Free

Prologue

Tears fell from Faith's eyes as her people screamed, running from the wrath of a leader who swore to protect them. Her knees buckled beneath her and she dropped, unable to save those she labelled as friends, some even as family. Her shackles wouldn't allow it. The silver chains made her flesh hiss and burn as they clung to her wrists. She was forced to watch as her nestmates were chained in silver and pushed out of windows by humans so high on vampire blood they may as well have been floating among the clouds. She watched as the sunlight touched her people's skin and set them alight.

"Father please!" She begged, her voice broken and hoarse. "They're your people! Our people! This is wrong!"

Faith knew better than to argue with a madman, but she couldn't bear the carnage that was unravelling in her home. She still had hope that he would listen, hear what she had to say, possibly change his mind and repair the damage he had caused. But he just wasn't interested in listening any more.

"You knew this was coming, Faith." Sylas sneered at her, loving the tears that stained her cheeks. She always had been a pretty crier. "Ever since your Mother left me, you knew that one day I would have no choice but to do whatever it took to get her attention."

"You say that as if she had a choice! She's dead, Father! She has no attention left to give you!"

Sylas glared daggers at his second youngest, raising his hand and striking her across the face. Faith gave a shrill cry as her father slapped her, her cheek instantly turning a deep crimson colour. It faded gradually, the pain slowly edging away as it healed. It wasn't the first time her father had laid his hands on her that day and she doubted that it would be the last. And if she were human, he would have left a bruise.

"Don't you dare!" He roared at her, flecks of spit spraying from his mouth. "You have no right!"

"I have every right! She was my mother!" Faith screamed back.

Sylas brought his hand back down against her face, this time harder. Faith cried out as the force pushed her onto her side against the cold stone floor. He smiled down at her as more tears streamed from her pretty blue eyes, turning away from her to watch the chaos unfold. The wicked smile fell from his face as he caught sight of a familiar figure, one he hadn't seen in almost a decade.

"Kain!" Sylas exclaimed excitedly. "I'm so glad you could join us! Your Mother will be so happy to see you!"

Instead of the ecstatic reply he was hoping for, Sylas' excitement was returned with an animalistic snarl. Kain bared his fangs, a deep guttural growl vibrating in his chest. Sylas was taken aback. His only son had always been loyal to him, following him around and doing everything his father asked of him. It was obvious that Kain no longer held the same love for his father, and Sylas knew it. His ears perked at the sound of fast approaching footsteps and Sylas caught a glimpse of white-blonde hair. He smiled to himself as his youngest daughter ran towards her brother, flinging her arms around his torso. Faith had ordered her to stay hidden and not to come out until she returned. Lainey had sensed her older brother's presence and couldn't fight the urge, the returning feeling of safety luring her out.

"Kain, you have to make him stop." She cried softly. "He's hurting them, he's hurting Faith."

Kain rubbed Lainey's back, hugging her to him. He regretted leaving his sisters here, but he didn't regret escaping his father. He pulled away from Lainey, pushing her behind him.

"Let Faith go," Kain demanded. "She hasn't done anything wrong."

"Hasn't she?" Sylas questioned. "She's lucky I don't throw her out the window with the rest of them, speaking to me as if I am a child."