Page 49 of Chains of Blood and Darkness

With a heavy heart, I gestured to the pyre.

“Now, it is time to bid him a final farewell and send him to the great beyond. Though he may not find the same afterlife as humans, may his spirit find peace in the eternal embrace of the vampire realm, knowing that his memory will live on in our hearts and minds.”

Someone sniffed. I realized it was Serenity. She wiped a tear off her cheek. My sister rested her head on Dimitri’s shoulder, and, in the moonlight, I could see she was crying too.

My chest tightened and a lump formed in the back of my throat as I gazed at the pyre. “Jacques, our brother, our friend...We will miss you more than words can express.” I paused, swallowing hard as memories of our time together flooded into my mind. “Your sacrifice will not be forgotten, and your legacy will endure through the ages. Rest now, dear friend, knowing that we will carry on the fight in your honor.” My voice cracked and I coughed, trying to mask the grief that was threatening to burst through. As the vampire king, I had to be strong for my people. I clenched my fists, feeling a flash of anger begin to stir beneath the sadness.

I took a deep breath, my shoulders squaring and my posture growing more resolute as I continued. “To those responsible for his untimely demise, know this: our grief may stay our hand today, but it will not forever quell the fire that now burns within us.” My jaw clenched, and my hands trembled, a physical manifestation of the unwavering resolve that coursed through my veins. My voice grew to a crescendo, echoing across the gathered mourners. “Your actions have awakened a sleeping giant, and you will soon feel the full force of our wrath.”

Anger surged through my body, causing my hands to ball into fists at my sides, my fingernails digging into my palms. I trembled with barely contained rage, every muscle in my body drawn taut like a bowstring ready to be released.

“The fury of the Santi family will rain down upon you, and you will pay the ultimate price for the blood you have spilled. There will be no place to hide, no mercy to be found. We will hunt you down like the vermin that you are and make you suffer as we have suffered.”

I bowed my head, struggling to push down my anger. Silence gripped the courtyard. I took several deep breaths, then raised my head. “But for now, my friends, let us celebrate the life of Jacques Girard, a true son of the night. May his soul find eternal rest.”

I headed over to the table with the unlit torches and picked one up. The torches had been soaked in kerosene, and as I touched the oil-soaked cloth to a flame, it sparked to life, casting a warm glow across my face.

Turning to face my family, I held the torch aloft. “Each of you will take a torch and light it from mine, representing the way Jacques touched each of our lives and the way his spirit ignited our own. Then, you will place your torch on the pyre, aiding his transition from this world to the next. In this way, we will honor his memory and guide him on his final journey.”

With somber nods, the mourners began to approach me one by one. Dimitri was first, his eyes glistening with unshed tears as he lit his torch from mine. He placed a hand on my shoulder in a silent gesture of support and shared griefbefore moving to the pyre and nestling his torch among the kindling.

My sister, Gianna, was next, her movements graceful even in sorrow. Then came Elena, Enzo, Petar, and the others, each taking a moment to light their torch and pay their respects to our fallen brother.

Finally, Serenity stepped forward, her face illuminated by the dancing flames. As she lit her torch from mine, our eyes met, and in that moment a glimpse of understanding passed between us—a recognition of the significance of this moment and the bond we now shared.

Together, we watched as the pyre blazed to life, the fire consuming Jacques’ body. I put my hand on her lower back, and we moved slightly away from the others to watch the pyre burn in silence. The crackle of the fire mingled with the soft murmurs of my family, their voices raised in an ancient hymn of farewell. As the smoke drifted toward the heavens, I hoped that wherever Jacques was now, he knew the depth of our love and felt the honor we bestowed upon him.

Serenity slipped her shaking hand into mine, and I met her sorrowful gaze. Tears stained her long dark eyelashes, and she leaned close to me. “Your heartfelt speech…it touched me. You truly cared about him, didn’t you?” There was a hint of surprise in her tone.

I gave her a curious gaze. “Jacques had been with me since the beginning. He was more than a soldier or a friend—he was like a brother.”

A tremor rippled through my body, threatening to shatter my composure. My breath came in short, shaky gaspsand my heart pounded against my ribcage, the force of my emotions nearly overwhelming me.

“Your many faces constantly surprise me, Angelo,” she murmured, her voice low and filled with wonder.

The space between us seemed to crackle with electricity, the air heavy with unspoken desires. I reached out, my hand cupping her cheek as I drew her closer.

“You have no idea the surprises I can show you,” I whispered, my thumb tracing the delicate line of her jaw. “You need only open your heart to me.”

I watched as a delightful blush bloomed on her cheeks, making her look like a pink rose in the moonlight. But there was a flash of unease in her eyes that didn’t escape my notice, and a pang of worry shot through me. Had I pushed too far, too fast? The last thing I wanted was to frighten her or make her feel pressured.

As the silence stretched out between us, I cursed myself inwardly. I already knew the intensity of my feelings for her, but I had to remember that this was all new to Serenity. She doubtless needed time to come to terms with the growing connection between us.

Gently, I lifted her chin, seeking her gaze. “I will never do anything against your will, Serenity,” I said softly, pouring all the sincerity and reassurance I could into my voice. “And I will never allow anyone to hurt you. On that, you have my word.”

I held her gaze, willing her to see the truth in my eyes. I needed her to understand that my desire for her wasn’t just about physical attraction or her healing abilities, but a deep, abiding need to protect and cherish her. She was a preciousnew light in my dark world, and I would do everything in my power to keep that light safe and shining brightly.

She put her slender hand on my chest and her eyes widened in surprise. “You have a heart?”

I clasped her hand and kissed her wrist, rolling my tongue over her skin, feeling her rapid pulse. “You didn’t think I would?”

“I don’t know…I guess.” Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, as she held my gaze. In the dim light of the room, I could see the delicate blush on her cheeks spread down her neck like a trail of rose petals. She bit her lower lip, a gesture that was both innocent and alluring, and my heart skipped a beat. “I think I want you to show me. I’m yours, Angelo.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Serenity

As the funeral pyre began to burn lower and the mourners started to disperse, Angelo left my side to talk quietly with some of the others. I let my gaze wander over the vampires that remained, their faces etched with a grief that mirrored my own. The deep sadness reflected in their eyes transported me back to the day of my mother’s funeral—the somber faces of the attendees, the suffocating weight of my black dress, the scent of lilies that seemed to cling to everything. I remembered how lost I felt, how utterly alone in a world that seemed determined to break me.

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