“Benedict Draco …” My name echoed in the space. “It is the Council’s determination that you acted within the rights as enforcer and protected the knowledge of our vampiric existence. For that we thank you. But we are at our limit and will not tolerate further indiscretions. There are many amongst us arguing to take your life. Do we make ourselves clear?”
Lucius stepped forward, eager to be gone from their presence. “Very clear, thank you for the Council’s mercy.” He clasped my arm and dragged me away before I could say something stupid like my vengeance was well founded or I wouldn’t allow the weak and helpless to be used by anyone who assumed them to be worthless. He knew me too well.
*
As we left the Council chambers, we took a moment to congratulate ourselves and reached out again to David, Isabella, and Michela, then to Jon Paul, to let them know a fair verdict had been reached. We were coming home, both of us, and still in our undead lives. It was safe for their return to our sun protected apartments.
David stood waiting for us, and for the first time, a true happiness shined in his eyes. When I entered the room, he held out his hand and when I took it, he pulled me into a strong embrace. “Brother. Nice to have you back, and still breathing.” He laughed.
I chuckled with him, clapping his back. “Nice to be back, kid. Now, if the Council stays out of our lives …” Lucius shot me a murderous look, and I shrugged. He knew my vices.
Isabella had spent the night in anxious worry. When Lucius stepped into our apartments, she flew to his arms, relief and joy etched on her face. “I worried for you! How could they think to judge you or Ben?” She was a mother hen, protecting what was hers, even in injustice. She then became serious. “We would have gone to the Council, David and I, we’d already agreed. If they took you, we’d take as many as we could before our end.”
“No, you wouldn’t. It would have killed me twice.” Lucius lifted her into the air, swinging her in a circle, before letting her feet brush the floor. “It’s done, over. If we stay out of their way, they’ll stay out of ours.” Pleasure radiated through the room.
She rested her head against his chest. “Until the next time.” She raised her eyebrows before pushing up on her toes, kissing his lips.
“What would you say to a vacation?” he asked. “Maybe a second honeymoon?”
“Well … it has been a while—yes, of course!” she squealed.
*
I’d left Michela angry with the whole idea of the Council deciding if we remained undead or if we greeted our one true death. When I came into the room, it was to a sigh of relief as she rushed to my arms.
“Never do that to me again. I won’t be left behind.” Tears shimmered in her eyes.
There was little I could say as I took in her beauty. Nothing mattered as long as she was in my life. Dropping down on my knees, I wrapped my arms around her waist, my face buried in her sweet scent as her fingers rifled through my hair. I could imagine her in an earlier time, dressed in the garb from a faraway past, always strong … she’d always been mine. Had she’d come before? A soul reborn, waiting for mine?
I’d vowed to protect her with my life, and I had failed her, in a way. But with the loss of her old life, a new one had been born, and I promised to stay at her side for eternity, or as long as the vampiric existence and the Gods allowed. If by chance death claimed her, my wrath would find him. My mate and lover … I’d be damned to give her up.
Chicago was home, for better or worse, and together we would make of it what we could. We had lifetimes of joy to live, dreams to fulfill, love to make, together. Vampires really weren’t different from anyone else. Everyone, human and vampire alike, wanted to be happy, to find love, and I had discovered mine. I would hold it in my embrace, cherished and revered. Michela and I would have this life of hunting, feasting, righting the wrongs, and making love. I’d relished it all, the forgotten hopes and dreams now restored … let the world do its damnedest.
So, it begun … the circle of life, both natural and unnatural, continuous and flowing, from one ending, another had its beginnings. And the vampire lived on …
It is true. I am vampire, born of death and blood. But it wasn’t all I was, and it never would be.
About the Author
Lillie J. Roberts is a multi-published, Amazon best-selling author who loves to read as much as she does to write. You can most often find her lost in her favorite genre, whether it be hardback, paperback, or ebook (or maybe she’s writing one), especially on road trips. She writes Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Chillers/Thrillers, Suspense from Modern Contemporary to New Adult and YA.
She lives in central Illinois with her husband, three children, and one wild Westie (who is usually her reading partner, he also listens to all her new story ideas, almost always with a wicked sense of humor) and a crazy cat. She loves movies and listens to them while she writes, it doesn’t matter if they’re old or new, as long as they’re engaging. She loves all kinds of music, especially if it has a hard driving beat. You’ll find some on her favorite artists mentioned in the pages of her books.
She loves to hear from her fans. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, or on her Amazon page.
Also Available from Lillie J. Roberts
The Stepping Through the Veil Series—Available on Amazon
Enchanted, Book One, by Lillie J. Roberts
Rose and Synder Augustine are searching for the person responsible for their father’s illness. Dark Fae involvement is suspected. Rose’s one time lover, Jon Winterborn, steps back into her life with promises of a cure, but only if he can bring her father through the veil separating the Land of Man and Tuatha De Danaan, the fabled land of Faery. But, others are waiting for them … and they may not want them to return, at least not alive.
Cursed, Book Two, by Lillie J. Roberts
Rose and Synder are poised to bring their poisoned father through the veil separating the Land of Man and that of Tuatha De Danaan, the Realm of Faery. Raul will suffer his curse in a bid to save Synder’s father—his lover means more than the pain of the change. Jon, Prince of the Winter Court, will have to be prepared to face one of his biggest enemies, the mad queen Mauve, his mother, and her lackeys, his brother Fergus and Mauves’s captain, Luce. Each want him dead. Rose is worth more than the fight that he’ll have to endure. Will our young lovers survive the foes waiting for them? Only time and the magic of Faery can tell.
Becharmed, Book Three, by Lillie J. Roberts
Rose and Synder’s father lays near death, with only the magic of Tuatha De Danaan keeping him alive. They will have to battle both Summer and Winter Courts for his life. The only saving grace is the love shared between Rose and Jon, and Synder and her great bear. Tuatha De Danaan—Mauve and Fergus determined to ruin both women, King Oberon determined the make them part of his court, to have them for himself, their fear as they discover themselves imbued with the same magic as the mystical place.
Will they survive the magic thrust upon them or will they become as corrupt as the courts themselves?
Hunger Page 25
