“Diamond. Stop! You’ll kill everyone!” he shouted in her ear and shook her viciously. “Control it! Force it to obey you!”
Horror filled her violet eyes as the skin on his face began to burn. Pain hit him only when his wrists and hands began blistering. Even with their Nexus, his body had reached its limit. Unable to absorb any more magic, his blood began to blaze.
“Stop!!” he snarled at her, his face a mask of agony. Holding her arms he pinned her to the ground, but it was a useless move; magic poured out of her body, thrashing against what it believed was a threat to its existence. Diamond blinked and his stomach clenched as tears ran from her deep violet eyes. Desperation shone in their depths. Balking, he knew immediately what she was asking.
“Kill me!” she whispered hoarsely. “Don’t. Let. Everyone. Die.”
Hugo could not do it. He could not kill her. If it was anyone else, anyone at all, he would have slit their throat in a second. But it wasn’t. Leaving her was unthinkable, and he could not slam his fist into her already mutilated face to render her unconscious; not just because of the remorse he would feel, but if he let go of her arms, she would turn him to ash. Hugo roared with rage and frustration. With no idea how far her destruction reigned across the forest, he made his decision.
Forcing his jaw open, he drove his second set of teeth through his gums. Needle sharp and pointed they snapped into place. Even on the precipice of burning to death, Hugo knew he would have to mark her where no one else, particularly the Queen, would ever see the wound he left.
Hugo looked into Diamond’s frightened eyes, prayed to Lunaria for forgiveness, and ripped her dress open with his teeth to reveal the silky pale skin of her breast underneath. Lowering his head he gave a feral growl and sunk his teeth into her soft flesh, sucking hard.
He released the venom from his poison glands, which wrenched a scream from her. Her spine arched against his grip, and her energy weakened. Good. She fought for another five beats of her heart, each one pulsed through him, loud and consuming, then mercifully she was unconscious.
The roar of energy settled. With his teeth still embedded in her flesh, Hugo pulled Diamond into his arms. The warmth of her blood filled his mouth. It ran sweet and pure down his throat. Hugo’s world shrank to the feel of his tongue brushing against her skin and to the taste and feel of her clutched against him. He became utterly lost as her essence filled his senses. His jaw muscles convulsed as he drew more and more from her, savouring every drop of her sweetness. His heart raced, his conscious mind changing from desperation to a fog of desire. A raw, animalistic need almost overcame his instinct to protect her.
But her ashen face told Hugo how near to death he was pushing her weakened body. Giving a feral roar of dissatisfaction, he forced his needle-sharp teeth back under the cover of his gums.
Breathing raggedly he closed his eyes and lifted his face to the sky, the veins on his neck engorged as her blood pumped through him. The animal inside him thrashed in ecstasy as his magic and blood mixed with hers. Taking control of himself was the hardest thing Hugo had ever done. He had never felt such primal need as he did right now for the woman in his arms. And he fought—he fought with every fibre of his being to stop that beast inside him from exploding through his flesh and bones—until, growling with discontent, it capitulated. Panting, his eyelids flickered open to focus on the deep bite wound that bled profusely. It distracted him immediately.
Shaking badly, Hugo lifted Diamond until he could push his lips against her soft skin and force saliva against the wound. The coagulant in his saliva would staunch the bleeding and trigger the healing process. Growling in self-disgust, he had to use every ounce of self-control not to drink more of her.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered into her ear, lowering her and crushing her against his body. With burned and bloodied hands, he gripped the back of her ragged dress, her blood-stained a silken spider’s web around his bunched fists. Fleetingly he wondered what would happen to him if his Queen were to taste his blood now. She was the only other fae he knew of who had the ability to use the bite. The Queen used her venom to control the minds and bodies of her guards. Hugo grimaced. Thankfully, and for reasons Hugo did not care to think on too deeply, she had not bitten him—yet.
Diamond would not remember what he had done to her; although the reaction of the guards he had seen bitten by the Queen every winter solstice was the only experience he had to go on. With all his heart he hoped he was right. If she had no memory of it, she would never find out what his bite meant. Utter control of her body, and even her mind, was now his if he wanted it.
