“You cannot hide forever,” Ashana pointed out. “We will find you. You are a new witch, a weak one. Your powers will deplete, and no human is close by to restore your psychic energy.”
With a gentle push of her hands, Aurelia sent her sisters back. Adela fell, as did Ashana. Augusta managed to stay on her feet.
Her legs shook.
They were right. She was going to collapse soon.
Aurelia threw a helpless glance at Thyos.
She thought she was going to have to verbalized her concern. That if they did not move now, they would be captured. As much as Aurelia hated to admit it, her sisters were right. She was not strong enough to maintain the protection spell and cast attacks simultaneously.
But he seemed to be able to read her mind with no problem. Because he walked over to her and picked her up.
Just as she collapsed in his arms, Thyos knelt down and leaped off the ground.
Chapter 14
Thyos knew they could not return to his dwelling. He had nothing he was particularly fond of, nothing that held sentimental value. He was certain he would never be able to return again. There was a place, on the outskirts of the city, where the storms raged and swamps that had taken over this division during the Rift littered the land, where he could go.
The cabin.
The cabin where he had been when all chaos had broken loose.
Thyos knew he shouldn’t have taken her here. She had all but condemned herself to death, lashing out at Paletyn and killing him in the process. He should have left her to fend for herself. But he could not bring himself to do it. Not after the punishment she’d endured for him.
She’d saved him.
That was the truth of the matter.
The emperor was going to have him carried off to the dungeons, but she’d broken the spell and, in the process, killed the emperor. She had done so with nothing to hide her beauty, blood running down her back, and puncture marks on her neck, exposed for all to see. She was unlike anything he had ever seen before.
Without warning, the first drop of rain fell onto his bare shoulder. He looked at it in awe. He did not remember the last time it had rained while he was in the Colosseum, because the witches had cast protective spells that protected the inhabitants from the elements.
But because Aurelia had broken the spell…
Screaming came from everywhere. Witches began to move toward Aurelia, but with a wave of her hand and push of her energy, fire flew from her fingers and danced dangerously in front of her would-be captors.
Her energy was no doubt being depleted. She would be able to hold on much longer. She needed blood. His blood.
She was such a thing to behold, it was difficult to rip his eyes away from her. But he had to.
“You can fight, but they cannot hurt you,” Aurelia said, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. “I do not think I can hold on much longer.”
“Give me five minutes, and I promise to get you out of here,” he told her. He took a step toward the sister who clearly hated Aurelia, and with a strong backhand, slapped her down. He turned to Augusta and swiped at her as well, his considerable strength nearly throwing her into one of the walls. The third took two hands—the oldest always seemed to be the strongest.
When he had swept away any direct opposition, he threw Aurelia over his shoulder, knelt to the ground, and using all the strength he could muster, launched himself into the sky, leaping over the Colosseum and landing in the streets.
And from there, Thyos ran.
He did not know where he was going. He simply ran away, away from everyone who would pose a threat to Aurelia and him. And here, in the Citta di Paludi, that was everyone.
Since the Rift, the city had been formed to keep the factions separate, to build some up and tear others down. He did not know if there were other Divisions, if the same factions here occupied other Divisions, and if the humans were in power in other places. The purple storms that cackled with magic prevented any sane being from voyaging out to explore.
He knew one vampire who’d set out to find a new place to live, tired of being persecuted, tired of being at the bottom of the class hierarchy. He’d never returned. Thyos had written him off as dead, but there was a small part of him that thought that maybe, just maybe, he had actually succeeded in his journey. Maybe he had successfully crossed the seas and found land without getting swept away in a storm, or worse.
When he was finally out of the city, he took a moment to catch his breath. He was drained. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d fed, though, in reality, it was probably only yesterday. There was too much source energy leaving his body and nothing to put back in so it would be replenished.
“You need to feed,” Aurelia whispered from his shoulder. He could feel her lips vibrate on his skin and he felt his mouth go dry at the suggestion.
“You would…” He did not allow himself to finish the question, surprised by her suggestion.
Wasn’t it only a few days ago she had been young and inexperienced? Now she had come into her power after having blood—his blood—and she had killed Paletyn because she was tired of being pushed around.
He couldn’t blame her, not after meeting her delightful sisters. He was surprised she had not freaked before then, and he did not understand how she’d ended up so innocent with those three bullying her, isolating her, making her feel unworthy. He clenched his teeth, wishing to crush their skulls for what they put her through.
He had changed as well.
He did not understand this sudden change of pace. But Aurelia was unlike anyone he had ever met. Even now, as close as she was to slipping into unconsciousness, she was offering him her blood to heal himself.
“Of course I would.” She said it like it should have been obvious to him.
And it should have.
This witch was unlike any witch he had met before: curious, open-minded, thoughtful. She had this desire in her to please, probably a result of her sisters casting her out for so damn long; on top of that, and most surprising of all, was how much she trusted him. Granted, he had saved her, and he hadn’t tried to harm her, hadn’t tried to take advantage of her, though any other vampire in his position probably would have when they realized she was a witch. Not every vampire—especially not the new ones—had the ability to pick up smells the way he did. It was one of his talents, something that set him apart.
