by G. K. DeRosa
“Did you really think you could stuff me in the dungeons and get away with it?” Dark circles stained the skin beneath Hazon’s eyes, and his cheekbones were sharper than usual.
“Yes, actually I did,” I spat, “because it’s where you belong.”
“Oh, that’s rich coming from you.” He caressed Solaris’s hair, sending a stream of fire through my body. “You’re the one carrying on a secret affair with a human.” He motioned toward the haggard soldiers. “All of this is your fault. The taranoi attack on Castle De La Divin.” He licked his chapped lips. “And the humans. They’re sick and dying, and we’re going to starve to death all because of you and this filthy human.”
“How did you even find me?” I asked, stalling as I looked for a way to get to Solaris.
“I tracked your plane.” He jerked her chin around so he could peer into her face. “Imagine my surprise when I found you with a human girl.”
Was he the one who broke through the glass doors yesterday?
My gaze flicked toward the soldiers as they surrounded me before returning to my brother’s friend. “Release her, and I’ll let you live.”
A humorless laugh slipped out of his twisted mouth. “We’re all on the verge of dying because of you. You’ve set the prophecy in motion. You’re the one who needs to die.”
Solaris stomped on his foot, but it did nothing except anger him. His hand whipped back, and he smacked her across the cheek.
Red clouded my vision, and I darted forward. The guards were suddenly on me, holding my arms as they dragged me back.
“Kaige!” she screamed as they began to hit me. “Leave him alone.”
Pain erupted through my body as they took turns kicking me. Their hard boots smashed into my ribs over and over again, cracking them before they could fully heal.
Hazon swung Solaris around. “Don’t worry, human. Soon you’ll be joining him. I figured if I killed you both, it might stop the prophecy, and everything would return to normal.”
“You’re crazy!” She tried to kick him, but he easily blocked her attempt. “Killing us won’t cure the humans. And newsflash, it was Xander who set the poison free on Imera.”
He shrugged. “He didn’t know about the synth. If you had never set foot in our world, this wouldn’t be happening.”
“Just kill me,” I wheezed, spitting blood onto the grimy floor. “Let her go. I’m sure killing only me will be enough.” Maybe Hazon was right. Maybe my death could stop the prophecy.
“No!” Solaris spun around, pinning me with a hard glare. “You will not sacrifice yourself for me.” A lethal combination of anguish and anger melted through the bond. If we both made it through this, she might kill me herself for even suggesting my death.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Hazon’s fingers tangled in her hair, yanking her back as she tried to make a break for me.
A growl curled out of my lips, one so threatening the six guards backed away. “Leave her out of this. I will tear you limb from limb, Hazon. I swear it.”
“Sorry, King Kaige, but you’re in no position—” His words were cut off by a thunderous crash erupting through the city.
It gave me just the opportunity to spring forward and pull Solaris away from him.
“You bastard!” he snarled, swiping for her arm.
Another crash exploded, and the entire building shook, throwing us off balance. Hazon stumbled, catching the metal framing to keep him from falling out of the same hole from which he’d dangled Solaris.
Vibrations rippled from the left. A sinking feeling hit my gut at the cause of the disturbances.
I snatched Solaris and dove to the right, shielding her body with mine. Not a second later, a rusted plane burst through the wall, bulldozing the entire room.
Plaster rained down, and the screech of metal pierced my ears. Smoke and fire scented the air and sparks popped along the ground. I held on to Solaris as tremors rippled through the building. The plane came to a screeching halt, the crushed nose hanging out of the hole while the heavy machine precariously rocked.
Solaris’s ragged pulse matched mine. “Kaige! Kaige, are you okay?”
“Yeah,” I breathed, slowly taking stock of my own injuries. They all stemmed from the betraying royal guards led by Hazon. The destruction of the plane crash hadn’t touched us. I couldn’t say the same for them.
