103. Vameer
Vameer
Iblink.
Rune opens her mouth, but no sound comes out. Just droplets of blood, staining her lips.
She’s dying.
I am losing her.
“Rune.” I want to shout, but it’s a whisper.
Her grip slips from my wrist, and her hand lowers.
“Stay with me.”
Gravito explodes out of me.
The red dome of power shatters.
Human flesh is torn.
Vampires are knocked unconscious.
And the building starts to crumble.
Tucking myself over Rune, I jump straight up, through the collapsing building.
Chunks of cement collide with my shoulders.
I increase my speed.
The sides of the building are falling in as we break through the roof.
Up and up. I jump us higher into the night.
My heart slows.
More and more, it slows.
The Dreaded one can save her.
I close my eyes and focus on the magic I felt when we stepped through his portals.
I let my gravito feel for it.
Reach for it.
I turn south. Then a little west.
My eyes open, meeting Rune’s. “Do not leave me, Prinsessa.”
Her eyes close.
The air cracks as I jump, and she goes limp.
Faster than before. Faster than I ever have.
I hold my mate tight, and I race toward The Dreaded One.
My gravito flickers. And disappears.
I press my hand to her throat, warm chocolate pressing against my palm as my power fails.
And we drop.
I twist, so my back is down.
Ready to break her fall as we plummet toward the forest below.
Still above the trees, I crash into something solid with my full weight.
Gold sparks dance around me at the collision, following me as I slide down the sloped side of the invisible shield.
Our hearts give a weak thump. And my gravito flickers back.
It wraps around us both. Slowing our descent. And resealing the wound on Rune’s throat.
Needing to trust my gravito, I pull my hand away from Rune’s neck and shift her so she’s cradled in my arms, twisting as the unseen slope beneath me angles straight down.
My feet land in the grass, and I stagger.
The barrier goes to the ground.
And I don’t have the power to break it.
“Druid!” I shout. As loud as I can.
But I fear it isn’t loud enough.
“S’il vous pla?t.” I drop to my knees.
And I lower my eyes to Rune.
If this is it…
Lightning rolls down my cheeks.
If this is it… I will spend my final moments looking at her.
I will spend my final moments in peace.
I slump back on my heels.
It is more pleasant a passing than I ever expected for myself.
I press my lips to my mate’s forehead.
It’s so much more painful than I ever imagined.
My heart gives one faint beat.