Heart of the Raven by Joleene Naylor

Author:Joleene Naylor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, vampire, thriller, paranormal, dark, vampire romance, violent, fast paced, amaranthine, shades of gray

Snow was falling when they finally found what amounted to a small plateau. Katelina dropped to the ground in a heap and scooped up a handful of snow. She let it melt on her tongue and swallowed the water. Her legs ached and her empty stomach rumbled. Her fingers and toes had long gone numb, and she could see through the palm of her mittens where the rough bark had worn through the knit. But, at least she was alive.

Sadihra laid Verchiel down and straightened her back. “We can’t continue this way or we won’t make it before sunrise. We need to wake him up.”

Jorick perched on a boulder. “Even if he could walk I doubt we could make it now.”

Katelina didn’t point out that Verchiel was fast enough to make it to Maeko’s place and back several times. It would just start an argument and what was the point?

“We should find him some food,” Sadihra said. “I could use some as well, and I’m sure you and your human could too. It would be faster to hunt if we split up.”

The echoing scream was in Katelina’s memory, and obviously still in Jorick’s. “And leave Katelina alone?”

“You can stay with her, if you prefer. I’ll be back.” Sadihra turned for the trees and faded away in the forest’s deep shadows.

Katelina knew that the alternative was to go with him, but she didn’t think her aching feet could take it. “Just go. I’ll be all right, as long as you hurry.”

Jorick’s brow furrowed and he squinted into the night, as if seeking nearby life forms. “I don’t sense anyone close enough to harm you, but Senya is a phantom and I don’t know where she’s gone.”

“Back to Malick,” Katelina answered mournfully. “They got the heart and have probably handed it over to him already.”

“I doubt that. He isn’t near enough for them to reach that quickly.” She started to ask how he knew, and then decided that it must be some strange vampire-master connection.

“Something like that, I suppose. We can sense one another easier than we can others. It’s the blood connection. The same goes for fledglings of the same master.” He dismissed the conversation. “See if you can find some dry wood. I’ll return shortly.”

And then she was alone. Katelina huddled into her coat and tried not to think about what was splattered on it; mud, blood and no telling what else. The wind howled around the mountain but, in her current location, she was sheltered from the blasts of icy air. If only she had something to hide under to avoid the falling snow.

Verchiel lay near her and she risked a peek at him. Despite Sadihra’s assurances, she wasn’t positive he was alive. He wasn’t breathing, or moving, and the sickly white pallor of his face screamed the word death. She poked him with her toe and got no response, so she poked him again. Still, he didn’t stir, so she finally dragged herself next to him and stared into his face.

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