When I turned back to the castle, Andre stood at the entrance, watching me. My dark sentinel. He must’ve witnessed Lila’s execution.
We stared at each other across the expanse of land, and then we were moving. I held my side as I ran, though the injury had mostly sealed up. My legs pumped furiously, and my weakened body screamed at me to rest. I promised it I would once I was back in my soulmate’s arms.
We met somewhere in the middle. Andre lifted me in his arms, crushing me to him. I ignored the sharp stabs of pain that came along with his embrace. Instead I cupped his face and kissed him.
Our lips moved over one another’s as though it were our last. I welcomed the warm sweep of his tongue as it invaded my mouth. There was a time this evening where I hadn’t been sure I’d ever get this again. I rubbed my hands over his cheeks, smiling a little at the feel of stubble.
He groaned into my mouth and reluctantly pulled away. “I can’t live without you, soulmate,” he said, leaning his forehead against mine.
“That’s funny, because apparently I can’t die without you,” I said.
I’d officially become one of those girls. The gross romantics. Screw it, I’d earned the right to be disgustingly cute with my scary vampire.
“I’m glad to hear it soulmate,” Andre said, smiling. “So, so glad to hear it.”
“Well, my winter break wasn’t totally a bust,” Oliver said, entering Andre’s place behind us. “I got to shoot some foo’s and help save the day.”
“Yeah,” I said, glanced behind me at him, “well one of those foo’s just happened to be me. Still haven’t forgiven you for that.”
“Geez, I said I was sorry!” Oliver said. “I was trying to stop that trollop from escaping.”
That trollop I’d killed. I swallowed at the memory. In response, Andre’s arm tightened around my waist.
“Next time, Oliver,” I said, “do us all a favor and aim.”
Oliver narrowed his eyes. “Maybe my hands had a mind of their own. Maybe they wanted me to take out the more annoying of the two lusty women in the room.”
Andre growled low in his throat.
“Oh, you do not get to get annoyed, Andre,” I said. “You were the one who gave him the gun.”
Andre gave me an innocent look, as if to say, Who moi?
“That look doesn’t work when you’re covered in blood,” I said.
Oliver glanced between the two of us. “Are you guys finally going to do the deed? ’Cause if you are, then Caleb and I should probably leave, lest you two destroy another house.”
I glanced at Caleb. After waking up in a nearby town—right where the devil said he would be—Caleb had called in to the Politia. He’d been responsible for their arrival.
Since we met up with him at a Politia station, he’d been quiet. My guess was that he was suffering from some form of survivor’s guilt.
“If you really must know, fairy, I’m planning on feeding Gabrielle,” Andre said, giving me an intense look. “What happens after that is none of your damn business—unless, of course, you’re interested in donating some blood to help her cause?”
Oliver cringed. “Um, pass.”
We stopped in the entryway, and Andre turned to Oliver and Caleb. “Then we’ll see you tomorrow evening.”
The two guys got the hint and headed off towards their rooms. Not that they needed any extra prodding. It was late, and by late I meant early in the morning.
I raised my eyebrows at Andre as he whisked me down the hall. “We won’t be seeing them until tomorrow evening?” I asked, when we entered Andre’s kitchen.
He set me on the counter, his hips pressed between my legs. His eyes looked haunted. “I’m worried that my blood may have sped along your transition. If it has, you’ll probably have to start sleeping during the day.”
I frowned. “I don’t feel any different.”
Andre’s lips thinned, and he placed an ear to my chest. “Your heart beats twice as slowly as it did last night.”
My lips parted in surprise.
Andre lifted his head and his lips skimmed my neck. Goosebumps rose along my skin.
“The smells of your skin are now much fainter—all but the scent of siren, which won’t fade.”
I tunneled my fingers through his hair, and tilted his head back to face me. “Please tell me that my body no longer has to die before I become a vampire.”
Andre’s eyes searched mine, and in them I saw remorse.
“Damnit,” I whispered, my brows pulling together. “I shouldn’t have asked.”
“The truth,” he said, “is that I don’t know. When it comes to you, all the rules that govern the supernatural world get thrown out the window.”
He clasped the sides of my face, his touch feather light. “Are you okay, soulmate?” he asked.
I shrugged. “I feel better.”
He gave his head a shake. “I mean emotionally. A lot happened to you this evening.”
He didn’t know the half of it. I hadn’t had a chance to tell him how the devil had kissed me, that he’d declared we were married, that he’d been a hair’s breadth away from binding me to hell. I’d managed to spurn him again, which could not have made the king of darkness my biggest fan. Nope, I’d place lots of money that if he ever got the chance to touch me again, he’d make sure I knew exactly what hell felt like.
The sound of footsteps saved me from responding.
“Sir.” One of Andre’s men entered the kitchen, clearing his throat when he saw the two of us together.
Andre turned to face him. “What is it, Reginald?”
“The Elders waited for your attendance this evening. They asked me to pass along the warning that the next time you’ll be charged with a misdemeanor for failing to appear in court.”
Andre waved him off. “Let them know that I was indisposed, and that I will have to take off the next several days as well.”
Without batting an eyelash, Reginald nodded and left the room.