by Scott, K. M.
Solenne lightly touched Saint’s shoulder, and he looked up into her soft eyes. “Let him be.”
Everything that had consumed him seemed to drain out of his tired body at the sound of her words. Slowly, he rose to take her into his arms, desperate for the feel of her against him. Solenne held him tightly, her head on his chest, and he relished the happiness such a small action could bring.
“What they said wasn’t true. There never was a Marc. I never took the Archon’s blood. Never.”
Saint heard the honesty in her voice and lightly pressed a kiss on the top of her head. “I know. I should have always known. I’m sorry I didn’t.”
Turning her face up toward his, she smiled. “Is he going to be okay?”
Teagan groaned quietly below them. Already his face looked better, his natural healing as a vampire working to help him return to normal.
“Jesus Christ! Saint…dude, what happened?”
Dante stood staring down at Teagan’s still battered face not quite yet back to its usual look and the blood stain on the floor nearby. “Did he attack you?”
Saint shook his head. “Take him to the Romanian. Some of his sire’s blood will do wonders for him.”
Dante raised his eyebrows in a look of disbelief and turned his attention to Saint and Solenne. “You guys all right, or do you need me to hang out today?”
“He’s a clyten, Declan. Did you know this?”
Saint looked at Dante’s all-too-confident grin and for just a moment disliked him even more than before. So the kid could walk in the sun. No wonder he was so cocky.
“No, I didn’t.”
“Yeah, how about that? So I can stay if you need me. Just say the word.”
“We’re good. It’s time you got my brother back to his sire’s. And I’d go quickly or he’s going to be in even worse shape.”
“Not to worry. I’ll be back in the monastery before the sun can touch him. I’ve done this before.”
Dante picked Teagan up in his arms and turning back around said to Solenne, “No hard feelings about before? We needed to be sure you weren’t out to hurt him.”
Saint hoped Dante was referring to their making her return to the monastery for questioning and not something more that might have happened there. He’d hate to have to do what he did to Teagan to Vasilije.
No, that was a lie. He’d love to finally take out some aggression on the Romanian.
“I understand, but I wouldn’t do that this time.”
Dante held Teagan upright and in a flash they were gone. Solenne pulled Saint to her and kissing him sweetly, asked, “Are you hurt?”
Chuckling, he smiled. “No. It was a bit one-sided. All those hours in the gym.”
She backed away from him and her gaze roamed over him, as if to confirm his claim. Her eyes widened when she saw his hands, and she held them up to look at them. Cut and bloodied, they resembled Teagan’s face.
“Oh, my God! Declan, your hands!”
Saint looked at them, the weapons he’d used to expel the years of hate and anger he’d held inside him for too long. They throbbed in a dull ache now as she pressed the wounded knuckles to her lips.
“I’m fine, Solenne.”
“No, you’re not. Come with me,” she said firmly as she led him to the bathroom. Leaving him to lean against the sink counter, she started the water and gently placed his left hand under the warm stream. It soothed as it rinsed the blood from his skin, revealing the gashes inflicted by Teagan’s fangs.
As she caressed her soapy hands over his, she looked up and asked, “Why did you hit him? Did he say something?”
Saint thought about what answer to give and what he’d always wanted to tell their mother when she’d asked the same question.
“He deserved it.”
Solenne stopped washing his right hand and smiled. “Do you feel better now?”
He was struck at how she asked the same question as their mother had asked each time they’d fought as young boys. “Do you feel better now, Declan?”
Every time he’d silently shook his head, guilty for hitting his younger brother even though Teagan had always thrown the first punch from the moment he could make a fist. And every time without fail, their mother had said, “No matter what happens, he’s your brother and you’re his. Neither of you can forget that in the end.”
Saint studied Solenne’s face, wondering if she expected him to say he didn’t feel better now. That would be a lie. He did feel better. Much better. “Yes, I do.”
“Good.”
