Part 22 (2/2)

Tatiana bared her incisors and violently shook Carollina's slender body. ”He won't do you much good once I've killed you, b.i.t.c.h.”

”You can't win, Forester. You've lost him. If you kill me, he will hate you and love me forever. Either way you'll never have him.”

”Neither will you, b.i.t.c.h.” Eyes blazing, Tatiana spun around in the air. With an angry roar, she tossed Carollina toward the window. Hovering in the air, she brought both clenched hands up from her sides and thrust forward, opening her hands as she did.

Carollina, who had hovered helpless in the air, cried out. Jace! Mike, help me!

Jace watched in dismay as, pushed by an invisible force, Carollina crashed through the window in a shower of broken gla.s.s and aluminum. He heard the sickening thud as her body landed on sold brick several stories below.

Jace...Mike...avenge me, my loves.

”Caro! No!” Unable to swallow his rage, Jace leapt into the air, grabbed Tatiana's ankles and jerked. ”You're going to pay for that.”

”You are so right.”

Jace released Tatiana's ankles and dropped down into a crouch at the sound of the male voice. He only had a moment to locate the blond male Tatiana had told him was important to her before the man brought a loaded crossbow up from his thigh and fired.

”You b.i.t.c.h! You attacked my mistress.”

Tatiana, a bolt protruding from her chest, stared at the man with a surprised look on her face. ”Tim. Why?” she whispered and crashed to the floor, where she lay unmoving.

”No!” Jace exploded to his feet and raced across the room.

The man turned to him, a look of triumph on his face. ”We've avenged our mistress. Let's go see if there's anything we can do to help her.”

Roaring with rage, Jace knocked the crossbow he recognized as one of his from the man's hands. Then he spun him around so that the man's back was to his chest. Hooking his elbow around the man's neck, he placed his free palm on the man's head and using all his strength, he tightened his elbow around the man's neck and pulled back against his forehead until he heard the man's neck snap.

Then he tossed the limp body aside and rushed to Tatiana. Tears stung his eyes and bile rose in his stomach at the sight of the widening bloodstain around the bolt protruding from her heart.

He kneeled beside her, gently lifting her head onto his lap. ”Tatiana?” He touched her cheek. Her eyelids fluttered but didn't open. ”Oh G.o.d, please.” He lifted his gaze and stared out into the night. Wilfredo! Wilfredo! I need you. Help me, please!

Dacoda lay on her side in the moonlit cabin bedroom with one of Andrei's arms tossed possessively across her body. He had fallen asleep soon after making love to her for the third time. Although she was tired, she was too excited at the discovery of his rampant s.e.xual hunger for her to sleep.

It was too early to speculate on whether she would be able to maintain his longterm interest. Given that he preferred slender blondes, she decided not to think too much about the future. For now, she planned to fully enjoy each moment with him and hope her feelings for him were enough to rouse a more lasting interest in him.

Maybe... just maybe, the jealousy and rage he'd shown when he found her with Evan at least signaled the possibility that he liked her more than he was prepared to admit. Recalling how he had awakened her that morning by serenading her with a soulful, s.e.xy rendition of You Are So Beautiful, she smiled. He had a sweet baritone that had sent chills down her spine as she listened to him singing a cappella, perfectly on key.

Her smile widened as she remembered turning her head to find a dozen red roses on each nightstand. He had even made her breakfast, which he fed her between deep, moist, p.u.s.s.y-tingling kisses. When she'd asked what he would eat, he had parted her legs and pressed a series of openmouthed kisses against her bare p.u.s.s.y.

Lord, he was the sweetest, most romantic man she'd ever met. Man? She frowned. He was definitely male, but was he a man? Were vampire males considered men?

He stirred at her back. She felt his c.o.c.k against her b.u.t.t and s.h.i.+vered. Even asleep, he made her wet. Who cared what he was considered? She pressed her a.s.s back against his groin, closed her eyes and- Andrei stiffened behind her and then let out a piercing scream that sent a chill of fear through her. She rolled over and looked at him. ”Andrei? What is it? What's wrong?”

He bolted up in bed, clutching his bare chest, a look of fear and horror in his blue eyes.

”Andrei!” She shook his arm. ”What's wrong?”

He blinked and stared at her, his eyes filling with tears. ”It's Tatiana.”

”Where?” She cast a quick look around the room before staring at him again.

He pulled away from her and stumbled out of bed.

She sat up and turned on the light. She saw his hands trembling as he pulled on his pants. She climbed out of bed and crossed the room to put her arms around him. ”What is it? Please, Andrei, tell me what's wrong?”

He turned and buried his face against her neck, his arms tightening around her, hurting her. ”It's...oh, G.o.d! She's been hurt.”

”Tat?” She stroked his hair. ”How do you know?”

”I know. I felt the blow. It's bad... she's been wounded... in the heart.” He pulled away from her. ”She's dying. I have to go to her.”

She caught her breath. ”Dying? But... but how it that possible, Andrei?”

He moved around the room in a blur, s.n.a.t.c.hing up his remaining clothes. Then he flashed from the cabin.

She stood where he'd left her, her heart racing with fear for him and Tat. Moments later, he reappeared in the room and handed her the keys to his SUV. ”You take the SUV and drive yourself back.”

She clutched his arm. ”Just give me a moment and I'll throw on my clothes and come with you.”

He shook his head. ”I can move faster if I fly.”

She blinked at him. ”Fly?”

He nodded impatiently. ”I have to go.”

She tightened her hand on his arm. ”If she's hurt, I want to be with her and you.”

”She is hurt and it's better if you're not there because there is no power on earth that will prevent me from slaughtering her killer.”

Eyes blazing and incisors bared, he raced from the room.

Trembling, she dressed quickly and ran out to the SUV to start the two-hour drive back to Philly. Half an hour into the drive, she realized she had no idea where Tat was, or where Andrei was heading.

Blinking back tears, she pulled over to the side of the road and stopped the SUV. She closed her eyes. Andrei...oh, Andrei.

Jace felt a sudden searing heat fill the room. He looked up. A tall, handsome blond man he recognized as the one Wilfredo had called Lord appeared.

Jace eased Tatiana's head onto the floor, rose and went down on one knee, bowing his head. ”My Lord, help her. Please. Help her and I'll spend the rest of my life in your service. I'll do anything...anything. Just please help her.”

Before Luc could respond, Wilfredo appeared in the doorway. He saw Luc, dropped to one knee and murmured, ”My Lord.”

Luc inclined his head, his voice warm. ”Santiago...you have begun to remember?”

”Yes, Lord.”

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