by Serena Zane
“No, this is why I’m still here. The vampires don’t entirely trust that she will. However, I know my people, or – at least I think I do – and she will not let her son come to harm. If it means his life, she will do it.”
“So, what happens once she does agree?” Alexander, Chloe’s husband and Nicholas’s second-in-command spoke up.
“Then I will take the Tome back with me. Regardless of what the Elders think, I will not leave here without it.”
“You may have an argument on your hands there.” Nicholas cast a seriously concerned gaze her way.
“Maybe you’re right, but I am the Guardian. What happens to the Tome is in my hands, no one else’s.”
The doors to the great hall opened. “Well then young lady, it appears you have a choice to make. Please, come inside. All of you.” Jean-Luc’s gaze took in the whole group gathered in the hall.
Beth suppressed the cold shiver that ran down her spine, but he caught it anyway and gave her a wink.
“Nothing to worry your pretty head about my little Fae.” Jean-Luc turned back into the hall and strode up to the podium where the other Elders waited.
What appeared to be a young teenage boy knelt before the thrones of the elders. He looked frightened, and cast nervous glances towards the group of them.
Jean-Luc sat down on the center throne. “It appears that Her Majesty has agreed to our terms. She does not want to see her son come to harm.”
“So then, I can leave.” Beth smothered a grin. She didn’t want to appear smug.
“Yes, but not until after the deal is struck.”
Beth felt a surge of disappointment. She missed her little shop.
“Where will the meeting take place?” Nicholas stepped to the front of the group.
“It will take place tomorrow night. At Crossings. There, we shall sign the agreement that states as long as Her Majesty no longer seeks to harm the vampire race, then her son shall come to no harm by our hand.”
“We shall accompany you, of course, to make sure all goes as planned. And, once this is over, Beth is free to leave, correct?” Stephanie stood by her husband Nicholas.
“Yes, of course.” He gave Stephanie a petulant smile like one might give to a child.
Beth supposed that was only to be expected. After all, Stephanie was only a few months old, by vampire standards. But, she could tell that Stephanie resented being spoken to like she was three. Even if it was from an ancient vampire. Beth understood, she would hate it if someone spoke to her in such a way.
“Be ready to leave around 9:00 p.m.. We shall venture out at that time for the rendezvous. We shall see if Her Majesty is true to her word. You may go.” He dismissed them.
As they left the main hall, Beth’s thoughts wandered to Arlen. While she could understand why he thought they were meant to be together, she didn’t understand why he would force the issue. Goosebumps rose on her flesh when she thought of how he’d tried to touch her.
Chloe stepped close. “Hey, are you all right?”
Beth cast a glance her way. “Of course. It has just been a rough few days.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“Not really.”
“Okay, but I’m here if you need anything. You were good to me when I needed it the most, and I want to return the favor.”
Beth placed a hand on Chloe’s arm. “I’ll be fine. Sometimes things just don’t turn out the way one would expect.”
“Boy, can I vouch for that one. Who knew three months ago that we would all be standing in a vampire fortress in another realm? It’s almost all too unbelievable.” Chloe laughed. “If I told any of my friends other than these guys, they would commit me.”
“I was just headed down to get some food. Do you want to join me?”
“I’m good. We just finished dinner when Nicholas rang us.”
“Okay. I’ll see you later. I need to grab something.” Beth made her way to the staircase.
“Later.” The group headed in another direction.
They would all meet up for the event in a few hours. If things went well, she would be headed home within moments of the agreement. If not, well, she would deal with that when it happened. Right now, her body demanded food. Ami tracked after her.
“Hey girl, don’t think you can get away without an explanation. What the Hell happened? Why didn’t you call?”
Beth grinned, “I’ll tell you over a sandwich.” There were certain things she’d never filled Ami in on, and it was long past time she was honest with her best friend.
Chapter 14
Fog rolled in shrouding Crossings in a misty, cold blanket. The line between the borders of Faeland and the Vampire Realm delineated by a drastic climate change; one side sultry and warm like the forest in summer, the other cold and unwelcoming. Sadness settled deep in Beth’s heart. Her homeland had seen better days.
The group gathered together. Beth could feel the power radiating off the others next to her. Prince Arlen stood beside her. Phoenix held him in place making sure that he didn’t run. The Prince might not be able to use magic while tied with the rope, but that didn’t mean his feet didn’t work.
Figures appeared in the distance marching out of the fog and frost. The Queen rode on a tall white stallion, her long hair flowing in the wind. The ethereal beauty of the Fae shone on her oval face. Graceful and fearsome, she led her small army behind her.
Jean-Luc stepped forward, his voice echoing off the nearby mountains, “We are here to seal the agreement. If it is your intention to honor such come forward without your guard.”
