The Sun Child

Chapter 45

It was different this time. Everything swirled around her mind, a yellow-tinted haze falling like a mist. But Lila was still Lila.

She stumbled up the moment the collar shut closed, Hektor rising with her, taking a step forward, and causing her fall through the balcony doors—into the sunlight.

“Lila,” he said, his voice thick like sludge in water. Like shoes dragging through the mud. Like pure venom. “Tell me you’re mine.”

And just as suddenly, her mind cleared. The mist fell, and Lila saw Hektor, burned face and all, stand before her with that same wicked grin spread on his lips—the grin that haunted her worst nightmares, both waking and sleeping.

“No,” she uttered under breath. She wasn’t his. Far from it. She was her own. She was Ambrose’s. She was the Crow Court’s.

But she was not Hektor Reinick’s.

“I do not belong to you. I never have, and you can be damned sure I never will.”

All of a sudden, Lila heard the loud caws of crows at her back, and knew they were there for her, ready to fight for her. Pollock swooped low, his feather brushed against her cheek as he flew. I’m here, it said.

Hektor took a step back before he regained his composure and clenched his jaw. “Tell me you’re mine,” he repeated, his words dripping with the thrall. But it didn’t haze Lila’s mind in the slightest.

Instead, she felt angry. Instead, she felt hot.

“No,” she hissed. The collar heated against her skin, and as she stood in the sun, the gold liquified, beginning to melt the collar from around her neck, slowly dripping over the black leather protecting her chest.

She was done with Hektor Reinick.

The crows flew forward, darting past Lila and swarming into the room. They knocked Hektor back, tripping him over the mess he created in her room, and stumbling onto the floor. “I am not your pet. I am not your murine. I am not your anything. I am not yours.” Lila summoned all the rage within and poured it into her hand, creating a long tendril of heat so hot, it hazed the air around it. Lila snarled, bearing her blunt, human teeth. “And I never will be,” she repeated, slashing Hektor with the tendril.

It cracked against him like a blazing whip, singing his clothes, burning his skin. Lila didn’t pause, she hit him again and again, as the crows flew from the room and hovered around her—watching and waiting.

Hektor scrambled back.

“You are nothing. And you will always be nothing.” She cracked the whip against him again, and he cursed, twisting to crawl deeper into the room.

Crack. Whip.

More hits.

And then—ruby eyes. Eyes that were red and tear-stained. Eyes that were hers. Ambrose’s eyes ran over her, staring at the invisible whip in her hand, the room around them, her neck. But when they landed on hers, something in his expression changed. Softened.

She felt the rush of love hit her all at once, and every bone in her tired body felt rejuvenated—alive.

Hektor whimpered, still trying to crawl away, and Lila’s eyes dropped to him. She huffed a breath at the pathetic creature below her. “He’s mine,” she claimed, lips tilting at the words. He couldn’t claim her. But she could claim him. And she planned on claiming his life.

Ambrose’s lips parted as a smirk overtook him. “May I watch you?”

“Of course.” Lila strutted back into the room, the haze whip disappearing.

“Fucking bitch,” Hektor wheezed. The wounds weren’t healing, just like the burn she’d left him on his face. Good.

“Hey, watch how you speak about my wife.” Ambrose shifted into his human form, pulled one of the ornate chairs from her sitting area, and dragged it into the bedroom, draping himself over the arms, with his legs stretched out as he used to do when he’d tease her. “This will be fun. Oh, I forgot to mention, Hektor, did you know Lila and I are to be married? I’d invite you to the wedding but—”

“I just don’t think he’d be able to make it,” Lila pouted. “Such a shame.”

“He’ll probably be quite burned out from all of this, don’t you think?”

Lila giggled—a sound she didn’t think she could make in the presence of Hektor.

“Fucking psychos!” he spat. Lila kicked him in the ribs, her foot leaving holes surrounded by burned brown stains on his shirt. He whined again, and Lila kicked him harder.

“You like breaking things that aren’t yours, don’t you?” she hissed. “You like breaking anything you can get your dirty, disgusting hands on?” Another two kicks. “You like torturing people, letting them hold out hope, only to rip it away as you watch?” Ribs shattered, and she smelled burning flesh, felt the skin stick to her boot.

“Who’s the fucking psycho?” Ambrose gritted out. “Who thinks it’s okay to touch someone without consent? Who needs a collar, an unbreakable thrall, that eliminates a person’s ability to think freely?”

