Never Give Up on Love (The Soul Mate Tree Book 7)

by Maggie Mundy

  The protective wall became the tree, its branches reaching out to welcome her into its cool shade, cradling her close. Then a pixielike sprite appeared before her. Adele felt no fear as an overwhelming sense of calm flowed all around her. Okay, I’ve finally fallen apart from the pain.

  The pixie touched her hand and spoke into Adele’s mind. ‘You must return, Adele. Vincent’s life will be forfeit if you die. He’s waited so long and truly loves you. Face the pain and he’ll save you,’ the sprite whispered.

  ‘I know.’ As Adele thought the words, the tree disappeared. Something deep inside her knew all of this was true.

  The flames still licked at the wall, and she took a deep breath as she waited for it to disappear. When the wall went down with a crash, the flames hit. Her mind saw her clothes ignite and her skin started to blacken. She screamed as she cried out to Vincent with her mind. It was faint, but she could hear his voice calling to her.

  The flames licked all around her body, the stench of her burning flesh filling her nostrils. Then a blue light appeared within the flames, and she reached out for it, but the flames pulled her back. The light grew stronger and took on the form of Vincent. She grabbed his hand, and the flames hissed around her as if sprayed by water.

  “Take my power, Adele. You’re strong, you can survive this.”

  Vincent took her in his arms as the next wave of flames attacked. This time, she could cope. With each onslaught, the pain lessened until the flames were no more than cinders around their feet.

  He smiled as he gazed into her eyes and she knew she would always be safe with him.

  “Come back to me. I love you.”

  Adele opened her eyes to find herself in her parents’ home. Vincent sat next to her, with her mother and father close by, both looking worried. Members of the Witch Council hovered near. Surprisingly, they had smiles on their faces, considering a bloodsucker sat in the room.

  Then she smelled their blood, and realized there was more than one. Her fangs advanced through her gums. The hunger was overpowering, and she couldn’t stop the growl leaving her throat.

  Jake and Carla pulled swords from their backs as the Council advanced, weapons in hand.

  These were her friends, and they were going to attack her.

  Vincent jumped between her and the others. “It’s the hunger and the smell of your blood. Let me feed her and share my thoughts, and it will stop her.”

  Jake nodded, and Vincent turned back to her.

  Unfamiliar fear spiked through Adele. “I don’t think I can do this.”

  Vincent held her chin and smiled. “Trust me, and let my thoughts in. I’ll help you. These are your people too. You don’t want to harm them. You would never forgive yourself.”

  His assurances calmed her, and Adele leaned closer, until her lips were next to his neck. The thought of what she was about to do seemed alien, but the smell of his blood was tantalizing. His artery pulsed.

  ‘I give my blood freely to you, and I’ll help you to stop.’ Vincent’s thoughts were in her mind, encouraging her to feed. She took a deep breath and pushed her fangs through his skin. It was easier than she thought it would be, and his blood flowed into her like a cool drink, banishing the hunger. The power of his blood made her lightheaded as she sucked. She could get drunk on the richness of it, but before that could happen, Vincent’s thoughts came through, commanding her to stop.

  Reluctantly, she released him.

  Bending close, Vincent whispered in her ear, “We’ll get through this together. Remember both your family and I love you as you are.”

  Her mother’s gaze still held love and not repugnance as she came to hug her. Her father and Jake were the same, though the stares from the members of the High Council were less than welcoming.

  Carla grinned and hugged her. “Don’t go giving Tristan any ideas. It will be interesting to see how you cope with daytime shoots though.”

  The door burst open, and Tristan stormed back in.

  “It seems things have been happening while I was gone.” He bent down and clasped her hand. “Welcome, sister. I’ll protect you as I do the other members of our family.”

  Vincent patted Tristan on the shoulder. “Is there any news of Henry Rushton?”

  “We’ve heard rumors he’s back in Bristol. There is an old warehouse down by the docks he’s frequented before. I was going there next with others from our group. I came back to check on Adele.”

  “Let’s get going then.” Adele sat up, energized.

  Vincent held her in place. “You’re not going anywhere. You’re too weak.”

  At Jake’s laugh, Adele shot her hunting partner a dirty look.

  “I’m fine and I’ve been waiting a long time for this fight, just like you. We go in as a team. Deal?” Adele held out her hand to Vincent. It was important to be equals even if she was new to this life as a vampire.

