Damen was insane, and Marcus was going to kill me for sure—or was he already dead? God, don’t let him be dead.
“Faster boy!”
It hadn’t taken Raymose long before he caught up with me.
“Phoebe, stop!”
“No! Raymose, just forget you saw me,” I pleaded, not looking back at him. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
He reached over and pulled back on the reins. Rain halted abruptly throwing me off him.
“Phoebe!” Raymose jumped off his horse and rushed over to me.
I tried to roll over, desperately gasping for air.
“Phoebe I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you; I forgot you couldn’t ride well.”
I knew he was trying to comfort me, but I couldn’t help but shoot him an irritated look. Was there anything I could do right, aside from seducing every eligible hunk around?
“Accident,” I gasped.
“Just try to breathe slowly.”
“Raymose?” A voice called from behind him. I recognized it immediately.
I looked fearfully into Raymose’s eyes. I couldn’t speak yet; I still couldn’t breathe right. I was sucking in large gasps of air that my lungs seemed to reject. How was I going to explain to Marcus why I was here? My breathing worsened as I panicked.
“Do not worry. I’ll stay with you and explain,” Raymose whispered as he smoothed my hair off my forehead. His face looked suddenly sad. “I know you love him.”
Raymose tilted his body so that Marcus could see that it was I he was hovering over.
“No!” Marcus hissed. He flew off his horse with Richard close behind him. “Phoebe,” He put his arms around me, his eyes searching every inch of me. He cradled my head on his lap, trying to calm me. I was still trying to breathe and wasn’t going to be a big participant in this conversation
Marcus turned to Raymose with black eyes. “What have you done to her?” he growled.
“No!” I gasped, as I reached up and pulled at Marcus shirt. “Not . . . his . . . fault!”
“Well that’s not exactly true,” Raymose admitted casually.
Marcus's face was tense. I could see the muscles in his jaw tighten as he glowered at Raymose.
“You see,” Raymose began. “Phoebe was in a particularly hairy predicament when I found her. She was in the middle of a . . . how shall I put this, you know I don’t like to exaggerate . . . fight to the death with a pair of werewolves.”
I sucked in so much air that I started choking uncontrollably. What in the hell was Raymose doing?
“What!” Marcus thundered, ignoring my pleas for air.
“She actually managed to kill one. If it’s dead body hadn’t been lying across hers, she may have had a sporting chance with the other.”
Marcus looked murderous.
“Naturally,” Raymose boasted. “I had perfect timing and was able to slay the mongrel with little effort.”
I tried to make myself smaller, hoping I would disappear into a speck of dust and blow away.
Raymose laughed lightly to himself. A broad smile had taken residence on his face. “We mustn’t forget our delusional friend Damen—he’s the comic figure in all of this.”
“Raymose,” I begged, my breath returning to me. “He’s going to kill me as it is.”
“Nonsense Phoebe, Marcus is really very understanding.” He winked at me.
I tried to sit up but Marcus held me firm—I wasn’t going anywhere.
“Where was I . . .?” Raymose asked playfully, ignoring the tension that loomed over us. “Oh yes. After I realized that it was Phoebe here whom I had just saved—Phoebe, who you neglected to tell me was alive—” Raymose shot Marcus an eerie look. “I planned to escort her to safety, when Damen, being the gentlemen that he is, decided to persuade her to come with him—under the protection of his faithful pack, who had just attacked her.
“Where is Damen now?” Marcus growled through gritted teeth.
“I don’t know,” Raymose admitted, all joking removed from his face. “After Phoebe fled, his wolves attacked me. I only had time to kill one. Damen was already chasing after her. I got to Phoebe as quickly as I could.”
“How are you responsible for this?” Marcus was still gritting his teeth. He hadn’t looked at me since Raymose had begun talking.
“I tried to stop her horse and she fell off. I’d forgotten what a bad rider she is,” Raymose teased.
Marcus turned his attention to me. “What were you thinking?” he hissed angrily. His arms thankfully released me.
I squirmed out from under him. His eyes were dark, deadly, and they were fixed on me.
