Paranormal Love Wednesdays @KMNbooks @pnlveromancewed

This is a snippet from my paranormal/vampire/historical tale, Twilight's Eternal Embrace. This scene opens with Adryanna hidden among the trees to view the her sister's wedding to a Oiche Sith, a vampire. The ritual does not bode well for the human, but their clans have an agreement. Now for the snippet...

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As the cart moved closer, Adryanna had a better view of her sister. Fianait held her chin high. She did not fear the duty. It was a great honor and her family would be handsomely rewarded for their sacrifice. The elders of the Oiche Sith already presented them with a palfrey and supplies they could not purchase on their own, like tea and spices. They brought bolts of fabric to her mother, enough to make winter garments for the whole clan. If Fianait survived the night, the Oiche Sith would honor her, but very few ever survived. None survived after a month's time of the brutes feeding off them.

Adryanna gripped the dagger in her hand as visions of slitting one of the Oiche Sith's throat entered her mind. She'd like to see them bleed out for a change. She shifted her gaze to the Oiche Sith, who would take Fianait to his bed. He stood on the bottom step that led into the castle. His hair was long and the color of autumn leaves. He looked pale and unsure on his feet. He had yet to fill out, looking more boy than man when compared to the warriors of his clan. He was still larger and taller by far than her people. She knew come tomorrow he would be inches taller with a broad chest and thick legs. This was the way of the Oiche Sith and how they developed into manhood.

When the cart stopped at the foot of the steps, the Oiche Sith approached Fianait. He offered his hand to her and helped her down. He held her at arms' length as his gaze swept over her in appreciation. He pulled her closer, pressing his lips to her right cheek then the left, the sign of his approval and acceptance. The crowd of onlookers cheered in response. Really, would the Oiche Sith turn an offering away even if the lass was a hideous beast? She thought not. They needed their blood, their females since they could not breed.

The Lathe Sith needed the Oiche Sith's alliance to keep the borders secure against the other blood drinking clans that were stronger and more powerful than her clan. A tear slid down Adryanna's face and she angrily brushed the offensive dampness away. She promised Fianait she would not cry for her, but how could she not mourn her sister…her friend? She would never see her sweet smile again.

"Damn the bloodsuckers." Adryanna had witnessed enough and whirled away with plans to head home to grieve. She came up short when she stood face to face with two youths of the Oiche Sith clan. They were not broad shouldered so they had not gone through the change, but they were close to her age she was sure—perhaps nine and ten, not much older. They bared their fangs with a gleam in their eyes. Splendid, her parents would lose two daughters this night. One in honor and one in disgrace. Well, she would not die easily. She gripped her dagger, revealing the threat. The young men blanched as they caught sight of her weapon, but then they laughed. They thought her weak, a female and a Lathe Sith at that, but she knew how to fight and she'd make them bleed before they killed her.

"Do you think your puny dagger will harm us?" the taller of the two barked.

"Venture closer and we will find out," she taunted with more courage than she felt.

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That's all for now. Do you think Adryanna can hold her own?  

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