  Her mother stood and crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re not going anywhere in such a state. You’re covered in blood.”

  Adele looked down to see her shirt was ripped to shreds.

  “Is my stuff still in the spare room?”

  At her mother’s nod, Adele headed upstairs to change. In the spare room mirror, she pulled her shirt off to look at the scar across her abdomen and the puncture wound next to her heart. They were both pink and fresh, but healed. If she doubted she possessed the healing abilities of a vampire, those doubts were gone.

  Someone knocked on the door. Grabbing a fresh shirt, Adele slipped it on as Carla walked in.

  Adele crossed to embrace her, but then hesitated. “You sure you feel safe in here with me? I might want a nibble if you get too close.”

  “I’m starting out as I mean to go on. I trust you.”

  Relieved, Adele hugged her cousin before stepping to the dressing table and staring at her teeth in the mirror.

  Carla peered over her shoulder. “They don’t look different. How does it feel?”

  “I still feel like me, only stronger. I started upstairs and was at the top before I knew it. Probably going to take a bit of getting used to.” She met Carla’s eyes in the mirror. “I can’t believe I’m saying it like it’s okay.”

  “It is okay. You’re alive, and that’s what’s important.”

  “Let’s go kill this asshole, Henry Rushton.” Adele grabbed her coat and blades. She might be a vampire now, but these were still the tools of her trade. The stakes she would leave to Carla and Jake.

  Downstairs, she kissed her parents goodbye, noting the worried expression on her mother’s face. She’d almost lost her daughter once today.

  “I promise to take care,” she murmured, trying to assure her mother, before stepping outside with the others.

  Adele shared a car with Tristan and Vincent, while Carla rode with Jake and three other hunters. As they drove through Bristol, she saw people going about their lives. The city center seemed busy as usual. She would be living apart from these people now, though in truth, she’d lived apart from them all her life.

  The warehouse was dark, and the outside looked like a construction site studded with scaffolding. A lot of the old warehouses were being turned into apartments for the young and rich these days. Cyclone fencing surrounded the building; Vincent pulled the chains apart with ease. The door to the building had a lock on it, and she touched Vincent’s arm to let her have a go. She broke it in two as if playing with a toy instead of a large lock. It would take a while to get used to these powers.

  The building smelled of newly poured concrete. Aware she could see better in the dark than before, Adele realized all her senses seemed heightened. Jake and Carla shone torches around the lower floor, but there wasn’t a sign of anyone.

  Adele followed the others up to the next level. A strange aroma filled the air, li
ke rotting meat. She wanted to gag.

  She whispered to Vincent. “What’s the smell?”

  “I remember the night I was changed long ago. I was close to Henry, and he smelled the same. He kept killing and taking new blood to stop his own body from dying, but I think it’s caught up with him.”

  Carla shone her torch around, the beam of light revealing something crouching in the corner. Vincent cursed aloud. “Henry.”

  The creature was feeding off a young man whose body jerked in his arms as he drained him.

  Tristan surged forward. “Let him go, Henry. It’s over.”

  Henry Rushton threw the young man aside and leapt upward through a hole in the ceiling. Adele heard him running across the floor above.

  Without pause she jumped straight up into the dark with Vincent not far behind her. She could make out movement by the far window at the end of the room. Carla, Jake, and the others would stop the escape via the stairs if they could.

  There was a noise from outside, and Adele guessed Henry was trying to climb down the scaffolding. She opened one of the windows and climbed out. Vincent jumped out behind her.

  Before she could stop him, Henry pulled her forward. Her entire body stiffened as the bastard’s fangs scratched her neck.

  “She smells good, Vincent. Newly turned. I see you’re becoming like me after all.”

  “I’m nothing like you. We have a cure and your time is over. If you come with us, you can be treated.”

  “You’d hand me over to the purebloods and I’d be locked away in a cell forever. I’d rather die and take her with me instead.”

  Henry shuffled closer to the edge of the scaffolding. Adele still had a knife hidden at her waist and indicated with her eyes for Vincent to look down. She grabbed the hilt of the knife and made the tiniest nod with her head.

  Forcing herself not to gag on Henry’s rank smell, Adele jabbed the blade backward into his abdomen. He screamed, lurching away, and Vincent dove for him.

