Page 79 of A Heart Of Bitter Poison
I could have given him my blood to heal him in the van, but instead I left him to die. I thought the worst of him. I believed he betrayed me. Again. Because he’s the villain in every immortal’s story. Especially mine.
This demon, who lives surrounded by regret and anger and sorrow, who shouldn’t even be able to feel the way he feels about me. But he does.
He told me he loved me and I said it wasn’t enough.
And still he used his last moments to save me.
My body shudders with emotion. My fists fold so tight my fingers could snap.
“You have suffered long enough in the bitter darkness,” Aloros says, his voice suddenly so warm and kind as his hand lays on my back. “Perhaps you should open your eyes.”
I blink and struggle to lift my gaze from the floor. I see the angel kneeling next to me, pointing behind us with his long, graceful fingers.
My arms are weak when I push myself up. I feel broken inside, like I’m made of shattered clockwork as I turn to follow the line of his finger.
“All right, vampire?”
Some kind of sound escapes from my mouth that I’ve never made before. I clamp my hand across my lips. It’s as though the despair has fled my body like a malevolent spirit pushed out by the light.
Ashen stands by the open door, clutching his network of broken ribs. The agony of being in the Realm of Light is written all over his face. Smoke billows from his shoulders, almost obscuring Eryx who stands just behind him.
I rise to my feet.
For all the times he’s asked me that question, this is the first time that I shake my head. “No,” I manage in a whisper. “I’m not.”
Ashen’s gaze lingers on my face and follows the tears that streak down my cheeks. “I suppose I’m not surprised,” he says as his eyes continue down my body, right to my toes, then back up again. “You clearly fought a fitted sheet and lost.”
A laugh that’s as much as a cry bursts from my chest. In an instant I’m running.
Ashen grunts as I crash into him a little harder than intended, but he wraps his arms around me nonetheless and holds on tight. His hand laces into my hair and clutches my face to his burning, beating heart.
“My Lu,” he whispers as he buries his face in the crook of my neck. “I thought I would never again hold you in my arms.”
My grip tightens across Ashen’s back. He takes a deep breath of relief and I never want to let go, even though it burns to hold his body to mine. It feels like fire has come alive beneath his skin. My shoulders shake as everything I’ve been trying to hold in comes crashing down on them like a heavy wave. But for the first time in a long time, I’m not drowning. I’m lifted from this sea by Ashen’s embrace.
I pull away and keep my eyes on Ashen’s as I run my hands up his arms and over his shoulders and up to his face, drawing his lips down to mine. The kiss is like a fever quenched by cool water. Ashen’s tongue runs across the seam of my lips and I open for him, kissing him deeply, hoping I can take his pain away. His hands flow in a slow procession down my neck and across my shoulders, resting their heat on my spine. When the kiss slows and we break away he still holds on, as though I’m keeping him tethered to the world in the midst of a dream.
“How are you here?” I whisper.
“Ediye fixed me up enough for the journey. She and the others continued on to Valentina’s stronghold. I had to know you were safe. I had to see it for myself.” Ashen pulls away and lays his hand on my face, brushing tears away from my skin. His own eyes shine in the light that surrounds us. “I will always come for you. No matter how long it takes me or who stands in my way. No matter the realm. I love you, my Lu.”
Ashen’s lips meet mine once more, and I know it in every touch. It is no illusion. This love is truth. It might shine as bright as copper in the sun, but it tastes like mint and ink.
CHAPTER30
We stir up a lot of interest as we follow Aloros through the streets of House Esagila. A vampire and a demon on our own are enough to cause people to stop and look, but walking hand-in-hand? That’s not just a novelty, that’s a historic moment.
We end up with a little group following us, adding more angels and souls to our procession as we go. Ashen doesn’t seem too pleased about it either. He grumbles about their nearness and pulls me closer as he tosses an occasional glare over his shoulder, not that they can really see his face through the smoke that drifts in his wake.
When we finally pass through the gates of House Esagila and arrive at the dais, our crowd of onlookers fans out and watches as demon and angel face one another.
“Thank you for your help,” Ashen says. His words are clear but the pain of this place is heavy in them. His skin is covered with a sheen of sweat. His hair is darkened with it.
“Do not trouble yourself, demon. Just keep your word,” Aloros replies. Ashen gives him a nod and the angel’s eyes shift to mine. He holds out mykatanaand a small leather pouch. “Your sword, vampire. And elixir. Your demon had me procure this, in the event you decided to stay.”
“Which you should,” Ashen interjects. “As much as it pains me to say this, it would be safer for you here.”
I sigh and slide my glare in his direction. We’ve already discussed this three times since leaving the ziggurat and my sister behind. “No. I’m not staying.”
