LUNA
Why had I ever thought that letting Sebastian drink my blood would be anything but pleasurable? Near-certain death was in our future, but all I could do was concentrate on the feelings running through my veins where Sebastian’s mouth drew my blood. When his fangs first pierced my skin, a singular flash of pain ran through me, but it quickly gave way to something else entirely.
The crazed vampires were chanting as their leader spoke in a tongue I didn’t understand. I didn’t need to understand their words. It was incredibly clear that they did not plan for either of us to survive this night.
Sebastian was our only hope.
My husband’s tongue lapped against my skin as he pulled my blood into his body. I did not know how much he needed to regain his strength, but I hoped I had enough.
I would give him as much as he needed. He was the most important thing in my entire life. Was this love?
I thought it was. A warmth existed within me that had nothing to do with the tightness in my core. A feeling of safety ran through me knowing that Sebastian was nearby, despite the horrible situation we found ourselves in.
Vampire or not, he was my husband. My friend. We had started as allies, but now there was no doubt in my mind. We had become something more.
I loved him.
His mouth tightened against my wrist as he pulled the blood out of me with increased fervor.
Then, when the tightening in my core was reaching a breaking point, many things happened at once. Sebastian released my wrist, lapping at the wound with his tongue. I felt it seal just as he pressed the lightest of kisses to my skin.
Less than a heartbeat later, a roar came from the white-robed male in the corner. “The prince!”
The winged vampire started turning around as dark shadows leaked from Sebastian’s skin. My husband pulled the stake out of his chest, an animalistic snarl ripping out of him as he wielded the weapon like a sword.
Leaping off the altar, Sebastian dove into the crowd of vampires. A guttural roar echoed through the chamber as the darkness became absolute. My heart pounded and my entire body shook as I clutched the side of the altar, drawing myself into a ball.
I couldn’t see a single thing in the inky, dark blackness.
But I could hear.
The things I heard made me wish my ears did not function. They were bad enough to haunt me for the rest of what was likely to be a very short, very painful life.
Screams mixed with sounds of pain. Fervent prayers turned into pleas for mercy. Sebastian heeded none of them. I hadn’t seen any weapons, but that didn’t matter.
Made for death, vampires were living incarnations of the weapons humans forged out of steel. The horrible sound of fangs against flesh became an eerie backdrop to the pain-filled screams in the temple. The scent of blood was cloyingly strong, and my stomach churned. Death surrounded me on all sides, and I could donothing.
Never had I felt more helpless than at this very moment. I had no way of defending myself against the vampires in this all-consuming darkness. All I could do was hide.
Feeling my way to the edge of the cold stone altar, I whispered a prayer to Kydona before slipping down the side. My knees landed on a jagged stone and I bit my lip, stifling my cry as it cut through the soft flesh of my leg.
The screaming continued. Pressing my hands against my ears, I curled into a ball.
Why had I spent years of my life in academia? I should have spent them learning how to wield a weapon and defend myself. I was useless.
Each second felt like an hour as Sebastian fought for us. His guttural roars filled my ears as he ripped through the cult of vampires. He was one male, but he was an entire army.
Thiswas the reason they all feared him.
The sounds they made as he tore them limb from limb would haunt me for eternity. Eventually, I pulled myself out of my ball into a crouch. The darkness was still absolute, but I felt my way along the edge of the stone altar until I reached the end.
If I ran for the entrance, maybe I could find a place to hide.
But no. I couldn’t. The Tether.
A quiet sob escaped me. And then I heard it. A single footstep on stone. A low, masculine cackle. A hand that felt like it was carved from ice landed on my arm, wrenching me to my feet as talon-like nails dug into my skin. I cried out, my heart pounding as I flailed against my unseen assailant’s grip.
“Let me go!” I yelled.