Dark Promise by Danielle Rose

Author:Danielle Rose
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781642631708
Publisher: Waterhouse Press

Chapter Nine

The silence of the night is unnerving. The forest has never been so calm, so quiet. The loneliness of walking these grounds after every sunset begins to mount.

Is this what my life has become? An endless stream of days sleeping and nights fighting my enemies? A life of watching my back and praying I see the next day? Of watching my step and tracking the shadows? What kind of life is that? Am I even living?

I glance over at Will, who’s become suspiciously silent himself. I find myself matching his stride as we venture closer to the manor, where my vampire allies await my return. Will they welcome Will as I have? Will they trust him? Should I trust him? The constant questions and second-guesses are making my head hurt. In a town full of enemies lurking around every corner, I really should know who to fear, who to trust.

In my heart, I believe Will doesn’t intend to hurt me, but I never expected Mamá to forsake me either. I keep wondering who to trust without asking if I can even trust myself. Can I count on my gut, my senses? Or will they betray me too?

“Have you given my request more thought?” Will asks, breaking our silence.

“Hmm?” I say, pretending I have no idea which request he’s referring to. It’s a lie. I know exactly what he’s talking about, and I’m not ready for the truth of my words.

No, I won’t leave the vampires, Jasik… I can’t. Not because I’m sired to him or because I’m beginning to feel things for him I’ve never felt for another being before. I feel safe with them. It’s something I’ve never felt before—not even with the witches. Being with the vampires feels…natural. I always felt out of place with the witches. The hierarchy and expectations were too much to handle. I didn’t want to lead my coven, but I am my father’s daughter. What I wanted didn’t matter. When Abuela stepped down, I was set to take her place. I found comfort in my patrols because the only expectation was to stay alive—and that’s one promise I made to myself long ago. I would survive even when others didn’t.

With the vampires, I feel connected, loved. We protect each other. They don’t rely on me to do everything, and they don’t expect me to become something I’m not. And as long as Amicia keeps her weird dark promise ways to herself, I think I can live a long, happy life with them.

“Leave with me,” Will says. He stops, and I nearly trip over my feet at the sudden halt.

I turn to face him, crossing my arms over my chest as if I can shield his query with body language alone. I know I can’t.

“Will…” I shake my head. Please don’t make me say the words aloud.

“You don’t belong here, Ava. You don’t belong with them.”

“What do you have against vampires?” I ask, arching a brow. Why is Will so adamant that I

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