by Kiki Howell
The guard came alive suddenly, swiping at Aranda, clouting her alongside her head. She cried out, dropped to her knees, the knife falling to the floor. The hall erupted in shouts and cries, guards rushing forward to the fallen man, two making their way to where Aranda was huddled, holding her head. Blood seeped from a gash on her forehead.
Caine lunged from behind the throne, weaving between the guards, and the other Seethe court members. He pulled Aranda to her feet, clutching her against his body.
“Here! Give her to me!”
Caine looked behind him. Gabriel materialized, and Caine all but threw the girl at Gabriel. The last he saw of them was of Gabriel carrying her through the throng, toward the hidden door.
“You, Caine, foul Nequam! I should have known you were behind this.” Mirella’s voice cut through the noise of the hall. Caine looked up at her, and for a moment was unable to move. Her eyes glowed red, and they were focused only on him. His mind went cloudy, and he shook his head, willing himself to retain control.
“Take him! He is mine.” Mirella pointed one long finger down at him. Caine blinked, his strength ebbing. He needed to focus, and quickly.
He saw the ring on her finger, a large sapphire, glinting in the candlelight. Using every ounce of strength that he had, he focused his mind on that gem, on the deep blue, the hardness of the stone, the coldness of it. The stone became his world, and he felt her powers losing their control on his mind.
Focusing one last burst of energy at the ring, Caine felt his mind rip free of Mirella’s. In that instant, the stone shattered. Mirella cried out, clutching her hand. Blood dripped between her fingers, and she hissed down at Caine, fangs bared.
“Parlor tricks are not going to help you, Caine. You are not powerful enough to defeat me.”
“No, but I am not alone.” Caine stood between the guards that held him, and let his mind call to the Fortis. Before he’d even finished the thought, he heard their war cries rising from outside.
Behind him, the doors to the throne room burst open, and the Fortis flooded the chamber. Each member knew where to go, who to attack, but they managed to look disorganized, chaotic, almost bumbling. Pride welled up in Caine, but he worked to suppress the feeling.
Mirella gathered her skirts, stumbling back toward her throne. For an instant Caine sensed her fear, the total loss of control, and it sent a wave of energy through him. He closed his eyes, locking her mind with hers.
As planned, Elsbeth attacked the guards holding Caine. He was released and stood, head held high, in the midst of the swirling battle.
Amid all the chaos, he found Mirella’s mind, found her desperately trying to control everyone, and everything. He felt her panic, as he entered her mind. Opening his eyes, he found her glaring down at him.
“I will not let this happen.”
Before he could react, she took control of Elsbeth, and another Fortis, a heavy-set man wielding an axe. The man swung at Elsbeth, and she ducked, the blade barely missing her. She countered, dove and rolled, coming up beneath him. Almost by magic, a dagger appeared in her hand, and she sliced at the man’s leg, losing her balance, and falling to the floor.
Through all this, their faces held looks of horror, alarm, and confusion. Elsbeth threw him a pleading look. The man raised his axe again, and as Caine watched, he brought it down in an arc, aiming for Elsbeth’s head.
There was a blur of movement, the axe swinging forward, Elsbeth scrambling across the floor. Then there was another body, and Caine saw it was Aranda. She flung herself across the floor, pushing Elsbeth aside. The axe came down and buried itself in Aranda’s shoulder, pinning her to the floor.
Anger flared in Caine, white-hot, all-consuming. With a roar, he turned, arms flung wide, every ounce of his strength directed toward Mirella. He caught her mind, wound his through hers, twisted and turned it, breaking all control she had over everyone, breaking the control she had over her own mind.
Mirella sank to the floor, and Caine advanced. She was still on the throne platform, her eyes level with his. Breath tore from his lungs, his heart felt as if it would burst, but he kept his focus on her.
She cried out, as he took another step, her hand rising to her temple. A thin trail of blood ran from her nostril, and her eyes rolled in her head. Caine twisted her mind again, and again she cried out.
With a final burst of energy, he wrung the last of her consciousness from her mind. There was nothing left of her, but blind instinct. She gnashed her fangs at him, crawling toward the edge of the gilt platform. He met her there.
