Page 84 of Virgin Lust

Were we selfish? Was I selfish for trying desperately to survive when I had lived for such a long time? My dying brain conjured up a face. Green eyes. Blondish hair. So handsome it was irritating.Shepherd.But more than his beauty, I cherished every broken thing about him, especially his mind and heart. I hadn’t known him long, but he helped me see how little time mattered anymore. There was no limit for feelings, but I wanted to explore all those he gave me. I couldn’t die. I hadn’t told him everything. I hadn’t gotten any part of him. I wanted a life or two—or a hundred with him. I never got to hold him or love him—to be one with him.

And Joy. Sweet, innocent Joy. Dying here was nothing compared to what would happen to her if Harvest got a hold of her.

So, I tried to breathe. I kept gasping and gasping, fighting off death until my powers came back. But my attempts seemed futile.

I inhaled. My body took in so much smoke, but it didn’t matter until I felt my essence. My power bursting through, making me whole once more. The pain came roaring back. I gasped, eyes shooting open. There was relief, but not from death. The pain lessened. My lungs and throat tingled instead of burned. Gritting my teeth, I screamed as I materialized my blade and swung. Whatever was in front of me made a horrid, gurgling sound and then toppled over.

My vision came back to me with a few rapid blinks. Then I heard someone roaring.My heart stilled as I caught sight of Shepherd hacking into the misshaped creatures. He ripped through the things like a tsunami. Chest heaving and eyes a bright violet, his anger bled through with every swing of his blade.

His vicious battle cry made my skin prickle. Above the billowing smoke and piles of bodies, I saw him and felt his wrath. My soul reaper was filled with anger—my anger—and that made me adore him all the more.

Finally, I looked down. “Dirk!” My throat tightened as I cried out.

The gremlin had a gaping wound in his chest, and his blood covered me. Hades! What happened? Sitting up, I caught his gangly body before he toppled to the ground. Swallowing the heaviness in my throat, I gently closed his eyes.

“Dirk?” I touched his skinny ribs and froze. My lips trembled as I lowered my head to his. “You took that last hit for me, didn’t you, Grumpy?”

The gremlin didn’t reply.

“My lady…” Wallis was hesitant as he approached.

“What’s wrong with Dirk?” Marty asked as he stepped over a corpse.

Ignoring the tears threatening to spill, I rose to my feet and started walking. “Shepherd,” I said, but he didn’t hear me. “Shepherd!” With another roar, the soul reaper hacked into another walking corpse. Bloodlust became him. That made my soul ache, and my vision blurred. “Shepherd,” I whispered, finally letting the tears fall as I held Dirk against my chest.

Lifting my hand, I pulled Shepherd to me. His boots left the ground, and he nearly dropped his sword, but he flew to me. His arms shook for a second, and his grip tightened on his sword.

When Shepherd’s gaze snapped to me, his jaw tightened as I lowered him in front of me.

He studied my face before wiping his thumb across my cheek. The more he rubbed, his eyes watered and flashed between purple and green. “I can’t see you beneath all the ash.” He palmed my cheek. “You’re going to stand there and watch me slash through all these things? Eating these lost souls would never be enough, I’ll rip them apart for daring to hurt what’s mine.”

“Shepherd…” I lifted Dirk.

Shepherd’s hand dropped, and his shoulders sagged as he took in the gremlin’s lifeless form. “Is he…”

I nodded.

Shepherd took him from me.

“He saved me. Dirk savedme.If he hadn’t been there to take the hit...”I let the words die on my tongue as I lowered my head. “I’m sorry.”

“We protect our masters,” Wallis said, tugging on my cloak.

“Dirk did well. He protected who I love when I couldn’t.”

My lips trembled at Shepherd’s declaration. My heart fluttered despite the pain, and the situation the Reapers were in. It was strange how love found me as the world was ending.

“Don’t be sad.You give us life.” Marty climbed up my leg and smiled with his ugly yellow teeth. He pointed at Dirk. “If you weren’t an immortal and a Reaper, Sire’s lifespan would have been shared with you. Same for us. It’s why we seek Sire’s kind. They give as much as they take. But now, with you a part of Sire’s bond, your immortality is shared with us.Youprotected Dirk.”

I understood.

Suddenly, Dirk gasped and jumped up so quickly he almost fell out of Shepherd’s arms. “What are you standing here for?” Dirk yelled.

Shepherd patted the gremlin’s head. “Of course you’re alive. It’s not that easy to get rid of you.” Dirk smacked away Shepherd’s hand and scowled.

The ugly bastard lived!More tears spilled as I took him from Shepherd. I hugged Dirk, and the gremlin tensed at first. “You scared the shit out of me, Grumpy!” He shook slightly before he wrapped his arms around me. His grip was strong for such a tiny thing.

“My lady held on until her powers returned. Her strength—her immortality—keeps me here. My lady is persistent and fierce. She’s perfect for Sire.”

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