Page 97 of Desired for Her Blood
Ryker and Zuben kneel at her sides, holding her hands, stroking her arms, as if trying to rub the life back into her that’s so obviously departed.
Ryker is right. I killed her. And she nearly killed me.
My mind clouds, pain and memories mixing together until I can’t separate them. Images of Ulla, my mate, and Ember blend together, images of their deaths merge. The ache of missing my clan and the misery of isolation down in this cave also merge; all of my sorrows combine to permeate my muscles, my soul, and I collapse against the stone, wanting to join Ember in death, but knowing I don’t deserve that privilege. I don’t deserve to be anywhere near her, even in death.
No one has ever drank from my vein, not since I was turned, and the exhilaration of feeling Ember’s mouth draw blood from my body has been wiped away by the knowledge that I have taken her life.
Face down, I drag myself along the stone toward the pool of water, wishing death would come. Perhaps if I stay under the water long enough in this weakened condition I will drown, but I know that hope is futile. This damned vampiric curse thwarts any release.
Reaching the edge of the pool, I glance up. Rays of light strike the water’s surface. Sunlight. That’s how I’ll die.
I drop my head.Fuck.
Even that escape eludes me right now with Ember’s magnificent blood in my system. Even though she drained me until I was nearly unconscious, I can perceive the effects of her blood in my body, can still taste its sweet flavor and sense how it’s helping my own blood regenerate quickly.
“Take her!” Ryker kicks me in the ribs and I look up from my prone position next to the pool. The pirate is standing above me, holding my perished love in his arms.
“Quickly.” Zuben joins him. “We cannot afford to wait this time, and she is unlikely to exit her coma without being burned and the sun will set soon!”
I hear them, and part of me knows what they’re saying makes sense. Burning her is our best chance to revive her, but the rest of me is consumed by guilt and grief and I can’t make sense of what they’re saying.
Because it’s me who should burn under the rays. It’s me who deserves to die.
“Get the fuck up!” Ryker kicks me again, this time hard enough that the pain penetrates my fog.
I pull myself up to all fours, then slowly stand, keeping my gaze on the granite, unable to bear witness to the evidence of my crime in his arms.
Zuben slaps my face.
The sting shocks me, and I turn toward him growling, ready to attack.
“I know is difficult to see her like this,” he says. “And it will be even more difficult to see her skin burn, but you must do this to save her.”
I suck in a ragged breath. My wits return.
Ember is draped over Ryker’s arms, every muscle in her body slack, her skin pale, nearly blue, her chest not even rising with breaths.
“It’s too late. She’s not breathing.” Shaking my head I look between Zuben and Ryker, pathetically seeking reassurance, as if I’m a cub.
“We do not know that.” Zuben pats my shoulder. “You need to try.”
Nodding, I reach toward Ryker.
Ember’s body goes completely stiff in his arms, rigid as a board, and her breathing resumes, but it’s short and shallow, like a wolf in distress.
“What’s happening?” I turn between the two men.
Zuben’s eyes widen with concern, and he doesn’t reply. That man usually has an answer for everything.
Her body is shaking now, convulsing, almost bouncing in Ryker’s arms and he has to grip her more tightly.
“Get in the water!” he shouts. “I’ll hand her to you once you’re in.”
I slip into the water, and reach up as he passes Ember’s thrashing body into my arms.
My heart heavy with grief, with fear and guilt, I kick gently, slowly moving us toward the rays of sunlight.
Another explosion rocks the cave, and I bend over her face to protect her as small stones rain down, sending ripples over the water’s surface. Then the heat of the sun’s rays strikes my head and the back of my neck.