“You could have been killed!” he shouted.
I instinctively jumped behind Raymose and hid myself. I was such a coward.
“Easy Marcus.” Raymose’s tone was firm as he protectively asserted himself in front of me.
“Step aside, Raymose. She isn’t going to weasel out of this. She nearly got herself killed—again! This isn’t a game!”
I gripped onto the back of Raymose’s shirt tightly. I knew he’d protect me, even from Marcus.
“Stop scaring her!” Raymose growled angrily. “She wouldn’t have risked her life if she wasn’t worried about you in the first place. History is repeating itself—yet again.” Raymose’s tone was sharp.
A cricket chirping broke the silence.
“I’m sorry I made you worry.” My small voice squeaked out from behind Raymose. “I couldn’t stand the thought of you out here by yourself. Richard wouldn’t leave me to help you, so I came looking for you myself. Damen said he was going to kill you. I couldn’t let him take you away from me.”
“There. You see: it was all in the name of love.” Raymose’s tone lightened to the point of condescending.
I peered out from behind him. Marcus had his back to us. His arms were tightly folded across his chest—obviously considering what to do with me.
Raymose looked back at me, winking his eye.
I mouthed “Thank you.” I could feel the tears leaking out the corners of my eyes. I couldn’t explain it, but somehow I remembered Raymose: His never failing kindness. His compassion for others—a strange quality for a vampire, I’d always thought; his endless devotion to my well-being. He did still love me. Damen had been right about that.
I grabbed onto Rain and pulled myself up.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Marcus asked without turning to look at me. His tone was cold.
“I’m removing myself from this equation,” I said flatly.
He turned around. His eyes were dark, unforgiving. “Get off that horse!”
“No!” I blurted out. My face hardened. I stared bravely into his black eyes. I could feel my pulse quicken. I gripped onto the reins tighter for strength. He looked terrifying.
“I explained why I had to come. I won’t keep putting you in the position of having to protect me. I’ll deal with Damen myself. It’s me he wants anyway.”
I could see the vein in Marcus’s neck pulsating. He was furious beyond words.
“Phoebe, you can’t go alone; it’s too dangerous.” Raymose’s eyes were pleading. I knew he’d come with me if I asked him to—he’d follow me to the ends of the earth if that were what I wanted. Part of me wanted him to come with me. I felt suddenly alone and afraid. I couldn’t do that to him, or to Marcus—I wouldn’t!
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. The words had a double meaning, and I could tell by the look in Raymose’s eyes that he understood both.
“If you’re going to fight, it won’t be because of me.” I reluctantly met Marcus's stare. “But you can’t expect me to sit back and watch you die.”
I held my hand out to him, my fist clenched tight. He looked at it cautiously for a moment before he reached out. I could feel a lump forming in my throat. His mouth dropped open as he caught my ring in his hand. I turned Rain sharply, digging my heels in hard. I didn’t look back.
Chapter 25: Reckless Behavior
I knew I’d scared him. I knew he loved me beyond reason. But I also knew he wouldn’t forget the pain and worry I’d caused him.
I cried hard as Rain carried me through the forest. This would be the last time I’d ride him, and my heart ached at the thought.
The sun was well overhead now. The forest was quiet, aside from us tearing through it at a rapid speed. I looked behind me. Marcus wasn’t following. I didn’t really expect him to, but I had hoped . . .
I loved him. I needed him like the air I breathed. He had become the center of my universe; I couldn’t imagine my life without him in it. I didn’t want to. There would be no color left in my world without him. He had my heart.
I cried harder as I pushed Rain to run faster. The farther away I left Marcus, the more my heart ached for him. I wanted to turn back. I wanted to tell him that I loved him. That I’d do anything he asked of me. But I knew he had to let me go—and I also knew he wasn’t strong enough to do it. I couldn’t exist in his world, not the way I was: a fragile, breakable human. Someone he’d have to watch over every minute of every day. I knew Damen would never leave me alone. He’d find me wherever I ran. I’d have to face him sooner or later. Maybe he was right—we were connected now, and our futures would be forever intertwined.
