Page 92 of Depths of Desire
I want to argue, but there’s a yell, and suddenly we’re surrounded by Malrick and his vampire goons. His eyes glow. “You’ve brought her to me.” He smiles. “Excellent.”
“No,” Renzo growls. “You lost. Luna stays married to Nico.”
Malrick’s face clouds with fury and then the sly smile is back. “No matter. He won’t be around much longer anyway.” He stares at me. “And then youwillbe mine.”
“Never,” Luca says and takes a swipe at Malrick.
All hell breaks loose, and I shrink back against the wall as Renzo, Luca, Leonardo, and Kael fight with Malrick and his crew. A head hits the wall next to me and rolls away. I struggle not to be sick, and shock makes my knees weak, so I sink to the floor.
The sound of Nico’s mother chanting seems to be reaching a crescendo, and the humming has become intense. The sounds of vampires screaming makes my hair stand up on end. I clamp my hands over my ears as I fight to get to my feet. I have to help Nico. I can’t let him die up there.
Hands are suddenly on my arms, helping me up. I whip around to find Morwenna leaning over me, guiding me to my feet away from the fray. I want to ask her what she’s doing here, but she shakes her head and moves me toward the corner. Then she turns and starts mumbling something. A moment later, a woman gets up from behind the altar and staggers toward us.
“Esme,” Morwenna calls, “is there still time?”
So this is Esme. Jealousy flares once again. This is the woman who took Nico from me. We don’t have time now, but there will be a moment when I can tell her just what I think of that.
Esme stumbles, catching herself on a pew. She finally arrives next to us and blurts out, “It’s almost over, but there’s still time, I think.”
Morwenna frowns. “Do you have the strength?”
Esme just nods. “I’ll give it a shot regardless.”
The sound suddenly changes. The vampires stopped screaming. The fight is over. Renzo, Luca, Leonardo, and Kael are picking themselves up. Malrick’s crew are all beheaded. I quickly put my hands on my face and turn my head away. I don’t want to see this. I’m afraid I’ll be sick.
“What can we do, Morwenna?” Leonardo asks.
“We cannot interrupt the ritual by attacking Nerezza or by trying to grab Nico. Either action will harm him more than help him. He could die. Esme and I will try to help Nico by easing the magick that binds him, along with his physical ties. He has to do the rest.”
Nico’s family stands there looking as helpless as I feel. “There must be something I can do,” I demand.
Morwenna turns to me. “Send him your love. Tell him how much you love him, how much you need him. He will hear you.”
I’m taken aback. Those are private things. Things we haven’t really had time to process. I catch sight of Nico again. I’m not even sure he’s alive. He’s so still. I am hit by a wave of love so strong that I have to reach out to Renzo to steady myself.
This is my husband, and he’s in trouble. I speak softly. “I love you, Nico. Don’t give up. Morwenna and Esme are helping you. You must fight. I need you. I love you. Don’t leave me.” Icontinue to murmur words of encouragement as tears roll down my cheeks. “Don’t leave me, damn you.”
“Nerezza,” Leonardo calls in a commanding tone. “Stop hurting our son.”
Nico’s mother’s face registers a flicker of surprise, but she ignores him like she hadn’t hear him at all. She stands at the head of the altar, one arm trembling ever so slightly, the other limp at her side. Her robe clings to her, her red hair is wild around her face. Her mouth moves quickly, the ancient words rising and falling in cadence with the flames.
“Don’t interrupt her,” Esme breathes, touching Leonardo’s arm.
“What?” Leonardo snarls. “She’s about to kill him?—”
“She won’t,” Esme hisses. “Not like that. If you break the ritual now, the energy will tear Nico apart. She's too far in, but... look—her arm.”
We all look. Nerezza's left arm dangles uselessly at her side. Her voice is rising in pitch, chanting faster now, desperate. Sweat beads on her brow. She’s weakening. “The last ritual cost her.” Esme’s voice is tight. “She’s trying to finish before she collapses.”
Luca’s fists are clenched at his sides. Leonardo—silent and deadly—has one hand on the hilt of a sword that glows faintly with runes. Renzo’s entire body vibrates with fury, his fangs bared.
I can’t breathe. I take a step forward, and the force field around the altar pulses. Dark magick. A wall of energy. My skin prickles just being close to it.
Morwenna and Esme both begin to mumble in a language I don’t recognize. They raise their arms and get louder.
My heart thunders in my chest. “Nico, please don’t leave me. Please fight,” I yell.
Then—Nico moves. It’s subtle. Just his fingers at first, twitching against the cords. Then his hand curls around the dagger. He’s awake. Awake and watching.
