Ozul | Curse of the Dhampir King

om beyond. Unlike the rest of the house, the walls here were unlit by candles, so she carried one she had taken from a nearby window, its flame flickering on a small plate. The ston

ade her pinch the bridge of her nose. His dark eyes were open, but he remained perfectly still. Around his neck, a red diamond-shaped pendant glinted richly. Just as she was about to reach for the jewelry, a faint whist

d behind his back. He approached the casket and carefully replaced the lid. Then, turning to

, and for a moment, they locked eyes in a silence that felt st

aids about leaving doors unlocked,"

were other people her

a range of house cleaners

keep them in a place call

it?" He laughed. "My cellar

orced to wo

at her. "Or else they

response. "Why?" she asked, her voice barely abov

nted. "Tell m

Wal

sity." He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "

rying to maintain some distance. "But they're

that didn't reach his eyes. "Le

because that is how long it took for me to gain control of my power. In that time I began collecting humans as I

than voice her concern. Ozul was a dhampir and there wa

ken and mashed potatoes. It was also the first time she saw him drinking blood in a glass. The way it st

er actually seen a v

smile forming. "I wonder how you

she asked, setting down her ute

o turn you, and you'll be just like

re's mate. The thought of living for eternity disturbed her. She believed strongly in an afterlife-Heaven and Hell-and longed to pass into everlasting pe

might feel differently in time. For now,

ur favorite col

plied easily.

rpl

Let them know you're safe. I was out earlier and heard nothing

ought. "If I stay with you, you have t

course not. I wouldn't dream

r family had sounded sincere, but could she really trust him? He was a dhampir-a being bound by a dif

existence Ozul hinted at. Could she really give up her dreams of growing old, of raising childr

his strange world she'd been thrust into, and about what her life could be if she stayed. But how much was

itary. On that occasion, she asked about her being able to leave, and that was when Ada gave her the unfortunate news. "So you're really just like him," Natalie said, her voice trembl

like that, Natalie," she replied, her voice soft but steady. "I care-I care more than you know. But this... this situation is complicated

n. Everyday rats eat at my feet. You think that's fu

s were that bad. Surely they needed proper nourishment to kee

d, her voice barely a whisper. "I should have noti

the others about you. They were equa

ght not be able to get you out of here but I can make sure

Ozul?" Nat

between us,"

h linen, and food and water from the kitchen. "If Ozul is a vampire t

ter sunset so that's probabl

her duties. Ada found her a little bit off that day, keeping to her