“Tell Lucien I’m coming for him next,” I said through my teeth. “And anyone else who thinks they’ve taken control of my fucking throne will be next in line after him.”
“Yes, sire,” she said and gathered Harmon up before racing through the room, disappearing through the veil.
It was the first time since Harmon attacked Delia that I noticed the crowd of slayers and how they were all seemingly frozen in place. None of them dared come close to me. Even the two vampires I’d rescued cowered in fear. Stellan was the only one brave enough to stand in front of me.
He knelt down and gathered Delia into his arms and whistled.
A moment later, the far wall exploded as Stellan’s faithful companion Cyrus crashed through it, sending people running in every direction.
“Let me take her to Theodosia. Maybe she can help.”
“No,” I said. “I’ll take her.”
I only hoped I hadn’t wasted too much time. The sight of her dead body had thrown me deep into the throes of a murderous rage and I couldn’t see anything past killing Harmon.
“No need to take her to my sister. You have a witch right here.”
“Theodona,” Stellan said, disgust coating his words.
“The one and only,” she replied. “I’d be happy to work up a little preservation spell for your one and only true love… For a price, of course,” she said.
“I’ll take my chances with your sister,” I said.
“But she’s here and her sister isn’t,” Stellan interjected. “What is it that you want?”
“A night with you.”
“So be it,” Stellan said without hesitation. “I’ll go with you as soon as you help her. No tricks, no ridiculous loopholes. Just help my queen.”
“Oh, I don’t want you tonight. No, I want you when the time is right,” she said with a smirk. “The part you’ll play in things to come is bigger than you think. Wouldn’t want to spoil that with the wrong timing.”
“Stellan,” I said. “You don’t have to do this, but I cannot delay this another minute. I’ve already wasted too much time.”
He turned to the witch, and said, “Do it.”
Theodona approached me and laid her hands on Delia. Closing her eyes, she began to hum an eerie tune.
“She’s not lost, not completely,” she said in a sing-song voice. “Your blood keeps her desperately clinging to the mortal coil, but she can’t hold on for long.”
“Tell me what I must do,” I demanded. “Is it too late for the change?”
“No. In fact, it’s the only way to coax her back, and I’d do it quickly if I were you. I’ve frozen her in time, but without anything to strengthen the spell, she’ll be fading again within a few minutes.”
I placed Delia back on the ground. Without hesitation, I lowered my head and plunged my fangs into her neck, sucking all but a few drops from her body before biting into my wrist and tearing a gash big enough for the blood to flow freely. Holding my wrist over her mouth, I balled my hand into a fist, forcing droplets of blood to fall onto her lips. Gently coaxing her mouth open with my other hand, I pressed my opened vein to her.
The blood flowed from my body into hers as I whispered to her, pleading that she return to me. I would have given her every last drop of my blood, forfeiting my life, if it meant she would live.
I didn’t want to exist in any realm without her in it.
If this didn’t work, I’d be following her into the great black abyss soon enough.
23
Delia
With no idea of where I was going, I floated through the darkness, weightless and care-free along a soothing current, like a warm lazy-river guiding me to my next destination. No thoughts, no worries, no pain… Just warmth and silence.
Death wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be.
But there was a niggling feeling tickling my soul, around the area where Harmon’s sword had pierced my heart. I tried to scratch at the sensation to alleviate it, but I couldn’t find my fingers or my chest. My body had either gone corporeal or I’d left it altogether. I couldn’t say for sure either way.
Trying desperately to cling to it with fleeting success, the warmth drained away, leaving a smooth coldness in its place. I began to feel my body again as hot, metallic liquid coated my tongue and throat.
My fingers grazed my neck and face. The skin was cool and unnaturally smooth, like Liam’s.
Liam.
His face appeared just above me, a light framing it like a beautiful portrait. His eyes shone brilliant blue and bright, guiding me out of the darkness as a tear fell over his cheek and his soft lips turned up, exposing his teeth. I stared at his fangs, coated in blood, and wondered whose it was.