Appeared more beastly than human.
“Why do you trust me, you silly fool?” he asked. He was normally not one for discussion, but he could not move any faster, and he needed to keep her awake until she fed. If she slipped into unconsciousness, there was a chance she would not wake up. And that was something Thyos refused to think about.
“I don’t know,” Aurelia murmured. Her voice was whimsical, the sort of voice that occurred just before that fall into a deep slumber. It sounded musical to him, but it was the last thing he wanted to hear. He missed her sassiness, her wonder. “There’s just something about you…” Her lips twitched up, but it was a tired smile. He felt the gesture on his skin, and he could not help but feel a tightness in his chest. Where it came from, he wasn’t sure. It was a sensation that was oddly familiar to him, but something he hadn’t felt in a long, long time. “You’re a good person, Thyos Berkano.”
He could run no further so he had to walk with her in his arms. He had no idea how he still had the strength to carry her through it all when all he wanted to do was drop her and collapse on the rich soil under his feet and bury himself into the long, rich green grass that would feel cool against his skin.
He had never been this drained before in his entire life. The sun was still out, but he knew it would be nightfall soon. As long as he could feed…
He nearly snapped at himself for being so selfish, and then he snapped at himself for not being more selfish.
What the fuck was he turning into?
All he knew was that he needed Aurelia better before he allowed himself to think of anyth
ing else. But he realized he needed to analyze the situation he was in and figure out the best course of action.
Soon, but not now.
His legs were ready to give out from under him, but still he went on, trudging through the swampy brush. Flies and mosquitoes buzzed around him. He had to reach up with his free hand and wave them away every few seconds. Frogs were croaking on the green water, looking for food and relaxing on their lily pads. Famous statues could still be seen from the swamps that overtook them, statues that had been forgotten in place of gladiator battles and keeping the vampires at the bottom of the food chain.
Art and beauty were sacrificed for power and glory.
“I can walk now,” Aurelia insisted, wiggling against his shoulder.
He was starting to feel her emotions through their bond, and the struggle was weak. He knew she was doing this for him, because she was probably feeling his emotions as well. Perhaps she didn’t recognize that it was because of their bond. He hadn’t really gone into detail of what the bond between them actually meant. But she was stubborn when she wanted to be.
“Please,” she said. “I want to be able to take care of myself.”
He shouldn’t listen to her. She was physically exhausted, and she was close to slipping into unconsciousness…
Perhaps this was a good thing. It would force her to stay awake. It would get her to move. He was conflicted. She would be physically exerting herself. They were still a mile out from where he was taking her. Somewhere safe, for the time being, where she could recuperate as best as she could.
He stopped and slowly set her down. “Fine,” he told her. “Walk. It’ll keep you awake.”
“Awake?” She tilted her head to the side and nearly lost her balance.
“You cannot slip into slumber, witch,” he told her. “You must keep awake.”
“Why not?” she said with a yawn. “You’re more comfortable than you look, you know.”
Thyos growled but did not respond.
“I cannot pull you from unconsciousness,” he told her. Before he could stop himself, he reached out and curled a stray strand of golden hair behind her ear. “And I do not know of any witches who would help me do that for you. Especially now that everyone thinks we are engaged in a relationship.”
Aurelia beamed at him. “We are friends,” she agreed, missing his point.
“Walk, witch,” he said again. “Perhaps when we are closer, I will carry you further. But for now, walk.”
“Will you talk to me?” Aurelia asked as she began to follow him through the tall, swampy brush. From the corner of his eye, he watched as she stepped into some unexpected mud and made a face at the cool, soggy dirt that hugged her bare skin on her feet. Her flimsy sandals did nothing to protect her from the elements.
“I am not as good at talking as you are,” Thyos said.
Aurelia smiled, and Thyos could not help but think that when she smiled, with the backdrop of the colorful flowers and the tall grass and the distant dark swamps, Aurelia had never looked more beautiful.
She was wild and reckless and genuine and true.
“What would you like to talk about?” he asked.
“You can start by telling me where we’re going,” she began.
Thyos nodded once, his eyes on his feet as he had to pick them up because of how heavy and soft the soil was.
“A cabin,” he told her.
Chapter 15
Aurelia’s nose burned with the strong stench of swamp water, and her ears tickled with buzzing flies and other insects that could not seem to find it in themselves to shut the fuck up. Everything was loud here. Everything was overwhelming. Trees that kept growing and growing, with low hanging branches and wild leaves that fell wherever they wished. The grass was untamed, coming up to her knees, so she had to stomp her way to the small, one-story cabin tucked away. A purple storm loomed ahead but according to Thyos, they were still far away enough to be safe.
“You should let me carry you, witch,” Thyos said from her side as he led her further and further into the brush.
A beautiful orange flower caught her eye, and her gaze lingered on it, even as her body continued to move.
