Pierced [Pain & Love 2] (BookStrand Publishing Romance)

by Ashlei D. Hawley

  The world slipped into silence as Lydia focused on drawing her energy forward into one physical, crystallized item. Her heart solidified between her motionless hands, suspended at forty-five-degree angles from where they sat at her waist.

  Fire licked the edges of the gemlike mound, causing a dance of light within the golden core. The crimson surface dulled in color as the flames subsided and Lydia reached for it. She palmed her heart, and was reassured by its weight and warmth. Not all of her had been compromised. The heart of a dark dragon lost its glow over time. The fire was still in her. A part of her was still pure.

  Breaking off two small pieces of the surprisingly brittle formation, Lydia passed them over to Jade, who then inserted them into the lockets. Both she and Daria seemed comforted by seeing Lydia’s heart mostly intact and glowing with light. It proved something important to them, as it had to her.

  With the pieces of Dragon heart secured within, the lockets began to glow and heat. Jade held them, not fearing a burn as the metal softened and melded together. They weren’t pretty, but the simple-looking pieces of jewelry were the holders of a very particular kind of power.

  “We should get these back to the vamps,” Lydia suggested as she stood.

  Instead of responding, Jade pulled Lydia closer and hugged her tightly. Daria hopped off the bed and hugged her sister from behind, joining them momentarily in a warm and familial embrace, free of judgment or anger.

  “You’re going to make it right.” Daria’s words were met with a low hum of agreement from Jade.

  “For some, maybe,” Lydia replied. “But I don’t know how I can make it up to the two of you. I’m sorry, guys. I didn’t know what else to do.”

  “We’re doing it now,” Jade declared resolutely as she pulled away. “And we’re doing it the way we should have from the get-go, together. Let’s go get the vamps.”

  * * * *

  Jade and Lydia entered Heddy’s home again without knocking. As always, Lydia had a driving urge to touch all of the wise woman’s things. However, unlike with most of her previous victims, she hadn’t needed to sneak around her empty house to know the wise woman.

  Heddy had told her the story behind the framed picture that sat in a prominent place behind her rocking chair. She and her husband had gone to Florida and posed for it—he in his dapper suit and she in a thirty-five-year-old dress—just eleven days before he died. The sprawling photo of the lake her house sat against was a gift from a nephew who did that kind of thing for a living.

  Lydia sat beside Mallory on a couch that was older than the newly made vampire and saw how distraught she seemed. There was no comfort to offer her, especially not from someone who’d played such a role in what had happened to her friends not long ago. Instead, she offered the other woman something else.

  “You’ll need to wear this tonight.” She held out the gold chain, spilling the locket out so it hung at eye level for Mallory. Jade had already given Leigh his necklace, and the explanation behind the piece of jewelry.

  “Um, pretty,” Mallory said as she accepted the chain. Lydia knew she was lying and almost smiled. She was a sweet thing. “What’s it for?”

  “It will render you immune to fire. We plan to be pretty zealous with our flames.”

  “Yeah, I remember how zealously you attack with fire.”

  Lydia didn’t balk at Mallory’s words or tone. She didn’t regret being on the offensive, even if it meant she’d flung flames at someone who she would have regretted hurting. Acting the way she had had helped to protect her and her sisters. She didn’t even know if she could apologize for trying to roast Mallory and sound sincere about it. Instead, she shrugged and flipped her mass of ruby-red hair behind her shoulder.

  “Even more of a reason why you should take the necklace.”

  Nodding, Mallory slipped it over her head and moved her hair so the chain rested on her neckline beneath it.

  “Well, thank you. I guess.”

  With another shrug, Lydia stood. Leigh approached and she smirked at him.

  “Hey again, handsome. How’s it hanging?” He spared a smile for the golden-eyed minx and sat beside Mallory, brushing her hair away from her shoulder to see the necklace hanging around her neck.

  “We need to try to correct what’s been done,” he told her. “We only have a little time before the night comes.”

