Before the Dawn: Lightwalkers, #3

By J. D. Robinson

After a failed attempt at regaining his freedom, Jon's situation grows worse with each passing night as his captors continue to sedate him. Seth travels to the Order hoping that with Bryson's help, he'll be able to convince some of them to help him recover his brother. And Sin? Well, let's just say his night goes from bad to worse. Return with me to the world of the Lightwalkers as we follow Jon, Seth, Sin, and the added points of view from Carrie, Remi, and Christina as they continue to navigate the murky waters of their complicated and troubled lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jennifer Robinson
• Release date: Sep 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393812661

Book preview

1

Nickolas

Ipicked up the chess piece, looking at the white knight in the evening light. Was he truly gone? It hurt to think that; it twisted a piece of my heart that I hadn't felt in centuries. Sin was more than just a fledgling to me. 

Setting the knight down beside the board, I looked out over the city. We needed to focus on Seth and his brother. At least we now had Michaela's location and could keep an eye on Seth's brother. From what Jay's informants told me, he was kept drugged during the day, but at night he was free to walk around. It was strange. Did they think it was odd that he could walk in the light? Surely, Michaela was old enough to know the signs of a Lightwalker, even if most of her vampires were less than twenty years turned.

Preparations are nearly complete, Nickolas. 

Samera stood at the door, a small notebook in her delicate hands. 

We’ll leave at dusk then. I told her, turning away from the window. Be sure to have our transportation ready. 

She nodded and left me alone with my unpleasant thoughts. 

2

Carrie

Itraced the outline of Paul’s face for what seemed like the millionth time. The picture I held was the only one I had allowed myself to take with me when I left. The last reminder of my former life. 

In the picture, Paul and I sat at the bar with his twin, Violet, serving drinks behind us. The rest of Paul’s band and close friends were sitting at the bar with us, as well as my close friend, Kimi. It was the night of my birthday party two years ago. The same night, that after everyone had left, Paul knelt down on one knee and proposed to me. 

My breath caught in my throat along with the lump that always appeared when I thought about Paul. 

I missed him. I missed my life. 

The sound of footsteps in the hall startled me and I quickly stashed the well-worn photo into the book I had been reading. I wiped at my eyes just as the knob turned on the door. 

I set the book aside as the door opened and turned to see Louie standing there. 

Morning, he said, in that dark, husky voice that he rarely used. 

I nodded, still not trusting my voice yet. 

Louie walked over to the coffin that took up the far corner of the room and peered in.

He’s not having any issue with the drugs? Louie asked. 

No, I don’t think so, I said, stepping up beside him. I think the side of him that lets him withstand the sunlight, still makes him vulnerable to this sort of thing; but the vampire side keeps him from having any side effects. I looked down into the coffin. 

Jonathan stirred, restless in his drug-induced sleep. I shook my head. This is so wrong. 

Louie stepped away. Unfortunately, we’re not the ones to decide what’s right and what’s wrong. I’ll be back in a few hours. 

He left, shutting the door behind him. 

I looked back down at Jonathan, bending to fix the blanket I’d covered him with at dawn. In my heart, I knew this wasn’t the right thing to do. I wasn’t like the people here. But I couldn’t leave the kid. I owed it to him.

3

Seth

Istared out the window, absently listening to Bryson chatter on about the Order and their compound. He moved from one story to the next effortlessly recalling, This one time...with my father and his group of friends… I gritted my teeth and focused on the scenery as it flew by. It was mostly trees, trees, and more trees. We'd passed a small town and a lake a while back, but there weren't many other signs of civilization. 

You'll love the compound. The school where we all trained and— 

I zoned out again and tried to think of what I would say to Adrian and the other leaders. Bryson kept saying that I was supposed to take my father's place as their leader, but I wasn't so sure about that. I barely remembered my father. How was I supposed to take the place of a man I had barely known?

There was also Jonathan. I needed to get him back from the vampires. And each moment longer that Jon was with them was another that put him in more danger. I didn't want to lose the last of my family to those evil things. 

Seth? Bryson sounded like he had been trying to get my attention for a while. I looked over at him. He had that concerned look on his face as he glanced between me and the road. 

What? 

Look, I know that you're worried about your brother, but relax a little. The Directors will know what to do, and I know they'll help you. They'll get Jonathan back, and you can both come to stay with the Order. 

I was about to tell him I wasn't so sure we'd come back, but Bryson's somber face lit up as we passed a worn-looking mile marker. See, we're almost there.  

After another half-mile or so, Bryson turned his beaten old pickup onto an unmarked dirt road and followed its winding path through the thick undergrowth. 

We kept driving, and the road got progressively worse. 

Are you sure— I started to say as Bryson rounded the truck through another large turn. The words died on my lips as we emerged from the forest and into an open space. Acres of clear land sat surrounded by the forest. In the center, a large white manor house stood tall and imposing, its windows gaping like dead eyes staring down at us. 

Welcome to the Compound. Bryson said, easing the truck up the final few feet of the drive. He stopped in front of the stairs leading up to the door. 

I got out of the car before reaching to pull my bags from the truckbed. 

Ah, wonderful, you made it, a forcefully cheery voice called from