As I lifted my head, no one else stirred. A taranoi—maybe many—was probably in the plane, unconscious or dead and the treasonous guards had suffered the same fate. I wasn’t going to stick around to find out who was dead or alive.
I helped Solaris up, biting back a grunt of pain. “We need to get out of here. Now.”
Her green eyes were wide as they surveyed the wreckage. “Uh, yeah.”
A loud, keening groan resonated through the high rise, the metal frame shaking. My heart jumped into my throat. This whole structure was going to collapse any minute. “Let’s go.” I picked Solaris up despite the agony tearing through my healing ribs and bolted down the stairs.
I grabbed our bags of supplies and dashed out of the building. We were boarding that plane and getting the hell out of the Shadow Lands before any more enemies stumbled upon us. My family’s summer home had to be safer than this.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans—as usual.
“Oh crap.” Solaris’s words were distant in my ears as I sat her down, my eyes locked on the very visible plane. Or what used to be the plane. A cement pillar was lying over the center, demolishing it.
A string of curses sped through my mind, and I kicked a chunk of cement. It disappeared over a pile of rubble, crashing into the ground. “We’re stuck here with only two bags of supplies.”
Solaris’s warm hand landed on my shoulder. “We have to make our way back to Imera for more then.”
I shook my head. “Draconis might be safer at this point.” I dragged my fingers through my hair as a bolt of lightning streaked the murky sky and a rumble of thunder followed. My gaze flicked toward the high rise where Hazon and his guards may or may not be alive.
“We can’t stay here,” Solaris said as if reading my mind. “I don’t want to run into that creep again.” A shudder rippled down her spine.
My chest tightened. Once again, she’d been in danger. All because of me.
I swallowed the guilt and picked her up, her brow furrowing in protest. “We need to put as much distance between them and us, and this is the fastest way to do that.”
Her lips tightened, but she gave a quick nod. “Okay.”
I pivoted and sprinted through the city ruins, heading toward Draconis. On foot, it was going to take days. I wasn’t sure we had that much time before someone else caught up to us.
Chapter 27
Kaige
Rain poured through a hole in the cavernous roof, pounding against the marble floor. Darkness blanketed the outside, its only reprieve the flashes of lightning ripping through the sky.
“This was a house?” Solaris’s voice trembled from the cold, her head tilting up to the tree growing in what was probably the dining room.
Weeds sprouted through cracks in the foundation and vines coiled around the Greek columns framing the massive foyer. “Yeah.”
“It looks more like an abandoned castle.” She carefully stepped around the massive fallen chandelier, drops of rain glimmering on the crystals.
I gripped her hand and pulled her up the grand, winding staircase. “Let’s find a dry place and get you warm.” I’d run for hours until a cold, bitter rain began to fall. Luckily we ended up in a neighborhood with large, stone built houses that hadn’t completely disintegrated into the ground over time.
“Could they follow us here?” she asked, her fingers tightening on my hand. “I mean, if they’re still alive?”
I shook my head. “The rain washed out our scents. We’re safe from them.” For now, anyway.
The chattering of Solaris’s teeth echoed through the hall as we searched for a suitable room.
We finally found what was once a luxurious bedroom, with tall tray ceilings and ornately carved crown molding. The iron-framed bed held no mattress, but a large fireplace was situated against one wall.
I dropped our bags on the dull marble floor. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to look for something to burn. You should get out of those damp clothes.” I pivoted and sprinted through the door, desperate to find dry kindling. I didn’t like leaving Solaris alone, and I didn’t like her shivering either.
It didn’t take long to find a room with enough wooden furniture. The chairs had been nice back when someone inhabited this house, back when it was a home, but now they were reduced to firewood.
I quickly snapped them into pieces, wincing from the dull throb in my ribs. The constant running had slowed my healing down. When I had enough for a good, long fire, I rushed back to the room, but Solaris was nowhere in sight. My pulse spiked, and the scraps of wood fell to the ground with a loud clatter. “Solaris!”
