Page 79 of Inevitably Yves

“More are coming,” Raphael shouts from near the door. “Hundreds.”

Paolo struggles but eventually slumps against the wall, his weight still supported by Syn. The cloudiness of his eyes melts away and he gasps for air as if he was choking.

“Paolo?” Yves says, walking closer. “What is my name?”

Paolo lifts his head just enough to look at Yves’s face. A weak smile pulls at his lips. “Yves.”

“And my name?” I ask.

“Damiano,” he replies, though his voice is faint. “He made…”

“We know,” Yves says. “Did he hurt you otherwise?”

“Tried,” Paolo says. “I wouldn’t…” He shakes his head, pulling himself up just a little more. “I wouldn’t comply. He made me drink it every few hours until I couldn’t fight it off anymore. I heard him say it was working.”

“He experimented on you,” Yves says.

“He’s coming.”

“We know,” I say. “We need to get you somewhere to rest.”

“We can take him back to Lair with Hemsley,” Vivienne offers.

“No,” Paolo says, his voice stronger now. “I have a bone to pick with that fucker. I’m not going anywhere.”

“You’re still weak,” Yves says, patting his shoulder.

“Getting stronger by the second. Who is Hemsley?”

“Another vampire who got away,” Yves explains. “He told us about the poison.”

“The ward didn’t work on Paolo,” Syn notes. “For what it’s worth.”

“Good to know,” Yves says.

We all turn toward the door as a rustling sound draws our attention. Hemsley himself appears from the darkness, his eyes wild and body tense. His shoulders drop when he sees Yves’s brothers.

“I found you,” Hemsley says. “I felt compelled to come. Like…” He waves his hands. “You’re in my system.”

“How do you feel?” Yves asks.

“Strong. Ready.” His gaze shifts to Horus, who has been quietly sitting on a couch. “You live.”

Horus rises. “You live. I am happy to see that.”

The two men hug, but the happiness is short lived.

“They’re here,” Raphael says.

“Holy fuck,” Eros says. “Brace yourselves.”

I reach for Yves’s hand, giving it a squeeze. “Save a kiss for me? I’m collecting when this is all over.”

Yves nods. “See you on the other side, my love.”

Those are the last words I hear as a wave of darkness descends on us, a throng of vampires hell-bent on killing Yves and me surrounding us. This is it.

This is the end of a nightmare.

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