Free Indulge by Megan Duncan Page A

a sliver of moon in the sky, I could easily see the silhouette of a person.
    I took another step, the figure becoming the tiniest bit clearer. They were hooded, a tall staff grasped in their left hand. I could feel my instincts growing, the vampire nature inside fighting to be released. This was my chance to get answers. This couldn’t be just some onlooker. They were watching me. They had to have answers and I wanted to get them.
    Crouching, I prepared to unleash my speed to scale the cliff. Maybe if I captured this person, he or she could help prevent a war. Maybe they could help us find the missing piece we needed to keep The Dark from stealing the throne from Nicolae.
    I sprang - and the figure threw something at their feet. A cloud of purple smoke enveloped them. I propelled my body faster. My muscles were warming up to the task, the rocks providing easy leverage to climb upward to the cliff above. A howling scream cut through the peaceful night.
    Reaching the top, I leapt into the haze of purple smoke - but the breeze had almost dissipated it entirely - and the figure had gone.
    I slammed onto the hard earth and a growl erupted from me. How could they get away? What was that purple smoke? I was nearly panting in my rage, tears of anger streaming down my dirty face. I failed.

Chapter_7
     
    Feeling defeated and ashamed, I slowly made my way back to the Château. I burned the few details I had to memory. I needed to be on guard. I knew they would be back and I had to be ready for them. Was it Ana watching me or was it someone else? A member of the The Dark spying, keeping tabs on me?
    I knew I should probably tell someone, but what could I really say?
    I made it back quicker than I had wanted to, even though I had been dragging my feet. I needed time alone to think and there were too many servants, Blood Guard and vampires around. Plus there was Arrick. He had to have felt my rage when the mystery figure disappeared. In fact, I was a little surprised he hadn’t run out to check on me. He was my Blood Guard; wasn’t that his job? Maybe whatever was going on between us was affecting his duties.
    I quickly washed my face and ran a comb through my hair before heading for the gardens to meet Arrick. Almost as an afterthought I splashed some of the lavender perfume he had bought me and headed out the door. I knew I was probably late to meet him, but hopefully he would still be waiting for me.
    I found him sitting on a stone bench, twirling a freshly picked flower in his fingers. When he heard me approach he bolted up and ran a hand through his hair in a nervous gesture. “I didn’t think you were coming.”
    He handed me the flower as more of a peace offering than a romantic gesture, but I took it gratefully. “I wouldn’t miss it.” I tried to sound excited in hopes to ease his nerves. “Where are you taking me?”
    His face lit up and I could feel his body relaxing through our connection. “The temple.”
    I took his offered arm and sniffed absently at the flower as we walked. I didn’t want any of the stress of what had happened on the beach to ruin our time together.
    “Where were you earlier?”
    I silently cursed myself for thinking about it, but at the same time I couldn’t help but smile at his sensing the change in my emotions. He was so much more attuned to my feelings than I was to his. I wonder why that was.
    “I went to the beach.”
    He glanced at me briefly, wanting a more detailed explanation, but I didn’t know what to tell him. It would only distract him from what he had to do if he was constantly worried about my safety. Besides, what could I say?
    I saw some creepy person at the beach and when I chased them down they disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke. I would sound like a nut case.
    “I just wanted some time alone to unwind and clear my head.” It wasn’t a complete lie, so I didn’t feel totally guilty about it.
    Luckily, Arrick nodded his head like he understood. “I’ve felt how