  Then everything happened fast. Henry yanked her over the edge with him, but Adele managed to grab on to the scaffolding. Tristan reached out and gripped her hands while Henry dug his fingers into her foot. How much longer could she hold out? She’d drop to her death below if she fell. Even a vampire could not survive something like that.

  The knife fell from Henry’s chest, and clattered on the metalwork below. Vincent jumped down and tried to grab Henry’s wrist.

  Henry just looked up and smiled.

  Then let go.

  Adele climbed back up to the top of the scaffolding and the waiting arms of Vincent. He clutched her close and kissed her, and there was nowhere else in the world she’d rather be.

  Henry had fallen onto an upright pole which had pierced his heart. Jake hurried over, sword drawn, and brought the blade down to sever Henry’s head from its body.

  Within moments, both head and body were gone.

  It was finally all over.

  Adele squeezed Vincent’s hand as they walked back to the car. “So, you agree we make a good team?” she asked.

  He stopped and took her in his arms. “Most definitely, and it gives me a good reason never to let you out of my sight.”

  “I could cope with that,” Adele murmured, as she planted a big kiss on his lips.

  “Get a room, you two,” Carla shouted.

  “Now there’s an idea,” Vincent said, with a smirk on his face.

  Epilogue

  Tristan nudged Vincent in the ribs with his elbow.

  “Take a deep breath before you pass out. You’ve been waiting a long time for this, so enjoy it.”

  Vincent gave the great hall a quick perusal to see everyone seated, waiting for Adele to make her appearance. For one moment, his stomach churned at the thought she might change her mind.

  His house had never been so full of people, and his housekeeper loved it. His side of the congregation seemed lacking, but Adele’s extended family spread out. Though darkness encroached outside, the room was lit up by a large chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

  The chairs were in a circle around them, and the celebrant who would perform the rite stood before him. Symbols were drawn on the ground, and items representing the four elements were placed at the edge of the circle. Vincent wore a shirt and pants but no shoes, at Adele’s request.

  The doors to the room opened, and Carla glided in. Vincent took note of the big grin on Tristan’s face. His friend wouldn’t admit it, but he was falling for Adele’s crazy cousin.

  Adele stepped through the doors with her father, more beautiful now than the very first time he saw her. She wore a green dress flowing around her body and he longed to pick her up and twirl her in his arms.

  The celebrant said the words of joining as she wrapped the rope around their wrists and tied it in a knot. Vincent stated his vows and Adele said hers as they promised to love each other forever.

  She leaned forward, kissed him, then suddenly broke away, wide-eyed, as she glanced over his shoulder. Vincent turned to see a shimmering image of the tree forming by the fireplace. Between silvery leaves and gently curving branches, the tiny pixie waved to them.

  Then the tree disappeared.

  “I have a feeling we won’t see the tree again,” Vincent whispered in her ear.

  Adele sighed, her head nestled against his shoulder. “It has done its job, my love. Perhaps it’ll move on to bring other soul mates together.”

  Thank you for reading Never Give Up on Love, by Maggie Mundy, Book Seven in THE SOUL MATE TREE COLLECTIVE! If you enjoyed the read, please consider leaving a review on Amazon.

  The Collective continues with August’s release, Once Upon a Lady, by Addie Jo Ryleigh:

  Respectable Lady Katherine Baxton, striving to meet the requirements of her station, has become the ultimate dutiful daughter. And now, the Duke of Blackthorn’s betrothed. Far from a love match, Kate is nevertheless determined to do as expected and marry.

  That all changes the night she panics at her impending future and runs, stumbling upon a private grove, a mysterious tree . . . and a half-naked man.

  The youngest son of a viscount widely thought to have purchased his title, Jackson Cooper demonstrates his disdain for the aristocracy by affording himself every luxury available—drinking, wenching, and gambling—while eschewing anything representing the ton. Jackson has little care for his reputation and no desire to marry. His escape from London is all but complete.

  Until fate—in the form of a beautiful, mysterious lady—interrupts his plans, enticing him with the very thing he never wanted.

  Available soon from Soul Mate Publishing on Amazon.

  LINKS FOR MAGGIE MUNDY:

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  Website: http://www.maggiemundy.com

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