Pillowy softness cradled my body, his hands brushing against my face.
“Welcome back, my queen,” he whispered and pressed his lips to mine. “Welcome home.”
“Home?”
“Yes.”
“Where’s that?” I asked, confusion clouding my thoughts. Did I have a home anymore?
“Velum Mortis.”
“Oh,” I said not entirely sure where or what he was talking about but enjoying the peace all the same. Closing my eyes, I drifted off to sleep, chasing the waning warmth.
A desert took over the depths of my throat, a tightening grip squeezing it shut. My eyes flung open. I could barely speak. Where had the peaceful feeling that had lulled me to sleep gone?
“Liam,” I squeaked. “Liam, please. Something’s wrong.”
Silence answered my pleading.
Anxiety coursed through my body, but where my heart should have been racing, there was nothing.
I gasped, filling my lungs with oxygen, the thirst rising.
Catching the fragrance of something thick and rich, like a finely aged bourbon, the thirst intensified, and somehow, I knew the source of the scent was the key to salvation.
A wine glass sat on the table beside the bed where I had been sleeping, a red liquid filling its depths. Before I could question what it was, I took the glass in my hands, brought it to my lips and gulped the liquid down.
Immediately, the tightening dryness lifted from my throat and a dull thud echoed in my chest as if my heart had sprung back to life, though it felt slower and steadier somehow. I couldn’t recall exactly how my heart was supposed to feel when it wasn’t racing, but I knew this wasn’t right.
Hanging my feet over the side of the bed, I stood and steadied myself against the wall. The room was unfamiliar and the most opulent thing I’d ever laid eyes on. Oversized furniture that looked luxurious and expensive with varying colors and textures decorated the room. Lavish royal purple drapes covered the windows. A sculpture of two lovers embracing sat off in the corner. My eyes travelled up the wall, spying a painting of a man. I walked over to it, running my fingers over the canvas, admiring the beauty of the eyes staring back at me. Nothing in the room was as beautiful and familiar as those eyes.
Harmon running with his sword pointing straight ahead slammed into my mind. A phantom pain fluttered over my chest at the memory of his blade piercing through my flesh and into my heart.
I should be dead.
Yet here I stood, in a strange place. Maybe this was death. Maybe this was where the warm current I’d floated upon had taken me.
Hands slid around my waist, pulling my back tight against a hardened body. Cool lips ghosted over my neck.
“You’re awake, beauty. It’s almost time…” he whispered against my ear.
“Almost time for what?” I asked, turning to meet the most beautiful eyes I’d ever seen, more brilliant blue than I’d remembered. I looked deep into his eyes, trying desperately to remember what had happened after I’d thrown myself between his body and Harmon’s blade, but there was nothing but a warm black fog.
“Are you alright, my queen?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “I feel weird, like I’m dead, but not really. What happened?”
He took my hand a
nd pulled me to the bed. I sat beside him and studied his face as his hand rested on my thigh. The brilliance I thought I’d seen in him before was nothing compared to how I saw him now, but what had changed?
“The feeling will subside as you grow used to this new state.”
“Did I die?”
“Almost… I brought you back. I thought you were lost to me, but I was able to complete the steps to turn you before you slipped away.”
The realization of what he was implying slammed into me and I thought I might burst from my skin. The possibility of becoming a vampire was a choice I knew I’d be making in the near future, but this was unexpected.
I’d flung myself in front of Harmon’s blade, expecting to die. Not expecting to wake up a vampire.
“The choice was taken from me,” I said, tears wetting my cheeks.
“I’m sorry, my love. There was no other way. I couldn’t lose you,” he said, cradling my face and pressing his forehead to mine. “I would’ve followed you had I failed to bring you back.”
My head told me I should be angry, but my heart… My heart told me to let it go. I would’ve ended up a vampire anyway and it meant I could spend eternity at Liam’s side.
