Vampire Debt: Supernatural Battle (Vampire Towers Book 2)
Page 36
That made me uncertain.
I recalled drawing on his rage to get me through the fight with Theodore, wondering if our emotions were starting to mix more than I’d realised.
“Thank you, Doctor…?”
“Olive.”
The Vissimo was terrified. “Thank you, Doctor Olive.”
She inclined her head and backed out of the room, eyes downcast.
“Kyros,” I said.
He didn’t respond. Outwardly.
“Guess I’ll come to you.”
His hand pressed down on my shoulder, and I rested back. When he made to pull away, I snatched at his hand.
“You want to ask me something,” I said. “So ask while I’m still awake.” I had a feeling I’d be dead to the world again soon.
Kyros freed his hand, leaning forward on the bed, head bowed.
I waited.
Eventually he spoke. “I need you to tell me, very clearly, why you felt you couldn’t tell me the Tonyi triplets had Tommy in their possession. I need to know why you pushed me away instead of trusting me to handle the situation. And I need you not to lie.”
Why couldn’t he understand this wasn’t about his ability to protect me? It was about me doing everything in my power to keep Tommy safe while terrified that one wrong move could kill her.
That I’d be responsible for the death of my last family member.
My throat constricted, and I winced at the pull on something deep within my throat.
“Look at me when you answer,” he growled.
I obeyed. “The triplets were explicit in their instructions. If an ambush occurred at any time. If you interfered in any way. Tommy would be killed immediately.”
“You walked to your execution,” he said, closing his eyes. “You forced me into a fucking corner.”
I didn’t disagree.
“I’m so fucking angry at you,” Kyros said, looking at me.
We locked gazes, and I knew he was recalling the same words leaving my mouth before the fourth exchange.
I inhaled. “Betrayal is a sour pill to swallow. You betrayed me when you thought it would save your family.”
“Under my father’s orders.”
“I did so under the triplets’ orders.”
He pushed away. “It’s not the same thing.”
“No,” I agreed, my ire rising. “One was calculated and one was desperation. I didn’t go to the triplets seeking to make you feel this way. I didn’t plan to use you for your position and wealth. I was saving the person I love most in this world, not trying to win a stupid game.”
He was trying to contain the thick waves of black rage within him. Half dead I may be, but it felt fucking good to finally say some of that aloud.
“You’re saying we’re even?” he said sarcastically.
“I nearly died, Kyros,” I rasped. “Honestly? I’m wondering why the fuck we’re having this conversation when I should feel thankful to be alive. But if you want to act as though I’ve betrayed you, there’s my answer. My choice to save Tommy had absolutely nothing to do with you because involving you risked her life. If involving you was possible, I would have done so. That’s it. Clean cut. Accept it or don’t.”
He’d turned away again during my whispered lecture. Sadness swelled within him. Uncertainty. Loathing. Betrayal. Guilt. Wrath.
“We both feel like shit,” I said, deflating. “If it’s okay with you, I could do with your arms around me for the next three days instead of arguing.”
I had trouble accepting his Vissimo point of view but hated that Kyros felt so torn apart by my actions. Some of the guilt bouncing around was definitely mine. If I didn’t feel like twice-cooked death, the guilt might be all mine.
Because many things happened in that dark chamber.
I doubted Kyros would have saved me if he knew I handed his family’s heads to Fyrlia on a platter.
Walking to my execution was my smallest betrayal.
“No,” Kyros whispered, still turned away.
I blinked at his back, covered in a charcoal shirt, wondering if I’d heard right.
He didn’t budge.
I croaked. “I know you’re angry at me, Kyros. But I need you.”
The vampire turned to me, hard gaze snapping to me. “You need me now?”
My breath hitched as hurt filled me. In this state, I had no resistance to cruelty. “Yes.”
Kyros scanned me, and as his expression smoothed so did his emotions. Wrath was drawn in. Loathing and betrayal swept aside. Uncertainty and sadness were locked in a box.
The vampire loomed over me, meadow-green eyes muted and impersonal as though regarding a stranger. “Basilia Le Spyre doesn’t need anyone.”
I turned my head away, closing my eyes against the awful sight of what he was doing, wishing I could close them to what was happening inside. His comment wasn’t directed at me. Not really. But it shattered the few undamaged parts I had left.
I listened to his fading footsteps as he left.
Basilia Le Spyre doesn’t need anyone.
I curled into a ball around my bruised stomach, sorrow surging through me.
But as weariness piled heavy on me, the sorrow dissipated, replaced by a cold determination I’d lost sight of in recent weeks.
It snapped back into place now. For good.
Kyros Atagio was right.
I didn’t need a fucking thing from anyone.
Basil’s story continues in Death Game!
Death Game
Basil’s story continues in Death Game!
Books By Kelly St. Clare
Supernatural Battle
Vampire Towers (Paranormal urban romance)
Blood Trial
Vampire Debt
Death Game
The Darkest Drae (Dragon shifter romance)
with Raye Wagner
Blood Oath
Shadow Wings
Black Crown
The Tainted Accords (Royal fantasy romance):
Fantasy of Frost
Fantasy of Flight
Fantasy of Fire
Fantasy of Freedom
Novellas:
Sin
Olandon
Rhone
Shard
Pirates of Felicity (Pirate fantasy romance):
Immortal Plunder
Stolen Princess
Pillars of Six
Dynami’s Wrath
Veritas
Eternal Gambit
Mortal Trinity
The After Trilogy (Dystopian romance):
The Retreat
The Return
The Reprisal
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