Page 55 of Vampire Bite

“Move, Annika,” I whispered to myself, knowing that I had to move, I had to help him somehow. I couldn’t allow this monster to kill him.

Move, dammit! I screamed inside my mind, my thoughts exploding with impotent rage as I pushed myself beyond the limits of what I thought was possible. I couldn’t give up. I knew that Lucas would never give up on me.

Then finally, my legs finally started to obey. I took a step forward, gripping the hilt of my weapon so tightly that my knuckles ached.

But even before I could reach them, Damien spoke again, his words dripping with sheer venom.

“This is where it ends for you, Lucas. And your little rebellion? I’ll see to it personally that it all burns in this fiery pit of hell.”

Lucas gritted his teeth, his face pale but his eyes blazing with defiance. “You’ll... have to kill me first,” he ground out.

I couldn't breathe. I couldn’t let this happen.

“Get away from him!” I screamed, lunging forward with all the strength I could muster. It wasn’t just fear inside of me, it was the strength of love that I had been keeping a secret all this time. Now, I had to set it free, because it was the only thing standing between Lucas and certain death.

I used the entire strength of my body to push Damien away from Lucas, although I knew that I was only saving him temporarily. Damien looked at me with incredulity in his wicked eyes.

“You!” he snarled. “I should have killed you when I had the chance!”

His body moved with the speed of light, lunging toward me. I could barely follow what was happening. I tried to shield myself from him, but I knew that I had signed my death sentence. I did it for Lucas. And I would do it all over again.

I closed my eyes, waiting for the inevitable.

Then, I heard it. That horrible, wet sound, one that echoed in my ears and completely drowned out the chaos around us.

When I opened my eyes, I could see Lucas standing in front of me, shielding me from Damien’s blade.

For a moment, the world stopped.

“No!” The scream tore from my lungs, raw and desperate, as Lucas staggered. His knees gave way, and he fell against me, his blood seeping into my clothes.

I barely noticed Callum and the others surging forward, wrestling Damien to the ground. Shouts and snarls echoed through the room, but they were silent noise. My entire world had narrowed to the man in my arms, his labored breathing shallow and uneven.

“Lucas,” I whispered, lowering us both to the ground. His head lolled back into my lap, and I frantically brushed his hair away from his face, my hands trembling. “Lucas, look at me. Stay with me. Please.”

His eyes fluttered open, the golden hues dimmed and unfocused. A faint, pained smile curved his lips, blood staining the corner of his mouth. “You’re... safe,” he rasped, the words barely audible.

“Safe?” I choked out, tears spilling down my cheeks. “You call this safe? What were you thinking?”

He coughed, his whole body trembling. “Couldn’t... let him... hurt you,” he managed, his voice cracking.

I pressed my hands to the wound on his chest, trying to stop the relentless flow of blood. It was everywhere, sticky and warm, coating my fingers.

“You’re not allowed to do this,” I said, my voice trembling with anger and fear. “You’re not allowed to throw your life away for me, Lucas. Do you hear me?”

He raised a shaking hand, his fingers brushing against my cheek. “Annika,” he murmured, and my name on his lips felt like both a prayer and a goodbye.

“No,” I snapped, shaking my head fiercely. “Don’t you dare say it like that. You’re going to be fine. You’re going to make it, Lucas. Do you hear me?”

His eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, something flickered there, a raw, consuming intensity that made my breath hitch.

“I’d... do it again,” he whispered.

The words hit me like a blow, and a sob broke free from my throat. “Why?” I demanded, even as fresh tears blurred my vision. “Why would you—”

“Because you matter,” he interrupted, his voice barely more than a breath. “More than anything else. You always have.”

“You stupid son of a bitch!” I snarled at him, showering his face with kisses. “I love you, I love you…. I love you, dammit!”

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