Chapter 43
White hot pain shot through Laurent, followed by fear. Not for himself. He didn’t give a damn about himself. There was only one person in this world that mattered to him now.
Lily was on her knees, watching. He was overly aware of her presence. Hot shame coated his skin. He didn’t deserve her. He never had. This proved it. He couldn’t protect her, couldn’t even protect himself. It was humiliating, especially for someone like him.
“Stop,” he thought he heard Lily beg through her gag. Lio must have heard too because he did stop. Laurent wanted to beg him to continue, if only it kept Lio’s focus off his little flower.
“What was that, pet? I’m afraid I can’t decipher your words.” Lio released him, stepping around Zola’s limp body. He sagged uselessly against the chains.
It took every ounce of willpower to lift his eyes to her. Lio had gagged her, which meant he knew her ability. A renewed sense of fear surged to the surface. “Re…release…her. You…have me.”
Lio glanced over his shoulder, barking a laugh. “Nice try, sire.”
Lily fussed with her wrists, with the bonds holding her. Already, he could see red welts appearing where they chafed against her skin. He’d kill Lio—make him suffer for this. He’d take his time, too.
A loud crash sounded above.
The undercroft fell momentarily silent. Lio cocked his head and listened, then surged toward Lily.
His vampiric body was across the floor in a blink, hand reaching for her hair, wrenching her head back.
She cried out, pain lacing her voice. Laurent growled as red hot fury lent him a momentary surge in energy.
The emotion came instinctively, a reaction to protect the woman he loved. The woman he felt so much for.
“What do you think that was, hmm? Did you come here alone, pet? Did Zola follow my instructions?”
Lily’s eyes were wide, darting around the room. She mumbled something against her gag. An answer? Laurent couldn’t be sure, but it sounded a lot like fuck you.
Part of him swelled with pride. The other part of him, the one possessing common sense, flinched. Her words would only rile Lio and make things worse.
“Oh, we’ll get to that soon enough. Now answer my question.
A nod—yes or no. Did you come alone?” His last words were bitten out with vehemence.
Another crash sounded above, followed by shouts.
Lily merely whimpered. “Useless,” Lio spat, shoving her away.
She jerked, then repositioned herself on her shins.
Lio whirled toward the vampires in the doorway.
“Get upstairs and take care of it. He can’t have that many vampires left in his family. End them and return to me.”
While he spoke, Lily began inching closer to Laurent and Zola, still unconscious on the floor.
The other vampires disappeared, leaving them alone.
This seemed to displease Lio—as if he’d hoped for an audience.
His expression shifted between indecision and lust as he eyed Lily. She froze, as if sensing his gaze.
“What are you doing, pet?” Lily shook her head. Her eyes were bloodshot. “Well, never mind. Our fun is only just beginning.” Lio strode to her and dragged her to her feet. “I’d kiss you in front of him, but I dare not remove your gag. So instead—“
Lio spun her to face Laurent, wrapping his arms around her before wrenching her head sideways to expose her throat.
Laurent roared, leaping forward, only to be cut short by his chains.
Lio grinned, leaning close to Lily. He dragged his tongue up the length of her throat, hesitating over her fluttering pulse.
Lily’s eyes locked with Laurent’s. Time seemed to stop.
There was so much he wanted to say. He wanted to tell her what a fool he’d been to fight this thing between them, to waste an entire month battling over something that seemed so stupid now.
He wanted to tell her that he’d never forgive himself for this.
Never forgive himself failing to make it clear to his family exactly what she meant to him.
Everything—she meant everything.
Lily’s hands twitched, pulling apart as the ties binding her unspooled.
He didn’t dare zero in on the movement, but he caught a hint of it.
In one motion, she pulled her bonds loose and they fell away.
He kept his expression frozen, not letting Lio see his surprise.
Lio was too intent to notice, too focused as he baited Laurent, hoping that every touch upon Lily would send him into another rage.
Lily’s hands surged upward. Lio had only a moment to widen his eyes as she pulled her gag free and shouted, “Take your hands off me, asshole,” in that beautiful, melodic, commanding voice.
“Back against the wall. Now. Take off the blood ruby. Lay it on the floor. Do not move. Do not speak a single word.” Order after order fell from her lips with fluid precision, so quick that even Lio couldn’t work past his surprise to fight them.
Pride filled Laurent’s chest to near bursting. She was so strong. So brave.
He should have predicted something like this, after all those times she’d tried to escape his clutches. He shouldn’t have doubted her ability to stand before Lio and hold her ground, just as she’d done against him. She was magnificent.
“Sit on the floor and stay there,” Lily added, a final command to hold Lio in place as she snatched up the ruby.
She rushed to Laurent. He froze, captive to the glistening jewel, trying and failing to cower away from it. His mouth formed the word, “No,” but nothing came out. His lips didn’t even move.
Lily brushed the ruby over his skin, where his blood still trickled from Lio’s bite, his body too tired to heal. He knew the moment something changed. It was like a switch had flipped. The intense paralysis disappeared.
He sagged with utter relief. How she’d known to do that, he had no idea. He was too tired to question it. Instead, he simply trusted. Trusted that she knew exactly what was necessary to save him.
She moved over to Zola and crouched, exposing the ruby to her blood, then draped the chain around her neck, tucking it beneath her top.
Her eyes continued to dart in Lio’s direction as he fought her compulsion.
“Don’t even think about fighting it,” she commanded.
Fury flashed across his expression. Lily merely lifted her chin.
His mouth opened like he wanted to scream something awful at her, but nothing came out. Her command to keep him from speaking also kept him from calling for help. She’d been thorough.
“Lil…” It was all he could manage.
“Here,” she said, holding out her wrist. He whimpered but fought the urge, turning his head away. “You need my blood to heal.”
