by Cynthia Eden
And his sister couldn’t hone in on the vampire.
Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I-I’m sorry, I can’t—”
The sky lightened. A pink hue appeared on the horizon.
Dawn.
* * *
She couldn’t move.
Terese lay on the ground as blood trickled from her throat. Her hands were limp in the chains.
He’d nearly drained her dry.
Eric laughed, the grating sound far too close for her comfort. “My poor Terese. So weak, so ready for death.”
No, no she wasn’t ready. She tried to gather her strength—
But found she had none.
Her lashes began to droop.
The sun was coming. She could feel it. She seemed to always feel it these days.
“Ah…and now for your wish.”
Her wish? Right then, she just wished he’d die. The sick, psychotic—
“The sun’s rising. Soon, you’ll feel it’s warmth on your flesh, right before it melts that flesh from your bones.” He bent toward her and pressed a light kiss against her dry lips. She tasted her own blood as he whispered, “Goodbye.”
Then he vanished, and the sun began to rise.
* * *
Apollo stared at the rising sun, his heart racing.
Where was Terese?
Not in the light, just not in the light—
Artemis cried out, “He just jumped! I felt him!” Excitement lit her eyes. “I’ve got him now.”
He took her hand, held on tight, and ordered, “Take me to him.” To Terese.
The air shimmered, the wind howled, and they disappeared.
* * *
Eric climbed down the steps leading to the basement in his manor. A faint smile curved his lips, and drying blood coated his chin.
Apollo waited until the bastard took that last step, waited until he was right in front of him—
Then he leapt forward, punching the vampire with all his might, sending him flying back across the room.
Eric crashed into the stone wall, a startled grunt emerging from his lips. But then he rose, dusted off his clothes, and flashed his twisted, evil smile. “I was wondering when you would show up,” he said, tilting his head. “Oh, and you brought company.” He licked his lips as he eyed Artemis. “You look…familiar to me. Have I dined on you before?”
She lunged toward him, but Apollo hauled her back. “He’s mine.”
The vampire smirked.
Apollo stalked toward him. “Where’s Terese?” He’d already scanned the manor. There was no sign of her.
“Terese?” Eric’s eyes widened and he made a faint humming sound. “Oh, poor Terese…”
“Where is she?” His power swirled within him, desperate to be unleashed.
Eric took one slow, gliding step toward him. “Right now, I’d imagine she’s in hell. Burning, slowly, in hell.”
“What?” A terrible, dark fear filled him. Burning…No, no, not Terese—
“The lovely Terese longed for the sun, so I gave it to her.”
No!
“Your little whore is dead by now. Ashes to ashes…”
Apollo lifted his hands. They were glowing, shaking with the power bursting through him.
“Apollo…” There was fear in his sister’s voice. “Hold onto your control—”
His control. He’d always been so careful. Always kept the power within him coiled tightly so that he wouldn’t hurt another.
But now, Terese was gone. Lovely Terese with her mysterious eyes and her slow, sexy smile.
Gone.
Ashes to ashes…
The room began to shake.
“Apollo…” Artemis reached for him, her fingers brushing his arm, but she drew back, gasping, when her hand was singed.
The power of the sun filled him. The deadly, burning power. “Leave,” he ordered his sister.
“No, no, I won’t leave you—”
“Leave!” A roar. The ceiling above them trembled as bits of rock and mortar rained down.
The vampire scrambled back.
Artemis disappeared.
Eric lifted his hands, began to shimmer—
Apollo grabbed him, holding him tight, and smiled when his hands charred the vampire’s flesh. “You’re not going anywhere.”
Eric howled. The scent of burnt flesh filled the air.
“Tell me where to find Terese.”
“She’s dead! The whore’s dead!”
His hands glowed brighter. He tightened his hold on Eric, ready to burn every inch of flesh from his body. “Tell me.”
Eric screamed in agony, then began talking, fast. “O-outside of N-New Orleans. S-swamp. T-Take them a-all th-there.”
