Free Eternal War Rising to the South: The Beynok Vampire Series by Erika Bradshaw Page A

night. I didn’t think it was possible to go that long without food, but, of course, there were a few pounds on me that my body could eat off of for a while.
    While I ate in silence, my teammates quietly said they were glad I was home. I managed to devour four pieces, big ones at that. When I was about finished, I noticed Nadia made a plate and walk upstairs with it. I figured she was heading to Ambrose’s room.
    It was late and everyone seemed tired. The two guards made their way to the study we used as a guest room when needed. It was accommodating. There was a queen-sized, pullout couch and all the other usual stuff you would find in a study. A desk, leather armchair, pictures, and, of course, three walls lined with bookshelves. It’s a good thing Boris and Irena were partners because there was no place for them to sleep separately. They seemed nice enough. After all they were there to help protect us. To think we needed protection. We were protecting the humans … now we needed protection. What is really going on?
    On my way to my room, I checked in on Ambrose. He looked weak and so tired, definitely not the Beynok from two nights ago. It’s crazy what happens to us when our partner falls. It’s as if we slowly deteriorate and return to where we came from, to wait for our body, mind and soul to rise again. I told him I loved him and said we’d see each other again. I didn’t feel bad for leaving him because Nadia was still in his room. Saying goodbye to someone you love is easier when you know you’ll see them again one day. It’s easier but the pain is still there.
    I slipped into my bed shortly after my visit. I thought Nadia had cleaned my sheets for me while I was gone. They felt so soft and smelled so good. She was funny—liked to cook but loved to clean. I thought the two went together hand-in-hand. Of course, I most definitely do not have either trait. I pushed my face into my pillow. The smell was so much better than the ground I woke up to this morning, but it didn’t smell better than what I fell asleep to last night. Just then, the lavender smell of Sorin’s body filled me completely. I need to erase every memory I had of him from my head. I tried to think of him in an unpleasant way, but it was almost impossible. Instead, I focused on the fact he was a vampire, but that too didn’t make a big enough dint in my feelings to please me. I tried to visualize him tearing into the throat of a human woman but there was no way I could see him acting like one of those vampires either.
    I tossed and turned for about an hour in my bed. Finally, I got up. I was so tired I couldn’t fall asleep. I thought fresh air would help, so I walked out onto my balcony. It was so dark I couldn’t see much of anything, and the moon was hidden by the clouds. Still, standing out there gave me peace. My mind wasn’t wandering. I just closed my eyes and listened to the slight sound of the ocean. It was so peaceful I almost fell asleep standing there, leaning up against the railing.
    “I seem to always come across you at night … outside. What are you searching for out here? ” It was Sorin’s voice in my head. My eyes were still closed, and they were going to stay closed. I didn’t want to see him again. If he was behind me, he would just remain a voice in my head and not a vision for me to see. I was determined to keep my eyes closed until it was silent, until I was sure he was gone. I almost had myself convinced it was safe to open my eyes when his voice traveled through me again. This time I could feel his lips on my ear.
    “Anya, it’s okay. You have nothing to fear.” He paused, and I could feel his breath on my cheek. I felt the rest of his body push up behind me. His arms ran parallel over mine meeting my hands on the rail. I was caught between him and the railing, there was nowhere to go. His lips were still too close for comfort for me. “I wanted to check on you to make sure you made it back safely, and I