Chapter 28
Acheron
"How did I know you’d be here?"
My beautiful mate turned her head and smiled at me. She closed the book she was reading and stood, her arms smoothing up my chest in greeting. God, she was so lovely. Even though we had been fucking for hours, I felt a ripple of desire build inside me again.
The dimple in her cheek popped. "You're finally up."
"Miss me?"
"Always." She leaned up and kissed me.
I bent down to meet her and returned her kiss. Her taste filled my mouth, and I groaned, gathering her closer. Her blood was intoxicating. I couldn't get enough. It flowed into my mouth, and I greedily sucked and swallowed.
I frowned.
Blood.
So much blood. Too much.
Then it hit me: How could she be bleeding when I had not bitten her?
I immediately jerked away and gasped as blood poured out of Alice's mouth. Her eyes were wide and pained.
"Alice! Alice, oh god, what happened?"
I felt a wetness against my lower abdomen and glanced down to see a wound on her stomach. More blood was seeping through her shirt.
"No! Alice!"
I jerked awake, and Von instantly appeared at my side, having heard my call.
I sat up, my legs swinging over the side of my bed. My empty bed. "Where is Alice?" I demanded. The last I remembered, she had been sleeping beside me. How long was I out for?
"She went for a walk—"
I immediately tried to connect with her guards but was met with silence.
"Fuck!"
"My King—"
"I'll be at the forest's edge. Get a physician there. Now!"
When I arrived at Alice's favorite spot—and the place she had been in my vision—I pulled up short in surprise when I was greeted by King Damon. But I did not have time to wonder, not when he was holding a bleeding and gasping Alice in his arms.
"Damon. What the fuck are you doing? Give me my mate!"
He kept an eye on Alice, his face etched in something akin to regret. He finally met my crazed stare, and what I saw in him shook me. "Ah, sleeping beauty. You've finally joined us."
"What the fuck are you doing?" I moved forward slowly, my tortured eyes staying on Alice's rapidly moving chest, noting how shallow her breathing was. Her shirt was completely soaked in blood. Desperation lurched at me as I felt Alice's soul detaching from her.
"I could explain it to you, but I've already done it once with Alice, and I find it tedious to repeat myself. Maybe she'll relay it to you…when you meet each other in the afterlife."
"You bastard!"
His eyes flashed. "You have no idea how true that is. Sorry, old friend. It's nothing personal, just an old vendetta that needed settling." He glanced down at Alice again.
"I'll kill you! I'll tear you to shreds for this!"
"Don't bother. You won't find me, and your delicate little mate needs you more. Although, I fear it may be too late." He gently placed her down. "Farewell, old friend." He disappeared, and I raced forward, carefully scooping her into my arms.
Alice's breathing was faint, her chest barely moving. Her eyes were wide as she stared up at the sky, her lips mouthing my name.
"No! Do not speak, my love. You're going to be okay." But we both knew she wouldn't. I could feel her life source leaving her. Wetness dripped onto her face, and I realized that I was crying for the first time.
We are here.
I glanced up, my face wet and racked in grief. "It is too late." I looked down at her still face, and a sob was wrenched from my throat. "You know what to do." I would join her in the afterlife. Von knew the plan on how to destroy me.
"There is one thing you can do," Von said, his tone quiet as he stared at Alice. He looked at me, his normally stoic features marred in sorrow. "Turn her."
My heart jumped at his suggestion, and I glanced down at Alice. The thought never entered my head. I just wanted to be with Alice—in whatever capacity. What was there to lose?
"You must do it quickly before it is too late," he urged.
I closed my eyes as rippling grief tore through me. "Forgive me, Alice," I whispered against her still frame before I buried my fist through her chest, straight to her heart.