Apollo dropped the vampire. Eric fell to the floor. The vamp stared at his blackened skin and moaned softly.
“She’d better still be alive,” Apollo snarled.
I’m coming, Terese. I’m coming.
Eric lifted his head and the fool glared at him. “She’s d-dead. I d-drained her, and left her to b-burn in the—”
He never finished speaking. Apollo unleashed the power of the sun, letting it fill the room, letting it burn, letting it destroy, letting it devour.
Eric’s horrified screams filled the air.
Ashes to ashes, bastard.
* * *
Apollo crept slowly through the swamp, all of his senses on high alert. The sun had risen fully now. Its golden beams spilled over the earth, warming, lighting.
Killing.
If Terese were in the sun, if she was out there—
He stumbled into a clearing. Saw chains. Long, thick, stone chains.
And a woman. A woman with tousled black hair. Naked skin—
“Terese!” He ran to her, yanking off his shirt. He had to cover her, had to—
Her dark blue eyes were open, and she stared straight up at the sun. “It’s so beautiful.”
“Terese?” He touched her carefully and was stunned to see that her flesh was perfect. No burns marred her ivory skin.
She blinked at his voice and turned her head slowly, oh, so slowly, toward him. “Apollo?”
His fingers stroked her cheek. The cheek that felt warm—warm from the sun. “Yeah, sweetheart, it’s me.”
A tear spilled from her eye and trickled down her cheek. “Am I dead?”
No. He jerked open the chains and pulled her into his arms. “No, no, you’re alive.” Her head fell limply onto his shoulder. “Terese?” Her lashes closed. “Terese!”
I d-drained her—
He shoved his wrist against her fangs. “Drink from me, sweetheart.” She didn’t move. “Drink!” Please.
The sun blazed down on them.
Her lips moved, lightly at first, then harder as her teeth sank into his flesh. He felt the pleasure/pain of her bite as her teeth pierced his wrist.
He pulled her closer, bent his head over her, and curled his body protectively over her slight frame.
She was alive.
Her tongue licked his flesh and then she pulled back as she lifted her gaze to meet his. “Y-you found me.”
Emotion choked him and he could only manage to nod.
“I-I was afraid I wouldn’t see you a-again,” she whispered. “Eric—”
“Don’t worry about him.” His arms tightened around her. “He’s dead.”
Her breath caught. Then her eyes widened as she gazed up at him and she saw the light spilling around him. “Th-the sun. I’m in the sun.” She lifted her hand, staring at her flesh as her lips trembled. “Why don’t I b-burn?”
He didn’t know, he was just damn grateful. He pulled his shirt over her, then stood, lifting her with him. The sooner he got her out of the sun, the better, just in case.
“Don’t worry, Apollo, the light can’t burn her now.” Artemis said, appearing at his side.
Terese gave a small yelp at his sister’s appearance and clutched him tighter.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
>
Artemis lifted a brow and gazed meaningfully at his bloody wrist. “She’s had your blood. Quite a few times, I imagine.”
“Who is she?” Terese whispered, her lips brushing his ear.
“My sister.”
“Oh.” She offered a faint smile to Artemis. “Um, hello.”
“Why doesn’t the light burn her?” He frowned at Artemis. He was missing something.
“Because she has your blood,” Artemis repeated patiently. “She’s been drinking from you, right?”
He nodded and flushed slightly at the knowing look in his sister’s gaze.
“Apollo, as the sun god, your blood is incredibly strong. And when she took that blood, well, she got some of your power.” Her gaze locked with Terese’s. “You can control the light now, like Apollo. So that means the sun can’t hurt you.”
Terese’s lips parted and a peal of delighted laughter filled the air. “Apollo, I don’t have to stay in the dark anymore!”
She looked so happy, so very beautiful with the golden light around her. He bent his head, wanting to taste the joy on her lips—
“Not as long as you take Apollo’s blood,” Artemis said softly.
