The Darkest Crown (The Eternal Darkness Duet #2)

Chapter 33

Chapter 33

E skel went to tell the other’s that Allie had successfully changed, and Allie and I headed outside. She was in a state of constant awe, running her hands over everything we walked past. We went down the back stairs to avoid running into any of William’s men, then ducked through the kitchen and stepped outside into a small garden area, surrounded by tall stone walls. It had probably once been used to grow herbs, but was now a tangled overgrown mess.

Allie gasped as she stepped out into the night air. She tilted her head and looked up at the sky. “Oh my god,” she murmured, and I smiled, remembering how magical the sky looked the first time I saw it through vampire eyes. “Sarah, it’s so beautiful.”

“You haven’t seen anything yet,” I said.

She looked at me, and I was struck by how beautiful she was. She stood there barefoot, in her rumpled pajamas, her pale blond hair a tangled mess. She held her arms out, moving her hands through the air as if she were treading water. “Can you feel that?”

I smiled. “Yeah.”

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, then she looked at me. “I wanna see everything.”

My smile widened. “Come on.”

We exited the garden through an old metal gate, stepping out into the grassy field that led to the cliffs. The sky was clear, and the stars were brilliant.

Allie looked around in wonder. “I never imagined…”

I looked around, seeing things through Allie’s eyes. I hadn’t been a vampire long enough to grow accustomed to how the world looked, but I’d been so distracted lately that I hardly noticed. But I noticed now. The grass and the trees were more shades of green than you could count. The sky was midnight blue, and the stars were a swirling mass above us.

Allie bent to run her hand through the tall grass, then she stood and ran her hands down her bare arms. “Even the air feels good. Does it still feel that way to you, or is it just because it’s my first time?”

“It still feels that way. Adam told me it takes years, centuries even, before you get used to it.”

“I hope I never get used to it.”

I chuckled. “Just wait till you try flying.”

“I can fly?” If Allie’s eyes widened any further they’d pop out of her head.

“Probably. All the vampires Marius changed could. They could daywalk too, but they didn’t inherit any of his magic.”

Allie tipped her head back to look at the stars again. “It’s like I’m looking through a telescope.”

I looked up. “I know. I never realized there were so many colors in the night sky.” I looked at Allie. “Do you want to go for a walk?”

“Why don’t we race to cliffs?”

I raised my eyebrows, and she grinned and took off.

“Cheater!” I shouted, laughing as I took off after her.

We spent the rest of the night outside together. We ran through the fields and the forest, listening to the animals that hid amongst the trees. I held her in my arms and flew her out over the ocean, flying low so she could touch the water. We mutually decided it would be best to have another experienced flier with us when she attempted to fly for the first time.

When dawn approached, I flew us home. We landed on the walkway atop the castle and waited until the horizon began to lighten before going inside.

I walked her back to her room and gave her a hug before saying goodnight. “I’ll be here when you wake,” I promised, kissing her cheek.

She grabbed my hand, stopping me from leaving. “Thank you for this gift.”

I nodded, my heart swelling with emotion. She released my hand and walked over to her bed. She sighed dramatically and flopped down on it, making me laugh, and I stepped out into the hall and closed the door.

Thank you for this gift. I thought about her words as I wandered through the halls. Was it a gift? I made it back to my room and immediately headed for the tub. I washed the dried blood from my skin and had to condition my hair twice to get the tangles out.

When I was finally done, I squeezed out my hair, wrapped a towel around myself, and headed back to the bedroom. I dropped the towel and climbed beneath the covers naked.

I was just drifting off when I heard the door open and quietly close. A moment later the bed dipped, and a solid body curled around mine.

“Are you alright?” Julian asked, his breath warm against my neck.

“Yeah.” I snuggled tighter against him, and let the sound of his heartbeat lull me to sleep.

I thought Allie’s birthday ball would go down as the best night in history, but I was wrong. Watching the guys give her vampire lessons was even better.

I’d been waiting for her when she woke the next evening, and immediately presented her with breakfast, aka, a cup of blood. She bathed and dressed in record time, and we headed down to find the others.

She was practically bursting with excitement over the thought of the guys seeing her as a vampire for the first time, and they didn’t disappoint. They gushed over her, jostling one another to be closest to her. She beamed at them happily, and we all headed outside.

Now, Eskel stood beside me at the edge of the field, watching his men run around with Allie. They prodded her, wanting to see her abilities. How far could she jump? How fast could she run? How great was her strength? They wrestled playfully, laughing when she tossed them to the ground.

“Are they letting her win?” I asked, as Allie flipped Hugh onto his back.

“I don’t know,” Eskel said. “I’m sure they would if she wasn’t capable of beating them, but having been changed by you, she’s probably stronger than all of them. In fact, she’s probably stronger than everyone, other than you and the six remaining Strategoi Marius changed.”

Godwin ran up behind Allie and attempted to grab her, but she shrieked and ran, her movements a blur as she crossed the field in an instant. She turned back to Godwin and stuck out her tongue, and he laughed and gave chase.

After a while, Selene and Diana came out to watch. Adam accompanied them, and they all walked to where Eskel and I stood.

“She’s fast,” Adam said, watching Allie run circles around the men.

Eskel nodded. “And strong.”

Godwin was gaining on Allie, and judging by the looks she was giving him over her shoulder, she wanted him to catch her. Then Michael threw himself into her path, ready to grab her. Allie shrieked and leapt right over him. He tipped his head back, watching her fly over his head, and for a moment she just kept going.

“She’s flying,” I breathed, as the crowd collectively held its breath.

Allie was so busy taunting Michael that she didn’t realize she was flying. When she did notice, she shrieked, flapping her arms wildly as she started to fall. Michael rushed forward and caught her in his arms.

By the end of the night a small crowd had gathered to watch. Julian and Maria came out, as did William and his men. Everyone wanted to see what Allie was capable of. It had been almost fourteen hundred years since Marius changed someone. None of the vampires present had been alive to see it, and they all wanted to know how much of his strength had been passed through me to Allie.

When dawn approached we all walked back to the castle together. Everyone was chatting happily, and I walked in silence, content to listen. Their joyful mood was a balm to my soul, and I found myself smiling dreamily. Allie was a vampire now. An incredibly strong vampire. Knowing that brought me such relief, I felt like I could actually relax for the first time in months.

And for the first time, I was actually glad to be queen. I had already promised William I’d reshape the vampire world, but now I was extra determined. I wanted everything to be perfect for Allie.