Chapter 69
CHAPTER 69
JULIET
I walk through the gardens, watching in wonder as several of the blooms that are closed during the night slowly begin to unfurl as sunlight touches their leaves. Whereas many of the blossoms that are so vibrant and glowing at night appear so muted beneath the sun.
Sighing heavily, I wrap my arms around my torso. Everything feels so uncertain as the weight of his curse hangs over our heads. Fear slithers down my spine as I think of the line of glass coffins. If we cannot break the curse, I will be there soon.
A twig snaps behind me and I immediately turn toward the sound. It’s too bright out here for Valaric to be outside, and the wolves have all left for the forest. “Is someone there?”
“Juliet.”
My heart slams in my throat as Jonathan steps into view. The sun reflects off his hair, creating a halo around his head, but there’s nothing angelic about the expression on his face.
“What are you doing here? How did you get past the wards?”
“I brought a magic wielder to help me.” A sinister smirk plays across his lips. “Did you think I’d come alone and unprepared to steal from a Vampire?”
Fear trips my heart. “What are you saying?”
“I’ve come to rescue you, Juliet.”
“I’m not a prisoner here.” A chill moves down my spine as he takes a step closer. “This is my home and you are not welcome. Leave. Now.”
He tsks. “You’re not in your right mind, my darling. You’re under the thrall of a Vampire.” He wraps his hand around my forearm, and pulls me toward him.
I jerk away. “Don’t touch me!”
Disbelief flickers across his expression. “But I’ve come to save you.”
“I don’t need to be saved. I’m happy here.”
“No, you are not,” he insists, roughly grabbing my arm. “Now, come with me.”
“No!”
I try to pull away, but he tightens his grip. “You are my betrothed, and I’m taking you back home!”
“Help!” I cry out. “Valaric!”
“If you think anyone is coming, you’re wrong.” Jonathan sneers. “The sun is out. Your husband cannot save you.”
A ring of black smoke appears, and a High Elf steps through. Her long brown hair is braided down her back and her amber eyes narrow as she steps closer, studying me with a scrutinizing gaze. “It’s just as you feared,” she tells Jonathan. “It’s obvious she is under the Vampire’s thrall.”
“No, I’m not.”
“I’m Lena.” She gives me a smile that borders on sinister. “Trust me. You will thank us for rescuing you later.” She looks back at Jonathan. “Let’s go. The others are waiting.”
“Come.” He jerks on my arm. “We must leave here.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you!” Lightning fast, I twist toward him, bringing my knee up to his groin.
He doubles over in pain, relinquishing his grip.
I rush toward the castle, but something slams into me from behind, sending me sprawling. I manage to push myself to standing, but Jonathan grabs my arm again.
“Do not fight me,” he grinds out.
“Let me go, or else—”
Pain arcs across my cheek as he backhands me, and I crumple to the ground, the bitter taste of iron filling my mouth. I bring my hand to my bottom lip, inhaling sharply as blood stains my fingers.
“Do not defy me!” he yells, his eyes burning with anger.
I knew Jonathan had a temper, but I’ve never truly been afraid of him until now.
Fear freezes me in place, but I somehow force my limbs to move, crawling backward, away from him.
“I came here to save you.” He stalks toward me. His blue irises turn pitch black, darkness bleeding through and completely covering the whites of his eyes.
Something is wrong.
“Jonathan, your eyes. They—”
The rest of my sentence is cut off as he lunges forward, pinning me to the ground as he wraps a thick rope around my wrists. “I’m taking you away from this place and that monster. You’re mine, Juliet, and I will have you for my bride.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying.” I struggle against my bindings. “Something’s wrong with you, Jonathan. You’re under a spell. You—”
The words die in my throat as the High Elf woman’s eyes meet mine, a sinister smirk twisting her lips. “There’s no use in fighting. Just accept your fate.”
“ You did something to him, didn’t you?”
“Your parents wanted you back. They offered good money for your rescue.” Lena gives a casual shrug. “A person needs to eat, you know.”
Jonathan throws me over his shoulder and starts for the front gate. I kick out, but he clamps his arm around the back of my thighs, stopping me. “Valaric!” I cry out at the top of my lungs. “Valaric!”
“He can’t help you,” Jonathan snarls. “Vampires cannot walk in the sun.”
Panic surges through me as he hauls me kicking and screaming away from the castle.
The front doors fly open, slamming against the stone walls. “Juliet!”
Valaric stands in the shadowed entryway, with Damar at his side, his eyes black with rage. “Let her go!”
“No!” Jonathan yells.
“Return her to me or I vow I will hunt you to the ends of the earth.” Valaric growls, baring his fangs. “And I will not stop until one of us is dead.”
Jonathan snaps his fingers and five archers, dressed in the colors of Aralon, step out of the woods, their deadly arrows pointed at my husband. “I’ve heard a stake through the heart can kill a Vampire. I imagine a wooden arrow would work just as well.”
Fear races through me as the archers release their arrows and they fly toward him. Valaric retreats back inside in a blur of movement, easily avoiding their aim.
“Let’s go.” Jonathan motions to his men.
A deafening roar rips from Valaric’s throat. “Release her!” Unbridled rage burns in his eyes as he moves into the light. He bares his fangs as blisters bubble up on his skin, smoke rising from his body. His steps are slow, but he does not falter. His nails lengthening into dagger-sharp claws. “Now,” he demands. “Or I will end you.”
The archers gasp and drop their bows, stumbling over themselves as they race back into the forest.
“Come back!” the High Elf woman calls to them. “He cannot harm you in this state.”
All the color drains from Jonathan’s face as he looks at my husband, suggesting he doesn’t quite believe her.
Taking advantage of his momentary shock, I break free of his grasp and drop to the ground with a loud thud. Sweeping out with my leg, my foot catches the back of Jonathan’s knee, knocking him off balance and sending him sprawling back.
My wrists are still bound in front of me, but I manage to push up to my feet and race toward my husband. “Valaric!”
A strong hand wraps around my ankle like an iron vise, jerking me back, and I slam to the ground. He’s over me in less than a second, pinning me beneath him.
Twisting onto my back, I kick and claw at him. He howls as my knee connects with his stomach. Desperate to escape, I try to scramble out from under his body, but he swings his fist. Pain explodes across my cheek, and the world tilts and spins all around me as blood fills my mouth.
Movement off to the side catches my vision, and fear stops my heart when I see three of the archers have returned, their bows in hand and arrows nocked on the string.
“Valaric, no!” Damar yells as they release their arrows.
Lightning fast, he rushes forward, shielding Valaric with his body before he grabs him and races back to the safety of the shadows in the doorway.
“No!” Valaric bellows. “Juliet!”
Weak and dizzy, I somehow manage to push up onto my knees. “Valaric,” I barely manage, reaching my hands out toward him.
A sharp kick to my stomach drops me to the ground, and a thunderous roar fills the air. “Juliet!”
My vision swims as Jonathan scoops me into his arms, his black eyes full of malice. I blink several times, struggling to remain conscious as he carries me away from the castle and from my husband. “Set fire to the castle,” he commands his men. “It’s daylight. They have nowhere to escape.”
“No.” Tears stream down my face. “Valaric.” I use the last of my strength to speak his name as my head falls back and I fall away into the dark and beckoning void.