Rain started to slow a little. His ears were tilting like they were listening for something.
“What is it boy?” I whispered nervously. I gripped onto the reins tighter. “Damn!” I realized I didn’t have my sword with me . . . I must have lost it when I fell.
I looked from side to side. I couldn’t see anything at first, and then something caught my eye. There, lurking in the shadows, two golden eyes flickered back at me. I wasn’t alone.
Rain’s speed quickened. I scanned the trees as we brushed past them, my heart in my throat. I couldn’t see it. Had I imagined it? I leaned out, strained to see through the tears that still clouded my eyes. Rain suddenly jumped—I fell off, rolling down an embankment.
I lay there for a moment face down in the dirt. Moaning. I rolled onto my back, spitting dirt from my lips. “This is just . . . great!” I pounded my fists on the ground. “I lost my fiancée, my sword, and now my horse!”
I stood up, dusted myself off, and surveyed the path above me. “Wonderful . . . climbing,” I grumped aloud.
I reached for a tree root to pull myself up when a deep growl from behind made me freeze. I swallowed loudly, shaking as I turned slowly around.
I could feel its hot breath against my face. Its yellow eyes stared right into mine. It was close enough to touch if I would have been brave enough to reach out.
I held my breath, frozen where I stood. My heart pounded loudly, drowning out all other noise . . . except for its breathing. Its lips slowly pulled back, baring its teeth.
“Marcus . . . help me,” I begged under my breath.
Something flashed past me, knocking the wolf aside. I tried to scurry up the hill backward, slipping back down the soft dirt.
Marcus was rolling around the ground with the wolf. It snarled as Marcus lifted it off him, thrusting it into a nearby tree. It staggered for a moment, regained its senses and lunged in my direction. I didn’t have time to react. Marcus had dove in front of me, hissing wildly as he held onto its head, prying its jaw open and twisted until a loud crack like a tree splitting echoed through the forest. I covered my ears, cringing as I saw the wolf fall dead to the ground.
Marcus turned to me, his chest heaving in and out as he breathed in heavily.
I could see his shining teeth, his blackened eyes, and the murderous expression on his face. For the first time, he looked like a vampire. My God, Marcus truly was a Vampire!
He moved toward me. My heart hadn’t stopped pounding. My eyes darted back and forth from the wolf to Marcus. I was terrified beyond words. I hadn’t seen anything so horrific in my life. I never expected to see that side of Marcus—I didn’t know it even existed. The wolf nearly killed me, and Marcus looked as though he were going to finish where the wolf left off.
“Phoebe, are you hurt?” his voice was strained. “Did it hurt you?”
Tears hung in my eyes. I couldn’t speak. I was in shock. I wanted my Marcus—not the man standing before me.
“It’s alright.” He spoke softer now, his face resembling more of his own. “You’re safe, it can’t hurt you now.” He moved toward me.
I staggered a few steps back.
He stopped, realizing it was not the wolf I feared.
“Darling, I’m not going to hurt you. I swear it.” He extended his hand out to me.
I looked at his hand skeptically, then staring into his black eyes. I was torn. My mind was telling me to run for my life; although, I had very little faith that my legs would cooperate. My heart reminded me that I swore never to doubt him again. I closed my eyes, deliberated with my mental tug-a-war, and took a deep breath. It took all my courage and strength to reach out to him. My body trembled as I slowly extended my hand.
“I won’t hurt you, my love.” His voice was smooth like velvet. All signs of aggression were gone.
Our fingers touched lightly—I gasped as he pulled me to him, holding me tight. I could feel the tension in his arms as they wrapped around me; the sweet smell of rainwater filling my senses. All the fear, all the pain from the day, came crashing down on me all at once. I clung onto him desperately, sobbing hysterically as I fell to my knees.
“Shhh, it’s alright Darling. I’ve got you.” He kissed my face over and over. “You’re safe now.”
“You came for me,” I cried, my lips breaking free from his momentarily.