As Hektor had done to her, Lila grabbed his shoulder, and flipped him onto his back before straddling him.

“A true monster.” Lila met Ambrose’s gaze. A flicker of fear passed through his ruby eyes, but as she unshakably held his stare, an exhale escaped his lips and a lift to his chest showed Lila he’d understood her words.

Lila punched Hektor, breaking his nose under her molten fist. Black blood gushed out, but she only punched again, and again. The small stream of blood boiling on his skin, steaming and burning through the flesh like lava with all the heat exuding out of her.

“Stop. Please, please,” he begged. And it was like music to Lila’s ears.

He had made her this way. As much as she might hate being like this, as much as she might regret feeling this way later, might think the worst of herself, Lila enjoyed this.

She enjoyed hurting Hektor.

She enjoyed making him beg for his pathetic fucking life.

“Beg for me,” she uttered, pulling her dagger from her thigh. She carved his face, slicing along his cheek.

“Please, Lila. Please. It hurts. It hurts so fucking bad.” He coughed blood, and it hit Lila’s cheek.

Ambrose leaned back, tilting his head at Hektor. “Hmm. Love, I don’t think he’s being very genuine.”

“Shut up, fucker,” Hektor spat.

The smile on Ambrose’s face was like stuff of nightmares. All shiny, pointy teeth and pure malice. “You wanna know a little secret before she burns your ugly face off?” He paused, adjusting in the seat. Ambrose leaned forward, lowering his head as he propped his elbows on his knees. “I fucked my wife in your bed. Hard. And I made sure she came while screaming my name.”

Hektor buckled under Lila, his face red for all new reasons, but he couldn’t get her off. She gripped her thighs tighter around him, raising the heat.

“He knows all the perfect ways to touch me,” Lila said. “And his cock feels so good inside of me.” She shoved the wood into his ribs, careful not to puncture his heart, and twisted.

“You’re supposed to be mine.” Hektor snapped. He shifted under Lila, into his monstrous form. The burned grotesque beast hissed and kicked Lila off. Or . . . attempted to at least.

Lila threw her hands forward, dropping her dagger, and grabbed Hektor’s throat. Then, she poured the entire sun into him.

Hektor writhed as his skin singed and bubbled, boiled and melted. He screamed as his monster form’s white flesh turned gray, then black, charring as though on fire, as though in the sunlight.

Lila moved her hands to his face, pushing her palm into it. “Ugly fucking bastard!” She poured every ounce of hate and pain and anger, every sliver of trauma and fear and resentment, into this one touch. All the years of torment, all the years of trying to protect Marcus from them, all the years of not knowing whether she was going to be raped or killed by the next evening. She drowned him in it.

Screaming, Lila gripped the sides of Hektor’s head, watching as she melted him—watching as she killed him.

“I already told you. I was never yours. Just like I was never a murine. I’m the fucking Sun Child, and I’m going to end your torment on me, and anyone else.”

Her hands burned, like two suns pressed against his face. Hektor’s skin charred even more, as though an invisible fire were taking him. His eyes popped, oozing from their sockets, his hair completely burned off, his wings incinerated, and soon, Lila didn’t have a body under her. She had a corpse. A charred, shriveled up, blackened corpse.

The room was silent, the only noises were the deep breaths she took and the crows outside.

Ambrose stood, and as soon as he did, the caws from the balcony disappeared along with the flapping of wings. The crows were leaving.

He padded up to her, crouching before her. But she couldn’t look at him. Her eyes were transfixed to the corpse.

“Lila,” he whispered. “Lila, look at me.”

And when she did, she saw so much love in his eyes, it overwhelmed her.

And her feelings were all over the place.

She threw herself at him, jumping into him and forcing him to fall back as his leathers sizzled from her touch. Lila pressed her lips to his, grinding her hips against his—trying to feel him, to know this was real, he was there.

The kiss quickly grew deeper. Ambrose pulled her tongue into her mouth as his hands dove into her hair.

“I thought you were dead. I thought you’d left me.”

“Never,” her voice cracked. “I will never leave you.”

The kiss was hot and wet, tears spilling onto their lips.

“I need—to feel you,” Ambrose declared. He pushed her back onto the floor, on top of the charred remains, kissing her deeply as he hovered over her, one hand to the side of her head, and the other pulling her waist flush to his body.

“He’s dead, Ambrose,” a smile broke on Lila’s lips. “He’s finally dead.”