Pulling her forward, he held her in an embrace. For a moment, they looked into each other’s eyes. Caine expected fear, or surrender from her, but all he saw in the red depths of her eyes was hate, for him, for everyone. Her fangs shredded her lips, blood spattering his tunic, spilling down the front of her dress. There was nothing left of her, but a mindless killer.
He snapped her neck in one swift movement. She fell from his arms, then slipped from the platform, landing at his feet.
Behind him, the room went silent. Caine closed his eyes briefly then turned.
The Fortis stood, shock and awe on their faces. The few remaining Seethe members stared, open-mouthed. Everyone in the room was watching him, but the only person he searched for was Natalya.
She was standing by the door, Gabriel in front of her. He took a step toward her, and she broke away, running to him. He caught her, pulled her close, and buried his face in her neck.
“It’s over.” He whispered the words into her hair. “It’s finally over.”
She pulled away, eyes large as they met his. “No, Caine. Not yet.”
Behind her, he sensed movement, and he looked over her shoulder. Those members of the Seethe still standing were bowing to him, some dropping to one knee. The Fortis remained standing, bowing their heads. He looked to Natalya in a mute plea for help.
“You reap what you defeat. Or in this case, kill.”
It was Gabriel who spoke. He stepped forward, making his way through the Fortis, past the kneeling Seethe.
“What the hell do you mean?”
“It’s simple, really.” Gabriel stopped in front of Caine. “You are now the leader of the Seethe.”
“You bastard. I don’t want to be the leader of the Seethe. I never asked for this.” Caine looked back to Natalya. “We don’t want this.”
It was more of a question, than anything. He searched Natalya’s eyes, then cast a confused look over the Fortis, the Seethe members. “I can’t...” Every instinct told him to refuse, but Natalya’s arms wound tightly around him, and he knew what he had to do.
“You can, we can.” She looked past him to Gabriel, and the Fortis. “We all can. Caine. Look at me.” She took his chin, forcing him to look down at her. “Whatever this means, whatever happens, you’re not alone.”
But in that moment he truly felt alone, even standing in a room full of vampires, and Fortis, even with Natalya in his arms. He looked over the room, at the Fortis, the vampires, Gabriel. It was an overwhelming feeling, to be needed so desperately. He didn’t know how he’d ever manage to carry the weight, and responsibility.
“Caine...” Natalya touched his face, and he pulled his eyes from them, focusing on her, her dark lashes fluttering in his gaze. “You know you can do this,” she whispered. “And you know that you’re the only one who can.”
She took his hands, her grip strong, and it brought him back to the moment. And in that moment, he saw her love for him burning in her eyes, a love far stronger than the fear that consumed him. He pulled her back into his arms, and gently kissed her forehead. He knew that his heart would never stop hungering for her, his body would never stop desiring her, and no matter what lay ahead, they would get through it together. A smile broke out across his face, and she met his gaze with burning desire.
“I love you, Natalya. I always will. And as long as I have you by my side, I can do anything.”
He dropped a soft, sweet kiss on he
r lips, ripe with the promise of relentless devotion.
Tomorrow was a new day, a new beginning, a new start. And they’d face it together.
About The Author
NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling Canadian author Catherine Vale loves to write urban fantasy tales of magic and mayhem, and paranormal romance, where guys sprout fur, and gals aren't afraid to bite.
Girls with curves, and guys with growl. What more could you want?
When she isn't lost in one of her fictional worlds of magic and shifters, you can find her watching thrillers, spending time with her friends and family, and dancing to 80's rock.
If you love reading about kick-ass heroines, powerful heroes and their magical adventures, check out Catherine’s website for a full listing of books: http://www.CatherineVale.com
You can follow her on twitter @ValeRomance or on Facebook at facebook.com/CatherineValeBooks
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Go Back
Table of Contents
Dedication
In Memorandum
Note To Our Amazing Readers
What's Inside?
What Lies Within Us
Dating 911
Torch Song
Ethereal Witness
Love Story of a Reaper
Burning Midnight
With This Heart
The Saltwater Siren
Dangerous Beauty, Sexy Beast
Rose Tears
Rogue
Hexing Hearts
Dragon’s Curvy Concierge
Credence - Moon Dragons
Kiss of the Fallen
Selene
One Last Lullaby
Lust
Witch Playground
Frozen Soul
Taste of Darkness
About the Publisher
