Page 180 of Dark Souls

“That’s me,” she said with a hint of a smile, but there was so much feeling in her eyes as they met mine across the room that I felt a surge of safety sweep over me. Warmth. Just like Ronnie’s. “Hi, Hana. I am so happy to finally meet my sister-in-law.”

I frowned, growing more baffled by the second. “Sister-in-law?”

She stepped forwards, walking past Ronnie, who still couldn’t seem to take his eyes off me, causing the peculiar flutter in the depths of my belly to intensify. She stopped a few feet away, glancing at the stake that I was still holding up between us.

“I’m Luka’s soulmate, Hana. I’m here because of him. He found a way to save you. And I found a way to find you.”

“Luka?” I whispered, my eyes filling with tears so fast their faces became blurry. In a moment of weakness, I dropped to my knees, lowering the stake as a choked sob escaped my throat. Ilaria fell before me and the next thing I knew, her small but steady arms wrapped around me tightly. I buried my face in the crook of her neck and cried. Could I dare to hope? Was it really over? Were we really free? “W-where is he? Where’s my brother?”

I lifted my head, looking over her shoulder, desperate to see the person who had practically raised me, who had saved my life countless times, who had suffered and lost so much of himself to keep me safe for centuries. Desperate to see my brother. The only family I had left.

Ilaria gripped my shoulders, staring into my eyes with fierce determination. “He’s not here. The Devil still has him. But we know who The Devil is now. We are going to find Luka and free him, just like we’ve found you. I promise. I won’t let anyone hurt him or you ever again. Do you hear me? You are Demonski Upirs. You are my family.” She glanced over her shoulder at Ronnie and smiled before she looked back at me. “And you are so very loved.”

My gaze moved from her face to Ronnie’s as tears streamed down my cheeks. Acceptance. Love. Is this what it felt like? It slammed into the fibres of my being, wrapping around my heart and breathed life back into my lungs.

“I… I can trust you?” I whispered, staring at him as he licked his trembling lips, fighting his own emotions.

Ilaria spoke quickly, sensing my doubt and apprehension about trusting any man. “Luka turned Ronnie into a vampire, Hana. He is loyal to Luka, and he helped me find you tonight. You can trust him. Let’s get you out of here, okay? We will take you back to my family’s castle. You will be safe there.”

I nodded as we all stood back on our feet. Ronnie turned his back to me slightly, running his huge hand down his face and placed the other on his hip. Ilaria lifted her hand to his shoulder, gave it a squeeze and then a reassuring pat. An odd feeling twisted in my gut. I didn’t like it. Seeing another woman touch him like that. Comfort him. I frowned at the feeling. Was I… jealous?

“Is there anything you want to take with you from here?” Ilaria asked kindly, shaking me from my shock at the strength of my jealousy over a complete stranger. I shook my head.

“No. There is nothing for me here.”

She nodded, linked her arm with mine and led me out of the house. As we passed Ronnie, my shoulder brushed against his; warm and firm, solid and strong. The touch set my skin on fire, the sensation so pleasurable I wanted more. I gasped, jumping away from him. Normally, a man’s touch made my skin crawl, bringing with it a feeling of fear and dread. Ronnie’s red eyes widened and then a look of concern and pain passed over his rugged features when he saw my reaction. He thought I couldn’t stand to be touched by him.

“I’m sorry,” he said quickly, attempting to leave the house ahead of us.

“Wait,” I called out, and he froze in the doorway. His head lowered to his chest as my heart raced, finally allowing the confusion to give way to the truth. He turned slowly, meeting my gaze. There it was again. A pull deep in my chest, tied to my heart. An invisible tug that drew me to him, that made me want to be wherever he was. The moment he’d turned his back on me and walked away was the same moment I suddenly felt unsafe again. I needed him next to me. I wanted him with me. I… I…

“You’re my soulmate,” I whispered. I couldn’t even believe those words left my lips. I’d given up hope of ever finding what my parents had, on ever feeling the true devotion of a bond so precious could bring. I’d been that little girl who had dreamed of her soulmate all her life. Wondering if or when he would ever find me. And then, as I grew up, understood the reality of the world I lived in, I feared he wouldn’t want me when he did. When I was caught by the Knowltons and kept as their prisoner for years, I mourned the loss of something I thought I would never have.

But here he was. Looking nervous and unsure as he scratched the back of his head, his gaze darted between Ilaria and me before he finally looked into my eyes. Did I have this wrong? Please don’t let me have this wrong.

“I am,” he answered. “I hope that’s okay with you?”

The widest smile brightened my face at the possibility of happiness. At the possibility of love with, let’s be honest, an extremely attractive and kind man. All the nerves seemed to dissolve on his features and he returned the most dazzling smile I’d ever seen. Gods, he was yummy.

Play it cool, Hana.

“It’s definitely okay with me, but are you okay with it?” I replied. Ilaria chuckled a little next to me. Pulling me towards the door, she pointed at Ronnie’s face.

“Does that look like a man who is not okay with it? I’ve never seen him smile so wide. Come on, there is someone else you need to meet.” She guided me out of the door, where a beautiful woman stood on the lawn. Long raven hair flowed down her back and kind bright eyes crinkled at the sides as she smiled at me. “Hana, this is my mum. Ruby Romano-Black. Queen of all supernaturals.”

I nearly tripped over my feet. If it wasn’t for Ilaria holding me up by my arm, I think I would have face-planted the floor.

“Queen?” I gasped, then lowered my head, attempting to half-bow, half-curtesy in some weird manner. Two hands gripped mine and I looked up to see Ruby staring down at me.

“Please. That title is only deserving if I have served you. Hana, you will never know how truly sorry I am. I failed you. And your brother. I made an oath twenty-one years ago to protect all supernaturals. That included all species. If I had known–”

“But you didn’t,” I interrupted. I smiled sadly. “I believe you would have helped us sooner if you had.”

She nodded, wiped a tear from her cheek and turned to Ilaria. “I’ve called ahead, so everyone is prepared, and they won’t all bombard her at once. As soon as we get back, if it’s okay with you, Hana, Leif, my son, will take a look at the sigil and see what he can do.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, feeling Ronnie’s soothing presence right beside me. The warmth his body was radiating made me want to crawl up onto his lap, allow those enormous arms to wrap around me and never leave. But a bigger part of me was still wary. I hated that part.

“Leif is a powerful warlock. Possibly the most powerful warlock who’s ever lived. If anyone can figure out a way to free your demon’s soul and reunite you both in mind and body, then he is the one to do it.”

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