Page 48 of Queen of Vampire Hearts

The birds bounced off the shield. Frustrated at their failure, they clawed at the air, shrieking. As Lucien hovered closer, I winced, seeing they’d pecked out his eyes. His arm hung limply, his forearm missing, and those were only the most obvious injuries.

Unhappy with the loss of their prize, the Stymphalian Birds turned on me. I brought up my own protections, incinerating any who got close enough. The shield caused a flag in my energy, but the magic had been building within me the entire time I had worn the cuffs. Days without magic left me with power to spare. I was going to kill these fucks so good.

Once Lucien was close enough, I moved him higher so he wouldn’t get caught in the explosive crossfire. The barrier protected me, but I needed to besmart. I only had so much energy, and I needed to use it wisely. My first priority had been saving him. Now it was time to deal with the birds. I stepped off the narrow path into midair, buoyed by my magic, creating solid ground beneath my feet where there was none.

I glared at the Stymphalians. “You messed with the wrong witch,” I said, my tone deadly.

I chanted under my breath, releasing the spell building inside me, and exploded. Molten magic, destruction burst from me, a lethal wave that consumed the Stymphalians, incinerating them. The horde of birds drifted to the ground as ash. My injuries, combined with the use of such powerful magic, threatened to drag me into dark oblivion. I needed to get Lucien to safety before passing out. I had to protect him.He sacrificed himself for me.

I pulled Lucien closer and scooped Bast up. I made a swirling motion with my hand to open a rift.The magic felt as if it was tearing pieces of me with it, but the air rippled in front of me, showing me Lucien’s bedroom in Întuneric.

I pulled us all through, barely able to rest Lucien on the bed before my vision flickered toward black. With the last of my strength, I yelled, “Erik!”

I’d poured desperation into my tone and hoped he’d make it to us before it was too late. I fell onto the bed before the lethargy overtook me, finally passing out on Lucien’s chest.

XXIII

The Realm of Mortals.

Întuneric Castel, Romania.

STYMPHALIAN BIRDS THREATEN MY CONSORT!The thought blared through my mind as I came to, and I prepared to fight to protect her. My muscles coiled beneath me, my shoulders tense as I readied. I would go to Pandora and back to keep her safe.Wait, was I in bed? Had it all been a horrific dream?My fingers traced the familiar silk sheets beneath me, though I didn’t open my eyes. My lids felt glued shut.

Something soft brushed my chest, bringing back more of my memories. The feeling of my flesh tearing from the beaks of the enemy, their screams shattering my eardrums, all of it was nothing compared to the terror coursing through me now. I dreaded opening my eyes.Was she already gone?

Echoes of soft voices hovered around me. I recognized Erik and my housekeeper Adelaide, but I didn’t hearher. Prepared for the worst, I gritted my teeth and pulled my eyelids back. I blinked several times, trying to clear the hazy film. The fucking birds had gone straight for my red gaze, and they must still be in the process of regenerating.

My vision slowly focused, and I scanned my surroundings. Erik was pacing in the corner, all four of his men in various states of relaxation on the stone floor. When had Erik become such a loyal friend? I’d killed the man’s father, for gods’ sakes, but couldn’t seem to shake him.

I blinked slowly and saw my housekeeper flitting in and out of the room, carrying out used, bloodied bandages. Were those from me? A black blur drew my attention, and I watched Phoebe’s cat darting between the wolves.Could that mean…?The flare of hope burned brightly, and I glanced down at my chest.

Phoebe.

The breath I didn’t know I was holding hissed from my lips. Her head was laying against my chest, her fiery hair tickling my side as she idly traced her fingers across my skin. The cuffs were gone from her wrists, and yet she had stayed with me.Unbound.

I raised my hand, catching the fingers tracing patterns on my chest. She tensed for a moment before her head snapped up, her eyes wide. “You’re awake!”

Her exclamation brought the attention of the other immortals in the room. Erik stopped his pacing and stood next to the bed. “You gave us a scare there, old friend.”

I struggled to sit up, and Phoebe retreated, allowing me to brace myself against the headboard. As she moved even farther away, I grabbed her wrist almost instinctively, bringing her back to my side. She took the invitation without even hesitating, burrowing against me. I wrapped my arm around her back, squeezing her. I breathed a little easier with her there.

My voice croaked as I asked, “What happened?”

Phoebe remained silent at my side, resuming her idle petting on my chest. The simple touch relaxed me, making my eyelids heavy.

“You’ve been out for four days. When I heard Phoebe yelling, I thought we might be too late.” The wolf visibly shuddered. “You were both in rough shape. We’ve been waiting for you to wake up.”

Erik crossed his arms over his chest with a loud huff, his blue eyes shining slightly. Instead of soothing the ruffled haunches of the werewolf, I turned to Phoebe. I traced my hands over her, searching for injuries.

“You’re alright?” I asked, my voice low and raw, aware of our audience. I could almost feel the massive smirk on Erik’s face.Smug werewolf.

Phoebe nodded, then playfully smacked my chest. I covered the flinch the affectionate movement caused. I’d gladly be flayed alive so long as she kept touching me. “Don’t you ever do anything like that again! Watching you fall took years off my life,” she admonished.

I captured her hand in mine, kissing her palm, then the inside of her wrist, pressing my cheek into her hand. She had stayed. I’d leapt and was rewarded.She could have run. She should have run. I would have continued my plummet to the valley below. Though the fall would not have killed me, it would have taken days, even weeks, to regenerate from those injuries. Phoebe’s trail would have gone cold.

I wasn’t able to take my eyes off of Phoebe, not even when I heard Erik and his men shuffle out of the room. Thankfully, they could tell I needed a moment alone with my queen. I cradled her in my arms, inhaling her cherry blossom scent. Her silken hair was loose on the bed, and her soft breaths made my stomach tighten.

I remembered the feeling of her skin beneath my hands as I touched the cuffs, breaking the mystical lock. Her screams echoed in my ears when I let go. I’d known the moment the cuffs were off that she would run. She had no reason to stay. I’d given her no reason to. I wanted to squeeze her to me, to crush her with my strength.

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