Accidentally Married To...A Vampire? (35 page)

But he could not stop himself from hoping, trying. “Please, Helena. Drink.”

She pushed his hand away. “You’re too late,” she whispered.

“No! Helena! Drink!” he refused to let her give up.

Again, she shoved his dripping wrist away.

“Why?” He felt his soul sinking into an abyss, into hell. “Why did you do it?”

Her hand trembling, she managed to raise her arm and stroke the side of his face. “To save you. Why else? If you kill her, you die. Everyone dies.” Her sky blue eyes were filled with such love. And pain.

“I don’t care about everyone!
You
are all that matters,” he bellowed.

Helena smiled gently. “That’s very sweet, Vampire. I love you.”

Her eyes slowly closed. Niccolo heard her heart rate slow to an almost undetectable murmur.

No!
He had to save her. There was still time.

He could stitch her wound and fill her full of his own blood. He scooped her in his arms and lifted her. His mind flipped through every memory of every hospital he’d ever been to. He was about to sift when he suddenly noticed the room was silent. Too silent.

“
Cristo
. No!” He’d been so wrapped up in Helena, he hadn’t noticed that his sword had run through his beloved right into the queen’s heart. His sword was forged with a silver alloy, especially designed to kill vampires. A direct hit to the heart was just as fatal as decapitation.

Reyna. Was. Dead.

No! No! No!

But there was no denying it; her eyes were as cloudy as a week old fish, and her body was disintegrating.

“Gods no!”

He could care less about Reyna, but how would he save his woman? His body now felt like he’d been submerged in hot liquid metal. Reyna’s blood—the blood flowing through his veins which had kept him immortal all these years—was withering away. In a matter of moments, all that he was would be no more.

Helena…

Clutching his beloved like a cherished broken doll, his knees buckled. “I love you, Helena. Love you like no other man has ever loved a woman in the history of the world.” He brushed the tendrils of her honey locks from her forehead. “I know a part of you still hears me, and you must know that you’ve meant everything to me. You are the light I’ve been deprived of for thirteen centuries. Do you hear me, woman? I love you!”

With those solemn words of desperation, he realized her heartbeat was gone. He never knew so much pain could be possible for one being to bear. What had he done to deserve this? Wasn’t it enough that he’d had his human life, a life filled with love for his brothers and family, ripped away? Wasn’t it enough that despite his loss, he hadn’t crumbled? That instead, he’d chosen to dedicate his existence to protecting the innocent and killing Obscuros? He’d asked for very little in return: his freedom, which he no longer cared about, and now, for his mate to live.

Despair filled every crevice of his soul as he sat on his haunches, paralyzed while Helena died in his arms and his own life slipped slowly from his body, preventing him from saving her. “I will find you in another life, my love. I will always find you. We are meant to be together…forever.”

A small chuckle came from Andrus who was curled up on the floor writhing in pain. Niccolo had almost forgotten about him. Black splotches covered Andrus’ body. The spots were turning to gaping holes, some the size of grapefruit. He groaned as the holes seemed to be filling in with new pink flesh. The vampire blood in his body was dying, and the light of the gods was repairing him. Andrus’ gamble had paid off.

“I’m finally free,” he laughed quietly, his eyes empty.

Niccolo gathered up his strength and walked slowly to the bed with Helena cradled in his arms. He laid her down on the soft velvet comforter before taking his place beside her. The last memory he wanted was of sweet, beautiful Helena.

He stroked the loose strands of hair from Helena’s face. She was so beautiful. He couldn’t have imagined ever loving anyone so much. But he had. He still did. And he was grateful for it. He was grateful for every moment they’d had together.

I will find you in the next life, my love. This I vow.

He looked at his hand. The flesh melted away, leaving giant holes filled with ash. He gripped Helena with his last ounce of strength, hoping their souls might travel together to the next place, wherever that was.

“I love you, my bride.”

Too overcome with pain as the queen’s blood died inside him, his body gave out.

Chapter 22

“Bravo! People. Well done! That was fabulous!”

Gripping Viktor by the arm, Cimil appeared at the side of the bed and began clapping and jumping as if she’d just won a shiny new car. “I can’t remember how long it’s been since we’ve seen such a fab show! This was drama-tastic! Better than Romeo and Juliet. Better than The Sound of Music, South Park, Trueblood, Dexter, My Little Pony, and Shrek put together!”

“Cimil, shut it!” Viktor barked. “You’re a sick, sick goddess, and I sincerely wonder why the gods haven’t locked you away yet.”

Cimil’s bright red lips puckered into an exaggerated pout. “I’m wounded, Malibu Beach Vampire. I thought we had something special, you and I. But now I feel like a razor head, toothpick, dental floss, Q-tip, gallon of gas, paper plate, plastic fork, space shuttle, baby seal soul, cruise ship, Swarovski crystal, and Faberge egg.”

“Huh?” Viktor’s face twisted.

“Yunno. Things you use once and throw away. Did someone forget his vampy oatmeal this AM? Jeeeez,” she spouted.

Viktor snarled. “Yeah. Whatever. And for the record, you
made
me sleep with you. Blackmail-sex does not constitute ‘something special.’”

Cimil coyly chewed her index finger and shrugged. “Well, you wanted to find out who the blonde wench from your dreams was and why she haunts you. I saw an opportunity to get a taste of that manly body of yours. What can I say? I’m an opportunist—or…a total whore. Gods, it totally rocks to be me!”

Viktor shook his head and stared down Niccolo and Helena. “Are you going to help me move them or not?”

Cimil sighed. “I suppose. Do you think Niccolo will ever forgive you for turning Helena into a vampire?”

Viktor growled. “
You
told me he would because I saved her. Since Reyna wasn’t my maker, Helena will live on. Do you think he’ll ever forgive
you
for turning him into a Demilord before you put him to sleep in your piggy bank?”

