The Shadow's Son by Nicole R. Taylor Read Free Book Online Page A

sudden outburst. "I guessed you would at some point. I just didn't think it would be so soon. Is Zac going with you?"
    She knew he'd ask that question. "No. I haven't told him yet."
    "Well," Alex sighed, "if you think you're doing the right thing. Truthfully, I thought you'd take Zac with you."
    "I didn't know what was going to happen when I decided to stay," she began, uncertainly.
    "Regulus has reared his ugly head, hasn't he?" Alex smiled wryly when she looked at him, her eyes wide with surprise. "That's what that Tristan guy came to tell you, wasn't it?"
    "People don't give you enough credit, Alex. You know more than you let on."
    "Uh, thanks, I guess."
    "I have to lead Regulus away from here. Away from all of you. As long as I'm here, I'm putting you all in danger."
    Alex sat on the grass, resting his chin on his knees. Aya sat lightly next to him, trying to figure out what he was thinking. His emotions were changing faster than she could keep up with.
    "It must be hard," he said, playing with a clump of grass. "Dealing with the bad guys all the time. I mean , it doesn't give you much time to stop and smell the roses, huh?"
    "No."
    After another minutes thought, he said, "You two belong together."
    Aya sighed, fighting the annoying churning in her stomach. "You have a romantic view on life, Alex."
    "Well, I have to with all of the shit that has gone down recently." He gave her a look. "So should you."
    "I can't do that. Not until Regulus is gone."
    "And how long will that take?"
    She couldn't lie to him, not about this. Not if it meant she mightn't return in his lifetime. "I don't know. It could take another thousand years."
    "So, I mightn't ever get to see you again?"
    She shook her head, looking away across the gardens, back towards the main street.
    "Do you think he'll come here anyway?"
    "He's wanted me dead from the first day I was turned. Where I go, he'll follow."
    "If you compel me to forget, then I won't be able to tell him anything. If he comes looking, that is."
    Aya's eyes snapped back to Alex, a little surprised that he would offer. "You would let me do that?"
    "Yeah. But, just don't take away the memory of you. I want to remember you as the vampire that saved me from the bad guys. You can take all the other stuff away. I just… I don't want to forget you."
    Aya felt the tug at her heart and leant over and kissed him on the cheek. She felt his embarrassment and smiled. "You're a rare human, Alex. I'm glad to have called you friend."
    As she worked her compulsion on him, a tear slipped from the corner of her eye. It was probably the first genuine tear of sadness she had shed since the day her family had died all those long years ago. 
    "Goodbye, Aya," he sighed, wiping the tear from her cheek.
    Giving him one last smile, she stood and walked away, not daring to look back.
    Reluctantly turning her thoughts to Zac, she sent out her mind and heard the familiar music of his blood. He was at the manor. They had fought bitterly the night before and she hadn't seen him since. And now she would have to rip his heart out.

 
    Zac hadn't laid eyes on Aya since they'd fought outside the bar the night before. He knew she would be with Tristan and he didn't want to know what they were doing. Whenever he thought about the knight, his vision turned red.
    Sitting on the tall brick fence that separated the garden from the main drive, his heart lurched in his chest as he sensed her coming. He had no idea what to say and truthfully, he wasn't ready to see her just yet. Jumping off the fence, he landed with his back to her and waited.
    "Zac," she said, her voice oddly empty.
    Turning, he saw that she was looking at her feet. When did she get so… submissive?
    When he didn't reply, she said, "I have to talk to you."
    He swallowed hard, not liking where this was going. They'd fought, but everyone did once in a while. It was normal. They'd work it out given time… wouldn't they?
    "Zac… I," she faltered.
    "What