Page 210 of Vampire so Virtuous
“Noah! Noah!”There was still no reply to Antoine’s calls, but maybe Noah could hear him anyway.“Take Cally and go!”
“No,” he said, jaw clenched. “I refuse this. I will take my thralls”—andchattel—“and I will go.”
“He’s yours.” Leonard waved a dismissive hand. “Get him out of here.”
“No!” Antoine said, stepping back as Roberto heaved his bulk out of his chair.
Jorge stood too, arms folded across his chest, watching Antoine as if ready to intervene if needed.
“At least take your punishment with some self-respect,” Raphael drawled.
Antoine glared at Gabriel. “So much for allies.”
Gabriel returned his gaze impassively. “We are vampires, my friend. We do what is necessary.”
Roberto gestured, and both Tobias and Nico flashed to Antoine’s side, grabbing his arms. They weren’t fast enough; he saw them coming, but what good would it do to evade them?
Antoine kept his focus on Gabriel. “Stay away from her.”
“On the contrary,” Gabriel said. “I intend to go straight to her.”
“Don’t you dare touch her.”
Gabriel adjusted the cuff of his sleeve. “I think you have more pressing concerns.”
Rage flooded Antoine. All his desperation, all his helplessness, igniting a fury that burned so raw and violent it smashed through the remnants of his control. He tore his arm free of Nico’s grasp as if it were nothing, and punched Tobias, sending him reeling, half his face crushed. He lunged forward, hands reaching for Gabriel, whose eyes widened in surprise.
But before he could take another step, a blow struck his leg, and it crumpled beneath him.
Jorge stood beside him, pushing him to his knees with one hand on his shoulder, the other gripping his wrist. “Be still, you fool,” Jorge snarled, “or permanent entombment might yet be the only choice.”
Antoine struggled, getting his leg beneath him. The older vampire cursed as Antoine pushed back to his feet.
“Raphael!” Jorge snapped, urgency in his voice. “He’s too strong!”
Consternation gripped the Curia. Leonard leaned forward in his chair, eyes narrowing. Gabriel retreated several steps, his hands raised placatingly.
Roberto sprang up with a strangled, “How can this be?”
Belle covered her smile with one hand.
But Raphael was at Antoine’s side in an instant, seizing his other wrist to help Jorge force him back down.
Antoine resisted, struggling against their hold, but the older vampires’grips didn’t lessen. With their combined power and strength, there was nothing he could do. He was forced back to his knees.
Roberto gave a strained chuckled. “What an amusing end to the evening’s frivolities.” He waved at Nico. “Fetch chains and bind him.” He watched Antoine warily. “Make sure they’re strong.”
“Noah!”There was still no answer.
Antoine reached for his bond with Cally, feeling the tug eastward. He fought against their hold, but Leonard appeared before him, blocking his escape.
“Enough of this,” the Curia leader said, raising his hand.
I’m so sorry, mon amour. I have failed us.
The blow descended, and Antoine knew only darkness.
*
