smile. “Go ahead, open it.”
I removed the small white ribbon and lifted the lid. Inside was a silver chain that held a pretty, circular pendant—about an inch in diameter—also fringed in silver. Around the edges of the circle were strange markings, rune’s maybe, and inset at the very center was the most exquisite, sparkling gem. A rich azure—the exact hue of the stranger’s eyes.
Goosebumps prickled my skin as I picked up the pendant.
“Well? Do you like it?” Brynna asked, her eyes twinkling, anticipating my response.
“I love it.” Leaning over, I wrapped her in another hug. “You’re too good to me.”
“I knew you didn’t want the party, so this is my thank you for entertaining me. And, since you declined to stay over, I guess I’ll go visit Claude for the next couple days.” She threw me a wink and a mischievous grin.
Claude Bentham was Brynna’s present companion. He resided about a half hour away on the outskirts of Southport, where he had his own flat, and worked as an apprentice in his father’s blacksmith shop. They met when Claude made a delivery to their home. Brynna said they connected immediately, and it seemed to be reciprocal. Claude was handsome, and although he was the son of a blacksmith, he was quite intelligent.
I growled at her. “Please, be safe.”
“You know me.” A devilish grin widened on her lips.
“Exactly. Which is why I mentioned it.”
Her laughter filled the carriage. “Go on. Get comfortable. Grab one of your romance novels and enjoy the rest of your birthday.”