Page 194 of The Vampire's Bride

“Give her to me.” The Vampire healer looks at me. “I can ease her passing.”

“No.” I refuse to let her go.

“Let me ease her passing,” the healer presses, her eyes shining with pity. “Can you not see she is suffering?”

“Do not touch her,” I growl, tightening my hold on Juliet.

Strangling tendrils of fear wrap around my chest as I stare down at her failing body. Through our bond, I can feel her slipping away.

She reaches a trembling hand to cup my face, and a flood of emotions rush through me.

Lowering my forehead gently to hers, a broken sob escapes my lips. “Please. Do not die. You cannot die, my Juliet.”

Emerald-green eyes stare up into mine as she whispers, “I love you, Valaric.”

My breath hitches as agonizing pain rips my soul in two. I draw in a shaking breath. “Juliet, I—”

My heart stutters and stops as her eyes close and her body goes still. Her delicate hand falls from my face, and I stare down at her in shock as I realize I cannot hear the sound of her breathing.

Raw pain and overwhelming emotion tear through me as I brush the hair back from her face. I open my mouth to speak, but the words die in my throat as she lies unnaturally still in my arms.

Lightly brushing my fingers over the petal-soft skin of her pale cheek, I curve my hand to cup the back of her head and her long golden hair spills through my fingers.

“Juliet,” I whisper, watching for her eyes to flutter and open.

But she remains still. Warm tears escape my lashes, running down my face as I realize that she is dead and will open her beautiful eyes no more.

Devastation consumes me. Cradling her limp form to my chest, a loud and mournful cry rips from my throat as I roar my anguish to the stars.

Damar rests a hand on my shoulder. “Valaric, she is gone. You must let her go.”

Staring at her lifeless form, I close my eyes, trying to burn away the memory of her pain. I want to remember her when she was happy.

Did she know I thought her smile was the most beautiful thing I had ever beheld?

Hugging her small form against my chest, I bury my face in her silken hair as silent sobs rack through me.

Did she know that I loved her beyond all logic and reason?

Gently taking her delicate hand in mine, I long to feel the connection flare between us. I reach for her through the bond.“Are you truly gone, my Juliet?”

The silence that echoes in reply is deafening.

Damar kneels beside me. “She is gone. Please. Let us help you.”

He reaches out to pull her from me. As the slight weight of her body starts to lift from my arms, something in me snaps, and I tighten my hold. “No!”

I know now what I must do.

Eben’s eyes are full of pain as they search mine in confusion. “Valaric, please—”

Cradling her to my chest, I wrap my wings around her, placing one hand over her mortal wound as I draw a sacred rune upon the ground.

“Stay back,” I whisper. “I don’t want to hurt you, Eben.”

“Valaric, what are you doing?” Damar’s voice rings overhead, full of concern when he sees the symbol that I’ve drawn. “You cannot do this! It’s too dangerous!”

“No.” I close my eyes in concentration. “I’m going to save her.”

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