“It’s okay,” I said, placing my hand on his chest and pulling away just enough that I could look at his face. “I love you.”
“I love you, my queen,” he said looking deeply into my eyes. “We’re due in the throne room shortly.”
“I don’t think they’ll accept me. Not even sure they’ll accept you, if I’m being completely honest.”
“They’ll have no choice.”
“You didn’t see the way they had written you off, and I wasn’t exactly welcomed with open arms last time I was here. Lucien and I did not click well.”
“They thought I was lost to them and didn’t know if I’d ever come back. They had to move on… And no one clicks with Lucien these days, but you won’t have to deal with him. He’ll be out of our lives soon enough.”
“How so?”
“He betrayed me. He must be punished.”
“What will you do to him?”
“He’s been sent to the dungeon for now while I contemplate his fate, but he won’t serve the crown anymore, that’s for sure. I never thought the day would come when I couldn’t trust my own brother.”
“Your brother,” I said, dumbfounded. “I had no idea.”
“He’s not anymore.”
“Can I ask you something?” I asked, desperate to change the subject. I’d never had a brother or a sister, but I couldn’t imagine being in Liam’s position and facing such a decision.
“Of course.”
“What happened to Harmon?”
Liam pressed his lips together, dragging his hand through his hair.
“Is he dead?”
“Mostly.”
“I should probably change into something else,” I said, deciding then that I didn’t care what Harmon’s fate was or had been. I had bigger things to worry about.
“Yes, you should. Something befitting a queen, but first…” he said, the corner of his mouth turning up into that cocky grin that had set my heart ablaze so many times since I’d met him. “We need to get you out of these.”
Liam placed his hand on my leg, his fingers grazing the sensitive inner flesh of my thigh. Desire pooled, and I longed for him to drag his hand over my flesh and up to where I really wanted to be touched.
“If you thought sex with me was good before, just wait until I get inside you this time,” he said, nuzzling my neck.
I nibbled at my bottom lip, my gums aching as my canines grew into sharp points, piercing my lip.
His eyes settled on the droplets of blood about to fall from my mouth before leaning in, his tongue darting out to catch them.
Firm lips brushed softly against mine, sending tiny licks of fire dancing across my flesh. His tongue tasted the seam of my lips before pulling my bottom lip into his mouth and sucking hard. The slightest sound of a pop as he let go of my lip broke the quietness. Pulling back, he cocked the corner of his mouth up and lingered near me as I waited for his caress.
My cheeks flushed hot, warming my chilled skin. He leaned in closer, his fingers running through my hair as he pressed his body against mine. His lips crashed into me with sweet pressure as he pushed my body back against the bed, settling himself between my legs. His cock pressed against my sensitive flesh and I knew I wouldn’t last much longer.
“Wait,” I breathed against his lips, and gently pushed up on him.
“What is it, my queen?”
I looked away, trying to avoid eye contact while wanting to scream that I wanted him more than anything I’d ever wanted before. How do you tell someone to skip the foreplay? That’s usually the best part, but there was no time for it now.
“I’m going to explode if you don’t fuck me right now.”
His strong hands slid down my body and around my hip to cup my ass, his lips feathering along my jawline. He gripped me tightly, grinding his cock against me as he nipped at my neck once more. Letting go, he stood at the foot of the bed and removed his shirt. As he pushed his pants down over his hips, his long, thick cock jutted forward.
My eyes traveled over his flesh, taking in every inch as he exposed his body to me. His abs tightened as he stared at me with animalistic hunger in his eyes, like he might devour me whole at any moment.
Settling his hand against my belly, he kissed my neck and pushed my shirt up slightly.
“Please,” I begged.
He snickered and pulled back, his gaze settling on mine. Smiling again, he said, “You deny your king the pleasure of exploring your body?”
“There’ll be plenty of time for exploring. We can spend the next year here exploring as far as I’m concerned, but right now, I need you inside of me.”
