Chapter 8 #2
“Keena, allow me this. Take me as your consort.” Tynan tried to soften his face but his tone was stern, sincere. “Allow me this.”
The consequences of my actions were sinking in slowly and I was so tempted to agree. But again I thought of him alone after my death, and shook my head. No. I couldn’t.
Tynan looked up, still rubbing my hands in his. “Doran, talk to her. She will die.”
“I can’t let you do this, Tyn—” I froze when I heard his voice in my head.
Let me defend you.
A Vamp trick that was true from the movies. To have him in my mind was comforting and frightening at the same time.
The others were arguing around me. I couldn’t bear the thought of him being miserable and alone for an eternity. I spoke aloud. “I would rather die than have you bound to me forever. I can’t do that to you.”
He took my face in his strong hands. “I will love you forever anyway, Ma Guerrière. Allow me the honor of being yours, of fighting Kendrick for you. Allow me to love you while I can. Don’t worry about eternity.
I have left the love of women out of my life for more than a century and can do it again if I must. If you die tonight”—his eyes closed—“I will not love again anyway. Somehow, you have already taken my heart.”
I felt tears coming. I fought them. Doran was talking about Tynan to Manus behind me. I heard something else I didn’t like.
“She will have other consorts.”
“If I let him do this, I will not,” I said firmly.
“You will have to,” Bevin said, avoiding my eyes.
I heard her words but they didn’t help me in this situation. I looked again at Tynan. “I can’t…”
Tynan reached up and kissed me tenderly on the forehead. “You don’t have a real choice, Ma Guerrière, Kendrick will kill you easily.”
“We’re out of time,” Manus said. “He’s right. The decision is right.”
“The prophecy…” Bevin sobbed.
I was too tired to ask. I felt weak from the loss of blood and fear for things that were yet to come. I looked at the man at my feet. He reached out and placed his hand over my stomach.
“Keena, open yourself to me. Let your magic guide your heart. It will know what to do. It will know who I am to you.” A feeling of bliss overwhelmed me as my power answered the press of his. I gripped his shoulders as the strength of the surge caused me to gasp and close my eyes.
That was it. I knew. I was no longer able to fight it.
He didn’t need words either. Tynan lifted me gently and carried me back to the meet room, which was now a battlefield, and set me in my seat. Kendrick stood in the center of the room, waiting with a satisfied smirk on his narrow face.
Doran took her place and announced, “Lord Tynan of the Spartans.”
More gasps and some light applause came from the gathered crowd as Tynan took his seat in the chair to my right, making an official statement of his new position as my consort.
I studied his chiseled features. His cold, angry glare did not waver from Kendrick.
I looked at the Vamp in the middle of the room.
He paled as he realized his fate.
Doran moved to the center of the room, and Tynan followed, standing next to his challenger.
They spoke back and forth about the match to come, but my mind was focused on the newly added stains, still fresh, on the cobblestones.
I was struck by the seeming innocence of the room, with its flower boxes and light-colored walls, contrasted against the violence that had occurred here.
How often were grievances settled in this matter, I wondered?
Kendrick’s vehement objections brought my attention back to the situation at hand.
Doran quickly negated his objections and reiterated that he had requested the right of vengeance and that my consort could stand for my honor if so desired.
Feldema was absent from the room, so I assumed she remained unconscious.
The Vampires circled each other a moment. “This will be quick,” Manus whispered in my ear.
The two Vamps looked so different. Kendrick still wore cheesy goth clothing, minus his cape.
The only thing that gave Tynan’s connection to the past away was his shirt, a cotton tunic instead of a more modern button-down.
It somehow blended well with the modern dress slacks that so wonderfully showed off his trim waist and strong thighs.
As I scanned the room, I saw King Bran watching with great interest from the sidelines, beady eyes glowing from under the dark hood.
Kendrick attacked first in an attempt to get the upper hand, and although even I could see how feeble the move was, my hands tightened into fists.
Tynan seemed to stand still, waiting for the other Vamp to reach him—and then he was gone.
His movements were so fast, so graceful, that watching him made me suck in my breath, feeling the now familiar warmth blossom in my belly.
Reappearing behind Dema’s consort, Tynan clutched the other Vamp’s shoulder, violently halting his forward impetus.
Then the two became a blur of swirling motion.
I couldn’t tell one from the other. I had to grip the chair to force myself to remain still.
All I wanted to do was lean forward and scream Tynan’s name.
There was a hiss followed by a wet gurgle—and all movement stopped.
The room seemed to release a sigh as I blinked, trying to absorb what I was seeing.
Tynan’s eyes met mine, and I could see the rage drain from them, just as the life was seeping from Kendrick.
For a moment, Dema’s consort hung like a rag doll, his throat a shattered mess, then he fell to the floor, released from Tynan’s hand.
Dropping to one knee, Tynan plunged my blade into the heart of my sister’s consort.
And still he held my gaze. The power inside me grew from a warm glow to a blazing inferno. He was magnificent. And now he was mine. A shiver of awareness passed over my skin. As if in acknowledgment, Tynan dipped his head toward me, his eyes seeming to echo the fire moving through my body.
The cozy room fell into an eerie silence for a heartbeat.
Darkness threatened to overtake me again, but I held fast to Tynan’s face.
He was still looking at me, his gaze intent, personal, not part of the fight that had just transpired.
Neither of us heard the noise that started to fill the meet hall again.
We stayed locked in a trance that was just between the two of us.
Briefly I broke the hold of his gaze to look again at the dead Vampire at his feet.
One less foe to worry about—but Dema would not be pleased when she woke up.