That thought terrified him. Despite his fearsome reputation, Hugo did not want that sort of control or power over another person, especially not Diamond. Such a determined spirit deserved to be free of control.
Covering the livid puncture wounds with the remains of his tunic that Diamond still wore, he looked up to the perfect blue sky. Ash curled into the air as the forest settled. It was then he noticed the strange stillness that surrounded them, almost as if Diamond’s magic had sucked all the sound from the air. Hugo used the silence to breathe deeply and pull himself together.
Legions of golden-winged warrior fae flew overhead, their metallic armour glinting in the midday sun. It was an impressive site. Soon enough his senses settled and sound returned.
Swords clashed in the distance. The cave…. A deep bellow rocked the silence. The roar of a giant.
But all Hugo could think of right now was the girl in his arms. She was as still and deathly quiet as the forest around them. Cradling her tightly against his chest, he prayed to the goddess and willed her to overcome his venom.
Revealing what he had done to anyone, even a healer, was not an option. The Queen’s court was like a nest of viper’s waiting to strike. No one could be trusted. If the Queen found out….
Hugo took a deep breath to quell the terror in his heart, and he unconsciously touched the scar on his face. No, she would not find out.
Hugo could not bear the guilt and horror as Diamond’s breathing became shallow and slow. His venom was killing her. Even with the small amount he had released, her body was too weak and frail to beat it.
He quickly scanned her. Unbidden and unexpected, a wave of wild desire rushed his body. Her blood, her taste was still so strong in his mouth. It clouded his senses and made rational, sensible thought almost impossible. He groaned, driving his face into her hair, hating himself for such feelings when she was so vulnerable. Snarling, he fought to control himself, battering down his aching need to make her his mate.
Yes, they shared a Nexus bond, but he could not blame that for how much he wanted her. He did not care that she was a half-blood; this stunning, spirited female was his perfect match. He shook his head in disbelief. How can this be happening to me? It was ludicrous to covet her; it was beyond dangerous for them both. He squeezed her tightly. That bite—not the venom, but the blood he had swallowed— was the first step in becoming mated. Twice. They had to swallow each other’s blood twice before they were mated. But for Diamond to survive the Queen’s attentions, Hugo had to crush any feelings he had for her.
Chapter 23
Hugo gently pushed the blanket down to reveal her soft skin, which was forever marked by him. His eyes followed the gentle curve of her breast, clenching his teeth so hard he nearly broke them. His fae instincts raged so strong right now he couldn’t think straight. Taking a deep breath, he concentrated on the wound. Bile burned his throat at the sight of the bloodied yellow fluid leaking from the inflamed skin. If Diamond didn’t get to a healer soon, she would die.
Lowering her to the ground next to him, he gently brushed the hair from her face and looked to his own injuries. Blood oozed steadily from both wounds and the burns on his hands and face were agonising. Setting his jaw, he ripped his leggings open. The deep slash wound on his thigh was still bleeding. Good. He pushed the fingers of one hand into the wound, grunting and swallowing down the agony and vomit that rus
hed his mouth. Beads of sweat trickled down his face as he scooped out the congealing blood. A small, gelatinous mound now sat in his cupped fingers. Hugo quickly smeared the thick clots on Diamond’s breast. The dark red blood looked obscene against her pale skin. There was a slight hiss as his blood and the leaking venom mixed to form a thick brown scab. He eyed it with grim satisfaction. The anti-venom in his blood would help her fight the drugging effects of his poison.
He carefully pulled her shredded clothes back up. By now a pool of bright blood had formed under his thigh. Dealing with his own wounds was his next priority. He gritted his teeth, stubbornly ignoring his dizziness. Now was not the time to be weak. Hugo sucked at his saliva, spitting globules into his palm until he judged he had enough of the coagulant mucus to cover the gash in his leg. Smearing it on, he hissed loudly as it began to work. Stinging and burning, it sealed the exposed blood vessels. When he was done, he checked the bite one more time, sighing with relief when it looked less inflamed.