“Raise your arms.”
I did as I was told, but my body throbbed at the thought of him entering me. If he didn’t do it soon, just the visual playing in my head would be enough to throw me over the edge. His fingers gripped the hem of my shirt again and pushed it up slowly until he reached my fingertips. Tossing my top to the floor, his hands trailed feather-light down the inside of my arms as I lowered them. He leaned back, taking in the sight of my nearly naked torso. My skin felt as if it were flushing red as he worked his gaze over every inch of me.
Do vampires blush?
“Yes… You’re blushing,” he said with a coy smile, taking both my hands in his.
I couldn’t help but think what I wanted him to do with those lips, how much I wanted his mouth on my body, how much I wanted him to make me come.
My bra suddenly felt constricting, and I was desperate to be free of it. Just as I decided to remove it myself, he stopped me. Eyebrow cocked, the corner of his mouth turned up as he shook his head subtly.
“That’s my job,” he rasped, reaching around behind me with one hand.
The hooks of my bra popped open one by one and the garment’s straps slid down my arms. I shimmied my way out of it completely, nipples pebbling in the cool air of the room.
His tongue swept over his bottom lip, gently pulling it between his teeth a moment later. Where I would normally feel self-conscious and want to hide myself, the way his gaze lingered, like I was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, and he was going to enjoy exploring every needy curve of my body, despite the want I had for him to be inside of me as fast as possible.
He leaned in slowly, blowing cool air against my neck. Dipping his head, he took my nipple into his mouth and gently sucked, working his tongue over it in the most sensual sort of way. My chin tipped up, my head pressing into the pillow. Pressure grew deep below my belly, and I ached for sweet release.
He continued to suck and nibble at my nipple while his hand squeezed my other breast, thumb rubbing circles around my taut bud. I moaned quietly as I closed my eyes and enjoyed the sensation of his wet lips and tongue against my skin.
“That’s what I want
to hear, my queen,” he said, and placed his mouth over my other nipple.
His teeth gently nibbled at my sensitive flesh, causing me to cry out. I didn’t know if anyone was close enough to hear, but I didn’t care. Trailing his tongue from my breasts down the middle of my abdomen, he stopped just below my belly button. His fingers toyed with the button of my pants, finally undoing it and sliding down the zipper.
Arching my back just a little, I pushed my hips forward. I wanted him to yank my pants off me and ravish me, but he hooked the waistband and dragged them over my thighs, painfully slow. Settling on his knees, he looked down at me like he was ready to devour me.
Instinctively, I tried to spread my legs, but he placed a hand on either side of my knees, preventing me from doing so.
“No,” he breathed with a grin. “Not yet.”
A desperate noise tickled my throat, almost startling me at the sound. I couldn’t quite recall ever making such a noise.
“So eager, aren’t you?”
Nodding, I got another eyeful of his delectable body. His broad shoulders, strong chest, and chiseled abs called out to me as I desperately needed him against me.
Taking my foot in his hand, he raised it to his shoulder and kissed the inside of my ankle, working his way down my leg, planting soft kisses as he went. The coolness of his breath brushed against my panties when he made it to my inner thigh. Bending my knee, he pushed my outer thigh against the bed and kissed the crevice where my leg connected to my body. He was so close to where I needed him that it almost hurt. If he wasn’t going to fuck me just yet, I needed his tongue on me, the anticipation nearly killing me.
His mouth traveled to the outside of my panties, kissing a trail as he went. I got a sense of what it’d be like when he finally had me bare and licked me, and I damn near lost myself at the thought.
After what felt like an eternity, he slipped my panties down my legs, tossing them to the floor. He took my other foot, placed it on his shoulder, and worked his way down like he had done the other before.
“Your pussy is beautiful,” he said. “Simply magnificent.”
Beyond the Veil (Vampires of Velum Mortis Book 1) Page 15