A Shade Of Vampire 6: A Gate Of Night Read Free Page A

rescue.
    “Vivienne? Is everything all right?” I’d known Xavier for as long as I could remember. He was one of the constants of my life and, among the Elite, he was also one of the most loyal to our family.
    The hunter took a step backward, letting go of my hand. Xavier stood beside me. His hand protectively settled on the small of my back.
    “Is this guy bothering you, Vivienne?”
    “The princess and I were just talking about our living arrangements.”
    Xavier cocked his head to the side. “Why? What’s wrong with your living arrangements exactly?”
    “I’m sorry.” The hunter returned Xavier’s glare. “Who are you?”
    Xavier was attempting to reel in his temper. “I could ask the same thing about you, boy. You have no business talking to our princess. The next time you wish to address her, you go through me.”
    The hunter began laughing. “And what do you think you’re going to do if I talk to her, vampire? Do you honestly believe that Princess Vampire here is still in control of this island?”
    I went from wanting to attack him to trying to prevent Xavier from breaking his neck.
    “Let me maim him,” Xavier whispered beneath his breath.
    “He’s not worth it.” I shook my head. “Let’s just walk away.”
    “That’s right. Walk away, Vivienne. I hope you realize that you are just as weak and vulnerable here as you were at headquarters.” He then curtsied. “I’ll leave you two alone… for now.” He walked past us and was already several feet away when he screamed. “By the way, princess, I’m not sure I ever told you my name. It’s Craig. Don’t you ever forget!”
    Xavier eyed me after Craig was gone. “You know that guy?”
    I couldn’t break down. I shook my head as I clung to his arm for support, hoping that my knees wouldn’t buckle beneath me. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
    I wish Derek and Sofia were here, because I can’t handle this. I knew that chaos was up ahead. My dreams and visions told me as much. I also knew that I was completely incapable of handling it on my own.
    I shut my eyes for a moment. Derek, wherever you are, I hope that you’re having the time of your life, but I also hope that you remember how desperately we need you back here.

Chapter 3: Sofia
     
     
    The moment Derek and I arrived at California, we took a cab to the neighborhood I’d lived in for nine years, since Aiden had left me under the care of Lyle and Amelia Hudson. As we passed the local elementary school and the familiar suburban homes—all of them attached to specific memories from my childhood—I was beginning to choke up with tears. I reached for Derek, who was sitting in the passenger’s seat beside me, and he put his arm around me.
    “So this is where you grew up,” he eventually said, gazing out of the window.
    I tried to wipe away the tears that were brimming in my eyes and threatening to fall down my cheeks, but not soon enough.
    Derek placed his hand over mine, squeezing hard. “It’s going to be all right, Sofia.”
    “I know.” I smiled. “It’s just that this place brings back so many memories.”
    It didn’t take long before we pulled over in front of the Hudsons’ house—one that contained so many of the memories I held dear, memories of my best friend, Ben, whom I’d been in love with for most of my teenage years. Ben was the only one who’d ever posed a threat to my love for Derek. He was that important to me. And now he’s gone.
    As Derek paid the driver, I swallowed hard when my eyes settled on an estate agency sign in front of the yard that said, “For Sale.”
    I sat frozen for a couple of minutes before the sign registered. “They’re no longer here.” The Hudsons might not have been the kind of family I’d always dreamed of having, but they’d been good to me. “I want to see the house one last time, if that’s okay with you.”
    “Of course.” Derek looked at me sympathetically.
    We got out of the car and walked toward the