  “Right.” Mallory felt a flutter of nerves in her belly as she nodded. She noticed a mirror image of her gold chain around Leigh’s neck and fought not to smile at it. They hadn’t gotten them by choice, but they wore matching jewelry now. Almost like a couple.

  Shaking her head to clear the pointless thoughts, Mallory stood and followed Leigh into the bedroom they’d shared for most of the day. Her Gran was making tea and sandwiches for Lydia and Jade. They wouldn’t be disturbed in the task they’d already decided upon.

  “You’re sure this is the only way?” Mallory asked as she sat gingerly on the edge of the bed. She picked at the hem of her sundress, not looking at Leigh. He entered the room and shut the door before he responded.

  “I know of no other.”

  “All right.”

  He joined her on the bed and used the back of his hand to push the hair away from her neck. The wounds from her Turning had vanished that night. Now, he would need to put new wounds there. This time, it would be worse.

  “Will it be like…the first time?” she asked. Putting it into words seemed difficult, so she didn’t question whether he’d ease the way again as he had. Leigh smiled at her, something between a smirk and a look of compassion.

  “You must be fully aware for this, I’m afraid. The fire must burn into you with no hindrance. Otherwise, it will not be able to cleanse all of you.”

  “I was kind of hoping that wasn’t the case.” With a sigh, she leaned back against the pillows, making herself as comfortable as possible.

  I’m sorry it is.” He joined her at the head of the bed and pressed a kiss to her chin. Mallory was ridiculously moved by the gesture. “I want to tell you…” He trailed off and shook his head before giving her another smile. “Maybe later. Maybe if we get through this.”

  “We will,” Mallory assured him. “We’ll be fine.”

  Leigh and Mallory held each other’s gazes, the intensity of their connection bringing its own fire to fill her before he’d even begun the blood exchange. She wasn’t afraid of the pain, but she was afraid of the possibility of failure. Leigh had told her he’d seen the ill effects of a youngling receiving blood from a vampire other than their maker. One of the makers had explained to Leigh how he’d saved his youngling, though it had come at a cost. There would be a fantastic amount of pain, for both of them.

  Deciding that there was no reason to delay any longer, Leigh moved his mouth to Mallory’s exposed neck. He bit her right above the chain of her new necklace, plunging his fangs deep into her skin. She shivered at the first contact, not feeling at all as dirtied and violated as she had when Henry had bitten her.

  A wave of enjoyment swept through her, bringing with it a surge of wetness between her legs. Leigh’s tongue lapped over her pulse point, which moved at a more languid speed than it had before. Mallory had already noticed it slowing down. She wondered if a day would come when her heart would no longer beat at all.

  Leigh opened her wrists and the pain was negligible against the almost euphoric feelings playing over her body. He continued taking her blood into himself, emptying her of the corruption Henry had injected into her.

  Mallory began to feel weak even before Leigh pressed his own bloodied wrists to her flesh, combining the flow and forcing his blood into her veins. Wherever it flowed, flames followed. Wanting to smother her screams when they began, but being unable to remove his mouth from her neck, lest he interrupt the process, Leigh winced through the shrieks. They burned into him much like the fire that he now felt in his own veins.

  Leigh knew he had a better chance than a younger maker to save Mallory. One of the gr
eatest complications involved in the purification process was the pain being too intense for both parties to handle. If the maker faltered, they would both be lost. Leigh had a long lifetime to build up pain tolerance. The thing that hurt him worst was how much Mallory would have to suffer to be cleansed.

  “Leigh, stop!” Mallory begged. “Please stop. Stop!”

  He held her immobile and continued the process. Her blood began to taste like acid on his tongue. The pain flowed downward, into his abdomen and outward through his limbs. He knew the fire for her must be all-consuming, blackening her from the inside and turning her blood to ash in her veins. She struggled and cursed, fought and cried, but still he continued on.