The Queen held up a hand and the others stopped as one. Her gaze took in those present until they landed on her son. A small smile appeared on her lips. She nudged her horse’s sides and continued on without her guard until she was only a few feet from Jean-Luc.
“Chloe, if you would.” He gestured in front of him.
Chloe stepped up and chanted under her breath. A table started to form complete with a quill and what appeared to be red ink. Jean-Luc held up a hand and a scroll appeared. With a snap he placed it on the table.
“I believe you know the terms.” His tone held a hint of superiority, as if he knew he had the Queen under his thumb.
She glared at him with an icy stare and her eyes darted to her son. The Queen reached out with a slender hand and plucked the quill off the table. In thought, she raised it to her neck and drew it to her chin.
A grunt sounded next to Beth. Her focused gaze flew to Phoenix. An arrow embedded in his shoulder. His grip on the prince loosened and Arlen surged forward toward his people.
“Stop him!” Nicholas yelled as he put on a burst of speed.
Chloe’s hand shot out and Arlen froze in place.
The Queen yelled in frustration. “No!” She stepped back and pulled out a hidden sword. Its blade gleamed in the moonlight as she brandished it in front of her. “Let him go!”
“Sign the treaty and we will. Don’t, and he’s dead. Young Chloe has the power to kill him from where she stands.”
“Never, you’re bluffing.” She arched the sword above her head and brought it down. It missed Jean-Luc’s face by scant inches as he dodged out of the way.
Chaos erupted as both armies surged forward. Beth didn’t care. Phoenix knelt on the ground, gripping his shoulder the grimace on his face testament to the pain he felt. She knelt by him.
“Pull it out.” The pain rasped out as he spoke.
Beth looked at the arrow. She grasped the shirt he wore and tore it away from the spot. The skin around the arrow was turning black. Spider veins of poison snuck into his body. This had been staged well.
Chloe was an amazing witch, but there was no way she would be able to hold back the hundreds of forces that the Queen h
ad backing her. Beth kept her attention on the one person she could help. “This is going to hurt.”
“Don’t care. Pull it out.” The darkened veins around his shoulder had begun to spread onto his chest.
Beth gritted her teeth and grasped the arrow’s shaft. It had to be done. Bracing herself, she pulled hard.
Phoenix yelled as the tip shoved all the way through his shoulder.
“Sorry!” Beth winced and pulled it the rest of the way through. She reached into the satchel on her shoulder and her hand touched the Tome. Its dark power whispered to her, Beth looked directly into his eyes. “ I can fix this.” She began to pull the Tome from her bag.
His large hand landed on top of hers. “Don’t. It’ll be fine. Just give me a minute.”
“But –“
“Trust me.” His eyes gleamed as they held her gaze pleading with her to wait.
“Okay.” Beth didn’t want to wait. It appeared as though the poison spread at an alarming rate, and Phoenix began to sweat. Vampires didn’t sweat. What the hell? “Phoenix?” This was the one time she was truly tempted to use the power of the Black Tome.
The hand holding hers gripped harder. “Just wait.” Flames flashed in his eyes and panic welled up in Beth’s chest. His skin began to smoulder and smoke rose from the wound.
Beth gasped. As she watched the black, poisoned area receded to the initial wound and the gaping hole started to close.
“Blood, I need blood.”
“Of course.” Without hesitation Beth leaned forward and pulled her hair to the side. A momentary sharp pain speared her neck, immediately followed by a sense of pure pleasure. Everything around them seemed to fade as he pulled the blood from her body with a slow, sensual sucking motion.
Phoenix moved back. His eyes burning brightly, his lips found hers in a fierce, passionate kiss that ended far too quickly. “Thank you.”
“Sure.” Beth was still on her knees as Phoenix rose from the spot where he’d been wounded, looking like a God. She could understand why the Enforcers had the reputations of god-like strength, not to be messed with.
Fire burned through Phoenix’s system. Power thrummed to life from the Fae blood he’d ingested from Beth. There was nothing more sustaining. The sweet ambrosia filled his body, and he surged forward. The battle raged in full force, and they were out-numbered. He grasped a sword from a fallen Enforcer, and let out a battle cry. The Fae Queen would rue the day she fucked with the vampires.
Prince Arlen fought Alex only a few feet from where Phoenix stood. Using preternatural speed, he landed behind the prince and held his sword up to Arlen’s neck just as Alex thrust forward piercing the prince through the stomach. “Queen Genevieve!”
She was almost upon Beth, intent on the black Tome.
“Your Majesty! One more step and I’ll kill your son!” Phoenix thundered above the raucous around them.
She froze mid-step and turned, hatred written on her face. The moment she noticed the swords through her son’s middle and at his neck was obvious. Hatred fell from her face to be replaced with a look of fear and panic. “Stop! Do not kill him.”
“You have proven you cannot be trusted. The deal is off.” Phoenix pressed closer with the sword drawing blood. “What are you going to do to stop me?”
