by F. E. Heaton
"More,” she whispered the command with so much desire that he was powerless to resist complying with her request.
He bit down harder, letting his other teeth puncture her flesh and mark her. He'd never bitten her so deeply before. Her body leaned into his, her backside tensing beneath his fingers while he held her to him.
Releasing her neck, he drew back and looked into her eyes. They were dark and full of desire. He parted his lips when they dropped to them, her tongue sweeping along her lower lip and her hands sliding upwards. She wrapped them around his neck when she kissed him, her mouth claiming his and her tongue brushing along his, capturing the remains of her blood.
She was breathing heavily when she eventually pulled back. He held her gaze, trying to see in it the reason why she'd let him bite her just moments before she was going to see Arkalus. Her hair might cover the marks, but it wouldn't cover the scent of fresh blood on her and there was no way she could hide the scent of him. Arkalus would be able to smell him all over her.
She smiled.
"Why?” he said and held the dress out to her.
Taking it from him, she placed her feet into it and then pulled it up over her hips.
"When I kill him, I want him to know that I'm yours. I want you to know that I'm yours. What I have to do tonight is no reflection of my feelings. It's just a way to get close enough to him to kill him, to be near him long enough to do it without him calling for help.” She slipped her arms into the dress and pulled it up.
He frowned when she unhooked her bra and removed it. She handed it to him with a little smile and he held it up, raising a brow at it. He placed it carefully over the branch and picked her other clothes up, placing them there also. He smoothed them down, ridding them of twigs and leaves.
When she turned around, he realised that she wanted him to do her dress up. He stepped up behind her and ran his fingers down her back, amusing himself with the way she writhed beneath his feather light touch. He lowered his head, pressing kisses across her shoulders while he slowly tightened the ribbon that tied her dress up.
Prophecy closed her eyes, stifling her nerves and savouring the way he was kissing her shoulders. She leaned her head away from him when he drew the hair away from her neck and kissed up it, his tongue occasionally sweeping against her skin. She smiled when he licked the marks he'd just placed on her, sealing them. She had meant what she'd said to him. She really did want Arkalus to see that she belonged to Valentine, regardless of whether there was a claim between them or not.
Turning in Valentine's arms, she smiled up into his eyes and ran her finger down his cheek.
"If I look like I need a little help, don't hesitate to rescue me,” she said.
He nodded and the corners of his lips tugged into a slight smile. She pressed a kiss to them and tried to squash the nerves that were beginning to build inside of her. She'd been crazy to think she could do this without him. If he hadn't been here, she would have been petrified of confronting Arkalus. With Valentine here, she knew that if something went wrong, he would save her. He would never let Arkalus hurt her.
Pulling away from him, she took a deep breath and sighed it out.
She looked up at the sky through the trees and then at Valentine.
"I...” She trailed off and looked deep into his eyes, hoping he'd see what she wanted to say. She couldn't say it, not yet, not until all of this was over and they were finally safe.
He cupped her cheek and sighed, his eyes narrowing into an affectionate look. “I know."
Placing her hand over his where it rested against her cheek, she held it for a moment and then turned away from him, heading towards the door. She had to get there before Arkalus or her plan wouldn't work. She wasn't scared of the guards finding her. None of them dared to come into the garden, not since she could remember. Arkalus had always claimed the place as his sanctuary. The only person he'd let walk there was her.
She tugged the wooden door open, glanced back at Valentine, and then walked through it. Closing it behind her, she extended her senses and scanned the garden for signs of potential danger. When no signatures came to her, she started walking along the path between the low box hedges. The flowers were still as beautiful as she remembered. They grew so well considering that no one could tend to them during the day.
She wondered what would happen to them when Arkalus died. He was the only one who looked after them. It was strange that someone so brutal could be so compassionate about something as delicate as a flower.
It was a whole different side to him that she'd never understood.
Whenever she'd walked with him here, she'd been fascinated with the different species of flowers and the topiary, and had been happy to spend hours sitting beside the ornate fountain in the centre of the garden. The only thing that had marred her experience of this place was Arkalus.
She'd lost count of the number of times he'd tried to touch her or hold her here, the failed attempts to kiss her. He'd never once really heard the words she'd said to him. It was as though his heart couldn't bear to hear them so each time she said them, they were immediately erased from his memory.
She didn't love him.
She hated him.
She hated him more than anything, more than the Aurorea and the weaklings.
It was funny how her opinion could change about the Aurorea. Now that she knew Valentine, she knew that not all of the Aurorea were the same. Besides, her family were as guilty of hating the Aurorea without a reason as his were about hers.
She stopped walking when she reached the fountain.
Looking back at the wall and the door that was almost hidden by the creepers, she reached out with her senses to check that Valentine was still there. She smiled when she felt him. Hopefully she would be the only one able to. The connection between them had been growing. When she'd first met him, she'd been unable to sense him as clearly as she could now. Arkalus had spent time in his presence and would know his scent, but would it be enough for him to sense if he was there? Her scent should distract him enough to keep Valentine safe.