And just like that, her joy vanished. “Wh-what?”
Artermis’s lips thinned. “As long as you keep drinking from Apollo, you’ll be immune to the burn of the light. But as soon as you stop…”
“I’ll burn again,” Terese whispered.
She nodded.
Dammit. Apollo tightened his arms around her. There was a hell of a simple solution to this mess. But he wanted to talk to Terese alone, not with his sister peering at them.
He glared at Artemis, hoping she’d take the hint.
But she just stood there, looking all tragic, just like Terese.
Enough was enough. “I’m taking Terese home.”
“Home?” Artemis blinked. “You mean, your place here in—”
“No. Home.” It was past time his little vampiress saw his island. He’d been longing to see her strolling on his white beach under the sunlit sky.
“Are you sure about this?” Artemis asked.
“I don’t understand—” Terese began.
“Very sure.” He called forth his power. Felt the telling change in the air. “But don’t worry, sis, I’ll invite you to the wedding.”
Chapter Eight
“Wedding?” Terese managed to shriek the minute the world stopped spinning.
Apollo grinned down at her, his dimples winking, and those sexy blue eyes flashing. “Yeah. Wedding.”
She pushed against his arms and struggled to her feet. But the minute her feet touched the sandy shore, her knees gave way.
He caught her right before she plopped face-first onto the beach. “You need more blood.”
Yes, she did, but she wasn’t going to drink from him. Not now, not when she knew—
He pulled her close to his chest, lowered his head toward her, and exposed that tempting neck of his. “Take what you need, Terese.”
“No.” She clenched her teeth. “I-I can’t take anymore from you.”
“Why not?” He glared at her. “Haven’t we been over this? You’re a vampire, you need blood. I’m an immortal, your perfect supplier.”
Terese shook her head. Too much had happened. She needed to think.
The sun! She was actually in the sun!
She glanced away from him. Her gaze roved to the pristine white beach. The sand was so soft, so pure…it looked like sugar. And the glistening water…so dark and blue. The waves brushed the shore, white caps streaming in a beautiful banner.
“This is my home,” he whispered as his lips trailed down her cheek. “Delos. My sister and I were born here many, many years ago.”
“I-it’s beautiful.” It was. Paradise. She wished that she had her paints so that she could capture this raw beauty on a canvas.
“My mother was one of Zeus’s lovers. One of his many damned lovers.”
She ached at the pain in his voice.
“When she got pregnant, Hera was so furious that she cursed the earth, determined that no land would allow my mother to birth us. Hera wanted us all to die, you see.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
He took a deep breath. “This island resisted her curse. It welcomed my mother. My sister. Me. It’s been my home, my refuge, for as long as I can remember.” A brief pause. “And when we marry, it will be your home, too.”
Marry. Okay, why did he keep saying that? “We aren’t getting married,” she gritted, pulling back.
His brilliant blue eyes narrowed. “Why not?”
Why not? Did the man want a list? “Because I’m a vampire, for starters! Remember? I need blood—”
“And you can take mine.”
“I can’t stay in the sun—”
He grabbed her arm. “Yes, you can. With my blood, you can stay in the sun forever.”
Her fingers trembled. She balled her hands into fists. “You give me blood. You give me sunlight. Hell, Apollo, it’s all about me, don’t you see that? It’s not right!” He deserved…more. So much more than she could give him. “Since I met you, you’ve been protecting me, helping me. Saving me. But it has to stop. It’s not fair to you, you shouldn’t have to—”
He kissed her. Hard. Deep. His tongue plunged past her lips, claimed her mouth, left her hungry and aching.
“I want you,” he rasped as his head lifted. “Every time I see you, every time I smell your sweet scent, I want you.”
But wanting wasn’t enough. Not enough for an eternity. “And what happens when you stop wanting me? When you grow tired of me?” He’d leave her. She’d go back to the darkness.
“I’ll never grow tired of you. Never.”