  Mallory felt Leigh would drain her dry even as he filled her with what felt like lava. She’d rather have another death experience—even ten more—than be subjected to the horrible agony that her body was currently enduring. Every muscle felt like it was seized up. Her skin felt like it was going to crawl off and curl up into crispy peels, blackened by the flames baking within her.

  Outside in the dining room, Lydia, Jade, and Heddy exchanged nervous looks. What they were hearing from the bedroom sounded more suited to a torture chamber than a family home.

  “Should we check on them?” Jade asked, and Heddy reluctantly shook her head in response.

  “I trust him to know what he’s doing. He’s the only one who could.”

  Leigh heard their exchange and hoped for Mallory’s sake that Heddy was right. He was beginning to feel he was trapping Mallory and himself in a cycle of anguish through which the only escape would be death. Her screaming and struggles had begun to subside, but the acidic pain both of them were enduring had not abated in any part.

  “Leigh,” Mallory whispered sleepily. “Please stop.”

  The pinpricks in her neck felt like the epicenters of liquid burns. Her body shook with painful tremors and every pathway beneath her skin was the road on which agony walked. When Leigh pulled away, the horrible aches didn’t subside. She felt cleaner, though, more herself than she had in days and for that, she was grateful.

  “Sleep now,” Leigh commanded gently as he kissed her on the forehead and eased her back against the pillows. “A few hours and you’ll feel much better.”

  “Leigh,” Mallory said as she grabbed his hand. Her blue eyes had drifted shut and the wounds where he’d taken her corrupted blood had sealed themselves.

  He turned back toward her and said, “Yes?”

  “Thank you. I know you would have saved me before, if you’d known. Thank you for keeping me with you this time.”

  Leigh’s chest clenched at her words and his throat tightened. He’d never forgive himself for missing the cues that had lost Marlyna for him, but he would give Marlyna many times over to save Mallory. It might have been different, had she lived, but Leigh couldn’t imagine his life without the woman born in the present time, not the ghost he’d mourned the loss of for centuries.

  “Don’t thank me yet,” he warned. “I don’t know if this was successful. Sleep and we’ll see.”

  “Leigh,” Mallory said again as he moved for the door.

  He paused, but didn’t turn back. She heard him stop moving, and knew he was listening.

  “Don’t die now.” She’d wanted to say something else, but those were the only words that had come. Damn her mouth, but they stuck on her tongue.

  “Maybe now I won’t have to.” He didn’t know how it would work, but he couldn’t deny that he wanted it to. “We’ll see tonight.”

  “Sounds good,” she agreed. She fell into a sound sleep with her legs curled toward her stomach, her fist tucked up against her chin, and a small smile on her face.

  Leigh left the room and wondered what had stopped him from telling her he loved her.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Mallory felt the night crawling over her like a lover moving onto her body. She sighed into the contact and stretched, curling her toes and fingers as she let her limbs adjust to wakefulness. Shock jolted through her as she realized how good she felt.

  Sitting up and swinging her legs over the side of the bed, Mallory grinned at the empty room. Thoughts of what they would be required to do now that night had retaken the world tried to sweep in and sober her, but she felt too wonderful for it to be spoiled.

  Having heard her moving about, Leigh knocked quickly and then opened the door before waiting for her to respond.

  “You’re feeling better?” She beamed at him, answering his question with that simple expression. Leigh gave a hoot of celebration and picked her up, spinning her around while peppering her mouth with happy kisses.

  “It worked!” he exclaimed. “I’m so glad it worked!”

  When Leigh put her down, Mallory was filled with the same giddiness she’d often gotten after two glasses of wine and a night of dancing. He led her out into the living room by the hand, and his happy energy seemed to vibrate into her through the contact. She became only slightly muted in her excitement when she saw the somber faces of the others in the room.

  Heddy stood to embrace Mallory, hugging her as tightly as her limited strength allowed. Mallory smiled into the contact as Heddy said, “I’m so relieved you’re doing better, Mal.”

