by J. N. Colon
Tristan stepped forward. “If you haven’t been vaccinated please follow Emmaline to the lab when this meeting adjourns.”
“With the vampires spread so thin it will delay the shipment of vaccines to the donation centers.” Whitmore’s words were met with several protests. “It wouldn’t be safe. The hunters don’t know we have a cure yet, but it would set us back weeks if they attack and destroy what we have.” His gaze flicked to me again. “With that being said, Rubi you’ll need to stay down here for the next few days. With our numbers lower it’s safer.”
I tried to hold back my grimace. Sometimes it sucked being the cure.
“I’ll be with her,” Mac announced, shifting closer toward me until his body was pressed against mine.
Whitmore nodded in approval and I caught Miranda in the corner trying to fight a kilowatt smile at her son’s behavior.
***
I found Mac sitting in the front row of the chapel we had our bonding ceremony in, staring unfocused at the altar.
“Mac?” I whispered, slowly approaching him. By the slump in his shoulder and the way his head was bowed I could tell he was upset. I sat next to him. “What’s wrong?”
“I wish I could remember.”
My throat clogged with the somber sound of his voice and I hesitantly reached out to rub his shoulder. “You will.”
He shook his head. “What if I don’t? What if I never do?” His green gaze found mine, tears shimmering in them. “I’ll never remember our first kiss or even our bonding ceremony.”
I grabbed his face between my hands. “We’ll make new memories then.”
He forced my hands away, his head bowing again. “I was horrible to you Rubi. How can you even stand the sight of me?”
I clucked my teeth. “Because you’re my mate Mac. Something terrible happened to you and you’re dealing with a lot.”
He shook his head again, pulling at the roots of his hair in frustration. “It’s not an excuse.” He slipped off the bench, wrapping his arms around my waist. “I am so sorry Rubi. I’ll spend every day of my life trying to make it up to you.” A tear slipped down his cheek, melting into my jeans while his face twisted in anguish. “I will do anything you want if you take me back. Demy was right when he said once I realized what I lost I would be begging to have to back.” He swallowed hard, staring up at me with reddened eyes. “And that’s exactly what I’m doing. I am begging you.”
My heart rioted against my ribcage and chest ached. I hated he was in pain, but I couldn’t deny the satisfaction I felt for having Mac finally acknowledge the bond and his feelings for me.
“I can’t remember much, but what I do is all I need to tell me we belong together.” His hand touched my chest over my heart. “I know our hearts share the same rhythm, beating in time together. I feel the electricity crackle down my spine when you’re near. I know you’re mine,” he whispered, desperation lacing his voice.
Something silver glinted on his hand resting on my chest, pulling my attention down. My sharp intake of air echoed through the silent stone room, shocked to see he was wearing his silver and garnet royal ring.
A ghost of a smile twitched his lips. “I took it from your jewelry box when I realized you weren’t wearing it on the necklace anymore. I kept in my drawer and would take it out when I was alone, trying to imagine we’d been like together.” He shrugged one shoulder as if this piece of information wasn’t important.
My heart swelled so big it threatened to burst through my ribcage. I put his ring away weeks ago after the disastrous Halloween. He’d had it for weeks, meaning he’d been thinking about me for longer than I realized. Maybe he’d always been secretly thinking of me.
“I forgive you Mac.” I leaned down and kissed his forehead, running the tips of my fingers into his soft hair. “All I want is you back too.” I failed at blinking the tears back, some fell on my jeans, mixing with his.
His lids closed as a breath of relief exhaled from his body. “I can’t remember the vows we said that night.” His nose rubbed against mine before he brushed a gentle kiss across my lips. “Will you tell me?”
I nodded, kissing him chastely again. “Just follow me.” I took a deep breath, recalling the words that were burned into my soul. “Mac Davenport, my heart will only be yours from now until the moment I take my last breath and even after. I am yours.”
