Betrayed by Morgan Rice Read Free Book Online Page B

hiding out here, on some island, waiting for some pathetic little girl to get well. You should be home, defending your people, like the real man you used to be—”
    “My coven cast me out,” Caleb snapped back, “after hundreds of years of loyal service. I owe them nothing. They are receiving now exactly what they deserve.”
    Caleb exhaled.
    “Nonetheless, I do care for them, and given that the situation is what it is, I will not let them down. I told you that I will return, when the time is right.”
    “You said that you would return when she had recovered. Clearly, she has recovered. You’re out of excuses. You must return now!”
    “I will honor my word, as I always do. But I want to be very clear on this point: I return only to help save our coven, the humans who might be slaughtered, and to help retrieve the Sword. Do not harbor any delusions that it is for any other reason. As soon as my mission is accomplished, I will depart again, for good this time, and it will be the last time you ever see my face. Do not harbor any fantasies that we are together again. Because we are not.”
    “Oh, Caleb,” she said, with a dark little laugh, “you can believe whatever you like, but you know deep down that you and I have been together forever, and that we will always be together. The more you fight it, the closer you become to me. I know how much you love me. I can feel it, every day.”
    “You are delusional,” Caleb said. “You are getting worse with time.”
    Sera smiled wider. “That’s right,” she said, “tell yourself that. Fight your feelings. Fight what both of us already know.”
    Sera suddenly took two bold steps to him, draped her hands around his throat, and with one quick motion, yanked him hard towards her.
    Before he could react, she planted her lips firmly on his, kissing him with tremendous force.
    Caleb recoiled, disgusted. He reached up and shoved her away. And as he did, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed someone landing on the parapet beside them.
    Caitlin.
    *
    As Caitlin approached the island, she felt hope rising within her again. Her head was clear now. Caleb, she realized, had done nothing wrong after all. She had been stupid. She should have given him a chance to explain. For all she knew, Sera had come uninvited, and there was absolutely nothing between them. Why had she been so rash?
    As she swooped lower and the island came into view, she saw the huge stone castle sprawled out below her, the scores of vampires down there on the ground, training in the torchlight. It was a beautiful place, and she was grateful that Caleb had taken her here. She started to feel that everything would be OK after all, as she took one final turn and rounded the bend, landing on the upper rampart.
    But as she came in close, as she landed, her heart stopped within her.
    There were Caleb and Sera. And this time, they were kissing.
    Kissing. The thought of it pierced Caitlin’s insides worse than the Sword. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t think. She couldn’t breathe. They were kissing. Kissing .
    So, they were together. There was no misunderstanding this time. He was still in love with her.
    He had tossed Caitlin out as if she were nothing. And he had done it all right in front of her eyes.
    Caleb rushed over to her, and this time, Caitlin didn’t run. She stood where she was, frozen in shock, as she felt the rage well up within her. She felt herself becoming fierce, fiercer than she had ever been as a human.
    “Caitlin,” Caleb began, “this is not what it seems. Please, let me explain—”
    But as Caleb approached her, as he began speaking, Caitlin simply reached out a finger and pointed at the horizon.
    “LEAVE!” she screamed, scowling.
    It was an order. It was not a question, and it didn’t leave open any room for discussion.
    Caleb stood there, frozen himself, apparently shocked at her ferocity. He must have seen how resigned she was.
    “I SAID LEAVE!” Caitlin screamed again.