  “You aren’t alone in that, Gran,” Mallory assured her as they parted. Heddy squeezed Leigh’s arm as he passed by them.

  “Thank you for saving her.” Leigh tipped his head toward her with a small smile, indicating he accepted her thanks.

  “Now, time to save a lot of others,” Jade said. She was vibrating with nervous energy, ready to go.

  “And kill the shit out of a couple of others. The supreme asshole Jerry is first on that list for me.” Lydia’s addition to the conversation sounded fierce and violent. Mallory was glad the feisty Dragon was now on their side.

  “We have the hostages,” Leigh reminded them. “You go through your list any way that suits you.”

  “With pleasure,” Lydia agreed.

  After offering parting warnings and wishes to Heddy, the four of them left. Heddy locked all of her doors behind them.

  * * * *

  Mallory and Leigh stepped off the freeway and into the copse of trees that sheltered the compound of the Hunters. Before Lydia and Jade could enter, they had to clear out any innocents that could get in the line of fire.

  “You think we can get in without using the door I went through? I didn’t catch the code and even if I did, the Hunters seem smart enough to have changed it by now.”

  “We’ll use the main door of the store, get in the building, and find a way to the underground from there. It won’t take long.”

  Leigh was reconsidering allowing Mallory to go with him to release whatever hostages were in the compound. If it was true that Henry was responsible for Marlyna’s descent into madness, and they had successfully cured Mallory of the same then he didn’t want to risk her again so soon. Mallory would hear none of his objections, however, and he had resolved to take her with him but not let her out of his sight. It was a compromise, at least.

  “I don’t see any cars.” Mallory pointed out the first obvious sign of trouble. Even on the slow night when they’d come to retrieve her parents, there had been half a dozen vehicles. Now, the lot in the back was empty. The store looked as deserted as was advertised.

  “We’ll proceed the same,” Leigh decided as he gestured her forward. “Into the store, down to the lower level. Let’s go.”

  They moved speedily, nearly invisible to the naked eye. The front door, Leigh broke open with one hearty jerk. They slipped inside, propping the door open so the starlight and moonlight shined through. Even vampires needed some light to see by, and the natural beams filtering in were better than nothing.

  They moved to the back of the store, where an employees only area was the most logical option to find an underground access. When they searched the small space and came up empty, Mallory suggested the storage area, because it was right on top of where the underground facili
ty had been built.

  With luck, they found the access hatch in the back right corner of the room. It was locked with a simple padlock, and Leigh found it easy enough to break through. Mallory listened momentarily, stone-still, breath held. She heard nothing from within, and instead of easing her concern, it worried her more. Where was everyone? She wondered briefly if Lydia wasn’t truly on her side and had led them into a trap. The sisters said the Hunters wanted them. Mallory had to trust that they hated the Hunters as much as they claimed to, because otherwise she feared they could be walking into a trap.

  Leigh issued last-minute instructions in a quiet voice.

  “Follow where I go. Step where I step. Don’t react emotionally to anything you see. Chances are good we destroyed the blood illness inside of you, but we can’t be too sure. Keep your emotions under a tight rein and keep quiet.”

  “So you’re my infiltration training wheels,” Mallory joked weakly. “Got it.” She laughed a little, making Leigh smile.

  “All right. Let’s go.”

  Leigh slid inside the access tunnel, finding sure footing less than five feet down. There was a door in front of him and he shouldered it open before he murmured for Mallory to join him on the lower level.

  “Keep the hatch open,” he advised. “In case we need to leave in a hurry.”

  They entered the first hallway with no problems. They tripped no sensors, alerted no Hunters, heard no voices.

  “Something’s wrong, Leigh,” Mallory said in a concerned voice. She almost spoke in a normal tone, she was so convinced there was no one around to hear her. “I don’t hear anything. It feels like there’s no one here.”

  “We check the whole compound,” Leigh declared quietly. “If there really is no one here, we’ll figure something else out.”

  Mallory nodded and they didn’t speak again for several long minutes.