She shrugged. “Oooh. I hope not. I love conflict—World War Numero Dos…fucking awesome! Can’t wait for number three! BTW—I wonder if we can come up with any new twists for these two lovers. Oh! How about Immortal Survivor? We can put them on an island with only each other for food. See who holds out longest?”

Viktor growled. “Don’t even think about it, you crazy shrew. They’ve been through enough.” Viktor scooped up Niccolo’s limp body which was already healing.

Cimil shrugged and picked up Helena whose wounds were also now closing.

“I guess we’ll come back for the other one,” Viktor commented as he glared at Andrus unconscious on the floor.

Cimil narrowed her eyes. “That one is gonna need a little therapy after his ride on the crazy-Reyna bus. I’ll have to take him back to my realm and see if that puts him right.”

Viktor cocked his head. “You can take other beings back to your world?”

Cimil looked confused. “Nope. Private club. Gods and demigods only.”

The realization hit Viktor. He looked down at Niccolo. “You mean, now that their vampire blood is dead…?”

Cimil nodded. “I know! It’s fabulous, right? I love when we get new members!”

***

Helena’s awareness of her own thoughts washed over her like an unrelenting fog. In the distance, birds chirped and a gentle breeze wafted through the treetops, penetrating the sanctuary of her deep slumber. The air was thick and warm like a soft, soothing blanket.

She was dead, right? Because, she didn’t feel alive and she was certainly somewhere peaceful and quiet.

To her side, the fluid sound of gentle breaths swept in and out of her ears. In and out, coaxing her to fully awaken and open her heavy lids. What was missing were her own breaths. And her heartbeat.

Yes. heaven.

Her eyes crept opened. Her blurry vision cleared instantly, and her gaze gravitated toward the sublime male specimen sleeping at her side.

“Oh my God!” She flung herself over Niccolo’s body, unable to believe he was truly there. Was he a dream?

“Oh, God. Niccolo, is it really you? Wake up. Please, wake up.” Cupping both sides of his immobile face, she smothered him in kisses; cheeks, earlobes, lips, brows—not one centimeter was left untouched.

He remained peacefully resting, unaffected by her touches. Helena quickly looked him over, her hands frantically hopscotching over each of his limbs. Was he injured?

He seemed intact. He was dressed in all white linen, looking tanner than usual. Almost golden, in fact. His long dark hair was pulled back into a low ponytail.

No, he didn’t look simply intact, he looked magnificent, and she could hear his heart steadily drumming away. He was alive! Definitely alive.

She moved her mouth to his and kissed his lips, face, and neck. Then she stopped to inhale his scent.

Man! He smells so good! Like a delicious bouquet of chocolates, vanilla, and spice.
Her mouth watered. She licked her lips as her eyes zeroed in on the pulse of his neck. Fangs painfully popped from her gums along with the irresistible urge to bit him. Hard.

“Crap!” She covered her mouth and scrambled away.
I want to eat him, and not in a naughty kind of way...

His eyes flew open, and he sat up. A large glowing smile swept across his face the moment he recognized her.

“Helena!” He jumped from the bed, grabbed her, and clutched her tightly to his body.

“Oh my God, you’re okay!”

Niccolo kissed her with such passion that her toes curled. Every nerve tingled, every cell ignited with his touch. He electrified her body.

“Wait” She pushed hard and broke his grip. She was much stronger than before.

“No,” he said in a low, desperate voice. “I need you. Now. I never thought I’d see you again. I died. You died. I don’t know how or if this is just a dream but…” he pulled her into him again.

This time she didn’t resist. He was right; she needed him as badly as he needed her. She really didn’t know how they’d survived, but there’d be time for answers later. Right now, they were together…somewhere tropical maybe? Who cared. Could be a damned Super 8 in Po Dunk, and it still wouldn't matter.

Helena looked down and noticed she was wearing a gauzy white dress that matched Niccolo’s white outfit.

She pulled the dress over her head and flung it to the Saltillo tile floor.

Niccolo smiled as his eyes wandered over her naked flesh.

Turquoise! Oh my God.
“Niccolo…your eyes! They’re—”

“No talking! Kiss me. Now!” His gorgeous new turquoise eyes gleamed with desire and joy. The handsomeness of his face stole her breath.

“How did I ever think I could live without you?” she asked. Her heart fluttered, and the sensation jarred her. She quickly removed the clothes from his body and shoved him down on the bed. The new power surging through her veins only heightened her arousal.

“I have absolutely no idea.” He snickered.

“I’ll never leave you again,” she promised. The steady gaze of her eyes held the conviction of her words. She would never again separate herself willingly from him. “Until the world ends, I’ll stay by your side.”

Niccolo grinned from ear to ear.

Something about seeing this man genuinely happy felt…magical. Like the universe was finally set right. The raw edges of his personality, the darkness, had lifted.

She loved this man’s soul with every fiber of her being.

And his body…was it custom made for her? It was even more glorious than she remembered, with sleek and hard curves of muscles everywhere she looked. His stomach was chiseled from pure steel. His erection was thick and hard, just waiting for her.

A million emotions bombarded her mind, but only one was worthy of her attention: she needed him. Yes, they’d made love in the hotel, and it was fan-frigging-tastic. But at the time, this epic connection hadn’t been fully forged; she hadn’t committed her entire soul to him just yet.

She slowly moved toward him with her trembling hand. She let her fingertips gently float over the ridges of his sculpted abdomen.

His gaze smoldered with ravenous intensity as she lowered her head and sampled his lips.

It was a kiss unlike any other. Like lightening bolts of euphoria shooting into her core. Before her mind could process the flood of raw lust crashing into her, Niccolo had her pinned her under his weight.