She hoped.
She wandered in circles on the gravel path that surrounded the fountain. When a few minutes had passed and her pacing was taking its toll on her nerves, she sat down.
The air temperature was dropping. She glanced at the fountain and saw that the warm water was beginning to release mist into the cooler air. She watched it gather and glide over the edge. It slid over the gravel like a snake, reaching out in all directions.
The sound of gravel underfoot made her go still. She sat with her hands in her lap, her back perfectly straight and her eyes fixed on the ground. They idly watched the mist swirling around her feet while she listened to the distant approach of Arkalus.
She knew it was him. No one made her feel this nervous inside, not even Valentine or Hyperion. No one but Arkalus had the power to make her feel so scared.
When the sound of footsteps ceased, she waited. She felt like a china doll waiting to be appraised while she sat motionless, her body moulded in a graceful position and her face still. The only movement was the slight shift of her hair in the breeze that was stirring the mist.
"I am dreaming or I have gone insane.” His voice cut the silence and she resisted her instinct to tense on hearing it.
She had to keep calm.
He was here, now she had to keep him from killing her.
Staring unseeingly at the floor, she thought hard about everything that had happened. From being told that she was no longer safe with her family, to discovering there was a high chance that she was going to destroy the world. From the death of Iona to the death of Mathias. From making so many mistakes and getting Valentine hurt so many times, to killing the lord of Tenebrae and half of his army.
Tears blurred her vision, slipping onto her cheeks in an unending stream. She blinked, making more of them fall and keeping her solemn thoughts running around her mind.
"Serenity, this is a cruel trick to play,
even for you,” he said.
When he approached, she waited until his feet were in view before revealing herself.
She raised her head and looked into his eyes. The tears swimming in hers made him appear out of focus and distorted.
She saw his eyes widen and heard his sharp intake of breath.
"Prophecy?” he breathed with so much passion that she wanted to look away. She struggled to hide the disgust and sickening nerves that it made her feel.
She blinked, forcing another tear to trail down her cheek and then stood sharply. She hesitated for a moment, opening her mouth to say something and then went to run away.
"I shouldn't have come,” she said.
He had always been faster than her. He grabbed her arm before she'd made it five steps and then released it when she looked down at his hand.
"What is wrong?” His voice carried so much concern that she could easily be fooled into thinking that she was safe, but she knew how quickly his temperament could change.
She kept her face turned away from him, her eyes fixed on the distant wall while her senses locked onto him where he stood only a few feet behind her. He was close enough for her to attack him, but she wanted to wait until she had his full trust and he was at his weakest before she made her move.
She sighed, letting her shoulders heave with it to emphasise it to him.
"I should never have left when you caught me,” she said and waited to see if he was going to say anything or react. He didn't. He kept perfectly still and she could almost picture the confused look he would be wearing. She wrapped her arms across her chest, holding herself tightly. “I was scared. I thought you were going to turn me over to the lord of Aurorea."
Her eyes closed and she held her breath. She wasn't stupid and neither was Arkalus. There was a high chance that he wasn't going to buy her act and there was an equally high chance he would sense Valentine. She was playing a dangerous game by relying on his feelings to cloud his senses and his judgement.
When he went to move, she turned and threw herself into his arms, curling up against his chest and hiding her face there. She sobbed against him, her tears flowing freely while her mind raced to judge his reaction when he made it. He could easily snap her neck enough to kill her in the position she was in.
She tensed when his arms wrapped around her shoulders, his fingers playing with her hair while he held her.
She hoped it was a good sign. It could be that he was going to keep hold of her and call the guards. The next few seconds would be crucial if she was going to convince him that she was being sincere.
Tentatively raising her head, she looked up at him through her tear-dampened hair. Her lower lip trembled and her body followed suit when she found he was staring straight into her eyes.
The whole of her revolted against the fact that she was in his arms—a place she'd sworn she'd never be—but she kept it hidden from him.
"Protect me,” she whispered.
His expression changed dramatically.
The last remaining edge of hardness in his eyes disappeared, replaced with a look that said he couldn't believe his luck. She uncurled her fists and pressed her palms into his chest, letting them brush gently against him.
"I'm scared, Arkalus,” she breathed the words up at him and cast a worried look at their surroundings. “I should never have left my family. You've always been so good to me ... taking care of me ... trying to help me."
He still didn't say anything but his look softened and she swallowed at the sight of the passion in his eyes.
She pushed away from him. “I shouldn't have come ... I've placed you in danger."
She didn't even get a chance to leave his embrace like she'd planned. His arms gripped her more tightly, holding her hard against him. His fingers dug painfully into her back and she grimaced, fear racing through her as she thought that he was onto her.
He knew she was lying.
His grip loosened and he frowned at her, his fingers delicately peeling the hair from her wet cheeks.
"Shh ... don't be scared.” He smiled and she relaxed a little.