“You know,” Aurelia said slowly. “I did save your life. The least you could do is call me by my name.”
Thyos looked taken aback by her claim and pressed his lips together to keep from saying anything more.
“They managed to get three lashes on you before I got there,” he finally continued. “It would be much faster if you let me carry you. You need… blood. My blood. You could get infected.”
“Why do you care about me?” she asked him, turning her head so she could look at his eyes. “Why save me from that man in the alley? Why save me now? I’ve been nothing but trouble from the start.”
Her body was surprisingly light as he lifted her over his shoulder, trying not get her back more infected than it already was. He used the overgrown brush as an excuse not to think. As a vampire, he could use his excessive speed to get her to the cabin much faster, but he was already drained himself. The witch’s spell had taken its toll on his energy. What little he had left, he’d used getting them out of the city completely.
“You make me feel human,” Thyos replied, because it was honest and because it was all he could think to say.
He reached the cabin and all but kicked down the door. Despite the surroundings, the cabin was well-furnished and looked like a pleasant place to get away with a lover. Aurelia could not study it as much as she would have liked. Stars danced before her eyes, and she felt a familiar sense of lightheadedness that threatened to take her over.
Once he was in the bedroom, he gently placed her on the surface of the bed. Aurelia immediately noticed the white sheets and protested.
“They’ll stain,” she murmured.
“I can always buy new sheets,” he told her. “Do not be stubborn, Aurelia. Feed.” He ripped the skin off his wrist as he slid down onto his knees so she had better access to him without having to shift and strain.
She felt her lips curl up into a smile. “That’s the first time, I think, that you’ve called me by my name,” she mumbled.
“You stupid girl,” he hissed. And then, he said something she never expected to hear him say. In a ghost of a whisper, so soft she thought she had imagined it, he said, “Please.”
At that word, her eyes widened. She picked her head off the mattress of the bed so she could look into his eyes. They were pools of blue, so deep she was certain she would drown in them.
He cared about her, she realized. She did not know why, did not know how it had happened, but there was a small part of him that cared about her. It was odd, because now she felt herself brim with the responsibility of taking care of herself so he would not have to worry.
He had already saved them.
The least she could do was drink from him. Again.
The same feelings as last time buzzed in her ear, and the echo of waves rushed through her head, drowning out logical thought. Her heart pounded against her chest in anticipation. She felt her mouth water. The buzzing noises from outside were drowned out. It almost felt as though they were the only two people in the world right now.
“And you?” she forced herself to say. “You still need to feed as well.”
Thyos pressed his lips together. She was beginning to recognize that gesture as agreement without actually agreeing. It was something prideful people did to keep their pride while acknowledging perhaps someone else was right.
“I’m more concerned about you,” he murmured, pushing his wrist to her. “You cannot take care of me until you take care of yourself first.” He paused, scanning her face. “Aurelia, I have never forced you to do anything you did not want to do. But if it means saving you, I will force you to drink from me.”
Somehow, the smell of his blood made her nose twitch. She could smell him. Gods, he smelled delicious.
Without waiting any longer, she lunged for him, placing her lip
s on his wrist and devouring the blood that was there. He let out a surprised grunt when he felt her lap at him like she was a thirsty dog, desperate for anything to drink. She could feel his eyes burning her, singeing her skin, branding her.
She did not care. If she looked like a fool, she did not care.
Already, she could feel his blood coursing through her body. Her back ached less and less. She could feel the skin stretch and start to interlace and smooth out, as though she’d never endured lashings in front of the spectators at the Colosseum on the order of her father.
She continued to bring the sweet nectar to her mouth, could feel dark crimson drops running down her chin.
She felt like a hungry beast.
It was only at that moment did she hear him. She cracked open her eyes and found Thyos staring at her like she was some kind of beautiful goddess. He was in awe of her. He did not look at her with disgust or with shame. There was no obligation in his eyes; he did not feel he had to do this.
He wanted her to feed from him.
She doubted he allowed anyone else to do such a thing.
Aurelia swallowed her last gulp but did not look away from him. She could not. She was paralyzed. From the corner of her eye, she noticed his right hand to come up and cup her left cheek. She simply reacted; she tilted her head and leaned into his touch, reveling in the cool skin, the softness. She was surprised how soft his hands were, with the number of battles he had participated in, but that was probably a perk of being a vampire. Each callus, each blister, probably healed quickly.
He ran his thumb across her bottom lip slowly, lingering on her skin. Without thinking, without realizing what she was doing, she dabbed her tongue against his thumb, licking the excess blood from his skin.
Thyos’s eyes widened, and a surge of power coursed through her. She had never felt powerful in her entire life, always viewing herself as the runt of the family whose value was next to nothing simply because she did not meet her family’s expectations. Now, though, with Thyos’s stormy eyes darkening to a deep midnight blue, she could not help but feel entirely in control of this situation she found herself in.
Poisonous Temptation: Division 2 (The Berkano Vampire Collection) Page 9