“Good girl. Fight it,” he whispered in her ear, gently brushing his lips against the soft skin of her cheek. It was time to declare their existence to the warriors above. The best healers in Valentia were at the palace, which meant bringing Diamond there was imperative.
Dragging his injured leg, he stepped out from the shadows and devastation and into sunlight. He waved his arms at the warriors above.
On high alert, their fae eyes noticed him instantly. Twenty warrior fae landed nearby, some hurrying over to help him, the others forming a defensive cordon. Their troop leader seemed momentarily stunned to see Hugo, then the leader’s clenched right fist, the first two fingers extended, hit his left shoulder thumb inwards in a smart salute, his golden brown eyes taking in Hugo’s uniform and ravaged appearance.
“Commander Casimir? Captain Elexon Riddeon. What can we do to assist you, sir?” the warrior fae asked, his tone clipped and efficient.
“Some water and clean bandages for me. The lady needs a healer. Once I have bound my wounds I will take her back to Valentia.” Hugo’s response was curt, as these warriors would expect.
“Of course, sir. Fedron.” Elexon indicated to the soldier who stood behind his left shoulder.
Hugo’s hackles raised immediately. The warrior had to drag his gaze from Diamond. He did nothing to disguise the hunger in his eyes before he handed over a water skin. Hugo accepted it but stepped between the warrior and Diamond, squaring his shoulders and blocking Fedron’s view. The slight growl Hugo omitted was nothing short of lethal. The warrior’s face became impassive but Hugo did not miss the amused spark in his eyes. Hugo’s fingers twitched, instantly wanting to smash a fist into the warrior’s face.
“Fedron, step away from the commander,” ordered Elexon, his observant eyes narrowing, though strangely not at Hugo.
Fedron smirked and moved sideways, a move that put him in sight of Diamond once again. This time Elexon stepped to block him. A casual move but Hugo still noted it.
“What happened here, sir?” the captain asked quickly, trying—but failing—to distract Hugo from Fedron. Elexon’s alert golden gaze raked across the clearing, taking in the devastation and Diamond, who lay unconscious near the fallen tree.
Hugo considered his words carefully before answering. “An enemy attack at Sentinel’s Cave. Prince Oden, his general and his men are trapped there. I can still hear a giant. Prince Oden will need assistance to kill it.” There was a breathless quality to his voice that he hated as he wrapped a bandage tightly around his thigh. It made him sound weak. Explaining himself to these men was not necessary; besides, keeping how the devastation had happened to himself was imperative if Diamond were to live.
“Inform Havron and go to the prince’s aid,” Elexon ordered Fedron. Fedron stared long and hard at Diamond, his delay in complying on the verge of insolence before he saluted his superior.
Hugo did not have chance to straighten and slam his fist into the warriors gut before Elexon barked, “Now, Fedron!”
As Fedron disappeared into the sky, Elexon released his sword pommel. Hugo met Elexon’s steady gaze and nodded slightly. A move that the captain returned. From the corner of his eye Hugo saw a warrior move towards Diamond, bending down to slip his arms around her. Hugo took two swift steps to his side and snarled savagely, realising too late his behaviour was way out of character for a Queen’s guard. He found he didn’t care in the least.
“Don’t touch her! I’ll take her,” he growled, curling his fingers into fists and using all his self-control not to kick the fae backwards and away from Diamond’s prone figure.
The warrior immediately stepped back, looking warily at Hugo’s menacing expression but Hugo did not notice, he only concentrated on Diamond’s face. As soon as he was by her side his magic found the cowed, trembling ember of hers, amplifying his already possessive instincts. Wincing and steeling himself to ignore the nauseating waves of pain that shot through his ravaged body, Hugo crouched down. Gritting his teeth, he hoisted Diamond into his arms, aware the other fae were watching him closely.
“Sir, are you sure you don’t want one of my men to take her?” Elexon asked with concern.
Hugo didn’t bother answering. She was so delicate and so precious to him now, he didn’t care how much pain he was in; he would get her back to Valentia and the healers himself. Growling with determination he straightened up, scowling at Elexon’s men, who now stood back, their faces impassive. Good. At least if they were wary of him they would stay away from Diamond. He unfurled his wings but knew he had no extra strength to armour them.
