Chapter 87
Karson
The male’s scream pierced the air. Filling Karson’s chest with annoyance. Monique had been torturing the vampire in the basement for hours, and the slimy little prick had given them nothing.
“Please, I told you I don’t know where Sarah is.” A sob choked his words. “She never told me . . .” There was a wet slapping noise, followed by a sharp crack and then his pain ravaged scream. “Please, stop.” His voice was gargled and wet sounding.
Karson’s fingers clenched as he prowled across the room, staring out the glass doors into the glittering darkness.
Dark silhouettes stalked through the yard.
He’d placed guards to keep watch in case Sarah was stupid enough to try and finish what she started.
He drowned out the male’s whimpering. He’d heard him repeat the same lines over and over again.
He normally didn’t send Monique to do interrogations for him. It was a job he preferred to do himself. But she was livid Sarah had gotten the upper hand on her, and she needed to vent her frustration. And he didn’t want to leave Amelia’s side, not until she woke.
Karson turned back, his eyes sliding to her.
She laid in bed. Her dark hair splayed across the pillow.
Her normally flushed cheeks, were pale—too pale.
The fire’s glow danced across her face. His eyes drifted over the smooth cut of her jaw, to her button nose and the soft swell of her lips.
Her painfully frail body was still wrapped in the anaesthesia of the witch’s spell that saved her life.
Anguish clenched his chest like a cold fist. His throat tightened. She’d almost died, if they’d arrived minutes later, she’d be dead. And he almost bitten her. He shuddered at the thought.
He didn’t know exactly when he fell for her but he suspected it was the first time he laid eyes on her.
Something had sparked in his chest, it felt like hundreds of stars exploding.
It had been shocking to him. He tried to deny he felt that way about a witch.
But the feeling only grew stronger, it kept calling to him like the night whispering to the stars.
Try as he might, Karson was helpless to stay away.
He took a deep shuddering breath and lowered himself to the chair beside her bed. Exhaustion tugging at his limbs. How long had it been since he slept? At least four or more days. Probably more, he’d lost track.
He took her soft, warm hand in his. Sweeping his thumb over the top of her knuckles. Her heartbeat picked up a little. He closed his eyes listening to the rhythmical thud, the sound like music to his ears.
He vowed never to leave her again. Never put her through the kind of agony he’d seen in her broken gaze as she’d begged him to stay with her. He’d stay with her from now on. He’d keep her safe and love her like she deserved to be loved.
And he’d find Sarah and end her miserable life.
The scent of blood swum up his nostrils. He opened his eyes and lifted his head to see Monique standing in the doorway. Her eyes fixed to his hand holding Amelia’s, and sharpened. Her dark skin, and tight fitted leathers, were splashed with the glittering, red tinged onyx of the vampire’s blood.
“Anything?” Karson asked quietly, so as not to disturb Amelia’s sleep.
She stalked in. “No, he swears he hasn’t seen her for weeks.
I’m almost inclined to believe him.” She stopped by the glass doors.
Picking blood out from under her long red, painted nails.
“There’s only so many times someone can sever your intestines and snap your bones, before you relent.
But I’ll feed and rest for a bit and try again. ”
Karson nodded. He doubted the vampire knew anything.
He couldn’t imagine he’d be strong enough to hold out with that kind of torture.
There were Sarah’s parents of course. If anything would drag Sarah out of hiding, their torture would.
But Ethan had pleaded with him to give him and Bob a chance to find her and talk her down.
He’d agreed, reluctantly. But only for the sake of Ethan.
And the knowing Amelia would be horrified if she found out he’d hurt them.
If Bob and Marg were smart, they’d be long gone by now.
That didn’t mean he couldn’t find them.
Monique strolled to the dressing table and poured herself a glass of red. She leaned her ass against the table and studied him. “You look like shit. You should get some sleep, have the witch sit with her, she’s sleeping in the other room.”
“Coming from the girl covered in blood.”
“You’re no good to anyone if you’re tired. And I for one, do not want to put up with your temper when it cracks.”
“I’ll sleep when she wakes and not before.”
Monique stilled and her face hardened. “You can’t continue with this, thing . . . Her hand fluttered out. “You have going on with her.”
Karson’s jaw clenched and his tone came out ice cold. “If there is any vampire who has a problem with who I’m with, I will deal them.”
“Karson.” Monique straightened. “Forget your cock, you can’t be with her, a witch and a vampire cannot date. We are enemies. Not to mention, you’re breaking laws.”
Karson rested Amelia’s hand gently back on the bed, and rose. His heart thudded hard in his chest. He fought to contain his temper. Most would cringe to see him in such a mood, but Monique didn’t bat an eye. He snarled, “I don’t give a shit about laws. I will crush anyone who defies me.”
