A Castle of Sand (A Shade of Vampire #3)(57)
Author: Bella Forrest

“I can’t get back to The Shade, not after I betrayed Derek, not after I brought Sofia here.”

“Derek might not be able to forgive you, but I know Sofia will.” I couldn’t believe the words coming out of my mouth.

She scoffed in response. “Sofia hates me. After what I did to you…after what I wanted to do to Gavin…”

I shook my head. “You don’t know Sofia. If you’re actually sincere in what you’re saying, I’m sure she’ll find it in her heart to forgive you.” I scoffed. “Assuming that you’re sincere, of course…I still think you’re playing mind games with me.”

“Maybe I am…” she said softly.

“Are you?”

She shook her head. After a rather awkward silence, she then spoke up, “I want to go back to The Shade.”

“I don’t.” I grimaced. “I don’t get it…just go back. Who the hell will care?”

“You don’t understand. If I go back, I don’t think Yuri will ever be able to forgive me. He is fiercely loyal to Derek. Unless I get back in Derek’s and Sofia’s good graces, he would never take me back.”

I stared at her. I was still wondering who Yuri was and why he was so important to Claudia. I had a vague recollection of a guy paying her a visit once in a while. She never let him in her home. It was as if she was afraid that he would see what she was doing. She always was in a better mood than usual after spending time with him. Maybe that’s Yuri.

“Will you help me get back there?”

“How on earth am I supposed to do that?”

“I know Derek will come here. He loves Sofia enough to come here alone. He won’t stand a chance against the Maslens. Not on their turf. I’m going to help you out of here, but you have to call the hunters. I’d call the vampires and help them get in unnoticed, but they’re too far away and they don’t have the means to get here quicker than the hunters will. If I help Derek and Sofia get out of here alive, knowing that I helped you and that you got the hunters to destroy the Maslens, then Yuri might be willing to give me a second chance…if they die, I’ve lost him. Perhaps forever.”

I stared at Claudia unbelievingly. I was still waiting for a catch, some cruel twisted thing she had in mind in an exchange for what she was proposing. I narrowed my eyes at her. “If the hunters come, I might not be able to stop them from killing you. I’m not even sure I would want to stop them.”

“If I can’t go back to The Shade, back to him, then I might as well die.” She sighed with resignation. “Just make sure that Derek and Sofia make it out of here.”

I blinked my eyes several times to make sure I was hearing right, but I chose not to question her. I chose not to pry. I had to take advantage of Claudia’s momentary lapse of insanity—if this was what was going on. I didn’t have to understand her. I just needed to get Sofia out of here.

I knew what Reuben would do once I revealed the location of the Maslens’ coven. He wouldn’t hesitate to destroy the place. I knew that Sofia would be spared, but I wasn’t so sure about Derek and I couldn’t help but wonder if Sofia would ever be able to forgive me if anything happened to Derek. That’s when I realized that more than anything, I wanted Sofia to be happy, and I knew that wouldn’t be possible if she had to live a life apart from Derek. I completely let go of any hopes that I could still be with Sofia.

It’s time to let go of my Rose Red and help fight for her to get her happy ending.

CHAPTER 49: DEREK

I knew that it was crazy for me to walk into The Oasis alone. I knew that it was possible that I could be walking toward my own death, but it felt like I had no choice.

Standing in the middle of the throne room, surrounded by dozens of guards, who were well briefed on my strength and capabilities, I felt vulnerable in a way that I never had before. However, it didn’t matter, because all I could think of was Sofia.

Thus, when Borys stepped into the room, dragging her beside him, his hand clamped around her arm as she held her bleeding neck, every muscle in my body tensed. I knew right then that there were no peace talks on the horizon. I was going to draw blood—if only to avenge Sofia.

Borys let go of her and the moment he did, she ran into my arms, tears streaming down her face. I held her tight, unwilling to let go, sickened by the thought of what she’d been through since she arrived at The Oasis.

I didn’t need to ask if she was alright or if they hurt her. It was clear to see that she wasn’t. It was obvious that they had.

“Get me out of here, Derek,” she sobbed against my chest. “He’s going to destroy me. Everyone here is insane. Especially my mother…”

She knows. I shut my eyes, trying to find words to soothe her, wondering how on earth I was going to get her out of there. I could smell the blood on her neck. My mouth watered at the scent, but I was too mortified by the idea that Borys had already tasted her blood to even start craving her. “Sofia, I’m so sorry,” was all I could think of to say.

She shook her head. “You didn’t do this.”

“I’ve failed to protect you so many times…”

“Don’t do this, Derek. Just don’t. We have to get out of here—you, me and Ben. Staying here will be the end of all of us.”

Borys cleared his throat. “Much as I hate to break up this sweet reunion between husband and wife, I have to interrupt.”

Husband and wife. I creased my brows in confusion as I reluctantly let go of Sofia. Ignoring Borys, I bit into my palm to draw blood and coaxed Sofia to drink the blood so that the bite on her neck would heal. The moment the skin on her neck closed, I glared at Borys. “I demand the life of whomever it is that has tasted her blood.”

“You’re king of The Shade, Derek Novak.” Borys frowned. “But I’m king here. I’ve had a taste of your wife. Do you demand my life?”

“Yes.”

“You insolent fool!” Borys smirked. “She is my betrothed, offered up to me by her own mother since she was a child. She is mine. You never should’ve touched her in the first place, and because you did, because you spoiled her for me, I’ve invited you a day before our wedding so I could make a widow out of her.”

Sofia’s hand found my arm and she held on so tightly, it felt like she was trying to break my arm. “Derek…you can’t possibly take on this many men…”