Chapter 20
Lila had so much to tell him. As they walked—well, Lila limped after the seventh time Ambrose offered to carry her—back to the small cave, she went into detail of everything that occurred between her and Rebekkah at the Viper Morada, leaving out the most gruesome of details about Hektor and the night of the revel, the night they took her to her home. She had just gotten him back, and was too afraid to lose him again to anger so soon.
But she did tell him of her powers—of the healing warmth and the burning heat.
“The heat leaves scars on vampires?”
“Did you notice the burns on Hektor’s face and hands? Or the one on Ciro’s palm?”
Ambrose looked blankly at her for a moment. “To be honest, love, I didn’t notice anything but you.” Then his eyebrows came close together for a moment, a tick in his jaw pronounced. He gritted out, “I do remember Ciro’s hand, now.”
The cave was dim, and Rebekkah seemed asleep already, so Ambrose continued the conversation through their Concord link. We’ll need to continue your training. You’ve grown weak, he smirked. There’s no way you can take me now.
Lila raised an eyebrow and smirked. I think I just did take you—all of you. And it was a lot, but I believe I handled it just fine.
Your present walking skills say otherwise.
Lila blushed, feeling a trickle of heat in her belly as they padded through the cave. The soreness between her thighs was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. Unlike having sore arms or legs from her training, this felt . . . powerful. Good. She remembered feeling slightly sore after he finger fucked her in the Arachnid Estate, but this was so much . . . more.
Yet, despite it, she already wanted him again. And again. And again.
Calm down, Little Crow.
He pulled her aside, to a small alcove, far enough away to continue speaking. Rebekkah’s back was to them, at the far end of the darkness, asleep, and Lila made the mental note to speak to her in the evening when they awoke—to make sure she was okay with joining them to the Maggot Mansion. To make sure she was okay after watching her brother get murdered.
Just before Lila readied herself to lie on the ground, Ambrose shifted into the monstrous form and laid down first. He splayed his wing out on the ground, and indicated for her to lay on top of it beside him. But she wanted to be closer.
Lila crawled on top of him, her belly resting against his. Ambrose watched her with those ruby eyes, a twinkle of mischief glimmering as he quirked his eyebrow.
“All right, then,” he smirked, and wrapped his arms around her waist, followed by his large wings. It was like being tucked into a warm blanket.
The things I would do to you if we were alone, he said, and she felt his cock harden below her.
You can already go again?
Darling, for you, I am unstoppable.
Lila snickered before laying her cheek against the tattoo on his chest.
“You’re warm again,” he said in a voice so low, it could’ve been a whisper.
Lila hadn’t realized it, but he was right. She’d been warm since they made love. At some point, her shivers from the cold had turned into shivers of ecstasy, and the chill never quite returned.
“I hadn’t felt so cold in so long . . .”
“I suspect that collar was the cause. It muted your power, your thoughts . . . it muted you.” Ambrose’s arms tightened around her as he bit out the words.
Lila placed her palm over his heart. “It’s okay. I’m here now, with you.”
He inhaled sharply, then slowly released, bobbing Lila up and down on top of him. “You’re right. I just—Thinking of you in that collar, that dress . . . it makes me want to—”
“Punch something? Me too.”
Ambrose shrugged. “I was going to say rip their throats out with my teeth. But punching something works too.”
“When did you become so violent?” Lila scoffed, knowing fully well he’d been violent long before he pushed her out of a window after making a bargain with her.
He chucked his forefinger under her chin. “Darling, I’m the monster of Malvania. I’m always violent.”
As Lila smiled, he cupped her cheek, then tucked those lilac strands behind her ear. “Speaking of, I seem to remember you are rather violent too, love. I know you were still training at the Morada. What happened to your stake?”
Lila gulped, leaning into his palm. “When they—” she swallowed hard at the memories. “When they whipped me, just before putting the collar on, they threw it into a fire and made me watch as it burned.” She felt tears sting her eyes but fought to hold them back. It was silly to cry over it, but Lila felt like it was more than just another piece of wood, more than just a weapon. It meant something to her. Many somethings. Her trust in Ambrose, her trust in herself, her ability to fight back—and they stole that from her, made her watch as they destroyed the symbol of her power.
Ambrose caressed her cheek. “You are so much more than a wooden stake, and you know it. If it’s about the fact it was mine, you are mine as well, and I’d much rather it burn than you.”
“It’s also that you made it. That it made me stronger—”
“It did no such thing. You were already strong without it, and stronger now again after it. Your power—the power not connected to warmth and the sun—it didn’t come from the wood, it comes from you. Your resilience, your heart, your stubbornness. And now, love, based on what you’ve told me of these new abilities of yours, I believe you can be the weapon.” He paused, cupping her cheek once more and guiding her to look at him. His void-like eyes bore into hers, breaking through every wall she’d created these last three months in a heartbeat. “If your heart mourns for something I’ve made, I will make it again and again and again, until my hands fail to make any more. If your heart mourns for something because it was mine, you already have all of me, body, heart, and soul. I am yours—and I’d like to believe I can do much more for you than a piece of wood. My greatest possession from now until the rest of my days is already yours, resting in your chest.” He placed his hand atop hers, over his chest. “And if your heart mourns the loss of your strength—you are the strongest person I have ever met, Little Crow. Stronger than you could even believe.”
Tears welling in her eyes, Lila snuggled her face into his chest. “I love you, Ambrose.”
“And I love you, darling. But,” he chucked her chin up once more to look at him, “I need you to know I am not saying these things because I love you. These are all facts I would believe if you were mine or not. Do you understand me?”
Lila nodded. I really wish we were alone right now . . .
He tucked her against him, raising his wings so they rested against her shoulders. Oh yeah? What would you do to me if we were?
From the moment I saw you like this, I knew you’d be a challenge I wanted to conquer.
You think you can handle me, darling? You could barely handle my human cock inside of you.
He was right, the amount he stretched her was just on the edge of too much, she wasn’t sure if it would be anatomically possible to fit that inside of her. But she wouldn’t let him know that.
I can always try.She shook her hips just enough to rile him up, to feel him pressed between her thighs. And if all else fails, I can use you as I used that stake and grind against your cock till you’re seeing stars.
Lords, what a filthy mouth on you. Who taught you such a thing?She could hear his chuckle in her mind, and it sent that familiar wave of heat to her core.
A vampire with a silver tongue and voice like liquid gold who says the naughtiest things imaginable.
Well, he said, I’ll have to thank that vampire for teaching you to be so vulgar. Now, before poor Rebekkah is awakened by your lustful need for me, we both need to sleep. It’s been such a long night, and for you even longer. We need our strength tomorrow.
Are we walking the rest of the way to the Maggot Mansion?
It all depends on how quickly the strigoi army has spread before we awake at dusk. If they’re on a tail again, yes. We’ll stay below the trees—better coverage that way. If they’re not, then we’ll fly. It would save a lot of time.
Lila looked around the cave. The sunlight was slipping through, but they were far back enough to remain in the shade.
A prickle rose at the base of Lila’s spine. What if the strigoi rallied and came once more? What if Hektor or Drusilla came to steal her again? What if—
“Lila,” Ambrose called, “You’re safe with me. Here with me. Nothing will harm you while you’re with me. I won’t allow it. Tonight, I will remove the venom from your body and heal your wounds. But now, you need to sleep.”
“Promise you’ll stay with me?”
He gently scratched her scalp with his long nails, soothing her, as he wrapped his arm around her waist once more. “Lila, I’m never letting you go again. Ever.”