Monique exhaled a sharp breath. “And what about her. Her kind won’t stand for it. Our kind won’t like it. You risk a rebellion, or worse, an all out war.”
“There will be no war. Caron only wants to secure the grimoire before people find out it’s missing.”
Monique snorted and shook her head. She placed her glass down. “You’re playing with fire, and she’s the one that’s going to get burned. Not that I give a damn about her. But then you’ll get hurt too.” She sounded pained. She didn’t wait for him to respond, explode, she strode out.
The truth slammed into him like a thousand blazing swords. It was his love for Amelia that put her in danger. The reason Sarah had tried to kill her was to hurt him. There’d be more vampires with vendettas, too weak to take him on, they’d try to get to him through her.
Anger and fear unfurled in his stomach. His eyes fell back to his fragile, beautiful girl. He’d rather die rather than lose her. But he also knew, he couldn’t place her in danger ever again.
As if sensing his anguish, her eyes blinked open. Upon seeing him her lips curved into a slight smile, making his stomach rush and his knees buckle as if he teetered on the edge of steep cliff.
“Karson,” she whispered almost as if she couldn’t believe he was standing there.
He moved in a puff of wind. He took her hand in his. “Hello, sweetheart.”
“Don’t call me sweetheart,” she retorted, weakly.
He laughed. His stubborn, headstrong girl. She’d never once looked afraid of him. Then the laughter fell as he stared at her perfect face. His voice came out rasped, “Hello, my love.”
“Better.” Her smile was faint, but it lit up the room. “Hi.” Her voice sounded small her fingers trembled as they moved to on her throat. She blinked. “You didn’t bite me?”
“No, Caron turned up in time and saved you.”
She groaned and rolled her eyes. “Great, what does she want in return?”
For you to join their coven, to move in with Dahlia and keep training with them. To stay the hell away from me. He shrugged. “Nothing. She saved you because they might need you.”
Apprehension shone in her green eyes. She swallowed. “The grimoire, Sarah?”
His voice hardened. “Both still missing for now. We will find them.”
“Don’t hurt Sarah, she’s just hurt and confused.” A pleading rose in her voice. “Bob and Marg, she’s their only child, we can’t hurt them like that, it’s not fair.”
He was suddenly glad her hearing couldn’t pick up the male’s ragged cries from below. She was too damned kind for her own good. It was hard to imagine how a witch born to fight had so much empathy.
He felt his lips curl up into a snarl. “She almost killed you.”
“I know.” She closed her eyes and shuddered. “I remember.”
“Amelia, do you realise how close you came to death.” His voice sounded choked, as the truth struck like a blade.
Her eyes flung open. “Karson, I know. But I’m still here.” Her hand squeezed mine. “I’m not as easy to kill as I look.”
A growl slipped from my throat. “You’re a mortal and while ever human blood runs through your veins, you’re easy to kill.”
His own words pained him again.
“Maybe you should have just bite me, then I’d be immortal, and you wouldn’t have to stress as much,” she tried to say the words flippantly but he heard the undercurrent in her tone, she meant it.
Karson’s heart clenched. He’d never turn her.
Not while he had a choice. Becoming a vampire changes the core of who you are.
She’d lose the side of her nature he loved her for.
She’d become someone,—something, different—lethal.
He rose and stalked to the window so she couldn’t see the torment on his face.
You’re playing with fire, and she’s the one that’s going to get burned. Monique’s words rang like an alarm bell in his head.
He’d almost lost her and that was enough for him to know he couldn’t live without her.
Besides, he wasn’t just any vampire. He was the king of vampires. How dare anyone try and tell him what to do. If either witch or vampire even looked sideways at her, he’d tear them to shreds.
“Karson,” she said quietly. “Are you alright?”
Gods, she was injured and she was worried about him.
“I’m just thinking.” He turned back. “Do you need a drink?”
“Yes, please.”
He poured her a drink of water and helped her sit up to drink it.
Her back where his fingers touched was warm and soft.
He felt a slight quiver run over her body as she often did whenever he touched her.
He smiled. He took the empty cup when she finished and placed it on the bedside table.
She slumped back down and stared up at him as if she couldn’t quite believe he was here.
He’d never get sick of those green eyes whispering to him.
Of feeling her skin under his fingers. Of looking at her beautiful face. Of seeing her smile light up the room.
Amelia was a witch, he was a vampire, they should be enemies. They should hate each other. And hate is a powerful force, it’s the force that drives him—has driven him—since his family were killed five hundred odd years ago.
And yet, he’d learned there was a far more powerful emotion—love.
Love is stronger than hate, stronger than history, stronger than what they both were. And when he looked at her it felt right—fated somehow, as if some higher power urged them together. It felt as if he was the darkness and he’d been waiting for the stars to shine his whole life.