12. Embrace Who You Are
EMbrACE WHO YOU ARE
Alex
Bethlen walked towards me, and the tug in my chest throbbed so hard I believed it was ripping my body apart.
He was taller and broader than I and moved with a lethal grace I’d never had. I’d met murderers and all sorts of criminals, human and otherwise, and none of them had sent a chill down my spine as my sire did.
Irene’s heartbeat pounded faster, a natural response to the proximity of a dangerous predator.
Bethlen stopped in front of me and gave me a long, appraising glance. His icy-blue eyes narrowed to slits. “You’re Mr. Alexander Hart.”
“You bastard.” I hadn’t planned to start the conversation like that, but it was the only thing I could think of at that moment, and aside from insults, I didn’t have much else. “You turned me into a monster.”
He arched his brow. “I gave you a gift, Alexander.”
I had no idea where his strong accent was from, and I didn’t give a damn, but it didn’t sound as funny as I’d thought the first time I’d met him.
“Gift my arse. You cursed me.” Fury rose swiftly, causing my blood to boil.
He tilted his head lightly when, behind him, Rothbart’s thug started to walk away. “You’re immortal, powerful, and feared. That is hardly a curse.”
My vision darkened at the edges, and red spots blotched it. I’d never been sweet or calm, but the speed with which anger flared up surprised me.
He chuckled. “Do you want to kill me? That is amusing. I was having a rather boring night, but you’ve changed that.”
“Irene, leave.” My fangs descended quickly.
She didn’t let my arm go. “Alex, please. Don’t do this.”
“I have to.” I removed her hand from my arm as gently as I could.
“Alex.” Irene shook her head, her pulse going faster.
Bethlen whipped his head in the direction of the thug, like a hound who had caught a whiff of the prey.
I grabbed the count by the lapels of his fine jacket and tossed him against the brick wall in front of me. Or at least that was my intention.
Somehow, he’d slipped out of my grip and dashed away, like sand through my fingers. He stood yards from me, an amused look on his face.
I held up a hand when Irene opened her mouth. “Go to the carriage. Go home.” I didn’t turn around to look at her.
She stepped in front of me, blocking me. “You aren’t in the right state of mind to fight against a four-hundred-year-old vampire who might be a rogue.”
“I’m in the perfect state of mind to show him how much I appreciate his bloody gift,” I gritted out.
From the other side of the street, Bethlen beckoned me to come closer. “Are you already giving up, Alexander?”
He lifted his fancy hat in greeting before using his superhuman speed to run.
Instinct took over. I didn’t have to think. The moment he vanished, I sprinted towards him, past carriages, carts, horses, and people. Irene’s voice was lost in the background noise.
Horses neighed and pranced at my passage. Someone shouted. I bumped into a drunken man, and we both fell over. The man groaned as I leapt to my feet and started running again.
Bethlen was a grey blur. He paused only to give me time to spot him. It was a stupid game, and I’d fallen for it like an idiot. Yet I didn’t want to give up.
He turned onto a less crowded street, and I chased him, pushing my body to the limit.
Every time I was close enough to grab him, he flew away, only to stop yards from me and tease me with a smirk.
Alley after alley, I chased the count to St. James’s Park. I couldn’t win. His speed and strength were superior. But I couldn’t stop either. Primordial anger fuelled me although I’d never let wrath cloud my judgement in the past.
This chase was suicidal. If he wished, he could bite me without me seeing him move.
The count came to an abrupt halt close to the shore of the park’s lake, lifting a cloud of grass blades and dirt with his elegant boots.
Gas lamp-posts lit the main path in the park, but the area close to the water was cloaked in darkness; my eyesight was sharp enough to catch every detail of him.
His fangs were fully extended, and his facial features were distorted at odd angles. His human traits were barely distinguishable. His ears were pointed, just like the vampire rogue in the painting. He was losing himself completely.
As his muscles swelled further, the fabric of his jacket ripped at the seams.
He flexed his hands open, waiting for me.
We moved at the same time and clashed with each other. His strength was immense and squashed every inch of my body. It was like wrestling a locomotive going at full speed.
I sank my fangs into his shoulder, but he didn’t wince. He returned the favour and dug his teeth into my neck, deeply and viciously.
The burning pain was unbearable. My back arched, and my knees threatened to buckle. I pummelled his side, hitting him with my knuckles as hard as I could.
He huffed as if my punches were a minor inconvenience, but he stopped biting me. The relief washing over me made me sag, and I lowered my guard for a second.
With a kick square in my chest, he pushed me back with enough strength to sweep me off my feet and toss me into the air.
The wind got knocked out of me. I drew an arc towards the sky before slamming into the ground.
The grass cushioned the blow as I hit my back with enough strength to make my bones rattle.
Hell.
I gnashed my teeth, my head becoming light. My joints seemed about to shatter. Before I could stand up, he jumped on me and straddled me, blocking my movements with his immense strength. A noise rumbled out of my squashed chest.
He closed his hand around my neck, making me feel the strength of his fingers.
“Why are you fighting me?” His blond curls flapped around his face, adding another layer of wildness to his countenance.
And bloody hell, his hat was still on his head.
He hadn’t found the fight challenging at all. “I made you.”
I gasped for air, trying to ignore the pain that pounded everywhere. “And I’ll destroy you.” I forced the words through my teeth.
He stared at me with genuine confusion. “I promised you that I would watch over you, but I was forced to change my plan after I met Rothbart. That’s why I didn’t return to you after your transformation. Is that why you’re angry?”
“I don’t care what you promised me. You’re a monster, and you made me one, too.”
His grip eased for a reason I didn’t give a damn about. The moment of hesitation was all I needed.
I shoved him, meaning to toss him away from me and catch him off guard, but he didn’t flinch or budge.
“Stop.” He pressed his knee against my chest. My ribs seemed about to snap. “I don’t want to kill you. I’m here to kill Rothbart and his men.”
I used all my strength to free myself, but he seemed to be made of steel. So I grabbed his arm and bit him hard.
He cried out. Anger twisted his lips in a snarl. He bit my neck and sucked until pain and blood loss weakened me. When he lifted his head, blood trickled from his mouth.
I panted on the ground, pressing a hand over my neck where a chunk of flesh was missing. He loomed over me, impossibly wide and tall. His dark silhouette came in and out of focus as I struggled to keep my eyes open. He inched closer. I braced myself for the final blow.
“You don’t understand.” His voice sounded less cavernous. “Lord Rothbart found Isabelle.”
“Who the hell is Isabelle?”
He roared. “Odette! Your sister.”
That stunned me more than his blows. “What? No. I don’t understand.”
“Odette and my wife, Isabelle, are the same woman. Isabelle died centuries ago, but she returns time and again—”
“This is madness!” I meant to shout, but my voice came out low.
“No.” He curled up his upper lip. “Isabelle and I are both cursed. She gets a new life every time she dies, and she was reborn as your sister. You shouldn’t fight me.
You should fight with me.” He stood up and brushed grass blades from his suit.
“I will not stop chasing him until he’s dead because he killed Odette. ”
Rothbart killed my sister? How did Bethlen know that?
I tried to talk, but only a gargle came out.
“Embrace who you are. Stop hiding. You’re a vampire.” He was gone before I drew the next breath, leaving me bleeding and alone with my shock.