Tiny drops of tears lingered on his wet lashes as his eyes opened, catching the soft light and framing those familiar jade orbs. His hands skimmed up my shoulders and captured my face between them, his thumbs stroking my cheeks. “Rubi McHale Davenport, my heart will only be yours from now until the moment I take my last breath and even after. I am yours.” His deep, warm breath blew against my lips.
I covered his left hand with mine, pulling it down and touching the ring. “This is a symbol of our promise to each other. The circle signifies not only our immortal lives, but our immortal bond.”
Mac grabbed mine and repeated the words in a whisper that tugged at my heartstrings.
“Now we seal the bond with a blood kiss.” I took my index finger and slid it across my fang, watching while he repeated the motion. I swiped the blood across my bottom lip. “I am yours Mac. You have me heart, body, and soul.”
Mac swallowed hard, his cheeks flushed and eyes still watering. I could see his need for me to accept him back playing in his face and even beating in his heart. He hesitated, afraid I would change my mind.
“Go ahead,” I urged, motioning toward his finger. “I’m not going anywhere.”
He nodded before swiping his blood across his lips. “I am yours Rubi. You have me heart, body, and soul.” Without needing my instruction Mac leaned forward, crushing his lips against mine in a soul shattering kiss that had the opposite effect on my soul—it reunited every particle, twining it a second time around Mac’s.
Our hearts beat fiercely within us, each pulse a perfect mirror of the other. Electricity crackled down my spine, radiating throughout every cell and nerve endings. Our words were not simply words, but promises renewed, deepening our bond that was unbreakable even in death.
Mac and I returned to the room we used to share and had slept in last night. He shut and locked the door behind us, turning around to face me with hungry eyes he was trying to shield.
I shifted in the other direction, giving him time to gather himself. The first time bonded we stayed in this room. It used to solely belong to Mac. It was the same room Whitmore brought me after he’d saved me from Madison’s mother when I was five. The young Mac pulled the covers around us and promised he’d always protect me.
The night of our original bonding ceremony candles filled the room with golden light while red and white rose petals were spread across the bed, drifting down on the cream and gold rug spanning the floor.
I twisted the garnet and silver royal band around my finger, staring at the now darkened and undecorated room. I didn’t need any of those frills to make this night special. Mac being with me again, alive, was all the romance I needed. Our hearts beating as one while we shared a night together that a few months ago I thought was forever out of my reach.
I could feel his eyes on me, tracing my body with a burning stare. I turned around, waiting.
“Did we…?” He swallowed hard and cleared his throat. “Did we stay here in this room after our bonding ceremony?”
My brow arched. I knew what he was really asking and found it cute he was too embarrassed to actually ask it. “We did, but we didn’t have our first time yet.”
“Oh.” His hands shoved in his pockets as he rocked back and forth on his feet.
I came closer, resting my hands on his chest. “We were going to though, but Aspen had been attacked that night and it didn’t feel right.”
“Oh.” Unable to restrain his body completely, his eyes began flecking with silver as his desire deepened.
A smile twitched at my lips. “Is that the only word you’re capable of?”
“Oh—I mean
no.” His cheeks flamed. “I’m just not sure what to do here.” He nervously rubbed the back of his neck. “I mean I don’t want to pressure you or think I only want one thing.”
I stared up at him through my lashes. “Mac, you’re my mate. We’ve been apart for months. We just renewed our vows. You’re getting some.”
A long, deep breath of relief blew out his mouth and his hands wrapped around my hips, pulling me closer. “Oh man. I thought I was going to have to take a long, freezing cold shower.”
“We can just take a hot one together later.” My hands went up, pulling his head down to mine until our lips met in a burning kiss.
“That sounds like a plan baby.”
I shivered and delighted in the way he called me baby again. My hands began unbuttoning his shirt, eager to be with him. It slid down his shoulders, fluttering to the floor. My lips trailed kissed across his chest and down his abs as I reached for his belt.