Footsteps echoed, and she appeared through the door, a bundle of material in her arms. “What’s wrong?”
A breath of relief exited my lips. “Nothing. I just… When I didn’t see you…”
“Oh.” She gave a gentle smile. “Sorry. I was just looking for something to sleep on.”
I nodded and got to work building a fire. We’d both been through a lot lately, and the threat of losing each other was the only constant in our lives. I didn’t want to lose anyone else, especially her.
“That should do it.” The flames roared to life, flooding the room with warmth. A rhythmic crackling mixed with the pounding rain and frequent rumbles of thunder. I glanced over my shoulder as Solaris finished spreading out the blankets.
A strange feeling flooded the bond as her gaze remained fixed on the once white covers. Something was on her mind, but she couldn’t find the words.
“What is it, Solaris?” I prodded.
She suddenly stood, her eyes pinning me with an unreadable stare. “Every time I turn around, one of us is knocking on death’s door.”
“I know.” A sigh slipped out as I stood. “But I won’t let anything happen to—”
She cut me off with a shake of her head. “You’re not invincible, Kaige. No one is.” She dragged her trembling fingers through her damp hair. “People are dying, and we could join them any minute.”
I made my way to her, running my hand over the bruise on her cheek. “Is this about what happened with Hazon?” My jaw clenched as the memory of him slapping her flashed through my mind.
“It’s everything.” Her bottom lip snagged between her teeth. “I don’t want to die with all these regrets and what ifs. Maybe we did start this prophecy, but I can’t help the way I feel about you.” She swallowed hard. “I never could. I love you, Kaige.”
Her words stopped my heart for several long, heavy seconds. When it started again, it rammed into my ribs with each frantic beat. I’d been on the verge of telling her twice now, but I never imagined the effect hearing the words from her would have on me.
It left me shaking and breathless.
My forehead rested on hers, reveling in the feel of her in my arms. “I love you, Solaris.” The bond flared to life between us. “I think I loved you before I knew you, before you spoke one word to me.” My lips brushed over hers, tasting her sweet flavor.
Solaris kissed me back, her tongue swiping over mine as her body molded against me. Warmth coiled in my core, spreading through my limbs and burning my blood. My fingers tangled in her hair and tilted her head, deepening the kiss.
She shuddered under my touch, melting and surrendering to the desire swirling around us.
“Solaris,” I breathed against her mouth, white-hot embers slow-burning through my chest. If she didn’t push me away, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stop on my own. A hunger—and not for blood—was bubbling to life. Once it reached the surface, it would take more than a cold shower to shove it back down.
“I don’t want you to stop.” Her voice was barely audible, but those words were like gunshots to my ears. They were loud and clear.
I pulled back, my ragged breath ghosting down her flushed face. “W-What do you mean?”
She peered up at me through her lashes, the green in her eyes burning all the way to my soul. “You know what I mean.” She licked her damp lips. “Enemies are everywhere, and we may never get another moment like this.”
Oh gods.
My thumb brushed her jaw, and her lids fluttered from my simple touch. “Maybe you’re not thinking clearly.” The desire in me wanted to smash my teeth in. “You’re still shaken from earlier and—”
She cut me off with a kiss that went from zero to sixty in seconds. My insides blazed hotter than the fire behind us as her mouth took control, showing me exactly who was boss. Solaris knew what she wanted, and I wasn’t about to deny her.
“I love you.” Or at least that was what I’d tried to say. Instead, it came out as a garbled, breathy moan.
Her fingers made quick work of the buttons on my shirt, no longer trembling from the cold. No one could be cold in this room. It was as hot as a sauna and just as clouded by steam.
Air hit my bare chest before her hands ran down my skin, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. I kissed her, completely addicted to that honey flavor. My fingers curled in the hem of her shirt, drawing it up and over her head.
“You are the most beautiful creature in this entire world,” I murmured against her lips.
A breathy laugh slipped out of her. “I was thinking the same thing about you, prince of darkness.”
