Demon Moon

entered a new courtyard. Her bare feet were silent on the creamy marble pavers. Now and again, her long, white linen skirt would flounce up, exposing her slim ankles and sleek calves, a flash of golden brown .
    A white peasant shirt covered her arms and torso; the neckline sat at the points of her shoulders. Everything from her collarbones to the tips of her short hair lay open to his gaze .
    Bloody hell, but it was such a pleasure to look; the sun brightened her skin, warmed the cinnamon tones until he thought he could smell the fragrance of her color beneath her natural, feminine scent .
    He’d not taken the blood she’d offered, but as the hours passed in her company, his resistance began to wane. Not due to the bloodlust, which hadn’t risen yet but certainly would soon…he simply wanted more of her .
    All of her .
    Foolishness. She was Castleford’s sister, and he trusted Colin to look after her. After her grandmother, as well—and, indeed, both may have already passed into Colin’s protection, if Castleford’s insane plan to destroy the nosferatu with Colin’s blood hadn’t worked .
    His tainted blood. He clenched his teeth against the sudden wave of memory, but the rot filled his mind, the putrid scent of Chaos and blood and wyrmwolves . Don’t scream. Feed and you’ll be strong enough to fight them. Strong enough to run.
    Don’t leave me here—
    Savitri abruptly stopped, then staggered when he bumped into her, too distracted to catch himself. Automatically, he steadied her with his hands on her bare shoulders .
    Reality in the form of her warm, smooth skin reasserted itself all too well .
    The pulse beating at the base of her throat drew his gaze; his bloodlust ripened when its pace increased. He dropped his hands from her with a soft apology .
    Good God, but she was light, fragile. She hadn’t the least protection from him .
    She’d be safer in Michael’s temple, secluded there with her sleeping grandmother. He’d show her the symbols; she could lock him out .
    “I just can’t get over how beautiful it is,” she whispered. She tilted her face up and spun in a slow circle. “It’s unreal.”
    Colin looked as well, bringing his hand up to cover his eyes from the sun before he remembered that it wouldn’t sting .
    Sublime. The brilliant blue sky, pierced by pillars and spires of white. Huge onion domes and columned temples rose in perfect balance around them. It did not matter which prospect he beheld; it took his breath, his reason, and shattered every ideal of beauty he’d ever had .
    And left him giddy with awe and delight. His chest ached, his eyes burned as if he were weeping—and yet it was laughter that spilled from him, left him so weak he had to lean over and brace his palms against his knees .
    He couldn’t make sense of any of it .
    Don’t leave me here alone.
    Shaking his head, he straightened. Savitri sat on the ground beside him, her legs folded under her, her bottom resting in the curve of her heels. She stared at her hands; in the few hours they’d toured through Caelum, he’d come to recognize her attempt to regain her self-control .
    She couldn’t look much longer than he could without losing herself in it; that terrible, wonderful sense of shattering. Frightening, too—but she’d never shown her fear, though he’d heard her heart and lungs racing, had seen the trembling that had overtaken her .
    What was wrong with her? His brows drew together, and he held out his hand to help her to her feet. “Does anything scare you?”
    As if startled by the question, she blinked up into his face. Her fingers clenched over his for a brief second, and a half-smile shaped her lips. “Yes,” she said. “When I think about it.”
    What the bloody hell did that mean? But the sparkle of water caught his attention, and he only said, “I shall have to make you think about it, then.”

    “Think about what you’re saying, Michael,” Selah said, and Chaos roared in around him.
    Blood filled Colin’s mouth. His own this time. Thank God.
    “The nosferatu have been feeding from creatures in Chaos for months now—maybe even from dragons. They’re stronger, more powerful than before. If you go, can you fight them without your sword? Is it worth the risk to both of you on the slight chance they’ll stumble upon a combination of symbols that opens a portal?”
    “They’re bloodsucking monkeys on fucking typewriters.” The sharp rattle of glass accompanied Lilith’s angry