He grabbed my hand, unexpectedly stopping me. “No fair.” His breath blew raggedly against my face and down my chest. “You’re getting me all undone before I can even get one article of your clothing off.” His fingers curled in my shirt, slowly lifting the hem up as his fingers grazed the side of my ribs, leaving a trail of heat behind. He picked me up, my legs wrapping around his waist, and towed me toward the bed. Heat blossomed deep in my belly, anticipating what was coming.
“You always did like to be the one in control,” I whispered, my voice thick with desire as I felt the soft bed collect under me.
The corners of his lips twitched, threatening a smile as he crawled over me. “Something tells me you like it.”
Oh yeah, I thought as he hands slid up my stomach to my chest, caressing my curves lovingly. Mac bent down and kissed my star shaped scar and the bandage that hid my healing wound and even lower to where the fading claw marks of an undead creature rested. I didn’t think he knew about those.
He undid my pants and slid them off in one swift move, leaving me breathless and trembling, completely at his mercy. His fingers drew circles, teasing the hem of my purple panties that matched my bra, a low growl slithering out of him. “Do you where these things to torture me on purpose.”
I nodded, remembering he’d asked me that before—the night we made love for the first time.
His silver and jade yes darkened. “Well, I guess I should teach you a lesson naughty girl.”
Yikes.
A deep, wicked laugh tumbled out of him before he started sprinkling my body with kisses, starting with my thighs and trailing up my torso to my chest. Each one was like a jolt of electricity, igniting fires deep within me and stirring a red, hazy lust that was slowly driving me over the edge.
“Mac,” I growled, gripping him and pulling his mouth back to mine, devouring him. I unbuttoned his pants, letting him pull them down and kick them off. “If you don’t stop teasing me you’ll really regret it,” I warned, wrapping my legs around him.
“You’re probably right,” he panted, just as filled with need as I was. His tongue tangled with mine while fingers did things to me I could only dream about for the past few months, sending me over the edge of pleasure. I cried his name, begging him until he gave me what I wanted. What we both wanted. Our bodies moved together as one once again, connecting our souls and finally bringing us where we belonged. Home. Together.
Chapter 33
I stood in waxy green foliage, the air thick with salt and fragrant flowers. The ocean crashed in the distance while stars twinkled in a clear pitch sky. My heart squeezed in agony because I knew where I was—and when. I knew what was just beyond those dew covered leaves.
Mac’s death. I didn’t want to watch it again.
“Aye, princess, but you need to.” William was suddenly standing beside me, dressed from head to toe in black. Sharp silver knives and stakes were strapped to his legs and waist.
I sighed. “No I don’t. I’ve seen it enough times, experiencing his death in my nightmares every night for months.”
William stroked his rust colored beard, his mossy eyes staring off into the distance where the arrow would come from. “The answer was always in front of you. You just weren’t paying attention to the details.” He stepped forward, pushing aside the leaves and motioned with his chin for me to follow.
Damn. Maybe he was trying to show me something. I’d prefer this William over the one terrorizing me.
With a deep breath I stepped forward and saw Mac and I months ago sitting on the straw mat. His arms were around me, holding me against his chest. We looked deep in love, painfully almost. My chest ached and throat clenched, knowing the moment—the worst moment of my entire life—was drawing near.
A whoosh echoed through the air. Suddenly everything slowed down, showing every detail in high definition. I’d never been able to see it from this point of view. Maybe then I would have noticed it. The arrow was heading straight for me—directly in my stomach where it would clearly miss Mac. He pushed me down a mere second before the arrow sank into the unintended target.
The breath caught in my throat as the realization flowed over me.
I should have died that day. Not Mac.
My eyes snapped opened to the bedroom beneath Highland and I sat up so fast my head swam. Sweat beaded my hairline while tremors racked my body and my breaths were coming in quick pants.
Declan had said the hunters had another motivation to kill Mac, but it wasn’t him they were after. That was why I could never find their reason. I was the target. I thought of the nightmare I had of being dragged into Mac’s grave when it became my own, the tombstone baring my name.
