Forbidden (The Preternaturals)
Page 22
The chanting in the circle rose even louder and faster. From the center where the angel had been bled, a golden circular light rose up. The light shifted and turned and expanded until it became a doorway. Kurt was sucked into it, then Tam and the others lowered and unlinked their hands and the green barrier went down, leaving the circle exposed and allowing the portal to do its work.
Hadrian punched Rodolfo in the nose while the angel was distracted, and he let go of Angeline’s arm. All at once, he and the other Angels who had come to fight were lifted from the ground and sucked through the portal. But that wasn’t the end of it. Angels were being pulled from all over the world. Anywhere in the human dimension where there was an angel, the doorway sucked them back to the heavenly dimension. The guardian in the center of the circle was taken as well, and then Angeline began to be pulled in that direction.
She held her arms out. “Hadrian!”
Hadrian grabbed her hands and held her tight to keep her from going to the door. At first he held her steady, counterbalancing the force from the portal, but eventually the portal won, dragging her closer and closer to the heavenly realm from which she would never escape.
The vampire moved in blur-fast speed and jerked Angeline roughly to him. He bit into her throat, cut his own tongue with his fangs, and mixed their blood. “MINE!” he roared. The pull from the portal released her, and Hadrian and Angeline went tumbling down the hill together.
The angels were overhead, like a million wandering souls sucked into some evil vortex until they had all been taken. Then the glowing doorway made a popping sound and disappeared out of existence.
Chapter Sixteen
Angeline could barely breathe. She just lay in the grass trying to get her bearings. It had all happened so fast. She still worried Hadrian would regret claiming her, but if he hadn’t done it, she’d be stuck in Heaven with Rodolfo right now. She shuddered and tried not to think about it.
She rolled over and was about to say something to her mate when Anthony appeared out of nowhere, his face twisted in rage, a stake in his hand. Before she could unfurl her wings, the vampire king plunged the stake into Hadrian’s heart.
“No!” Angeline’s wings came out and she shoved Anthony away, then she rushed to her mate’s side.
“Hadrian!” Her tears blinded her. She pulled the stake out, tossing it aside as if it were contaminated. He seemed dead. His eyes were closed; he wasn’t moving. He was still as a statue. But he wasn’t melting and decaying. Why wasn’t that happening? Every vampire she’d ever seen die had melted.
She laid her head on his chest, praying for a heartbeat to miraculously begin again. How could this happen? Why? She vowed she would end the vampire king. Anthony would rue the day he had ever laid eyes upon her. He’d regret using her and playing Linus’s sick games, but mostly he would regret this act against her mate.
An angry, wailing shriek built inside of her and then came out so strong that the power from her voice and her wings sent everyone near her back several yards.
She cradled Hadrian in her arms, wishing there was some magic healing power she could provide.
She composed herself and looked up to see Anthony some yards away. “YOU!” she snarled. Angeline rose and flew to the vampire king. She swooped down and grabbed him, then threw him on the ground. She descended and wrapped her hands tightly around his throat.
“I could pop your head right off your body,” she screamed. She sobbed as she squeezed his throat harder and harder, convinced she could just pop it right off like a grape. “You miserable fucking bastard! Why would you do this? You and Linus always reveled in my misery. What the hell is wrong with you?!?”
Anthony gained the upper hand and flipped their positions. A moment later, he was pulled off her and flung a good distance away.
“Do NOT touch my mate.”
Angeline looked up from the ground, unable to believe Hadrian was alive. Had the stake not gone through his heart? She was sure that it had. He’d appeared lifeless only moments before, his heart and breathing gone still.
Hadrian stalked over to the vampire king, his eyes burning with rage. “I’m pretty sure I know why it’s forbidden for vampires to claim guardians. It’s not because they’re lesser beings. It’s because linking our lifelines like that makes a vampire essentially unkillable. And you wouldn’t want a bunch of vampires you can’t control and threaten would you? You already claimed a human, so you can’t claim a guardian to gain the upper hand again. You piece of shit. Angeline and I are leaving. Do not ever come near us again, or I will make sure every vampire knows about this.”
Anthony snarled. “I was hoping to kill you before the claim took effect.”
Cain ran down the hill to see what the commotion was.
“Did you know about this?” Hadrian asked.
“Know about what? In case you hadn’t noticed I’ve been busy saving the world,” the demon leader said, glancing back up the hill where his mate looked wiped. “And we still have to go back and get Luc.”
“Did you know a vampire who claims a guardian can’t die?”
Cain’s eyes widened a fraction. “It hadn’t occurred to me. But it makes sense. Cole is immortal because of his link with Jane.”
