Kearn’s hand slipped from his neck and Kyran breathed deeply. A moment later, he was hitting Kearn, his face a mask of pure hatred.
“Fight me then.” He punched Kearn.
Kearn didn’t respond. He stared at Kyran, taking it all. It broke Amber’s heart to feel his sadness and pain, and the sense of responsibility and guilt. It wasn’t Kearn’s fault that it had turned out like this. It was Kyran’s. He had to see that. He was right and Kyran had chosen his path.
When Kyran went to punch him again, Kearn caught his hand with his right one. Kyran snatched his hand back, fear lacing his blood for a moment. He was afraid of Kearn’s power. Could Kearn kill him by touching Kyran with his marked hand, just as the other Venator had killed the vampire?
If he could end it so easily, then she would give him the chance he needed.
“I do not want to kill you.” Kearn clenched his fists. Amber didn’t like the resignation in his voice. He was going to fight his brother whether he liked it or not, or she was going to get the other Venator in to do it for him. He would never forgive her, but it was better than watching him give up and die.
Kyran grinned.
“I do,” Amber said and the smile fell off his face.
He didn’t have a chance to stop her. Before he could even turn to face her, Amber had pulled the trigger. Kyran fell sideways and hit the floor. She wasn’t sure where she had hit him but she didn’t care. She got to her feet and aimed again.
Just as the gun was about to fire, she raised it to the ceiling. She couldn’t believe she had done such a thing.
“Interfering bitch,” Kyran growled and got to his feet. Blood covered his right thigh. She had shot him in the leg? She could have hit Kearn.
Kyran kicked Kearn in the side, causing him to double up, and then raised his hand. Amber dropped the gun even when she told herself not to. She wanted to pick it back up but couldn’t move. Kearn groaned. Her gaze strayed to him. The connection between them was weak. Was he losing consciousness? He couldn’t be. If he did that, then Kyran would win.
She gasped when she hit the wall, pinned two feet off the floor with her arms and legs spread. Kyran grinned at her, revealing his fangs.
“You are turning out to be more pain than you’re worth, Lover. We shall have to see about keeping you under better control.”
Her heart missed a beat. She could sense his intent. He was going to drink from her again. If he did that, he would grow stronger and Kearn wouldn’t stand a chance.
Kyran’s gaze stopped on her throat. He frowned.
“Dirty little bitch,” he whispered. “I never thought you would go along with his desire. No matter. Your blood may be weaker now, but it will still empower me. I shall just have to take a little more than before.”
Amber shook her head. If he took more than last time, she would die.
She looked past Kyran to Kearn.
She couldn’t move but she couldn’t let Kyran have her blood. Kearn had to get up, and he had to save her. He had promised he would keep her safe and protect her. He had to get up.
Kearn stirred, frowned, and pushed himself onto his knees and then stood.
She looked back at Kyran. His red gaze bore into her throat. She reached out to him through her blood, telling him that he wanted nothing more than to bite her and that was all that mattered now. He needed her blood. She was his for the taking.
Amber tilted her chin up, luring him in. He grinned again and stepped closer.
The moment he did, Kearn was behind him, his arm coming around and his glowing right hand pressing into Kyran’s chest.
Kyran looked shocked to see it there, and then glared at her.
Amber screamed when pain burst through every cell in her body and dropped to the floor, curling up into a ball on her side. It hurt. She clenched her teeth and held herself, tears running down her temple and over her nose. It hurt so much.
The connection between her and Kyran severed and the pain eased.
Kyran cried out instead. Amber managed to open her eyes and look across at him. Kearn had him pinned to the ground, his right palm flat against his chest. There were black snake-like ribbons coming out of his arm and going into Kyran.
She flinched when the pain inside her renewed and she felt the connection to Kyran reopening.
Kyran looked at her, reaching his left hand across the rubble strewn wooden floor to her, his fingers twitching. She stared into his blue eyes, her head heavy and fuzzy, and started to reach back to him. She wanted to ease his pain by going with him into the eternal darkness. Then he wouldn’t be alone.
“Leave her out of this,” Kearn snarled and her head felt lighter, clearer. She took her hand back and Kyran screamed again when the black things wrapped themselves around his throat. Kearn’s voice was soft as she stared into Kyran’s blue eyes. “Do not let him take you… I need you.”
Amber nodded and curled into a tighter ball, doing her best to fight her desire to go with Kyran. She didn’t want to. Kearn had fought for her and it would be over soon. She couldn’t fail him and allow him to be alone again. He needed her.
She focused on him instead, trying to open the connection between their blood. It was strong this time and comforting, and she held on to it, using it to keep her link to Kyran closed. She didn’t want to go with him. She wanted to stay with Kearn forever.
Kearn’s struggle filled her, his physical and emotional pain beating in her body and her heart, and she reinforced the connection between them, feeding him positive feelings to counteract the negative ones that were rampant in his blood. She knew that this was hurting him, and he didn’t want to do it, but Kyran had chosen his path in life, and it had led him to this point. She didn’t want Kearn to have to kill him, but he needed to in order to protect the things that he loved. She was here with him. She would be with him forever.
