Chapter 24
Archer
Argos’s horn smokes and sparks. The light of the runes flashes and flickers. Argos whips around, his tail lashing, and he shoves Valeria down. Argos sets a foot on her stomach. His horn is blackened along one side.
“Gore her, my mate!” Tully shouts.
“Stay down, vampire,” Argos says roughly, “or I’ll show you exactly what these horns can do.”
Valeria laughs. “It doesn’t matter. The bond isn’t broken, and now the magic isn’t strong enough to do the job.
You can kill me if you like. Try it. If you succeed, not only will my friends here slay every soul in Leafshire Cove, you’ll doom Archer to a life of pain.
He doesn’t feel the bond now, but he would if I died. ”
“You’re lying,” I say. I should have studied the bonding more. I have no clue if she is telling the truth or not.
“Wait.” Colette is pointing to the air.
“What?” Valeria snarls. “I don’t see anything.”
“The red line. Between you.”
“Colette has Seer’s blood,” Grumlin says across the cold stand-off.
Colette frowns at him, but then she focuses back on me. “There is a red thread of light between you and her.”
I swallow and try to think. “The vampiric bond.” I do recall an illustration that resembled a red thread.
“It is,” Grumlin says. “I can feel it, but I can’t see it.”
“Nor can I,” Tully adds.
Grumlin keeps his gaze on the vampires even though he’s speaking to me. “But I’ve heard of a Seer being able to view betrothal bonds in some creatures.”
Maybe I simply need to make the choice. Maybe I need my blood to confirm it. Something I read about oaths is in the back of my mind. I can’t recall the details, but it’s worth trying.
I lift Colette’s and my joined hands. “Trust me,” I whisper.
“You’re worthless, Archer,” Valeria says. “A mutt. You take this one golden chance to be a part of our world, and you tread on it.”
Argos pushes his boot down and Valeria squirms and lets out a stream of curses.
My stomach turns, and I open my mouth and set my teeth against the back of my hand. Colette’s scent drifts to my nose and I can smell her fear. I long to comfort her, but I have to finish this to even have the chance to do so.
“At least your mother cares about our kind,” Valeria gasps out.
I glare at my old enemy. “If that’s how you measure goodness, then yes, I’m much worse. I wish we vampires would die out, honestly. We’re really no good at all.”
Valeria thrashes suddenly and Argos is pushed off balance. Valeria leaps for me. I bite into my hand to draw blood. The runic circle flickers again. Valeria crosses the golden border. She snags Colette’s arm and jerks her from my grip.
I spill my blood on the fading runes at my feet. “I choose to break the bond. I choose Colette Amelot, human, instead.”
“It’s too late,” Valeria says, laughing.
The runes don’t seem affected by my blood oath. Nothing’s happening. I meet Colette’s fearful but courageous gaze.
Will I be forced to leave with Valeria to protect her and the rest of those gathered? Should I give Cyrus or Grumlin or Tully the word to end Valeria despite her warning about what would happen to me?
A memory of Colette smacking me with her pink-feathered quill flashes through my mind. I laugh, and Colette’s face comes into view, breaking through the memory. She cocks her head slightly, but she’s smiling.
“I love you,” she says, her words inaudibly soft over Valeria’s continued jeers. I know what Colette is saying though, because each word pierces my heart as no other words could.
“I love you too,” I reply. “I choose you.”
The ground trembles. A sparking heat dances over my body. Valeria yells and releases Colette, the vampire’s eyes wide.
“It’s broken!” Colette runs to my side. “The bond is broken!”
Tully waves her wand at the vampires. Arrows made of purple light blaze through the air. The vampires take off toward the forest and Cyrus roars out a stream of fire to hurry them on.
A great cheer goes up from the townsfolk, and Colette hugs me tightly.
I feel warmer than I ever have. These people see me as I am.
This woman loves me as I am. I lift Colette high and spin her around.
Her braid is loose, and thick strands of her honey-colored hair fly free as she laughs.
Her green eyes crinkle at the edges. I can’t wait to make her laugh every single day of our lives together.
I bring her close and stare at her in wonder. “I can’t believe you’re mine.”
“Well, hurry up and believe because I need an Archer kiss.”
“Is mine different in some way?”
“Oh yes. A girl hasn’t lived until she’s been kissed by a half-goblin, half-vampire boy.”
I grin against her lovely lips and kiss her to the sounds of continued hurrahs. Tully and Lysandra are especially loud about their approval.
“Take her home, goblin-vamp!” Tully shouts. A zing of magic hits my backside and I lift my head to give the witch a stern look.
“When’s the wedding?” Lysandra asks, giggling.
We travel back to town, Halvard and Rom carrying two of the large soup cauldrons each.
Tully magically transports the rest. Singing a Snowlight song about red birds and seed wreaths, we have definitely destroyed the quiet peace that the holiday is known for, but from the smiles I see around me and the drum of my happy heart, I’d say no one is too upset about it.