Scorned by Venom (Argentium Vampire Hunters Trilogy #2)

36. Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Luka

Fear was more than just an emotion. Fear was a villain, cunning and wicked, always prepared to dominate the unsuspecting, stripping them of their strength and savoring in its victory.

There were only a few times in my life that I’d faced the relentless power fear possessed.

And tonight was one of them . . .

After beating the last guy that touched me to a bloody pulp, I glanced around to find Sage running toward a car, shooting a hybrid in his back before hurling herself at her uncle.

Ben raised his gun at the same exact time I used all my strength to get to her in one second.

The gunshot went off next to my head, and my ears rang as thick wetness splattered, staining my face and neck. The smell of blood filled my nostrils as Sage’s body tumbled into mine, my arms wrapping around her.

“No!” Janene screamed louder than the gunshot as she scrambled off the ground. The terror of a mourning parent not only stopped most of the fighting, but it puckered my skin and raised the hairs on the back of my neck, sending panic through my body at lightning speed.

“No. No. Stay with me, Princess. Don’t you fucking stop breathing!”

I carefully placed her body on the rough parking lot, the rocks digging into me when I fell to my knees beside her.

My eyes were just as frantic as my mind, searching Sage’s chest and stomach, looking for an injury. The scent of her blood was still pungent in my nose but I couldn’t find a wound.

I lifted my arm, and just as I was about to sink my fangs into my wrist, I caught sight of her left cheek.

Black hair clung to her face. . . along with blood.

Quakes of panic shook my insides and I reached for the gaping hole in her skull before my body froze, locking my attempts.

Janene kneeled on the other side of Sage and fiercely grabbed my arms, shaking me back to reality. “Save her! Please!”

Despite knowing brain injuries were permanent, I was determined to do anything I could to keep Sage breathing.

Lifting my wrist to my mouth again, I sunk my teeth into it, ripping a chunk away. Blood gushed out, splashing onto Sage’s chest, and my heartbeat pulsed in my ears, screaming this wasn’t going to work as I pressed it against her mouth.

“Drink, Princess,” I begged, my voice quivering with raw vulnerability as my cheeks dampened. “You have to drink for me. Please, baby. You have to.”

Sage’s soul had bonded to mine, and I knew if she died, a part of me would die with her. It was impossible to live in a world where she didn’t exist.

“Don’t you fucking give up on me,” I whimpered, the air escaping my lungs, refusing to return. “You’re not allowed to give up!”

I sharpened my senses, straining to hear the faint sound of her swallowing, instead her heart thundered before it began to slow.

Thump . . . thump . . . . . thump . . . . . . .

As her final heartbeat echoed in my ears, a wave of grief washed over me, making my chest tighten. My own heart beat twice as hard as if it attempted to help keep her alive.

“Is it working, Luka?” Janene saying my name, made my eyes drift to her.

I opened my mouth, but my words dissolved into silence. The tightness in my throat felt like a thousand razor blades had moved in, slicing me to pieces.

Sage’s sweetness, her integrity, her fears . . . her entire existence fleeted away with every ounce of blood that oozed from her head.

“No,” I finally whispered, closing my eyes tight, attempting to block out my waking hell as tears rolled down my cheeks.

Pain ran through my veins like a forest fire, burning and eating at me. Any control I had over my body diminished when I balled my fists, letting out a tremendous scream, flooding the quiet night with my agony.

“Fucking no! She’s fucking dead. She’s fucking dead,” I screamed over and over.

Janene jumped up from the ground and hurled herself at the closest Venom member, violently swinging her fists at every part of his body. “You bastards!”

The rest of the soldiers pointed their guns at her and my friends pointed their guns at them. Screaming and fighting commenced and the world stopped, no longer moving forward as my life fell apart.

I tumbled onto Sage’s body, my hand lying across her stomach, my ear pressing against her chest and a hollow white noise radiated from within her.

A heart that didn’t beat.

Blood that didn’t rush.

A soul that didn’t survive.

My soulmate had departed from this world, leaving me empty, a mere physical manifestation of the person I once was.

My lungs gave up, refusing to take in air which no longer held her fragrance.

My heart pumped faster, begging me to keep breathing. But since hers had stopped, I couldn’t. I didn’t want to.

Life was empty without her.

Once upon a time, I had lavender and vanilla, and now I have nothing.

The despair ate at me, and my eyes became blurry, unfocusing on the world around me.

In a flash, the pain vanished, giving way to pure unbridled hatred. A powerful growl conjured within me, rumbling my insides before erupting from my mouth with vehemence.