Ambrose broke the kiss and wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumb. “He is. He’s dead. So is Drusilla. It’s over, love. We did it. We lived.”

She kissed him. “It’s not fully over. There are a number of strigoi to heal still.”

Ambrose hummed. “I think I might be able to help with that.”

“And Marcus? Constance?”

“Both fine, Little Crow.”

He lowered himself onto Lila, kissing her once more. Kissing her like it was breathing, like he needed her kiss to survive. Something she felt too.

Ambrose trailed kisses over his chin, plucking her nipples over her leathers, as she ground her pussy on his thigh. His head dipped lower, sucking her breast into his mouth, and though the leather was between them, it still felt so hot. So real. He clumsily lowered his waistband past his hips, pulling his already hard cock free, before he ripped Lila’s pants from her body.

She needed him then. She needed him to hold her, to kiss her, to love her. She needed him inside of her, to fuck her, and to help her heal Malvania.

“I fucking love you, Little Crow.”

“Show me,” she breathed, and he pushed inside of her, groaning at her tightness and proving every ounce of his love.

Mostly, Lila needed him. Always. Forever.

Lila ran down the steps, Ambrose close behind her. The last thing she remembered before Hektor was fighting off Drusilla with Marcus and Constance being injured. Ambrose had told her Drusilla was dead, and that both of them were safe. But she needed to see them. To hug them and hold them and feel them in her arms.

Ambrose’s love had helped her heal the rest of the strigoi in the castle that could be saved, and as they ran down the steps, it became evident the others took care of those that could not. Humans and vampires sat on the floor, dazed and mumbling, while others began shifting around to help.

She saw Rebekkah, helping Nostro up from the floor. The old man cracked his back and scratched his head, and while Bek was sporting a black eye, the color and swelling were already fading.

The great hall was an utter mess, and part of her was glad Kaz stayed back in the Viper Morada for the time being. He would have an absolute fit if he saw the manor in such disarray.

Lila ran up to Rebekkah and Nostro, embracing them both in a warming hug. “I’m so glad you both are all right. Thanks for the save back there, both of you.”

Rebekkah grinned against her cheek, “I’ve been wanting to punch my daft brother for a long, long time. Is he—” she paused, then pulled away to look Lila in the eyes. “Is he dead?”

Lila slowly nodded. “He is.”

A long sigh escaped her lips. “Good. That’s good.”

Nostro looked up at Ambrose, “Maronai left immediately, but without protection from Lila, it will take a while for him to make it as far as we want. I don’t suppose he will return till late tonight.”

Ambrose stepped beside Lila, placing his hand comfortingly on her lower back. “And the head?”

“Still burned. It hasn’t regenerated and it shows no signs of doing so. I haven’t seen a death like this in decades, but if memory serves correct—which, I know it does—Drusilla, the hag of the Arachnid Estate, is officially deceased.” A toothy grin flashed on Nostro’s face. “We win.”

“Lila!” her name was yelled across the hall. The moment she turned around, she was pushed back with such a force, Ambrose was the only thing keeping her up.

Marcus wrapped his arms around his sister so tightly, Lila could barely breathe. “How? How are you okay? Are you okay? Fuck, Lila, you’re okay!”

Tears fell onto her hair, soaking through. She returned the hug, burying her face into Marcus’s chest.

“I’m fine, Marcus. Really.”

“But . . . how?” He pulled away, keeping his hands on her shoulders, and studied her. His brown eyes lingered on her neck, on the melted gold, and then met hers again. “How did you survive that?”

“I—I have no idea,” she said honestly. “I died. I know I did. Yet . . .”

“I have a theory about that—”

Rebekkah rolled her eyes, “Oh wonderful, another theory.”

Nostro pinned her with a look. “She is the Sun Child, after all. Healing is a part of her. I believe if Lila isn’t destroyed completely, she can heal herself to any capacity.”

“But the Sun Maiden died?” Ambrose asked, turning to him.

“Yes. But she didn’t really have healing. Not like Lila. Her powers were mute. A sensation rather than an existence. Only in death was she able to heal. Whereas, in life, Lila is gifted with it all.”

“Shall we test it?” Rebekkah wiggled her eyebrows playfully.

“Touch her, and I’ll kill you,” Ambrose smirked.

Rebekkah put her palms up in mock defeat. “Say no more, Crow Lord.” She left their tiny circle and disappeared into the crowd to help more.