She was the light to my darkness. I never knew what I was missing until she crashed into my life, a fallen star from the heavens. But now that I’d experienced her warmth, I couldn’t live without it.
I gently laid her back on the soft pile of blankets, her golden hair fanning around her like an angelic halo. My palm brushed across her collarbone as I stared into her eyes, seeing nothing but love and desire reflecting back at me.
She was so fragile, and I could easily break her, but she trusted me unconditionally.
Did I deserve it?
Probably not.
Did I want it, and would I spend every minute of my life—however long that may be—doing everything in my power to be worthy of it?
A thousand times, yes.
I kissed her deeply as my hands roamed her curves. A web of tiny blue veins beneath her perfect skin dazzled me and my fangs ached, but they remained hidden. Things were already spiraling out of control in the crumbling mansion. Add blood to the mix and, well, we’d leave the real world behind for more than a few hours. That wasn’t the safest idea right now.
My mouth skimmed across her neck, her pulse thundering beneath my tongue. It teased the vampire in me, but the sensation was more pleasure than pain. A sweet aching built inside me, matching the one growing in her.
My little human. My everything.
“Kaige.” My name fell from her lips like a plea, a sweet promise of surrender. Her fingers tightened on my shoulders as her breath caught.
Everything but Solaris drifted away. She was my world, and my sole purpose was to make her happy. Her honey and jasmine scent filled my senses, and her presence swallowed me up, branding me once again.
A fire erupted in my core, one that could burn for a thousand lifetimes. It was fueled by my longing and hers, the bond weaving them into one, all-encompassing storm. It battered against our souls, and lightning sparked everywhere we touched.
We weren’t just bound by blood anymore. Our hearts and our bodies were irrevocably linked. No prophecy, no destiny would change that. Dead or alive, Solaris and I belonged to each other. Always.
Chapter 28
Solaris
I couldn’t help the big goofy smile that split my lips as my head slowly moved up and down with the rise and fall of Kaige’s bare chest. My fingertips traced the smooth ridges of his torso, my heart so full I was scared it might explode.
A huge bou
lder had been lifted from my shoulders once I’d said the words out loud. The dreaded words that sealed our fate and yet filled me with more happiness than I ever thought possible.
I loved Kaige. I had for some time now, and not saying it out loud didn’t make it any less true. Screw the prophecy.
I nuzzled into his chest, pulling him closer. My body longed to be near his, to be one with him. Every single cell thirsted for his touch. The night before had been the perfect first time, and now no matter what happened those memories would be forever emblazoned in my mind. He’d be a part of me for all eternity.
Warm breath blew through my hair, pulling me from my musings. I tilted my head up and met smoky navy irises.
“Good morning, beautiful.”
The sexy sound of Kaige’s raspy voice sent butterflies aflutter in my stomach. His eyes sparkled, a wicked grin across his lips.
“What’s that face?”
“What face?” He rolled me over on top of him, his strong arms caging me in.
“That strange upward twist at the corners of your lips.”
He chuckled and swept a lock of hair behind my ear, his thumb grazing my cheek. “I’m happy.”
I smiled back at him, fairly certain my silly grin was the mirror image of his. I wished I could freeze this moment in time and live in it forever.
We remained entangled in each other until my stomach grumbled, ruining the perfect moment.
“You’re hungry.” Kaige’s serene smile vanished.
“Just a little. I’ll be fine.”
He sat up, rolling me over to sit beside him. “We’re going to have to keep moving. Our supplies aren’t going to last long with us on foot.”
Ugh. So much for our little moment of bliss.
“Do we have to go right now?” I arched a brow, my weak attempt at seduction.
His eyes darted from my lips to the backpacks in the corner and back. He frowned, and a low growl reverberated in his throat. “Yes.” He wrapped his hand around the back of my neck and drew me toward him, brushing my lips with a chaste kiss. “Because if we don’t go now, I can’t guarantee we’d ever leave this place.”