My canine fangs throbbed, elongating with thirst.

Then my gums tightened, a strange, unfamiliar sensation coursing through me as if something primal and dangerous was awakening within.

Two more fangs emerged, ready to unleash wrath onto the world.

I lept to my feet, my gaze darting from person to person. Another large growl left me and every hybrid and wolven took a few steps back, acknowledging my power.

Fueled by impetuous anger, I charged for the first person in front of me. The Venom member was unable to react before my sharp fangs impaled him, violently tearing away a chunk of his cheek.

The sound of a gunshot reverberated as it struck the back of my arm, prompting my immediate reaction. I swiftly turned around, seized the fucker with the gun, and snapped his neck.

A third member stared wide-eyed and I yanked him toward me, sinking my fangs into his throat. The metallic yet sweet flavor of his warm blood pooled in my mouth before slinking down my throat with delicious satisfaction.

The world brightened with every gulp, fueling my fury, and driving me further over the edge of insanity.

A sensation of power crawled through my insides and each vein on my face throbbed, increasing in size. My four fangs became longer and sharper, ready to attack my next victim.

When my strength started to double—triple—I vaguely knew bloodlust had taken over, but not one ounce of me cared.

My anger allowed me to spare no one, including my friends.

Anyone who moved would be my target.

Twisting my body toward the now faceless people, I lunged for the nearest one, biting into her neck and ripping a chunk away. Strangled cries filled the air as I chewed the flesh, which was as juicy as a rare steak.

With a sense of satisfaction, I savored the delectable meat before finally swallowing and searching for my next meal.

The person closest to me raised his gun, shooting me in the stomach. The stinging pain disappeared as I yanked them toward me, sinking my fangs into his cheek. I’d hardly taken a bite when someone violently collided with me from the side, throwing me off balance.

With my new superpowers, I recovered quickly, hopping to my feet.

The one who knocked me down glared at me, fists up and ready, awaiting my next move. Though she seemed highly trained, her scent told me she was human.

An easy meal.

In an attempt to catch her off guard, I leapt forward, but she deftly dodged me, countering with a forceful kick to my abdomen, causing me to be pushed backwards. I recovered quickly and charged her again. This time I knocked her to the ground with me landing on top of her.

With fangs bared, I leaned into her neck and a pair of arms went around my throat, choking me back.

“Luka, stop. That’s Lyric!” someone yelled, the voices as foreign as the faces. “You’re in bloodlust.”

I stood up with him still on my back and attempted to fling him off. “Let go!”

“It’s me, Erik.”

With me still in a choke hold, he kicked the back of my leg, pulling me backwards, and I tumbled to the ground with him below me.

“Grab his legs, Lyric!”

She laid her entire body across me, wrapping herself around my legs, and asked, “Can we weaken him with silver?”

“I don’t know, but I’m suffocating under him!”

My rage remained uncontrolled and I growled and thrashed.

“We have to do something. Sage needs him!” she screamed, and although I didn’t recognize the name, a sense of panic flowed through me.

Sage?

“You guys did this shit. Help before he kills us all!” I had no clue who the Erik guy yelled at, but threatening snarls left me when more hands pulled at my body.

Four, five, six people held me down as I fought for my freedom.

Another person ran up and placed a palm on my chest. “Luka, stop! It’s me, Ravage. Remember your oath, son. The darkness shall not command thyself. Thou shall command it.”

Who is Ravage and why do his words seem . . . important?

Lyric let go of my legs, freeing them, and Erik screamed, “What are you—”

Erik’s question got interrupted when someone slapped the shit out of me.

My face stung for only a second before a pair of soft hands gently rested on my cheeks. “Sage needs you, Luka. Come back to her.”

Memories of a woman with black hair, a beautiful smile, and a perfect body flashed through my mind and my movements slowed.

“Keep talking, Lyric,” Ravage said through panting breaths. “It’s working.”

“Sage won’t make it without you. She almost died staring into those woods because she loves you. Lavender and vanilla, remember?”

Lavender and vanilla.

My body eased as additional memories of Sage flooded my mind. She was my mate. She loved me. She had saved me.

I couldn’t protect her . . . and she died.

No.

Agonizing pain spread throughout my heart, causing it to shatter. I blinked a couple of times and the faces in front of me came into focus, my eyes landing on Ravage. “Where is she?”

“Let him up,” he instructed, and everyone released me.

I hopped from the ground, my mind frantic as I glanced around and immediately noticed a handful of people kneeled around Sage.

A large growl rumbled from my chest as I headed toward them.