“That said, I also believe our dear Lila will no longer age. Only time will tell, but if she could continuously replenish our energy, who is to say she also cannot heal her own mortality?”

“So,” Marcus began, dumbfounded. “She’s immortal? Like us?”

“Theoretically. Only time will tell.”

Ambrose looked at her again. Together . . . forever?

Lila blushed. I like the sound of it. Do you?

He pulled her to him and planted a chaste kiss on her forehead. It’s all I’ve wanted. I didn’t think it was possible, I only hoped for so much. But . . . Again, he kissed her.

After a moment, Lila turned to Marcus. “How is Constance?”

“She’s okay, startled a bit. But she is keeping busy. Would you like me to take you to her?”

Lila nodded and followed him into the dining room. The room was even more in disarray than the main hall. It looked like a sick house with all of the people lying about. But her eyes snagged on the small blond girl in the corner, her eyes unfocused as she helped another vampire up from the floor.

But the moment Lila passed the door’s threshold, Constance’s head shot up and she turned to Lila, her tired eyes widening and a smile growing. She said something to the person she was helping, and then ran to Lila, her ponytail bouncing with each step.

“Lilac! I knew you were okay!” She threw her arms around Lila’s neck, squeezing tightly.

Marcus raised an eyebrow. “Really? How?”

After pulling away, Constance shrugged. “The manor was healed. Strigoi changed. I thought it was pretty obvious, since only one person we know could do that.” She smirked at Marcus, who immediately blushed.

“Oh. Right . . .”

She grabbed Marcus’s arm, and Lila immediately saw his skin react, gooseflesh appearing on his arms, and his cheeks pinkening even more. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.” Constance winked.

“We’re vampires, Constance, we all heard every word,” Ambrose said, coming up behind her.

Pollock stood on his shoulder, a little dusty but completely unscathed. He chirped when he turned to Lila then bounced down to her shoulder, nuzzling his head into her cheek.

“If no one minds, I’d like to borrow our Sun Child for the rest of the day. Night too, perhaps.”

Constance rolled her eyes. “Gross.”

Lila bit back a smirk, and without a moment’s hesitation, Ambrose shifted, wings splayed out, and swept her into his arms. He didn’t so much as say goodbye as he flew her out of the Crow Court and into the open morning, Pollock soaring beside them.

I tried to leave him behind, but he insisted he come as chaperone, Ambrose grunted in her mind.

Good, Lila giggled. Someone has to keep the monster at bay, because it evidently won’t be me.

No, no. You just make the monster more feral. Ambrose paused for a breath before continuing. Back there, against Hektor. You called him a true monster.

Lila nodded. He is—was.

And I am not, correct?

No. You and Hektor were never the same.

I feared I was but . . . you’ve shown me I’m not. I’d still like to be your monster though, Lila.

Oh, you will forever be my monster. I insist. What would I do without my protective beast to love and chase me?

And punishes you when you’re naughty?

And rewards me when I’m a good girl with a rough spanking, Lila giggled, heat immediately radiating off her and warming her core.

Well, aren’t I glad I told Nostro and Bek I’d be taking you for the rest of the solstice.

Where to?

Ambrose grinned, and it did funny things to Lila’s belly. His eyes were cast forward, looking to the horizon, but Lila couldn’t stop looking into those two dark pits, the black holes she loved just as much as the shining rubies. I promised you the ocean. What better day to show you than the longest day in a solar rotation?

He dove down, swirling in the sky, the wind rushing past them. Lila felt so free at that moment. Her enemies were dead, the last of her chains were broken, and she was bound to the love of her life forever.

As she let the wind rush through her hair, her eyes caught the horizon Ambrose had been watching. It was stunning, breathtaking. The ocean was vast and lay beyond them with the sun hovering just above the horizon line, gleaming, illuminating the ocean in a mosaic of greens and blues, and the sand at the shore looked so white, it almost blended with the foam of the waves.

I want to watch you with the waves. It’s been a dream of mine.

She turned to him, and he was watching her, the sunlight gilding his face.

Will you teach me to swim?

Of course. We’ll have a picnic, and then, if I can get this pesky bird away from us, I’ll make love to you by the ocean.

Lila smirked. Only if you beat me in a race. If not, Pollock and I get to have a romantic evening while you serve us hand and foot.

Is that a threat, Little Crow? Ambrose raised one of those perfectly shaped eyebrows, voice like liquid gold in her mind, already heating her core.

No, Ambrose. It’s a bargain.