“Let’s just go,” Angeline said, tugging on Hadrian’s arm. She couldn’t get her thoughts together. She was just so grateful he was still here with her.
***
Hadrian parked the car and grabbed their bags. The sun would be up in another hour. He was wildly curious what might happen now if he went into the sun, because he knew he wouldn’t die. Would he catch on fire but immediately stop burning? Would he just get a sunburn? Would he still fall dead for the day or would he be able to stay awake now?
The vampire unlocked the door to the church and pushed it open, breathing in the earthy and welcome scent of incense. He looked back to find his mate standing out in the rain, shivering and staring up at the church as if it might come to life and attack her.
“Well? Are you coming in or not? You’re no longer barred from churches.” He held out a hand, encouraging her.
“There are still wards.”
Hadrian shook his head. “With our link, the wards will see you as me.”
Angeline still seemed skeptical, but she climbed the steps anyway. She seemed shocked when she crossed the threshold without bouncing off a barrier.
Hadrian went to the basement and put their things away, then he flicked on the TV and kicked his shoes off and curled up in the bed. Angeline finally came downstairs.
“We interrupt this program to bring you a live update on a truly startling story. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any more strange, with demons and vampires and witches and were-everythings, it turns out angels exist, too. But don’t look for rescue anytime soon. It appears a group of terrorist preternaturals have ensured Heaven can no longer help us. Earlier in the night angels were banished from Earth. Live at the scene we have Sam with the story.”
The scene changed from the newsroom to the pasture they’d all been in hours ago.
“Thanks, Janet. I’m live, standing on the very spot in which some serious magic recently took place. Our parent studio has already had forensic sorcerers here to deconstruct what happened earlier in the night. It’s been confirmed that the link between Heaven and Earth has been severed, and angels can no longer enter this plane. We’ve had reports pouring in from priests who can no longer do the exorcism ritual or any other form of priest-craft, and churches, once one of the few safe havens against demons and fallen angels, now no longer bars their entry. It truly is the apocalypse.”
“We saved you from the apocalypse. You’re welcome,” Hadrian said to the TV.
On another station, a news broadcast showed Cary Town with a long line of people standing outside the borders. “Mary-Anne, it appears that therians have been disappearing. As the human and magical world team up to fight these grisly monsters, the monsters are seeking refuge in one of the few places that ma
y be well guarded and protected enough to save them from the human revolution.”
Hadrian turned off the TV and sighed. “This isn’t over, not by a long shot.”
“Did you think it would be? At least now the factions can focus on the human and magic threat without the angels interfering. We at least have a chance now.”
“What did that angel say to you? He whispered something in your ear when you were trying to get away.”
“Oh. Rodolfo said he was the man upstairs.”
Hadrian snorted. “That guy is God?”
“If you can believe him.”
“And do you?”
“I don’t know what to think. I don’t even know if any of it matters anymore. I’ll never have to go there again.”
Angeline stood beside the bed as if she were afraid to get too close to him.
“You know, you’re my mate, Angeline. This is your home. This is your bed. That’s your TV.” He wiggled his eyebrows and said, “And this is your devastatingly handsome vampire who may or may not still burn in the sun. I’m excited to find out.” He patted the mattress beside him.
She joined him on the bed, and he smothered her with kisses.
“I’m glad you’re here. I thought I was going to lose you,” he said trying hard to stop seeing her being sucked toward the portal.
“Me? I thought I had lost you.” Her eyes welled with tears, and Hadrian brushed them away.
“Shhh. It’s okay. You didn’t lose me. You upgraded me.”
“You weren’t so happy the last time I upgraded you.”
“I got over it. Would you like to go upstairs and desecrate the altar again?”
“Hadrian!” Angeline said, looking scandalized.
His eyes darkened. “Go. Don’t make me ask you twice.”
Hadrian smacked her ass as she giggled on her way up the stairs. This time, he would be on top.
About the Author
Learn more about my other books at: http://www.zoewintersbooks.com You can also contact me or sign up for my newsletter to hear first about new releases!
Books In the Preternaturals Series:
Book 1: Blood Lust
Book 2: Save My Soul
Book 3: The Catalyst
Book 4: Life Cycle
Book 5: Forbidden
Thank you so much for supporting my work!
Acknowledgments:
Cover Art: Robin Ludwig at gobookcoverdesign.com (I think this is my favorite cover design so far!)
Digital Formatting and moral support: Tom (Not that nobody else ever offers moral support, but he hears more of the whining than anyone else.)
Editorial Assistance: Karen, Michelle. Thanks, guys!
Table of Contents:
Front Matter
Dark Mercy
Forbidden
About the Author
Acknowledgments