"I can't stay ... you'll kill me.” She went to push away from him again, her fingers pressing hard into his chest, but he caught hold of her shoulders and held her firm.
"Prophecy ... I'd never ... I couldn't."
She swallowed again at the desire and love in his eyes. Suddenly it all felt wrong. It was wrong of her to give him the impression that she had feelings for him. It was cruel.
"Prophecy?” he said and she realised that he'd noticed how scared she was and her change of mood towards him. She blinked and let more tears fall, trying to use the time it took him to brush them away to push the feelings back down inside of her.
This had to be done.
The man in front of her right now wasn't the man he usually was. He was a tyrant. He was only being nice to her right now because he believed that she had come back to him.
Leaning into him, she looked up into his eyes and gave him a small smile.
She searched them for a moment, letting him drink in the way she was looking at him, and letting herself be sure that he wasn't about to turn on her.
He dipped his head towards hers and she didn't stop him. She remained still in his arms. When his lips were almost touching hers, she drew in a deep breath and caused him to freeze.
"Why are you here?” He pulled back and frowned at her. “You destroyed the mansion in Russia in order to rescue the Aurorea. What happened to him?"
She looked down at his chest and forced more tears to come so that when she finally looked back into his eyes, he would see hurt in hers.
"I ... I was foolish to trust him. He tried to ... wanted to take me to the lord of Aurorea. Kalinor must have poisoned his mind when he had him captive.” She furrowed her brows. “He said that you staked him."
"I did,” he said without any hesitation. “He seems to have hurt you. If I had known him capable of this, I would have killed him. May I ask one thing?"
She tensed but nodded.
Her left hand slipped from his chest down to the front of the skirt of her dress.
"What does the Aurorea mean to you?” Arkalus held her gaze and she knew that he would see any sign of tenderness if she thought of Valentine. She thought about him instead, concealing her true feelings from him for a few seconds longer.
She put her hand into the pocket of the skirt and closed her fingers around the slim shaft of wood concealed in it. It burned her palm, but she didn't show the pain.
Raising her hand back up, she hid what she was doing by tilting her head back and silently inviting Arkalus to kiss her. She smiled inside when he showed no sign of resisting her offer. He dipped his head again, bringing his mouth close to hers.
"What does he mean to you?” he whispered against her lips.
She hesitated for a moment, bringing the stake up to his chest and telling herself that she could do this. It was better than openly fighting him, although a million times less honourable. To kill another of your kind with a stake was considered treachery, even if they were the enemy. It was a lowly way of defeating a foe.
She quashed the feelings inside of her and shoved the stake through his ribs, straight into his heart.
Real tears filled her eyes when he stumbled backwards, his hand coming up to clutch at the shaft of wood protruding from his chest. She stepped away from him, her hands holding her arms while he stared at her with such a look of horror that it chilled her to the bone. What had she done?
"I'm...” She wanted to say she was sorry that it had to be this way, that he'd given her no choice but to take his life and control of the family, but instead she remembered the question he'd asked her. “I love Valentine."
The pain in his eyes grew worse and she turned away when he fell to the floor, his body convulsing. The sound of his death and the scent of the blood in the air made her feel sick.
When the night was still again, she looked at where he lay on the gr
avel by the fountain, his face unrecognisable and his body slowly decomposing. She bit her lip and stifled her tears, telling herself not to cry for him, but she couldn't help herself. She had known him all of her life and although he had done terrible things to her, he had loved her and he had trusted her to the last.
Walking across to him, she stooped and took the symbol of Caelestis from around his neck. She ran her fingers over it, clearing the dust off and letting the gold shine through. She closed her eyes and lowered her head.
Valentine had told her that people chose their own destiny.
Venturi had told her that she couldn't save everyone.
In her heart, she knew they were both right.
Arkalus had chosen his path and it had been her destiny to take his life because of the choice he had made.
She wrapped her fingers around the symbol in her hand.
It still didn't make it any easier to live with.
Turning away from the house, she started walking back to where Valentine was waiting for her.
Now came the really hard part.
Chapter 25
Prophecy walked past the guards and into the house. She headed straight for the main reception room where she was sure there would be a lot of people already gathered. Word spread fast in her family's home. News of her arrival at the main gate would have already made it through the house.
She had changed out of the dress now. She'd hated wearing it and she felt more comfortable in her black trousers and shirt.
Her stomach squirmed with nerves but she continued on, holding her head high and letting Valentine deal with anyone who tried to stop her. He had strict orders not to kill any of them. There had been enough death tonight.
She reached out her senses and fixed them on him, letting his signature blot out the others and using it to comfort her.
She hadn't been prepared for how upset she would be after killing Arkalus. It hadn't just been about his death. It had been about Iona too, and the freeing of her family. Her emotions had been so muddled and confused that she'd spent nearly half an hour in Valentine's arms, crying her heart out but unable to find the ability to speak and tell him why. He'd held her so tightly that it had been impossible to stop her emotions from coming to the surface and the more he'd whispered comforting words to her, the more she'd cried.