Solenne finished cleaning his battered hands and patted them dry with a towel. Cupping them in her hands, she brought them to her lips and gently kissed them. “I was so worried you’d never want to see me again after what Vasilije said.”
Saint cradled her beautiful face in his bruised hands. “You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved. No one in my life has ever sacrificed as much as you have to see me safe. I would’ve hated it if you’d taken Verrater’s blood, but I would’ve had to live with it. Either that or I live without you. I won’t do that again.”
Leaning in, he kissed her smiling lips, loving the feeling she brought out in him. She was the only woman—the only soul on Earth—who made him weak inside. Just a look from her blue eyes, a gentle touch of her hand on his skin, could do more than that of anyone else in this world. It had taken him a long time to accept that no matter how hard and strong he made himself on the outside, there was one who could get inside him and touch a place few believed ever existed.
Solenne turned her head and pressed a kiss into his palm. Looking back at him, she smiled sweetly. “No matter what happens with Teagan, the Archons, or anyone else, I love you, Declan. I don’t care what they throw at us, as long as I know you love me, I can handle anything.”
“I love you, Solenne. I always have.”
Teasing him, she asked, “Is that the beginning of a smile I see?”
Saint grinned and slid his tongue along his teeth. “You should be careful. Asking a vampire to smile can be dangerous.”
The click of Solenne’s fangs snapping into place echoed against the bathroom tile. Smiling, she said, “So I’ve heard.”
This was the life he’d longed for all those years alone—sweet, gentle love with a woman equal to him in the ways that mattered. Now he did the leading as he took her hand in his and they walked to his bedroom.
For hours he worshipped her in a way that signaled his acceptance of their past. She was his—always had been—but now their lovemaking reflected that, and each surrendered to the other like they never had before. When he finally drew the first of her blood into his mouth, it was unlike anything he’d tasted before. It excited him, soothed him, nourished his body and soul.
And when they lay quietly in one another’s arms as the day waned outside, Saint knew that he’d finally come home, not to France or this house but to Solenne.
“Declan, Vasilije wants us to leave here immediately. Terek says we can stay with some of his vampires,” Solenne whispered against his chest. “But I’m going to miss this house.”
Lifting her head, she looked at him with sadness in her eyes. “We’ll need to leave tonight.”
“Solenne, what do you want to do? You obviously don’t want to leave. You tell me you want to stay, and we’ll stay. To hell with what Vasilije wants. If it takes everything in my power, I’ll make sure you’re safe if you want to remain here.”
She shook her head and slid up his body to kiss him. “We have to leave. I don’t want our life to be one of constantly running either, but until you and the Sons make sure the Archons can’t take over every part of our world, we must do what is needed. As long as we’re together, I don’t care where we are.”
He knew that was a lie. Solenne loved this house. It was the place she kept her memories alive all those years, and it was the place she’d stay in for the rest of her life, if she could. Resting her head on his shoulder, she snuggled against him and he heard her sadness at
leaving. “But let’s stay right here for just a little while longer.”
He could have stayed with her against him for the rest of time. No Sons, Vasilije, Terek, and his vampires. No Archons. Just the two of them alone away from the world.
“So where are Terek’s vampires? You make it sound like some kind of vampire commune,” Saint joked.
Solenne giggled and Saint wondered if his guess had been closer to the truth than he’d imagined. Was Terek some kind of new age communist?
“I think it’s closer to a harem than a commune.”
“Harem?” Saint knew Terek had a way with the women, but a harem? “And where is this vampire harem?”
“Spain.”
Saint hugged Solenne and kissed her lips. “So we’ll go to Terek’s in Spain.” It didn’t matter where they went as long as Solenne was kept safe.
Twenty
Saint awoke alone and instantly missed Solenne’s touch. Still groggy from sleep, he worked to focus his eyes on the clock near the bed.
6:01.
Not fully awake but at least half dressed in a pair of workout pants, he made his way down the stairs to the kitchen, rubbing his closely cropped hair as he walked. A familiar voice made his eyes open wide, and in seconds a rush of adrenaline had him wide awake by the time he entered the room to see Solenne sitting at the table with Teagan.