There were several reasons people wanted me dead. Some vampires didn’t think I deserved the throne. Or maybe the hunters somehow knew my vampire blood would be the cure. Or maybe someone simply wanted me out of the way…
Veronica and Anton Svensson hated me. They wanted nothing more than to have Sasha and Mac together as rulers. That at least could have been possible with me dead. Could they have struck a deal with the hunters to kill me?
With a flutter of panic my eyes roamed the room for Mac, already knowing from the lack of electricity he wasn’t close. A note sitting on the bedside table caught my attention.
Rubi,
In a room across the hall with my dad. We needed to talk and didn’t want to wake you. Come find me if you wake up or call my cell.
Love,
Mac
PS
Yes, I do love you Rubi and intend on showing you for the rest of our immortal lives.
My heart did a happy dance and a giant grin plastered over my face before I regained my composure, focusing on the new, imperative information I learned. I jumped out of bed and tossed on a pair of sweat pants and a tank top, desperate to see Mac.
An odd grinding sound coming from the bathroom hit my ears and I spun around in time to see Sasha step out of the doorway. “What the hell?” I gasped.
She held her hands up in surrender, each one trembling while agony twisted her face. “I’m sorry. I used a secret passage to find you. It’s an emergency. It’s about my parents.” Her words came out in choked sobs while tears spilled down her flushed cheeks. “I’m so sorry. I just found out they tried to have you killed, but Mac…”
“Ended up pushing me out the way,” I growled. “I know.”
She blinked in momentary shock before shaking herself free. “We need to hurry.” She stepped forward and grabbed my wrist, tugging me toward the bathroom. “They’re trying to destroy the cure.”
I struggled in her grasp. “We should tell Mac and Whit. They’re just across the hall.”
“You don’t understand Rubi.” She continued dragging me into the bathroom. “They’re in the lab right now, doing away with the cure and Emmaline’s formulas so she can’t make more immediately.”
Panic struck a chord through my chest, thinking about all the vampires that needed the vaccine.
Sasha motioned her chin toward the small stone corridor that had
been hidden behind the wall. “This goes straight to the lab.” She pulled out her phone and started dialing with her free hand. “I’ll text Mac as soon as we get there.”
I nodded and followed her down secret tunnel, running at vampire speed.
“They struck some kind of deal with the hunters?” I asked, my voice echoing.
“Yes. They wanted you out of the way so I could be princess and future queen. In return my parents gave the hunters the whereabouts of vampires to kill and how to avoid the guards or any other security. With my father being on the royal council, he had detailed information on all the guards on duty and any security precautions taken.”
Son of a biscuit! “That’s how they got past the guards.”
“Yes.”
We turned the corner and Sasha stopped in front of a door, opening it to reveal the stark halls of the lab. My brow furrowed at a fleeting thought. “How did you know about this tunnel? You just came to Highland.”
Sasha shrugged, her sleek blonde hair trailing behind her as she whipped a heavy metal door open. “My parents told to me.”
A strange prickling traveled over my skin while a feeling of trepidation curled in my stomach the moment I stepped foot in the lab—and took in the scene before me.
Veronica and Anton were bound to hidden hooks in the floor by thick, heavy silver chains and their mouths were gagged. Their eyes were also unfocused and heavily lidded as if they’d be drugged.
Ah fish sticks.
Chapter 34
I spun around to find Sasha dragging a chained in silver and gagged Miranda into the room, her auburn hair obscuring most of her face. Anger swarmed my senses and a vicious growl rolled out my mouth as I prepared to lunge for her regardless of the healing wound in my chest.
Sasha quickly yanked Mac’s mother in front of her body like a shield. “Tsk, tsk Rubi.” She put a silver blade to Miranda’s heart. “Misbehave and mommy in law dies.” She kissed her cheek. “She’s heavily sedated too so she won’t be much help to you.”