Chapter 2
Azaria
Julian followed me around like I was going to run. He wasn’t totally wrong, but dammit. I needed time alone. I was sick of being watched like a hawk. Sometimes a woman needed a break. He didn’t seem to understand that. I walked down the corridor of the castle and looked over my shoulder to make sure I was alone before opening the trap door to the tunnels.
Most people didn’t know the original layout of the large castle. It had been in my family for hundreds of years. The Lucians were always royalty. They always ruled the Vampires. When Thomas Lucian came to the US and established his place, we’d stayed from then on. My family history was full of blood and pain, but I hoped to change that. It was time for the Lucians to pass the reign to someone else. Not that my parents would ever go for it. Father was nearing retirement. I knew that was why he pushed so hard, but he had to realize pushing only made me want to rebel.
I didn’t need light to guide me through the tunnels. I hefted my bag over my shoulder clenching the strap tight in my hands. I didn’t want to lose it. Ghosts loved to play pranks and this wasn’t the time. Normally I’d indulge them but not today. I was too close to getting away. This time I wouldn’t come back. I would not be bonded to that sorry excuse for a man.
I shuddered when a translucent figured grabbed my arm. “Princess,” he said.
I smiled at the boy I’d spent almost 30 years with. “Milo, my dear, not today, okay.”
He frowned. “Why, princess?”
“I’m leaving.”
He frowned harder. “But you’ll be back.”
I sighed. He was one of the spirits that attached to living creatures. And yes, I was living. My heart beats. I could eat and function like a normal human. I was just a bit extra.
Okay a lot extra, but that was beside the point.
“Not this time buddy.”
He seemed to understand and then cold arms wrapped around me. I gasped when I felt flesh. “You’ve been holding out on me.”
“I just learned how not long ago. I’ve been waiting to show you until I knew I could do it. Now hug me back.”
I did. He was my friend since my childhood. While I grew, he never changed, and I never thought he’d be able to store enough energy to become flesh. “I’m so proud of you.”
He pulled back and beamed. “Why are you leaving?”
“Julian McCallister.”
“Oh.”
And that’s all he needed to hear. “Yeah, Father is forcing the bond. I can’t do it. You know I need my mate.”
He nodded because he did know everything. I should have been worried that my best friend was a ghost who couldn’t move on, but it never fazed me. Milo was always there. He always seemed to know more than he should. He was killed at 15, drained by a rogue in this very castle. His mother worked for the family, and they lived in their own wing. It was devastating to the family that one of their own had drained him dry. He never held a grudge though, and Mother liked to say he stuck around for me only.
“Can’t I come with you?”
I opened my mouth to say no. He’d been in the castle so long, but I knew he didn’t have to stay. There had been weeks he’d disappear. I never asked where he went; it wasn’t my place. Instead I nodded. It couldn’t hurt to have an extra set of eyes for the Vamps that were going to be on my tail once they realized I was gone for good. I didn’t need that shit.
He smiled and grabbed my hand. This time I saw it coming, but still…something was different about him. How was it after so long he could mimic flesh? Something tugged at the back of my mind, but when he looked down at me I couldn’t help but smile.
I let him hold my hand until at some point he was back to his corporal self. We eased through the tunnels careful not to make noise. Vamps had supersonic hearing, and even though I was one, I hadn’t quite perfected the silent thing yet.
“Almost there, Azaria.”
I nodded seeing the door. I was almost home free. This would be the place I’d get caught if I were going to. But I hoped everyone was distracted enough. Milo rushed ahead and scanned the area. I froze when I saw his astral like body light up like a blue orb.
It was beautiful.
He really had been holding out. I didn’t know enough about those left behind to know how he was capable of this but unease filled me.
He floated back. “Nothing’s there.”
Milo came in handy. I let out a breath and started towards the end of the tunnel again. Each step made my unease grow, and I wasn’t one to ignore my instincts. Milo stood smiling and glowing and it was then I knew…
Milo wasn’t really Milo.
And then I spun and ran back the way I came. I should have known it was too good to be true. There was no way Julian—or my father would let me go. I wondered if I would ever find the freedom I needed.
***
Before the sun rose, Mother came in my room with a frown.
“Why must you always run?”
I huffed; she more than anyone should get it. “You should know why. I don’t want to live like you. I love you and Father, but you’re not in love.”
She moved into the room and shut the door. Her long dress slid along the flow making it appear as if she were floating. Mother was beautiful with long wavy red hair and the brightest green eyes; her Irish heritage, she said. She had the fullest lips and pale skin covered in freckles. I wished I was blessed with her looks. Other than the green eyes I got nothing else from her.
My hair was such a pale blond from a distance most wouldn’t even know I had any hair except I because of how I wear it. My skin was much darker like Father’s, and I had no freckles or anything defining mark marred my skin. Father was German.
“What was your purpose with leaving through those horrible tunnels?”
I sat up and sighed. “I just want a break, to get away for a bit before I’m chained to Julian.”
Mother laughed. “Oh Azaria, you’re so dramatic. He’s a good match for you. If you stopped to learn you might find you liked him.”
Tears filled my eyes and pink stained my cheeks. “No Mother he isn’t. I feel this ache,” I rubbed my hand over my heart. “Where my mate should be.”
Her eyes widened. “Ache. Tell me about it.”
I shrugged. “It just hurts. Fiery pain, all the time.”
“How long?”
This was ridiculous. “How long what?”
She growled and that had my attention. Mother didn’t growl.
“How long have you been hurting.”
“It’s been almost two days.”
Mother nodded and stood up from my bed and paced the room. “I’ll think of something. You must go now though.”
I felt my eyes rise so much my brows rose to my hair line. Mother never defied my father. “What?”
“Go, it’s your mate. And something’s happened to him, and it’s likely he will die without you. He’s got to be close.”
My mate.
How would she know? I went to ask but there was this strange look in her eyes. One that begged me to ask—yet not. She was in her own world. I would listen. I would find him. If my mate really was hurt, I’d save him. He was mine to care for.