Vampires Realm Prophecy 01 - Child of Light

broad shouldered hulk of a man who could crush a man’s head with his bare hands. It seemed strange that two people so opposite should be attracted to one another. She glanced at Valentine. She supposed that it was the same with them in a way. Their houses were opposed, their ages at different ends of the spectrum and while he was wise, she was naïve about the world and the way it worked.
    In both cases, the relationships were illegal. She couldn’t help but think that Mia was brave for going against everything she knew in order to be with Dmitri. She had forsaken her species so she could be with him. To come out during the Creator Day masquerade must have taken great courage. The Law Keepers wouldn’t have forgotten the sin Mia had committed. If they had seen her there, they would have captured her, regardless of their orders to find Ineru.
    She sighed. Ineru. Yet another case of ill-fated and illegal love. How many other couples were in hiding out there because their relationship broke the rules? It was a ridiculous law; one that she wished would be removed. There were far worst crimes happening in the world than love.
    Her thoughts roamed back to the masquerade. What she’d thought about Mia was also applicable to Valentine. He’d surrendered his whole life to be with her. He’d sacrificed his position and turned his back on his family. All for her.
    She looked up when they passed through a door and entered a room. It was dark, lit only by a dying fire in the hearth. It wasn’t a large room. There was just enough space for a double bed, a couch and a side table. The floor was wood, as dark as the walls, and at the far end was a dirty window that had the shutters drawn across.
    She came out of her thoughts when she heard Valentine speaking with Mia.
    “This is the only room available, I am afraid.”
    “It will serve us perfectly well. We do not need space or finery. Tomorrow night we shall leave this place behind us and head out to meet our army,” Mia said with a serene smile. She walked further into the room and stopped near the window.
    Prophecy’s stomach rumbled again and she pressed her hand to it, frowning.
    “I will share the bed with Prophecy if the one room proves to be a problem.” Mia’s smile turned wicked.
    Prophecy looked at Valentine to see what his reaction to the idea would be. Mia was obviously teasing him, but it didn’t mean he was going to see it that way.
    “Keep your nose out of my business, Mia.” He almost growled the words.
    She grinned at Mia who was smiling broadly, evidently amused by how annoyed she’d made Valentine.
    “Come, Valentine, don’t sound so sore.” Dmitri clapped a hand down on his shoulder and grinned. “I could share with your woman.”
    Valentine grabbed hold of Dmitri’s wrist and growled with effort as he twisted it around, forcing Dmitri to kneel.
    “Dmitri!” Mia scowled at him.
    “Valentine,” Prophecy said, approaching him slowly. He looked at her and released Dmitri, as though he’d seen in her eyes what she was going to ask of him. She pressed her hand to her grumbling stomach and rubbed it.
    He frowned and stepped towards her, his gaze filling with tenderness. “I will go out to hunt. There is still a long time before the sun rises. I can scout down towards the castle and bring back something for you to eat. There are canisters in the car that I can fill.”
    She shook her head. “I can go.”
    “I do not want you going out there, not yet.” He pressed the palm of his hand against her cheek and ran his fingertips around her earlobe. “Stay here.”
    He removed his jacket, laying it out carefully on the end of the bed.
    “I will come with you,” Dmitri said with a broad grin. “It is a long time since we hunted. If you go alone, Mia will not let me hear the end of it.”
    Mia frowned and then turned to face her. “Do not listen to him. He is playing the fool to amuse you.”
    “A fool?” Dmitri laughed at her words and Prophecy giggled along with him. She liked how Dmitri acted. It made him seem less frightening. “Come, friend.”
    She held her hand up to stop Valentine when he turned to leave with Dmitri. Valentine looked back at her and smiled.
    “I shall not be long. You will be safe here,” he said and then walked towards the door.
    “Be careful,” she whispered.
    Dmitri pressed a kiss to Mia’s cheek and nodded at her as he left, following Valentine down the stairs.
    Mia walked past her and closed the door.