I took a step back from the sprawling message, eyeing it over. Even if my parents or even one of my family weren’t the first to see it, it was bold enough for anybody passing this way to notice it, and they’d soon be made aware of it.

Then it was time to for me to leave a note for River.

Again, I didn’t want to meet anybody on my way to the Vale, so I took the path least traveled through the undergrowth to the borders of the human town. The town was quite busy at this time of day, so I remained within the shelter of the trees until I found some of the more quiet streets, and from there I wound my way toward River’s road. Arriving at the end of it, I was glad to see that it was empty. Still, the windows of River’s townhouse were open and the curtains drawn, so River and her family were clearly awake and more than likely inside.

Trying to make as little noise as possible with Shadow’s heavy feet, I reached the front doorstep and, extending one of Shadow’s claws again, I scraped a wonky message against the chalky cobblestones.

My gaze lingered on it for several moments after I finished before I tore myself away from the spot and hurried off down the street. I didn’t want to imagine River’s or my family’s reactions to my notes. Fixing my gaze straight ahead, I tried to numb myself to the pain inside.

Reentering the forest, I raced Shadow back in the direction of the beach. I soon caught the sounds of Abby and Erik yelling for the mutt. I hadn’t been gone long, thanks to Shadow’s supernatural speed, and Abby and Erik apparently weren’t in that much of a hurry to find him, since they were still roaming the same patch of forest I’d escaped into. They might’ve just thought that Shadow had gone exploring in the nearby bushes, or perhaps he’d wanted to relieve himself in private. Locating them by the sound of their calls, I burst through a line of trees to find them standing in a small clearing. They whirled around to face Shadow, and as soon as they did, I drifted away from the dog’s body. It caused me a twinge of guilt to watch him stagger slightly on his feet, his appearance disoriented and bewildered.

“Where did you go, boy?” Abby asked, moving up to Shadow and scratching his large ear.

Shadow whined a little before shaking his coat vigorously. Then, after a few moments, he buried his snout in a particularly large, damp pile of leaves and began foraging. It didn’t take him long to recover. Living on this island, that dog had witnessed a lot of strange things. I guessed this was just another to add to his list.

Erik gripped Shadow’s collar and reattached a thick leash before the three of them wandered back toward the beach. As they disappeared into the foliage, I knew that now it really was time for me to leave.

Sofia

I was sitting in the bedroom Vivienne was staying in temporarily in the Sanctuary. Xavier sat near me as I rocked back and forth in a rocking chair, cradling baby Victoria, while poor Vivienne upchucked in the ensuite bathroom. She had been feeling under the weather, and she was staying here in Corrine’s quarters so that the witch could diagnose and treat her.

I gazed down at my new niece, who was lost in a peaceful sleep. Thanks to Corrine’s expertise, there had been no unexpected complications with Victoria after her birth; she was a healthy, happy baby.

A knock against the bedroom door disrupted the quiet.

“Hello?” I called softly.

The door opened and Derek stepped inside. He nodded briefly toward Xavier before setting his focus on me. There was an odd intensity to his blue eyes.

Not bothering to remove his cloak, he moved to sit in the chair next to mine, wrapping an arm around my waist as he leaned over my shoulder, glancing down at Victoria.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“I need to talk to you,” he said, meeting my eyes again.

“What about?”

Derek’s gaze averted to the bathroom door as Vivienne stepped out, wearing a loose nightie.

“Oh, hello, Derek,” she said, picking up a glass of water on her bedside table, before sinking back into bed.

“I’ll take Victoria now, if you two want some time alone,” Xavier said, extending his arms for his child.

I gently handed her to him, careful not to wake her. Then Derek took my hand, twining his fingers with mine, and pulled me out of the room.

“Well?” I asked, as we headed down the corridor toward the exit. I wondered what he wanted to discuss with me in private.

Wordlessly, he led me out of the Sanctuary and across the courtyard. Entering the forest, he pulled me toward a tree trunk and finally stopped. He clasped my other hand in his.

By now my curiosity had reached its peak. “What is it, honey?” I pressed.

His hands moved to my waist. Drawing me closer, he pressed a kiss against the base of my neck.

What is all this about? It wasn’t like Derek needed an excuse to be affectionate with me, but I couldn’t help but sense something fishy.

Half smiling now, I pressed my palms against his chest and separated us a little so I could look into his eyes.

“What?” I asked, for what felt like the dozenth time.

He caught my lips in his, silencing me. Then, finally, he raised his head and replied in a husky voice, “Turn me, Sofia.”

I gaped at him, wondering if I had heard him right. “What? Derek, what are you talking about?”

“I just… feel that it’s time I turn back into a vampire.” He dipped down again, his lips brushing my earlobe.

“But why now? What’s the trigger? You do know that you may never be able to become a human again, after the scare we went through with you taking the cure last time.”