The Queen took an involuntary step forward. “Wait – I’ll sign it. I’ll sign the treaty.”
“How do I know you won’t break it?” Phoenix held the Queen’s icy gaze and watched as her skin took on a healthy glow that rose from her pale white shoulders.
“I’ll swear a blood bond. You know yourself they cannot be broken.”
“It’s obvious you don’t care if you die. What’s to make me believe that you won’t break such an oath?”
Phoenix tried not to let his astonishment show as the snow and ice around him began to melt.
“I can’t lose him too.” The Queen was almost in front of him and he heard the admission choked from her throat. “I love him, he’s my son.” A tear trickled from the corner of her eye. “Please, let me heal him.”
Phoenix regarded her. Something was happening to the Queen. But he had a duty. “The blood oath first, then you may heal your son.”
She sliced her own sword across her palm and let the blood fall onto the earth below. “I swear upon this, the blood of my life, that I shall no longer seek revenge against your people Phoenix, Enforcer of the Vampire. I will no longer seek to harm any such creature unless for some yet unapparent reason it is in self-defense. Do you take this Oath as the truth and sworn for all eternity?”
Phoenix nodded to Alex, and they withdrew their swords from the prince’s body. Arlen fell to the ground between them. “We accept your Oath and blood bond as truth and upon your life, and the life of your son. Go now, and harm no one.”
The Queen knelt before them and drew her son into her arms. As she looked up at Phoenix he noticed the tears streaming down her face. “Thank you. You didn’t have to let him live. Thank you.” In a blink, the Queen and her son were gone.
The remaining Fae looked around confused. They had all stopped and witnessed the Oath, and knew the battle was over however the confused looks upon their faces were matched by those of the remaining vampire forces.
The land around them no longer held snow and ice. The frosted wasteland had transformed into Spring; the field upon which they stood now a bed of rich green grass beneath their feet.
Phoenix pulled his gaze from the sight and sought out Beth who stood, mouth agape at the transformation around them. He was before her in the space of a breath, taking her into his arms. The wonder in her eyes shone up at him.
“You did it.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
Phoenix grinned, “It’s my job. You don’t have to thank me.”
“But I do.” Her eyes roamed his face as though she was memorizing him. “You don’t realize what you’ve done.”
“What?”
“You’ve restored the kingdom.” She nodded towards the field behind them, “Look.”
Phoenix glanced behind them. Flowers had started to bloom, and the tree leaves were growing and turning green. He turned back to her and saw the love blazing in her eyes.
“Like I said, thank you…” She reached up and gently kissed him. It felt like goodbye.
In the next breath she was gone.
His arms dropped to his sides. Gone? Where did she go? Why did she leave? Phoenix glanced around the field and strode over to his friends. He walked straight up to Ami and grasped her by the shoulders. “Where is she?”
“I don’t know. I thought she was with you.” She spit out startled.
“You’re her best friend. Where would she go?”
Lucian stepped up behind Ami, “You need to back off, friend.”
Ami quickly glanced behind her. “No, it’s okay.” She turned back to Phoenix. “She probably went back to the shop. The Tome is safe now.”
Phoenix understood. She was no longer needed. The Tome was safe, and no one would worry that the Queen would try to take it again. But why would she leave him? He thought they had something. She was even willing to use the black Tome to save him. He released Ami’s arms and stepped back, he had no desire to pick a fight with Lucian. “Thank you.”
She smiled at him, “Take care of her.”
Phoenix solemnly held her eyes for a moment, as people who both cared deeply for Beth, “Always.”
Ami turned and put her arms around Lucian, and Phoenix strode over to where the Elders waited. “You know what I want.” He didn’t need to say more, Jean-Luc had the ability to read minds, and Phoenix was leaving his wide open.
The Head Elder gave him a sideways grin and waved his hand. In the next moment he stood in the back of The Broom Cl
oset.
Chapter 15
Beth looked up, startled, from where she crouched in front of the lending library’s shelves. Phoenix stood in front of her, all power and strength. Determination shone in his brilliant blue eyes. He didn’t move.
Beth rose. “What are you doing here?”
“I think you know.” The deep timber of his voice played havoc with her nerve-endings.
“You want the Tome?”
“You know it’s not the Tome I want.” He moved and she was in his arms. Her skin tingled and her senses went into overdrive as his breath tickled the sensitive spot just behind her ear. “It’s you, just you.”
“Me?”
“Yes,” he feathered light kisses along her jaw line and then hovered his lips just over hers. “Just you.”
Beth couldn’t take it anymore; she took his face into her hands and pulled his head down. Their lips met, and she felt the current pass between them. This was it. Hers. He was hers. The one she was meant to be with. A golden glow wrapped around them both, and Beth felt the loneliness that she’d felt most of her life melt away. She’d found her true love.
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