Seven hours later, Erik skidded to a halt just inside a forest clearing. This forest bordered Bamburgh and its castle, home to Alexandre de Beaumont.
At the edge of the clearing, casually leaning against a tree, stood a woman, whose pale skin and crimson eyes clearly identified her as a vampire. She had shoulder length, black hair, and an angular face. She wore tight, black leather clothing that accentuated her humble, yet attractive curves, and had a large, two-handed sword strapped to her back.
This woman was a vampire warden, a powerful agent of the Council's peacekeeping force, the shadow sentinels, which was commanded by Katya, aka the iron sentinel. And, probably not so coincidentally, Erik recognized this warden.
"Seraphina!" Erik immediately exclaimed with a shit-eating grin and wide-open arms. "It's so good to see you again!"
