Free A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest Page B

done by several security agencies about all these missing people. We can ’ t keep this up for long.”
    I clenched my fists, my muscles tensing as I tightened my jaw. “What makes you think that I would know how to fix this, Vivienne? I did my part. I brought you to sanctuary just like your prophecy said. Why can ’ t someone else take this on? Why not Father?”
    “The prophecy was that your reign alone can provide our kind true sanctuary. The Blood Shade has been a sanctuary for a limited number of our kind, but it isn ’ t yet a true sanctuary until we either find all vampires a safe haven and manage a way to survive without the need of humans or…”
    “Or what?” I asked, casting a stern look at my sister.
    She said the blood-curdling words I knew she would say. “We have to end the shadow hunters once and for all.”
    “You ’ re talking about war and bloodshed that we can ’ t even imagine. How long has it even been since the Shade ’ s guards have been in actual battle?”
    All I got from both my brother and sister was silence.
    We continued our trek through the island, leaving the issue hanging in the air. It weighed heavily on me for the rest of the time I spent with them. To say that I wasn ’ t burdened by what I was told was a lie. I didn ’ t understand why I had to stand as the leader. I was younger than a lot of the men there. That they would look to me for guidance was beyond my comprehension. The fact that it was me they looked to also gained me a lot of resentment from two people – my father and brother. I wasn ’ t even awake for a full day and already, I found myself exhausted and longing to once again escape.
    I was ready to go home and retreat to solitude – not even willing to be around the human slaves I was supposed to keep around me. Even Sofia was a sight I did not want to see. She was so human – a reminder of what I was and who I was before I became so defined by the creature I ’ d become.
    I was already intent on going back to my quarters when Vivienne held my arm and pulled me to hers. She didn ’ t provide an explanation and led me through her walkways and finally to a room. She pushed it open and revealed an unconscious woman lying at the center of the bed. “She used to be a shadow hunter – one of the newer, weaker ones. She was brought here by one of the lodgers – sort of as payment for us to allow him and his sister refuge here at the Shade.”
    “Why are you telling me this?” I asked, unable to deny that the woman splayed on the bed in front of me was attractive.
    “I thought you might be tired of drinking blood from a glass and would enjoy feeding on her instead.” Vivienne smiled, pleased with herself.
    She knew that the fact that this one was a shadow hunter made the prospect even more appealing.
    I licked my lips and stepped forward.
    Vivienne took that as approval and stepped out of the room.
    “Enjoy,” she said just before she closed the door, leaving me to do as I please with her slave.
    There was no hesitation on my part. The darkness in me took over. I was beside the woman, pulling her against me with my arms and sinking my teeth into her neck. The taste of fresh blood, pumping through her veins by a living beating heart, was invigorating. I drank, determined to bleed her dry. I kept on telling myself through all those years that I hated being a vampire, but it was who I was and as I drank from this woman, there was no escaping it.
    I sucked the blood out of my young victim and just as I was about to drink the last drop – the one that would cause her heart to stop beating, a moment of clarity came to me. For reasons I could not understand or even comprehend – and I wasn ’ t sure I even wanted to – I realized that the whole time I was holding this beautiful stranger in my arms, feeding on her, it felt like I was betraying Sofia.

Chapter 15: Sofia
    It was impossible not to know that Derek had already arrived at the penthouse. I and the