Her gaze flickered between Kearn and Kyran, fear crawling over her skin whenever she saw the black twisted ribbons burrowing into Kyran. He was fighting the power of the Sovereignty. She could feel it in her blood. He was reaching out to her both physically and through his blood, and she could sense that he didn’t want to die, that he was afraid, and part of her desired to comfort him. His skin greyed and his eyes dulled, and tears filled her eyes as she watched him slip away. His hand fell, fingers resting limply on the floor, still reaching for her.
Her blood suddenly felt empty.
The air in the room grew colder until it was freezing and then the heat of the fire came back again, warming her chilled toes.
The connection to Kearn returned, but she couldn’t feel Kyran anymore.
She stared at the grey ash form of him on the floor as it collapsed.
With a weary sigh, Kearn stood and came over to her. His pale face and the dullness in his eyes worried her as much as the pain that beat deep in his blood. She held her hand out to him and he pulled her to her feet. Her knees wobbled and she collapsed, taking Kearn down with her and landing with her back against the wall. Kearn leaned against her, holding her close, his arms tight around her. Amber rested her head on his shoulder.
“Is it over?” she whispered and stroked his silver hair, trying to soothe him.
His fatigue and distress flowed in her blood, bringing tears to her eyes. What he had done tonight would stay with him forever and she knew that he would never be able to forgive himself, even when his brother had left him no choice. She held him close to her, silently telling him through their connection that she was there to help him bear the pain and to ease his suffering, and would stay with him forever so he would never be alone. They could carry this burden together. He had done it for her, to protect her, and she loved him so much for feeling deeply enough for her to do such a thing.
Kearn murmured what she presumed was a yes. He was heavy against her and his desire for sleep ran so deep in her veins that she ached for a soft bed and warm covers. She continued to stroke his hair, smoothing away his pain and comforting him. His feelings lighte
ned a little with each soft kiss she pressed against his hair and each whispered word of love that left her lips.
Amber’s gaze fell to his arm. It was no longer glowing. The silver marks were pale against his skin, glimmering in the firelight. Kearn leaned his head against her shoulder and his weight pushed her back at an angle. His head dropped to her breasts and he murmured again. This time it sounded like approval.
Her cheeks blazed when the other Venator returned, battered and bloodied, and raised an eyebrow at her and Kearn.
“The Huntingdons have retreated, Venator Savernake,” he said in a deep voice that held a note of disappointment. Had he wanted the fight to continue?
Kearn murmured again.
The other Venator’s eyebrow rose higher. The doors to the grand reception room opened. Amber pushed Kearn up so he was no longer using her breasts as pillows. He frowned and then he looked at the place where he had killed Kyran and sorrow filled his green eyes. His parents entered the room and walked towards them. The other Venator saluted Kearn’s father, placing a bloodied right hand against the breast of his ripped black jacket.
Kearn went to stand.
“Rest.” His father sounded as weary as Kearn felt. Kearn’s mother supported him, his arm around her slender shoulders. Amber could see white through his long black coat. Kearn’s mother must have sealed the wounds and bandaged them.
Amber glanced at her neck and the new marks there. Kearn’s mother had fed his father. Amber wanted to do the same for Kearn, restoring his strength through her blood. She touched the twin puncture marks on her throat. Would he take it if she offered? He was so tired and she had to do something to look after him.
“Father… mother…” Kearn stared at them both and then at the floor again. “I have—”
“We know.” His father stopped near them. “Kyran chose his path. You have done your duty and for that we are grateful. You have protected us this night and saved our family and that of Pendragon, and even the Sovereignty. You have done well, and I am proud of you. Rest now.”
Kearn nodded. Amber could feel that his father’s words had meant a lot to him, but that it wasn’t enough to heal the hurt in his heart. He had loved Kyran. She only hoped in time that he could come to forgive himself as his parents had forgiven him.
She stood on stronger legs this time and helped Kearn to his feet.
His parents led the way from the room and Amber took care of Kearn, holding his arm around her shoulders. She walked slowly at a pace he could maintain without weakening himself further. The gallery was quiet now but it was a mess. Glass from the smashed windows littered the hallway, deep grooves marked the walls, and blood mixed with ash on the floor. There were long streaks in it, as though someone had been dragging something. The bodies? She had noticed that only some of the vampires had turned to ash. The surviving vampires must have started clearing up the house.
She looked at the empty places where the family portraits had hung before tonight. Would Kearn’s be among them again when they were restored to their places?
Would Kyran’s be gone?
Even after everything he had done, there was still a part of her that wanted his painting to remain on the wall. He had been Kearn’s family, and they had shared happy times before Kyran had begun to lust for power. She was sure of it.
Her gaze lingered on the wall, her head turning as she walked with Kearn, and she noticed that the other Venator was bringing up the rear. She looked at him and his green eyes met hers. They were colder than glaciers, making Kearn’s look positively warm in comparison, even when she had first met him. He stared at her and then nodded, as though acknowledging her in some way. Why? Because she was Kearn’s woman?
She smiled.
His look darkened and he dropped his gaze, studying the floor instead.
