Part of him wanted to run after her, embrace her and defend her. He knew something had gone wrong. She and Annabelle and that human were in danger. A dozen or more vampires would be after them in no time. That they had gotten this far out of the manor was unbelievable.
But the other part of him could not move, and even deeper, was not sure he should. His brain worked fast, contemplating what this could mean. If she was really human again, maybe the best thing he could do was let her go, let her disappear and never see her again. Protect her by never allowing himself the temptation of damning her to the life she so clearly hated for the past years ever again.
But he would not do it to her. No. Now he knew the outcome, nothing would persuade him to take her away from the world again. Declan could trust himself.
Don’t be thick, Declan, he heard in his head in Lena’s voice. It was a memory of who she once was, how she used to be, just like Declan heard so many times before in the past decades. And she was right.
Indeed, Declan would never bite her again, never take the incredible creature she was away from the world again. But another vampire definitely would. There was no question what Declan saw in Charles’s charcoal eyes. Whatever had happened when Lena tried to transform that human, Charles would see as a gift. He could make her his own now, sire her, possess her, use her.
Study her.
Declan had to do something.
Ansell, Charles’s massive right hand, appeared at the window in the tower, the highest point in the Castle. More fluidly than even a vampire his size should have been able to manage, he hopped out the window and cascaded down the stone front of the building, his rigid body not moving even a little from the position it had been in.
The ground rumbled like an earthquake when his feet touched down.
His Lena and that human were knocked off their feet by the vibrations.
In what could not have been more than a second, Lena and Declan’s eyes met again. Her hands were wrist deep in dewy grass as she began to lift herself with great effort, but she was letting her body do what it had to while her eyes spoke apologies and heartache.
She remembered now, and she was so sorry.
Declan’s eyes spoke back, a string of laments and regrets.
He could not understand how she was there, but she was there, and he felt like the best version of himself, as before. There was no excuse for his complacent inactivity the past several years, but he could not change that. What he could do was help her escape.
Ever conscious of Ansell’s approach, Declan could not squander the opportunity. He was closer to Lena than to Ansell. And the giant’s size meant Declan could outrun him. They would have only seconds, but now Declan felt like he could accomplish anything.
Lena closed her eyes in a human blink. Faster than he had run at any time in his memory, Declan was in front of her the moment her eyes reopened.
She smelled like honey and human blood. Just as before. Memories swirled in his head, of holding her, of touching her. And he allowed them all in, savoring each thought.
The horrible memory of her scent fading as she changed into a vampire was replaced in Declan’s mind with this glorious moment. He let it shower over him and fill his thoughts with luminous hope.
Neither of them moved, nor did that human. Annabelle’s hand went to her mouth, astonishment and understanding written on her usually controlled face as she took in the sight of Lena and Declan standing face to face.
There was no need for words. Lena fell into him and nuzzled his neck, the intimate way she always did. Declan placed his hand on the back of her head and let his fingers intertwine with her straight hair.
The giant was at the halfway point. Declan never wanted to let her go, never wanted to lose her again. Not having her in his arms, even for a moment now would be misery. But Declan had to be strong. He could accomplish anything. It was time.
Gently pushing his Lena away, Declan could not resist taking one more unwise second to look into her hazel eyes. The ring of gold that was not there before glistened as she held back tears.
He caressed her warm face, then in a swift blink he was off, charging toward Ansell, who was running at full speed toward them.
Toward his Lena. His true Lena.
Harsh Light of Day Page 49