The last slither of daylight peeked from behind the curtains and illuminated the floor, striking the vanity with every last ounce of strength it had. I watched it slowly fade while clutching the paper map to my chest. I didn't get much rest. The sleep I had succumbed to was filled with demonic wolves who chased me perpetually through the forest. When I had finally fallen to their mercy, I had awakened.

It was nearly time.

The golden rays dimmed and I jumped into action, quietly moving about the room to collect what few items I had. I would need to feed as soon as I left in order to prepare for the long night ahead. I already had a packet of squirrel's blood that Draven had left behind tucked away in my satchel where it was carefully wrapped in a cotton cloth. I patted it gently.

“You'll have to get me through the night,” I whispered.

A creak came from the other side of the room. I turned abruptly with my dagger in hand, ready to face whomever might have entered my room unannounced. No sound came but the clock from the mantel, ticking away the diminishing daylight. I had to move fast.

I heaved a sigh of relief and slipped my dagger into my pocket as I walked over to the vanity. I wouldn't need all this make-up on my journey. It was nice while it lasted, but it was just another reminder of my humanity. I picked up a black ribbon and tied my hair back in a braid to keep it out of my face. A pesky lock fell over my forehead and I tucked it behind my ear, examining my pale features.

I had gotten even paler since feeding on animal blood. The thirst kicked in faster this evening, much faster than usual, alerting me that I was eventually going to become immune to that, too. I met my gaze in the mirror and gulped.

“Come on, Riley,” I whispered. “Don't get caught up here.”

After swallowing the knot in my throat, I grabbed my satchel and slung it over my shoulder. It felt light.

Perfect for running.

I checked my pocket for my dagger one last time and eyed the light seeping behind the curtain. It was fading faster now. Once it dimmed sufficiently, I quietly opened my bedroom door and peered around the corner. The halls were empty and no commotion came from the neighboring rooms. I took that as my cue to bolt.

I flew past the portraits lining my hallway—the hallway I would soon leave behind for good—and sprinted towards the servant stairs on the west side of the house. They were smaller, more cramped, but excellent for avoiding the main coven masters. Sirus came to mind suddenly. I frowned at the thought of his disappointed gaze, his thin nose pointed up towards the heavens with disgust. He would growl at me for such insolence, but I had no other choice.

He gave me no other choice.

I tripped over my own shoes and tumbled down, my satchel flying from my shoulder and nailing the left wall. I froze. A quick glance revealed no one had heard the drop, so I grabbed my satchel quickly and sped down the rest of the stairs.

The front door was within reach. I held my hand out to touch the knob, imagining how cold it would feel between my stiff fingers. It would feel like ice, but it would also feel like freedom. I grinned the closer I drew. When my fingers wrapped around the knob, I shoved my body against the door and collided into a body on the other side.

I collapsed to the ground and my satchel went flying in the opposite direction.

“You fool!” I cried while scurrying to retrieve it.

The hooded figure grabbed the satchel and held it up. His free hand rose to drop the hood from his face, revealing himself as Adrian.

“We keep running into each other,” he announced. “It's as if we were meant to do this.”

I shook my head.

“Not this time,” I stated firmly.

“And where are you going at this hour? I don't suppose Draven sent you to collect any herbs this early in the evening,” he said while gesturing towards the disappearing orb at the edge of the horizon.

The light barely touched us. It was fading quickly as the sun descended, causing the courtyard to glow an iridescent red. My eyes remained focused on Adrian.

“I can't lie to you,” I said. “But I also can't stay.”

“What are you talking about? Why wouldn't you want to stay?”

I looked away from those piercing blue eyes. That betrayed gaze stung my heart, pulling at the strings that had mended its torn spots. He was trying to get a rise out of me with those eyes and I simply couldn't fall for it. I couldn't afford to fall for it.

“You know exactly why I can't stay here,” I replied rigidly.

“But everything was pointing in the right direction. You were doing so well,” he insisted. “I don't get it.”

“There's nothing to get other than the fact that I refuse to take a human life,” I continued. “I wouldn't dare put you through seeing me burn at the stake. I care too much.”

“You don't care,” he accused. “You only want to protect yourself, but trust me when I say you won't survive three hours out there by yourself.”

“Oh, you really think so?” I asked heatedly.

“I can tell by your demeanor that you're ill-prepared for this trip. Even your bag weighs less than the thoughts skulking around in your brain about me and my family,” he asserted. “Your pompous attitude won't save you in the forest, my dear.”

“I take that as a challenge,” I said proudly.

“If only that worked for you before. If only we knew that believing in you wouldn't work. Perhaps then you would have become the proper fang you're supposed to be,” he said smugly.

“Nothing could make me a proper fang, not even you,” I rebutted.

“I was at your side for every difficult part of your journey. You never even thanked me for the work I've done,” he claimed.

“For pleasing me? For pushing me towards something I didn't want to do? You comforted me, yet you also pressured me to do what I didn't want to do,” I growled.

“For your health, Riley!” he cried while tossing the satchel to the ground. “This is for your health! If you don't feast, you will die. It’s as simple as that.”

I shut my eyes as he yelled, taking every word as a stab to my gut.

“I know what I have to do. I know I can survive on animal blood alone. It's going to work,” I asserted. “And you can join me if you want.”

“Join you?” he scoffed.

“Yes, don't you love me?” I asked. “Sirus said—”

“Love you...” he whispered while shaking his head. “There's nothing to love about a vampling who denies her own function. You realize that by leaving, you’re hurting this coven. Your life is no longer solely yours, you know. You belong to us.”

And just like that, he twisted the knife that he had verbally plunged into my gut. I swallowed the tears that threatened to surface, too proud to allow him the honor of seeing me cry. He didn't deserve my tears. He didn't even deserve my disgust. None of them did. They were all just holding me back from discovering something new.

“I didn't choose this. I was hurled into the darkness without warning, my fragile body suffering through every wretched sight in this dump,” I explained. “I refuse to participate in a world that didn't care to ask me for permission.”

“We saved you,” he growled. “And you have done nothing but disrespect us.”

“I gave you a shot, Adrian. I tried,” I said.

“No, you didn't,” he whispered while looking down at the ground. “So, it brings me no joy and no sorrow to sound the alarm.”

I reached out to stop him, but his mouth was already wide open. A sort of croak erupted from his throat and escalated into a high-pitched wail, echoing throughout the courtyard. I looked up towards the castle. Curtains shifted about and pale faces followed, peering down into the courtyard with curiosity.

It was time to run.