Terese shook her head. “It won’t work—”
“Do you want me?” he asked her softly, cutting through her words.
Helplessly, she nodded.
“Do you—do you care for me?”
Care for him? Care didn’t even begin to cover how she felt, and that was why she couldn’t stay with him. With every moment she spent with him, her feelings grew. Soon, very soon, she’d be in too deep. When he left—
“I love you, Terese.”
“Wh-what?” No, no, surely he hadn’t just said—
His gaze held hers. “I’ve fought for you. Killed for you. Did you ever wonder why?”
She could only stare at him, stunned.
He smiled. “I don’t normally go around offering to spend the rest of my very long life with women I just want.”
He loved her. “Y-you deserve more. Someone who is whole, someone—”
Anger flashed in his gaze. “You are whole.”
“Someone who can walk in the light with you—”
“You can.”
“Only if I take your blood!”
His gaze held hers. “Don’t you understand? Can’t you see? You are my blood. My heart. My life. Everything, Terese. Everything. From the moment I first touched you.”
Desperate hope filled her. “Apollo…”
“But if you don’t want to be with me, I’ll let you go.” He stepped back, and his hands fell away. “I’m not like that sick bastard Eric. I won’t force you to stay when your heart wants to be free.”
No, no, he wasn’t like Eric. Could never be. Apollo was strong. Good. Her light. “My heart wants to be with you,” she whispered, certainty rising in her chest. “I-I love you.” She didn’t even know when she’d begun to love him. When he’d rescued her from the burning sun? When he’d healed her wounds? Given her back her art?
Or had it been that first night? When she’d looked up and seen his blue gaze watching her with hunger in that smoke filled bar?
He pulled her into his arms. Kissed her with fierce need. She realized it didn’t really matter when she’d begun to love him.
It only mattered that she did love him. That she’d love him forever.
“I want to marry you, before all the gods and goddesses
in Olympus,” Apollo told her, his voice gruff with emotion.
Uh, oh…that sounded a bit scary. But she nodded. She’d do anything for him.
Her Apollo. Her sun god.
“I’ll take care of you,” he said, his mouth inches from hers. “I’ll keep you safe, love you—”
“And I’ll love you.” A grin spread across her face. “In darkness…and in light,” Terese vowed.
He laughed softly and lowered her onto the soft sand.
Yes…in darkness and in light.
Forever.
###
About The Author
Cynthia Eden is a national best-selling author of paranormal romance and romantic suspense novels. Her books have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, and her novel, DEADLY FEAR, was named a RITA® finalist for best romantic suspense.
Cynthia is a southern girl who loves horror movies, chocolate, and happy endings. More information about Cynthia and her books may be found at: http://www.cynthiaeden.com or on her Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/cynthiaedenfanpage. Cynthia is also on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cynthiaeden.
Her Works
E-book only titles
FOREVER BOUND—$2.99 (A Vampire & Werewolf Romance Anthology that includes the following titles: BOUND BY BLOOD, BOUND IN DARKESSS, BOUND IN SIN and BOUND BY THE NIGHT)
Please note: All of the BOUND stories are also available separately for 99¢:
BOUND BY BLOOD
BOUND IN DARKNESS
BOUND IN SIN
BOUND BY THE NIGHT
List of Cynthia Eden's paranormal romance titles published by Kensington Brava:
HOWL FOR IT – Available 8/28/12
ANGEL OF DARKNESS (Fallen, Book 1)
ANGEL BETRAYED (Fallen, Book 2)
NEVER CRY WOLF
ETERNAL HUNTER (Night Watch, Book 1)
I'LL BE SLAYING YOU (Night Watch, Book 2)
ETERNAL FLAME (Night Watch, Book 3)
HOTTER AFTER MIDNIGHT (Midnight, Book 1)
MIDNIGHT SINS (Midnight, Book 2)
MIDNIGHT'S MASTER (Midnight, Book 3)