Page 83 of The Sins That Bleed
His heart.
She ripped out his black heart with her bare hands. I hear gagging and throwing up behind me, but I can’t take my eyes off her.
“Say hello to your daddy for me,” is all she says before plunging her dagger through the heart and pinning it to the wall.
I watch the dark, thick blood as it bubbles out of the organ nailed to the wall, dripping down and creating a painting, the wall the canvas. Alaric doesn’t move, his mouth remains open in horror and it hits me then, why Valeska turned this into a bloodbath and not allowing me or my agents take them.
These were vampires—we’d never have been able to take them.
Valeska turns to face us, looking like the beautiful, murderous, démon queen she is. She sways and it looks like she is dancing, a soft smile on her lips as she looks at me with so much love that for a moment, I forget everything that happened leading up to this point.
All I can see is her.
I watch as the tear slips down her face and her hand clutches her heart. It’s only when I glance at it properly that I notice the blood spilling over her pale fingers, coating them with the dark crimson substance.
I make my way over to her. I might never want to see her again, but I don’t want her to be hurt. I’d never wish that on her. But I only make it a few steps before she falls forward and I’m running.
I catch her in my arms before she hits the floor, and I gently lower us down to the hardwood beneath our feet. The blood pours from her, fast and thick, darker than I’d expect it to be, darker than Alaric’s. I place my hand over hers to try and stop the flow, but it doesn’t work.
“She’s going to die.” I barely hear Nico over the cacophony of panic rising within me, I’m going to lose her.
CHAPTER 38
Hell Hath no Fury
VALESKA
If I had a beating heart, I imagine it would be shattering into a million pieces as it drains of the blood that should keep me alive.
I welcome it, the death that will come from this, and maybe I’ll finally find peace—or I could end up banished to the same depraved hell as my dead husband and now his son. A bullet wouldn’t normally be enough to kill me, but the motherfucker had laced it with silver. Pair that with the rejection from Rai just before the bullet entered me, and here I am dying on the floor of an upscale restaurant called Eden.
How fucking fitting.
I felt it, the jagged slice that went through and shredded our soul-tie after he found out that I’d hidden his sister all along. That I kept such a massive secret from him. I knew it would come to light eventually, but no amount of preparing for this moment can stop the agonising, savage pain that burns me hot to the core.
I take in his beautiful face while he holds me in his arms. He might not want me but at least I can cease to exist in this world after spending my final moments with him, bathing myself in his halo of light before the darkness drags me under.
I see his mouth move, but I only hear the loud sound of silence. The others are talking to him, but my limbs and head are too heavy to move. I struggle to open my eyes and I panic at not being able to see his face for one last time.
Maybe this is the consequence of becoming a monster—you don’t get to go peacefully, even if you are surrounded by those you love. Maybe I was always destined to die horrifically, with everything I always wanted out of my reach, torturing me with what could have been.
“Open your eyes, sweetheart.” My lovely Rai.
I force them open to find him, but they don’t stay open long. I feel my body being jostled, cold air hitting my skin and then a scorching warmth.
I’ve finally made it to hell.
My eyes flutteropen and all I can see are burning flames. I feel the heat of them lick at my skin and I sigh. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt warm enough to feel human again. Hell is nicer than I thought it would be.
“You’re awake.” My sweet Sunny.
Wait, how is Sunny here with me?
I tear my gaze from the fire and realise I’m in my room, laid out on the chaise longue and covered with a banket. I sit up and find her sat in the armchair in the corner. As glad as I am we’re not in hell, I can’t help the feeling of disappointment snaking around me and squeezing. Rai isn’t here.
I wish I were dead.
I should be dead, well more dead than normal, the eternal kind.
