Page 53 of Forced Vampire Mate

Luken’s hand trembled on his sword. Through the bond, I felt all the guilt he felt. I sensed memories of a small boy following around his older brother, desperate for a scrap of affection. I sensed the resentment and anger that was not Draven’s fault, but that he was forced to bear.

I reached through the bond.I’ll do it. You don’t have to.

Yes, I do.

Draven screamed curses at him as Luken strode forward. He lifted the sword and brought it down. Silence fell as Draven’s headless body slumped to the floor.

Chapter 24

No time to grieve. We have to find the gods’ portal and seal it. Luken’s thoughts were clear as he stepped away from Draven’s pooling blood.

The doors burst open. I whirled, lifting my sword. The tapestries around us flickered in and out of focus as a few dozen young girls, the oldest no more than eighteen, the youngest looking like she was twelve, came running in. They shouted and screamed, brandishing kitchen knives and rolling pins. Several of their screams turned to fear when they saw the bodies. They were all dressed in white robes.

Thessa stood at the front of them.

“Elara!” she cried, dropping her knife. She raced forward, a dark-haired girl right behind her. The girl didn’t release her own knife, glaring suspiciously at Luken.

Thessa drew me into a hug. “We were locked in the kitchens. They said we were going to be all given to the gods. But then the magic locking us in melted away, and—it must be because of you.” Thessa released me and drew back. She turned to the other girl. “Darcie, she came for us. Like I said, she would.”

Darcie. Surprise rippled through me as I stared at the girl. I’d assumed she was younger when I first saw her, but now I realized she had to be eighteen, too. She looked so different from the fourteen-year-old sister who had been taken away from me. I lowered my sword, realizing I was still holding it. I’d thought about this so many times, but I’d never planned for what I would say.

Nothing seemed good enough. Except… “I’m so sorry.”

“Oh.” Darcie cleared her throat, twitching.

“We need—” Luken started, stepping forward.

Darcie sprang at him, lifting her knife. He easily batted it away, eyes widening. She stomped on his foot, and Luken grunted, grabbing both her wrists.

“What are you doing?” I cried, rushing forward. I pulled Darcie out of Luken’s hold, keeping myself between them.

“What is that fucker doing here?” Darcie howled. “Thessa told me—”

“He’s helping,” I quickly said. I tugged my sister away from my husband, shaking my head. “We have a lot to talk about. Luken isn’t responsible for our family, Darcie. But we have to get you out of here quickly.”

Luken reached through the bond, stopping me before he spoke. “If we’re going to seal the portals and banish the gods from this world, now is our time. We won’t get another chance.”

Thessa’s jaw dropped. “What?”

“You can’t. They’re too strong,” one of the other girls whimpered.

“We’re stronger,” I said, tossing my braid over my shoulder. “Thessa, Darcie, get the girls out of here. Luken and I—”

“I know where the portal is,” Darcie interrupted.

Luken nodded as he traded his sword for a fresh one. “Take us there. Quickly. The illusions in the temple are failing. They know we’re here, and if we don’t seal the portal, we’ll all go to hell.”

Our bond throbbed. If it weren’t for that connection, I wouldn’t be able to tell how urgent the situation really was. Luken’s emotions were tied up around me, and I was afraid of what the gods would do to me to punish him.

“I’ll come with you,” Thessa said quickly.

Darcie turned to her. “No. You’re the only one who knows where the tunnels that leave the temples are. You have to get the other girls out.”

Thessa opened her mouth to argue, but Darcie wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close to silence her with a kiss. I smiled. Maybe these last four years weren’t too bad for Darcie after all.

“I love you,” Darcie told her, then broke away. Thessa nodded and gestured for the girls to follow her as Darcie turned to me and sent another glare at Luken. “This way.”

She tucked her knife into her belt and picked up a sword. It was clearly awkward, and she didn’t know how to hold it. I started to say something, but Luken nudged me through the bond. If it was what Darcie needed to feel comfortable, then she should have it. If there was anyone who was going to oppose us left in the temples, they’d have come at us already.

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