He pulled an arrow from his quiver as William released his string. His arrow pierced through the shoulder of the first vamp, who yelped as he stumbled into the wall. Daniel released his arrow, effectively silencing the vamp when his arrowhead pierced through his heart and pinned him to the wall. The vamp’s legs kicked against the wall before going completely still.
The one with the limp and the other vamp exchanged a frightened look before Timber leapt forward and swung his staff out, taking out the legs of the other vamp. The vamp spun away, scrambling to get back up. Timber spun the staff around and lifted it over his head. Like he was cutting wood, he swung it down and smashed it off the back of the vamp’s head, shattering his skull.
The vamp howled as he threw his hands over the back of his head, trying to protect himself from any further blows. “Shut up!” William leapt onto the back of the vampire, slicing his neck open in one clean stroke with the knife he wore at his side.
Limpy was trying to make it to the door, but Daniel followed his every move, stalking him like a cat after a mouse as he kept his arrow aimed at the vamp. He would be fast enough to dodge the arrow if Daniel shot it straight at him but not if he…
Daniel released the arrow. It thudded into the wall of the barn, one foot away from the door. He grabbed another arrow as the vamp leapt back, like he’d anticipated, and fired again. The arrow pierced straight through the vamp’s side, pinning his right arm to his chest and coming to a stop in the center of his heart. The vamp lurched awkwardly, thrown off balance by his pinned appendage. Blood gurgled from his lips before he slammed face first into the ground.
“Nice shot,” William commented as he walked over to retrieve the arrows they could use again. “Now let’s get this garbage out of here.”
CHAPTER 20
Aria
“I love this place,” Aria whispered as she settled on the bench before the fountain. The couple within the center of the fountain, forever gazed yearningly at each other, but they would never be able to touch. Braith had once told her that in the beginning of their relationship, he’d thought of the couple in the fountain as them and had understood the torment on the faces of the couple as he’d been afraid to get too close to her.
She’d later learned Atticus had built the fountain because of Genny.
How fitting now.
“I know you do.”
She tilted her head back as Braith settled onto the bench beside her. This close, she could clearly see the beautiful blue of the band encircling his iris. Black stubble lined his square jaw as his eyes held hers. The heat of his body warmed hers, the love in his gaze making her sigh as she leaned against him.
“I love you,” she whispered.
His fingers slid over her hair, lifting it up and letting it fall back down. “And I you, more than you could ever know.”
“Oh, I know.”
Releasing her hair, his fingers stroked over her cheek, turning her head toward him. Behind his back, hundreds of red roses climbed the trellises and spilled over the walkways of the garden. She didn’t recall there being so many roses before, but now they were everywhere she looked. Their heady fragrance tickled her nostrils, but his scent enveloped her when he leaned down to kiss her. Her hands encircled his forearms as something tugged at the back of her mind.
She couldn’t let him go. She could never let him go. If she did…
What? What would happen? She should know the answer to that, but she didn’t, and right now she didn’t care. Not when his tongue was moving over her lips in that demanding way. She opened her mouth to his heady invasion, her toes curling and a moan escaping her when she felt his fangs against her lips.
Need the connection.
Her fangs lengthened, and she bit down on his lip, but no blood filled her mouth. Pulling away, she gazed up at him as he cradled her cheeks within his hands. “Why can’t I taste you?” she asked.
Sadness filled his eyes as he bent to rest his forehead against hers. For a minute, she simply savored their closeness before his hands lessened their grip on her face. “You know why,” he whispered.
Over his shoulder, the roses drooped. The edges of their petals wrinkled as the vibrant red color darkened in hue. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him as the once vibrant red roses became the color of midnight. Blood pooled in their centers before sliding down to drip off of their black petals. The pristine, white rocks of the garden pathway turned crimson with the blood spilling over them.
“Don’t make me leave here,” she pleaded.
“You can’t stay here, Aria. You have to go back.”
Her hands flew up to cover his on her face. She tried to press them closer again, but they were fading away as his appearance wavered before her. “Braith,” she choked out.
“I’m always with you,” he said, and she felt the feathery caress of his ghost lips against her forehead. “Always a piece of you, and I will come back for you, not even death will keep us apart.”
Tears dripped off her chin as he shimmered before her and vanished.
***