Page 76 of Kiss of Light

He realised he was bruising her arms. He loosened his grip and slid his hands downwards to entwine his fingers with hers.

He inhaled her scent, letting it fill his senses. He thought he would never be able to get enough of her. He pressed his lips to the warmth of her neck, thanking any god that was listening that she was unharmed.

“Ravij?” she asked, hesitantly.

He gave a low chuckle, deep and velvety, and nuzzled her throat.

“Guess again.”

Her stomach did a slow flip.

“You beat him.”

“I did.”

“But how?”

“I heard what you said.” He lifted his head and quirked an eyebrow. “I’m the most noble person you’ve ever met?”

“I was trying to get through to you. I thought your ego would be the quickest way.”

“I see. And the bit about needing me?”

“It worked, didn’t it?”

His eyes glittered.

“It did. And now I want a word with that son-of-a-bitch.”

“He’ll be heading back to his body.”

“I know where it is.”

“Lemar, we don’t have time. The sun will be up in twenty minutes.”

“I only need one.”

Lemar blurred away, stopping only to pick up the bloodied arrow that had pierced Tala’s leg.

Ravij was still behind the rock from where he’d ambushed Lemar. His astral self had stumbled back to his body, disorientated from being forcibly thrown out of a host. It had never happened to him before.

He looked up in horror as Lemar blurred into view. He tried to shimmer out of reach but he was slow, unfocused. The vampire’s eyes were merciless as he bore down on the cadaverous figure.

“This is for Tala,” he hissed, and jammed the arrow straight through the demon’s stomach and deep into the rock behind him.

Thirty Two

Tala limped down the side of the outcrop to where Blake lay. The hunter was still in the same position she’d seen him earlier. But close up, she saw now both legs were broken.

His left foot was twisted and pointing back towards his calf. His right leg was shattered even worse than hers, with a big shank of bone protruding through his shin.

“How bad is it?”

His voice was raspy and eyes unfocused, but he was conscious.

“You’ll be fine,” she lied. That leg didn’t look like it was ever going back to normal.

“Give it to me straight, Blondie. Will I dance the tango again?”

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