“Can…can’t.”
“Why not?” She seemed to realize it at the same moment she’d asked. It had been over twenty-four hours since she’d taken his blood into her body. With his hunger what it was, he wasn’t sure he could safely feed and resist her amplifier blood, even with the remnants of his own flowing through her.
The uncertainty over the mere possibility terrified him.
Somewhere above, the commotion grew louder. The walls shook, then fell silent before the noise started up again. Had they brought in reinforcements? He didn’t have the energy to question it.
“Drink, Laurie.”
“No!” he cried, even though his mind screamed, Yes! It might kill her. “What if…I cannot…stop.”
“You have to do this. We need you at your full strength.” Her eyes held fierce determination. “Drink.” She placed her wrist at his lips and he groaned. “Drink,” she repeated, “or I will simply command it of you.”
His fangs elongated against his will. He moved before he could stop himself, striking.
His hands were chained, but he lifted them to press her wrist to his mouth, sinking his teeth in deep.
The monster in him surged to the surface.
He didn’t think about her pleasure, didn’t think about the pain this might cause.
He was single-minded, with only the thought of blood as his basest instinct took over.
The first drop on his tongue was like warm sunlight and honey. He sucked her essence down, gulp after gulp, groaning. The taste of her, the scent of her surrounding him, was like an aphrodisiac. He was half aware of his hardening cock in his pants, pressing painfully against the zipper.
“That’s it,” she murmured, running her fingers through his tangled, bloodied hair, fussing over him. “Keep drinking.”
He planned to. No! He needed to stop. He couldn’t take too much.
Even now, he had no idea how much he’d already taken.
He greedily gulped her down. Strength began to return to his bones, and with that strength, he dragged her fully against him, ensnaring her until she went limp.
The chains on his wrists and feet rattled.
A deep groan left his chest. On and on he drank. Every gulp brought him back to himself. Enough to know now that he needed to stop. He tried to pull away, but his body didn’t respond. His mouth continued to drag her in.
A slice of fear cut into his chest. This time, the sound he made was a worried whimper. He couldn’t stop.
“It… It’s okay…” she breathed, soothing him.
His low cry built in his throat. He couldn’t—wouldn’t kill her. She wasn’t even trying to pull away, to stop him. His gaze darted to her face, to the fluttering of her lids. Her legs buckled.
No.
A low chuckle came from the other side of the room as Lio watched. “Looks…like you…can’t restrain…yourself.” Lily’s commands were wearing off.
His heart pounded with terror—not because of Lio, but because he was close to losing her. He supported her weight, keeping her upright. With the strength he’d gained from her blood, he gave a roar, ripping his lips away. His chest rose and fell, a desperate cadence.
“Why didn’t you stop me?” he breathed, looking down at her dazed expression. She only blinked, staring up at him. What he saw there made him go still. There was so much emotion in her gaze, but mostly pride.
It had been a test to see if he could stop on his own. He thought of all the times he’d failed with other amplifiers. The difference between now and then was his love, knowing he would rather die than hurt her.
He gently lowered her to the ground, kissing her lips, then stood and ripped his chains free with a burst of strength.
Her blood surged through him, giving him the power he needed, amplifying his abilities, allowing him to heal at an accelerated rate.
His movements were a blur as he descended upon Lio.
His creation screamed as he plunged his clawed hand into Lio’s chest. He wrapped his hand around Lio’s heart.
He didn’t pull—not yet.
“Fa-Father,” Lio sputtered, still fighting against Lily’s compulsion.
“I wanted to make you suffer,” he growled, hate welling up inside him, warring with the fondness he’d once felt for this creature.
“I wanted to make this painful. But it isn’t your fault I created you.
” With that, he tugged against the beating organ in his grasp.
Lio only had time to gasp before his heart was ripped free, then discarded.
His eyes dimmed, then his body shriveled.
Above him, the walls shook again, fragments of stone and mortar raining down upon the undercroft. Even if he wanted to, there was no time for revenge. Lily had lost too much blood and Zola was still unconscious.
He needed to get them to safety.
He wiped his bloodied hand on Lio’s clothes, giving his son one last disappointed look, then returned to Lily.
“Drink, little flower. Hurry.” He didn’t have much to give, still not fully healed, but he bit into his wrist and put it to her lips.
She took a few mouthfuls before turning her face away to refuse more. Color returned to her cheeks.
“I’ll need you to be strong for what comes next,” he warned.
He looked Zola over. She was a mess, but she’d survive. He’d need to carry her. Marco was…lost. He didn’t allow himself to dwell on that matter. Hoisting her into his arms, he looked at Lily.
“Can you walk, love?”
“Yes,” she breathed, shakily getting to her feet.
“Good. I need you to be our shield as we get her out of here.”
“Bardanes has his people here,” Lily told him as they ascended. “At least, I think. That Bardanes female from the ball, she’s the one who let us in.”
Sounds from the nave grew louder, almost thunderous. It was a wonder the building hadn’t already collapsed. “Yes. I will handle them once I’ve gotten you safely away.”
“No.”
“No?”
“I want to stay and fight, Laurie.” She began fishing around in her pocket.
“Lily,” he warned. They reached the top of the stairs and he turned to her. In the dim light, she looked frail, worn. Probably no better than he looked.
“I can use my voice,” she assured him. He recognized her look of determination. But there was still the matter of Zola. “And this.” She showed him a small vial—a potion she’d gotten at the night market. “It will make enemy eyes slide right past me. It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing.”
Indecision gripped him. “All right, but we must get Zola out first. Are you ready?”
She popped the cork on the vial and downed its contents, grimacing. As soon as she nodded, he kicked open the door to the nave.