CLP BLOG TOURS presents BLOODPLEDGE by Tima Maria Lacoba Excerpt

War. The very word frightened me. Alec could be killed. What was the use of having some magic elixir to make me immortal if the only person I wanted to spend eternity with could be taken from me? I didn’t want to consider the possibility: still, I could think of no way to avoid it. If anything were to go wrong and I lost him, I’d empty Antonia’s vial down the sink.

I took a deep breath and came to a decision. Every minute we spent together would be even more precious. Fingering the vial which hung from my neck, I said, ‘I’d like to go to Alec.’

‘He’s not here right now—went to fetch the blood-vault key from his flat and keep it with him,’ my father replied.

Things were serious if Alec felt the key wasn’t safe in his apartment. Did he really believe the Rebels capable of breaking the sanctity of the Princep’s domain? A shiver went through me. Going back to my room was out of the question as all tiredness had left me, and I’d probably end up pacing the carpet bare.

‘I’ll wait for him downstairs, in the front room.’

‘Why not wait in his room?’ Luc suggested. ‘Come, I’ll take you.’ He grasped my hand. We went down the corridor, past the family rooms, across the landing to the next wing of the house and to the first door on the left. Alec had brought me here the first time we made love. ‘Since he moved out, he uses it only occasionally.’

‘When did he move out?’

‘Only recently. Let me see …’ He rubbed his chin. ‘Oh yes, nineteen sixty.’

‘That’s recent?’

He chuckled. ‘For our kind it is.’ Before I could ask anything further, he kissed me lightly on the forehead, turned and left.

As I went to open the door, I glanced at my ring. The eyes of the serpent changed from red to black. At the same time Alec’s face flashed into my mind. I released the door handle as if electrocuted, ran down the hallway and called for Luc.

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