Blood is still spilling from my throat. I rip off my silk shirt and hold it to my neck, trying to stem the flow of blood. I may have already lost too much, but I can’t give up.
Goddess of Good Witches, hear my prayer…help me escape this vampire’s lair…
And then I see it…my wand! It rolled underneath one of the long wooden tables.
I feel Hecate’s presence, giving me strength. Hoisting myself onto my elbows, I drag myself toward my wand and grab it. Traces of light energy magic tingle on my fingers.
But it’s nowhere near enough. I’ve lost so much blood, there’s no way I could perform a spell powerful enough to disable an ancient vampire, even with my wand in hand.
There’s a loud bang from across the room. I roll onto my back, still trying to keep the shirt against my neck so I don’t lose any more blood.
It doesn’t look good. Celine’s body is hunched up against the back of the event hall, her head lolling unnaturally on her neck.
“Celine!” I shout. It looks like she’s healing, but slowly.
My words distract Lazarus, who turns his gaze to me. There’s a horrible gleam of delight in his eyes. He must be satisfied that Celine is helpless for the time being, because he moves toward me.
My heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest. I’ve never been so terrified in my life.
Lazarus Gray, his eyes pure red, his fangs elongated and dripping with my blood, walks over to me and crouches down.
“I really must thank you,” he leers. “It gets so dull, living for centuries on end. It’s always exciting when breathers struggle a bit. But in the end, I always win.”
I grip my wand in my fist, tears streaming down my face. From out of the corner of my eye, I see Celine’s limp form.
She won’t be able to save me.
But I don’t need her to.
I hate killing. For the past eight months, I’ve done everything I can to avoid it.
But sometimes, there are things worth fighting for.
And I’m lucky enough to have a love worth fighting for.
Lazarus Gray bends down over me, heading straight for my neck.
With one final burst of effort, I take the wand in my fist…
And I plunge it deep into the vampire’s chest.
“Amara…”
My eyes flutter open. Her face is the first thing I see. Shining down at me under the light of the moon. Snowflakes are falling from the shattered window, and have settled in her dark, tangled hair.
“Celine,” I whisper, but my voice is cracked.
“Shh, don’t try to talk,” she says. She bares her fangs and puts her wrist to her mouth, biting down on it. Thick, almost purple blood oozes out.
Before I can protest, she puts her wrist to my lips. Her blood drips into my mouth like nectar.
Months ago, I would have recoiled in horror at the gesture. But now, I’m so grateful for the thick, rich liquid. It eases the pounding in my head and warms me up, like drinking hot cider or whiskey.
If cider or whiskey had supernatural healing abilities.
And more importantly, I can taste her. Feel her life force resonate through me. My heart strengthens, pumping her blood through my veins.
We’re bound together now, forever.