Elexon’s eyes narrowed a fraction. He understood how weak Hugo was by that omission. The warriors followed Hugo into the air. Elexon ordered six men with him to escort Hugo to the distant island city; the rest he ordered to re-join Fedron.
Hugo ignored the warriors, not caring if they were there or not. Distant clouds shrouded Valentia, obscuring the Queen’s tower completely. Hugo set his jaw. It was just less than thirty miles across the Rift Valley back to the city. That distance carrying a person, even uninjured, would be hard. Hugo prayed the blast of energy he had absorbed from Diamond would give him enough strength to get there. He inhaled deeply, her scent sending his heart tumbling. He could do this. Hugo resolutely set a punishing pace and headed toward the city, squashing the voice of reason in his head that told him she was not his and never could be. His life belonged to the Queen.
Part II
The Island City
Chapter 24
The silver-haired girl lay on the bed, her skin pale as death. The healer bathed her face, then straightened. She urgently spoke with the Queen’s guard, who stood grim-faced and dirty by the door. He nodded once, waited until she had left the room and dropped to his knees beside Diamond, anguish apparent in every line of his body.
Diamond’s insides were aflame. Broken buildings and shadowed walkways stretched ahead of her. A city of shadow and lost souls. She staggered toward the rift in the darkness where a pulsing light beckoned. A way out! Forcing her limbs to move, she ran—only to find her way blocked by a familiar foe. The lost souls screamed his name in terror.
“Sulphurious.”
The mirror-black dragon slammed down in front of Diamond, his vicious talons crushing the ground. Scorching red eyes bored into her soul, simmering with malevolence. Molten fire rippled up his long neck, his hideous mouth gaping wide. Screeching with effort, Diamond pitted her pathetic shield of magic against his fire, tears of exhaustion and utter despair running down her dirty face. She had fought through this endless night hoping her saviour would come, but hope had turned to despair. Outstretched, her arms shook violently. It would not be long before she was at the end of her strength. Sparks of dragon-fire pierced her shield. Crying now, her eyes darted every direction, looking for an escape.
She felt him before he appeared—her tormentor. Ice coated her stomach. It was too late, she realised, for anyone to help her now. A faceless figure emerged from the flames, wreathed in darkness
. Only endless, eternal shadow writhed under the cowl where his face should be. Panicked, she strengthened her shield with every last drop of energy she possessed.
The figure raised a skeletal hand and flicked her magic aside like it was an insignificant irritation. Slowly, deliberately, he stalked up to her. Emptiness filled her mind, despair eating at her heart. Then the screams started, a screeching, wailing cacophony that threatened to rip her skull apart.
The dragon cowed down before the power of its lord and master, watching the death of the half-blood with intent red eyes. Studying his withered fingers, the figure huffed an icy chuckle, shaped them like a claw and drove them into Diamond’s chest. Pain surged, ripping a scream from her throat.
This, she understood now, was the power wielded by the Lord of Chaos; endless pain and suffering were his to command. Indescribable cold gripped Diamond’s heart, consuming her until her very blood and bones froze. A scream for the person who had already saved her so many times jammed inside her ice-filled lungs. Petrified, Diamond realised this would not be a peaceful death, there would be no Eternity for her, only darkness and Chaos.
Wraiths prowled nearby—waiting—waiting for her to die. They shrieked her name, their skeletal hands grabbing her as their lord relinquished his hold on her dying heart. Their fingers of mist and shadow turned to icy spikes that dug painfully into her flesh, dragging her toward a yawning black abyss.
A voice echoed in the distance; a male voice, rich and deep. It became louder and more insistent until he was yelling frantically for her to fight, to live, to come back to him. Diamond felt a rush of hope as a familiar power tugged frantically at the magical embers in her soul.
The wraiths faltered. Responding to its mate, that ember flared to life. Crackling heat surged through her veins, warming her flesh and bones, melting the ice encasing her heart.
The Goddess and The Guardians Boxset: The Complete Romantic Fantasy Quartet Page 16