“Is something wrong?” Kearn whispered beside her and Amber looked back at him, and felt the other Venator’s eyes on her. No, not her. On Kearn. She was feeling things through him again. “I am not sure what happened to my cousin, Traegard, but he was once a kind man.”
The sense of being watched disappeared. Amber glanced back at the man in question and saw he was staring out of the windows, a distant look in his green eyes. He must have heard Kearn. She studied him, searching for the kindness Kearn had mentioned, but unable to find it. The dark aura around him chilled her and made her want to keep away from him.
Traegard touched his split lip and glanced at her, his eyes deep crimson.
Kearn stopped, turned and stared at him, his own eyes scarlet now. They stared at each other for a long minute and then Traegard’s eyes faded to green and he walked past them with his head bowed.
Amber held her smile inside. Even when he was injured and tired, Kearn was still defending her. She rewarded him with a soft kiss even though the way Traegard had looked at her hadn’t bothered her. She was growing used to vampires giving her hungry looks and it was far less frightening when it was one man rather than an entire ballroom.
Kearn gave her one of his own when she pulled back, his gaze lingering on her throat and the marks there. She touched them and smiled, relaying through her blood that he could drink from her again if he wanted to. A hint of a smile curved his lips and he pressed a brief kiss to her throat before walking with her again.
They stopped beneath the chandelier in the rubble strewn and blood soaked entrance hall.
Kearn’s father spoke to the vampires grouped there. Many of them were badly injured and she couldn’t help wondering whether they would survive, and how many the Savernake bloodline had lost tonight.
She looked at Kearn. It was difficult to see him covered in blood and with so many cuts marking his skin. She moved closer, needing to be near him and to have him know that she was with him. His beautiful green eyes slid to her and the barest hint of a smile touched his lips. He didn’t need to smile for her if it hurt to do it. She could sense his relief as though it was her own.
Kearn’s mother and father ascended the stairs. Amber followed with Kearn, supporting him still. Kearn stopped at the split in the stairs. He looked at his parents where they stood on the left set watching him. Amber waited, giving him time because his blood said that he needed it. He didn’t need to speak. He needed to see his parents and see the love back in their eyes, and feel welcome again in his home. It was important to him.
His mother smiled and it seemed to be all that Kearn needed to see. He relaxed against Amber and she turned with him, going up the opposite staircase to his parents.
The solemn air in the house began to drift away as they walked along the gallery on the first floor and then through to the bedroom where they had been together earlier. By the time they had reached the expansive black room, Kearn was walking by himself and no longer felt as drained. She closed the door, took his hand and led him to the black double bed. He sat on the end of it and looked up at her.
“You had me scared for a moment there.” She swept her fingers across his bloodied brow, brushing the hair from his eyes. They were full of love, beautiful in the way they shone with it. She smiled and stroked his cheek. “I thought I was going to lose you.”
He smiled and then grimaced, and rubbed his jaw. It was bothering him. His irritation disappeared from her blood when their eyes met again.
“I should be the one saying that. What in the Devil’s name compelled you to do such a thing? I told you to stay where it was safe,” he said.
Amber’s smile widened. She ran the backs of her fingers down his cheek and stepped closer to him, so their knees touched.
“I’m always safe with you.” She pressed a kiss to his silver hair. “Someone had to stop you from being a hero.”
He leaned back, evading her, and frowned.
Amber went to the bathroom, wet a black flannel, and looked at it. If they were going to live together forever, they were going to have to decorate their home more cheerily than his family’s mansion. His clean white apartment, bright and spacious, had been perf
ect for her. Perhaps they could live there.
Having seen the mess on the walls in the reception room downstairs though, she no longer needed to guess at why he had made her close her eyes when leaving his apartment. The clean white walls were probably stark red now.
Kearn was still frowning when she walked back to him. She cleaned the blood from his face with the cloth, careful not to disturb any of the cuts in case they bled again. By the time she had finished, his frown was gone.
“Why did you leave the safe room?” His eyes searched hers.
She cleaned the blood from his neck. “I told you. I had to stop you from being a hero.”
“Now tell me the real reason,” he whispered and she smiled inside. She wasn’t going to give him what he wanted, not even when he said it in a voice that made her quiver.
“I didn’t want you to fight alone.”
His frown came back. He caught her wrist, kissed her hand and then each of her fingers.
“Tell me.” There was more insistence in his tone this time.
He wasn’t going to get anywhere by ordering her. She would give him what he wanted, when she wanted. He kissed up her arm, luring her down at the same time. A shiver of anticipation chased ahead of him and the marks on her neck tingled at the thought of him biting her again.
“You’re hurt,” she said and he stopped by her shoulder. “And you’re tired. I… bite me… take my blood.”
He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. The edges of his irises turned red and then his eyes changed completely when his gaze moved to her neck.
“I want nothing more… and nothing less…” Kearn pulled her arm and she lost her balance and fell into him.
Before she could ask whether he was alright, she was pinned beneath him on the bed, her legs falling over the end of it with his. Kearn placed his hands on either side of her head.
Forbidden Blood (Vampire Venators Romance Series) Page 37