Chapter 41 #2
Laurent’s breathing quickened. Perhaps it was merciful this way—better to drain Marco and end his suffering. Better than keeping him here in a tortured state—
“Sire—we’ve got movement outside.” A vampire appeared at the base of the stairs. Laurent eyed the female. She reminded him of Zola, though her hair was longer. This was one of Lio’s children. He’d seen her earlier when Lio had first captured them.
The trap his spawn had set had fooled even him. They’d gone looking for him, but hadn’t expected the number of vampires Lio had under his command. Ultimately, it ensured his defeat.
“Sire?” Lio’s spawn asked again. “Shall I handle them myself?”
“No,” Lio snapped, pulling away from Marco’s limp form. Laurent eyed his heir. There was a possibility Lio hadn’t fully drained him. “It’s Sarkas’s family. They’ve come to make a trade. I want the girl. Make sure she comes to me. The rest—have Bardanes handle it. He owes me that much.”
Laurent sneered. “You’ve been working with that piece of shit?”
Lio rounded on him, wiping blood from his chin.
Vampires weren’t generally messy feeders, except when they wanted to make a point.
Lio had wanted to make a spectacle of this.
“Bardanes has proven himself to be quite the ally. You know what they say about the enemy of my enemy. I didn’t think it was possible to find someone who hated you as much as I do. ”
“You are a disgrace.”
“Careful, Father. It’s not a good idea to insult me when your pet’s safety hangs in the balance.
” Lio flexed his fingers, making a show of it.
“Just think of all the ways I’ll use these hands on her body.
But, I must go and collect her first. Do you think she will come willingly?
I cannot wait to watch your family trade her for you, all in the hopes that I’ll be honorable. ”
He could barely think for the sudden sense of helplessness setting in. If Lily presented herself to Lio, she’d be helpless against him.
No—not helpless. She still had her voice.
A needle of hope pierced through his despair, bringing warmth to his cold, tingling limbs.
Did Lio know of her ability? Had he seen it in Laurent’s memories?
Or had he been too preoccupied by everything else.
The thought of Lio watching their private moments, watching how he’d touched the woman he loved, nearly sent him into a jealous fit of rage.
“Keep your filthy hands off her,” he snarled. “She will never want you.”
“Oh, but I can be so persuasive. Do you think she loves you? I almost hope she does. People do crazy things for the ones they love. I’m sure I can be very persuasive on that front.”
“You offered them a trade.”
That trade was his only hope. If Lio took Lily and released Laurent, he could find a way to use that to his advantage. To free Lily. He hated to think of what Lily might be willing to do if Lio tried to use Laurent’s safety against her, to force her into something.
Lio laughed. “I don’t intend to let a single one of them walk out of here alive.
Bardanes and his family will make sure of that.
They’ll leave the girl for me, of course.
And perhaps your precious Zola. I think the five of us will enjoy playing together, don’t you?
” Lio’s eyes flicked toward Marco’s limp form.
Laurent couldn’t bear to look at his second.
“Well, the four of us. I don’t think Marco’s going to make it. Shame.”
“When I get out of these chains, I’m going to—“
“Don’t—finish that sentence.” Lio sped forward, his body a blur of motion, before sinking his teeth into Laurent’s throat.
With the ruby nearly touching his skin, his heart all but stopped.
The feel of his spawn’s fangs in him felt wrong in so many ways.
He stiffened, then pain exploded. Lio intended for it to hurt, sucking his sire’s life from his body.
What little energy he’d regained fled with every drop of his blood.
Lio manically laughed as he pulled his teeth free. “Tasty,” he breathed, then sped off. His only relief was the feel of his heart as it weakly thumped back to life with the absence of the ruby.
He sagged, his body trembling. His head was a heavy weight, hanging limp and downcast. His eyes blurred, the floor swimming in and out of focus.
What he wouldn’t give to hear Lily’s voice one more time, to feel her hands on his skin.
To be held in her embrace. He wanted it more than anything—her comfort.
Was this to be his end?
Months ago, he would not have cared. Might have even accepted the fact. He’d lived so long—endured so much. His long life stretched out behind him, a woven tapestry of actions, many of which shamed him now to think of. Perhaps he deserved this.
But others did not.
“Marco?” He whispered his second’s name, straining against the effort to turn his head, hoping Marco might stir. He had no way of knowing if he was still alive. If so, he’d need blood immediately—
A loud crash sounded somewhere upstairs, accompanied by shouts.
It came with a soft awareness of Lily’s proximity.
For the first time in his long years, he felt a crushing sense of dread that had nothing to do with his own survival.
She’d come for him, and there was absolutely nothing he could do to protect her.