“What are you doing here?” flew from his mouth before he could stop himself.
Teagan put up his hands. “Wait. Before you hit me again, hear me out. I’m here to apologize.”
Saint stood behind Solenne’s chair, glaring down at his brother. “Apologize?”
Lowering his hands, Teagan began. “Vasilije talked to me when Dante took me back to the monastery. I’ve been a real prick for a long time, Declan. I’ve told Solenne I’m sorry, and I want to say it to you too.”
“So that’s it? Vasilije gives you some blood, your face goes back to normal, and now you want to apologize for a lifetime of shit?”
Saint stood waiting for Teagan to answer, convinced there was little point in holding the grudge any longer. He’d gotten what he’d always wanted. He had Solenne’s love. Everything else was in the past. Maybe it should stay there.
That didn’t mean Teagan should get a free pass for a simple apology, though.
“Uh, yeah. That’s about right,” Teagan answered.
“Did that work on Solenne? That lifetime of shit affected her too.”
Teagan flashed a big smile and looked over at her. “I think Solenne can forgive me, Declan. Think you can?”
Solenne turned in her seat to face him and gave him a hopeful look. “I can forgive him because I have you again.”
Saint bent down and kissed her cheek. He didn’t want to hold all this hatred in anymore. He had one brother in this world, and even if they were never as close as their mother hoped they’d be, they were still family. “If you can, maybe I can,” he whispered. Looking across the table, he said, “Maybe it’s time. But fuck up again, and you’ll need more than magic Romanian blood to fix you.”
“Fair enough,” Teagan answered with another big smile. “I guess I can’t ask for any more.”
“Declan, Teagan was telling me he’s planning to return to the United States.”
“Yeah, I’m going back to New Orleans and leaving you guys to fight the Archons. But I promised Vasilije I’d keep my eyes open there.”
Solenne took Saint’s hand in hers and squeezed it. “I told him maybe when everything settles down we could go visit him in New Orleans. I hear it’s so much fun there.”
She gave him that look that never failed to work on him. Even if he never wanted to go to New Orleans or see Teagan again, he would if it made her happy.
Saint heard the click of the back door and footsteps coming down the short hallway to the kitchen. “Vasilije came with you too?”
Teagan shook his head. “No. He and the two prophecy guys were close to a breakthrough on some parchment, so I came alone.”
As the footsteps drew closer, a voice called out, “Declan Collins. You here?”
Saint grabbed Solenne and pulled her toward the other hallway as Teagan followed. “Solenne, do you know who that is?”
Shaking her head, she squeezed his hand tightly. “No, but I think I’ve heard the voice before. I heard him talking to Vasilije on the phone last night, I think. Declan, you need to get out of here now!”
Teagan nodded and turned to go find the man. “Solenne’s right. I’ll deal with him. You go.”
Solenne grabbed his arm. “No! I’ve heard that voice before at Verrater’s too! He’s been at the Archon’s when I was there.”
“There’s no point pretending you’re not here, Declan,” the man called out. “Come out and the girl doesn’t have to get hurt. You know how this has to end.”
Saint led Solenne and Teagan to the guest bedroom on the main floor. Once inside, he turned to his brother. “Take Solenne out of here now! Get her to the monastery and Terek will get her somewhere safe. Go!”
“No! Declan, don’t do this! It’s three against one. We can take him,” she cried.
Teagan took Solenne’s hand and pulled her toward the door. Opening it a crack, he looked out and turned back to face her. “Stay here.”
Looking at Saint, he said, “Declan, we’re even now. Stay here until it’s all clear and I call you out.”
Pushing Solenne toward Saint, Teagan ran out into the hallway toward the man’s voice.
Solenne’s eyes flashed in horror. “Declan! We have to stop him!”
“Stay here. Don’t come out until I say so!”