“I could never let you go,” he kissed my lips again and again. “Don’t you know by now there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you?” He took my face in his hands, holding it firmly. “I would die for you!”
His mouth took mine aggressively. I didn’t protest. I was in Marcus's arms, safe, and no matter how hard I tried, I knew I wasn’t strong without him. I needed him more than I’d realized. More than I’d wanted to admit. I needed him as much as he needed me.
He pulled back from me, his thumbs desperately trying to wipe away the tears that were still falling. “Never risk your life for me, do you understand?” He touched his forehead to mine. “I can’t live without you again, I can’t! You are my life. You are the only reason for my existence!” His mouth crushed mine in the next instant. I could feel how badly he wanted me, how badly he needed me.
My arms found their way around his neck, pulling him closer, my body meshing up against his.
His kiss heated with an intensity that rivaled any other kiss. I didn’t want it to end, and neither did he, but one of us had to breathe . . . eventually . . .
His lips reluctantly broke free from mine. The both of us panting as he pulled my left hand up to his mouth and kissed the ring that had somehow found its way back on my finger. “This belongs here; never doubt that.”
Tears were falling from my eyes once again. “I don’t want to leave you Marcus, but Damen—”
“Will never touch you again,” he interrupted.
“I know I scared you,” I began. His face hardened a little. “I put myself in indescribably danger—I’d do it again!” I glance away from him for a moment, trying to maintain my courage. “I couldn’t breathe thinking you were all alone out here. I had to come!”
He turned my face to his.
“Marcus, please say you understand, that you forgive me.”
He shook his head. His lips protested, curling up into a slight smile. “I . . . forgive you,” he said in defeat.
I threw my arms around him again, hugging him to me.
“I was so scared when I couldn’t find you . . . and when I saw you lying on the ground with Raymose crouched over you, I thought he’d . . .”
“You thought he’d killed me?” I asked incredulously.
“Yes!” Marcus hissed.
“But surely you know Raymose is in . . . he cares for me deeply. He’d never h
urt me. I know it.”
“I’m aware of his feelings for you. He’s never hidden it.” Marcus's voice rose a little. “In fact, he has just made it quite clear that should anything happen to me . . .” Marcus didn’t need to finish.
I half laughed, blushing at the thought.
“You are human, and wolf now—his reaction to you was completely unknown. He could have just as easily killed you.” Marcus stressed.
“He was so happy to see me, he—” I noticed the uneasy look on Marcus's face as he watched me. I could feel my cheeks blushing again. “He was really happy to see me.” I repeated quickly, turning my head a little to the side, avoiding his stare.
“I told him I’m not the same Phoebe, although he insists that I am.” My face still burned from the memory.
“He . . . kissed you?” Marcus's voice was shaky.
“Marcus . . . please don’t be mad.” I wasn’t sure what I should tell him. “He was so excited I was alive . . . he just . . . reacted!”
Marcus looked as though he were turning green. I reached out and gently grazed his lips with my thumb. “You must know by now that yours are the only lips I want to kiss.” I stood on my tiptoes and gently brushed my lips against his. “You are the only man I want to love.” I fisted his shirt in my hands. “The only man I need.”
He grabbed my waist and lifted me up against a tree, pressing his body to mine. I wrapped my legs around him, hugging him tightly. He couldn’t hold me close enough.
“I’ve waited my whole life for you,” I breathed. “Don’t make me wait any longer.
His mouth took mine, our lips seamlessly moving together. I moaned feeling lost in his kiss, his touch. He pressed me harder into the tree. I didn’t care. The world could have stopped moving, and I wouldn’t have known it. I gripped his shoulders. My head fell back, exposing my throat. His lips glided along my jaw and down my neck. He inhaled deeply, sending a shiver through my body.
I looked up into the trees, watching them sway overhead. His sweet scent engulfing me—I felt deliciously intoxicated.
“Marcus . . . I’m going to faint.” My vision blurred a little.
Immortal Wounds: Book #1 in the Immortal Wounds Vampire Series-Paranormal Romance/Vampire Romance/Romantic Fantasy Page 26
