‘Then all I can do is wish you luck. And hope that trouble never gets the best of you.’
‘Thank you,’ Maddy said. ‘For everything.’
It was clear there was nothing further to be said, so Maddy went back over to where Alexandre was apologising to Morris.
‘Doesn’t matter,’ Morris was saying.
‘It does matter,’ Alex replied. ‘I feel terrible. You are our friend and I didn’t believe you.’
‘I’ve got some apologising of my own to do,’ Morris replied, looking at Madison.
‘What for?’ she said.
‘I had to get Esther to lock Ben up for a short while.’
‘What!’ Maddy clenched her fists.
‘Don’t worry, the lad’s fine. But I couldn’t risk him telling the vampires I’d escaped. Not until I had a chance to find out who’d betrayed you.’
Maddy didn’t reply.
‘That makes sense,’ Alex said.
‘Sorry for that,’ Morris said.
‘I suppose I can understand why you did it,’ Maddy said. ‘As long as he’s okay.’
‘He’s fine.’
‘So what do we do now?’ Maddy said.
‘Now?’ Alexandre looked at her. Then he looked at Morris. Finally he gazed around the room at everybody else. At their shocked tired faces. ‘Now … We go home.’
Chapter Forty Seven
Christmas Eve
*
Out there, darkness cloaked the countryside and rain skittered against the drawing room window of Marchwood House. But inside, the lights blazed and the fire crackled, sending yellow sparks showering up the chimney. They were all curled up cosy and warm. Alex and Maddy on the sofa. Jacques, Isobel and Freddie playing Chance on the rug in front of the fire. And Ben (who had forgiven Esther for locking him up and apologised to Morris for the terrible misunderstanding) was attaching their stockings to the fireplace. All was calm. There was one noticeable absence, but nobody mentioned her name. The only reminder was a discreet tinge of melancholy which hung imperceptibly in the air.
As well as Leonora’s absence, there was another worry - the knowledge that this peace was only temporary. That this Christmas Eve was merely an illusion of happiness. For there were still those out there who sought to destroy it. Who would never leave them alone. But for a short while, they would savour this brief reprieve and enjoy each other, for there had been too much fear and violence lately. Too much regret and too much worry. Tonight was a night for friends and for family.
Madison hoped Zoe was enjoying her Christmas too. Zoe had finally plucked up the courage to visit her husband and son. She was going to come clean and tell them what had happened. She was going to give her husband the opportunity to decide what he thought was best for their family. She hoped Zoe was as happy as she felt right now, here with her body pressed close into Alex. Maddy closed her eyes and smiled.
But Madison would not have smiled if she knew what waited outside.
*
From beneath a gnarled Oak, it watched them through the drawing room window. Only metres away, its stare cut across the darkness to the blissful scene within.
The creature gave a sad smile, echoing the emotions of the ones it watched and making them its own. Cold rain fell on its skin. It closed its eyes and savoured this long-awaited moment. After centuries of searching, it had finally found what it needed.
Over the past millennium, its sustenance had gradually disappeared from the earth, until there was nothing at all for it to feed on. But now, miraculously, it had scented down what it craved and had traced it here. To this quiet corner of the world.
Still weak from hunger, it would need to rest, to prepare for the true hunt. But it had the sense that this would be an easy conquest. Did the creature detect a little vanity on the part of its quarry? It could use that to its advantage.
Inside, they were oblivious to what waited. The creature had always been able to remain undetected until it chose to reveal itself. And then they always took notice. Always. It had never failed to take down its prey, not in the several millennia it had roamed the earth.
The creature always went for the coven leader and it was quite obvious who that was – the dark-haired male. The creature cocked its head and listened for the vampire’s name … Yes, it had a pleasing ring to it … Alexandre.
* * *
Thank You
*
To my superstar husband, Peter Boland, who helped me shape this story, made me endless cups of tea, bought me chocolate and saw me through many a writing-related meltdown.
*
To my wonderful beta readers and editors: Amara Gillo (best mum in the world), Mani Nagarkar (my eagle-eyed sister-in-law) and Julie Carey who can spot a missing speech mark at fifty paces.
*
To Simon Tucker for another great book cover.
*
To all my gorgeous friends and writing support network online, including: Johanna Frappier, B. Lloyd, Samantha Towle, Suzy Turner, Amanda Cowley, Robert Craven, Poppet and Sessha Batto.
*
To Zoe Marshall and Sergell Elioreg who entered my
‘Be a Vampire in my Book’ competition and won!
*
And finally to my awesome readers:
You inspire me to keep writing
xxx
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shalini Boland lives in Dorset, England with
her husband and two young sons.
http://www.shaliniboland.co.uk
http://www.facebook.com/Hidden.MarchwoodVampireSeries
https://twitter.com/#!/ShaliniBoland
*
Other titles published by Adrenalin Books:
Hidden (Marchwood Vampire Series, Book 1) by Shalini Boland
Outside – a post-apocalyptic novel by Shalini Boland
Becoming Edward by Faye Meredith
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty One
Chapter Twenty Two
Chapter Twenty Three
Chapter Twenty Four
Chapter Twenty Five
Chapter Twenty Six
Chapter Twenty Seven
Chapter Twenty Eight
Chapter Twenty Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty One
Chapter Thirty Two
Chapter Thirty Three
Chapter Thirty Four
Chapter Thirty Five
Chapter Thirty Six
Chapter Thirty Seven
Chapter Thirty Eight
Chapter Thirty Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty One
Chapter Forty Two
Chapter Forty Three
Chapter Forty Four
Chapter Forty Five
Chapter Forty Six
Chapter Forty Seven
Shalini Boland, Thicker Than Blood
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