Saint heard the man speak to Teagan, mistaking him for the man he was sent for. Before he reached the end of the hallway, he heard the sound every vampire feared as a stake was plunged into Teagan’s heart and then there was nothing but silence. He rounded the corner of the wall and saw his assassin pull the stake from Teagan’s chest and then his brother was gone.
He charged the vampire, who stood stunned at the realization he’d staked the wrong brother, tackling him to the ground. Saint’s fists smashed into his face, breaking his nose and jaw, but knowing he’d hurt him only made Saint want more. Again and again, he slammed his knuckles into the assassin’s face as blood splashed from his mouth and nose, covering Saint’s hands.
Finally, when he could hit him no more, he grabbed the stake that had just taken his brother’s life and plunged it through the man’s chest. In seconds, all that was left of the man was dust on the floor beside Saint.
How long he sat there, exhausted from rage and the pain of losing the brother he’d just had returned to him, he didn’t know. Time seemed to stop as he stared in utter sadness at the pile of dust that was once Teagan.
Solenne called out from the bedroom, her voice terrified. “Declan? Please answer me! Please let me hear your voice so I know you’re still with me.”
The fear in her voice shook him from his misery, and he rose to intercept her before she saw the evidence of the two murders. “Solenne, stay where you are.”
Always strong-willed, she didn’t listen and ran into the room. “Declan, thank God! I heard you hitting that man.” Looking past him, she saw the remains of the assassin on the floor.
“Solenne, we need to leave. Come.”
“Where’s Teagan?”
Solenne looked up at him and tears began to fall from her eyes. “No! Tell me what I felt was wrong. Tell me he’s gone back to Vasilije’s.”
Saint took her in his arms and held her tightly to him as she sobbed. He understood her pain just as she understood his. “We need to go now. It’s not safe for you here.”
Solenne nodded sadly and looked around at the place that had been her home for almost a hundred years.
“I promise we’ll come back,” Saint whispered as he pressed his lips to her cheek. If it was the last thing he did on this Earth, he’d make sure Solenne was safe and back home.
Saint held Solenne next to him as they
waited for someone to answer the monastery’s front door. As long as he got her safely inside, he could know she was out of danger and protected by his fellow Sons. The door opened and Sasa reached for Solenne, taking her into her arms.
“I’m so sorry. Vasilije felt it as soon as it happened. Is he really gone?”
Solenne nodded and began to cry, her tears muffled by Sasa’s embrace. Saint stood silently, sharing her grief at Teagan’s loss, but inside that sadness began to slowly morph into a hatred that would only be sated by the death of the one responsible for his brother’s death.
“Saint, I’m happy to see you and Solenne escaped,” Vasilije said quietly from the doorway to a room nearby. Saint said nothing. No words seemed enough.
“Join us. We need to discuss your leaving with Terek.”
The usual confident tone of Vasilije’s voice was absent, replaced by a somberness that struck Saint. Teagan’s death was final this time. No mistake.
Solenne turned to Saint and squeezed his forearm reassuringly. “Go. I can’t sit and listen to this now. Sasa’s offered me a place to rest for a while. When you’re done with them, come find me and we’ll go to our new home.”
Saint bent down and kissed her lips, wishing he could take even some of her pain away. With his thumb, he wiped the tears from beneath her eyes. “I won’t be long. Rest and I’ll find you when I’m done.”
As Solenne left with Sasa, Saint’s hatred for what he’d brought into her life merged with his hatred for the Archon and he knew what he had to do. He walked into Vasilije’s study and saw the others waiting for him. “I need to talk to Vasilije alone.”
Without a word, they filed out of the room, leaving a sire and brother in mourning. But Saint didn’t have time to grieve.
“I need you to make sure Solenne goes with Terek to Spain if I don’t get back tonight. She’s going to fight you, but I need your word you’ll see her away from all this.”
Vasilije stared up at him. “I will. Be careful. She can’t handle losing you too. And we need you, so don’t do anything stupid.”
