Page 66 of Love Bites
The champagne pleasantly burned down her throat. She guzzled more until her tears stopped and her brain stopped wondering what would happen to her now, without her Soul Mate. She knew, deep inside, she had yet again relied on a male, depended on him, felt complete with him. At the same time, she knew it was different with Ignacio.
With Hunter, she’d given up everything to be with him. She’d changed everything about herself, all because he’d demanded it. He’d said “jump”, and she’d reply “how high?”
But with Ignacio, there had been no controlling. He’d let her be herself, let her move at her own pace. He’d encouraged her passions, admired her intelligence and had never once tried to change her.
Katheryn hadn’t understood the importance of the termSoul Mate, hadn’t comprehended why vampires put it on such a high pedestal. But now she knew what it was like to be without Ignacio, to have a part of herself missing. Not just mind or heart, but a piece of her soul as well. To know he’d died, well, it felt...as if she’d been physically injured as well.
There was a painful hole in her being, torn from her when Ignacio died.
Katheryn swiped her eyes then downed another swallow of the champagne. If getting drunk numbed her heartache, then she’d drink up a storm. Ignacio had been her Soul Mate, but he was gone, and she was stuck as Hunter’s captive, for however long he decided to keep her.
32
Ignacio had a hole in his heart, where one of the bullets had nicked him. He lay on the hotel room floor in a pool of his own blood, but he hadn’t gone down alone. The bodies of the men, who’d been foolish enough to shoot at a vampire, were scattered around him.
Never before had he run as fast as he had when they’d pulled their triggers. He’d been a blur, running around the room, snapping the neck of each man. They were dead before their bodies even hit the floor. He hadn’t expected to survive the attack.
But he hadn’t come through completely unscathed. He’d taken several bullets in his arms and legs, and the near fatal one near his heart. He could feel the hole, feel the way the vampire virus attempted to repair the damage done. But it couldn’t do that without blood. And lots of it.
It was daytime now, he knew it for sure. His pain had kept him from his death sleep. However, as hard as he tried to move, his body wouldn’t budge. He felt the blood escape his heart like a liquid fire that burned whenever he sucked in a breath. If night didn’t fall soon, he’d die. He needed to get blood in his system, and he needed it quickly.
Determination alone had kept him alive so far. He needed to get to Katheryn and save her from the murderous bastard who’d taken her. Ignacio knew in his heart, that she’d lied to save him. But, he let it go. Hunter had threatened her life, and she’d needed Ignacio to let her go with him.
But Ignacio had heard her thoughts loud and clear.I love you, Ignacio.
Hunter had taken Katheryn, but Ignacio would get her back. He needed to get back on his feet, and find where they’d gone. He needed to get to Katheryn, to save his Soul Mate from the clutches of that devil. He lay on the floor, helpless, and willed the sun to set, willed the moon to rise soon. Ignacio didn’t know how much longer he had, how much longer Katheryn had.
He only hoped it wasn’t too late.
33
“Starving yourself won’t do any good, you know.”
Her guard returned an hour later with Monica, who cleared away the dishes and empty champagne bottle. He looked at Katheryn, sprawled on the couch, and frowned. “You should’ve eaten.”
Katheryn shrugged and giggled, drunkenly. “What do you care if I eat or not? You just want to shoot me anyway.”
The man eyed her, thoughtfully. “I don’t want to shoot you. I’ve been given orders to do so only if you try to escape.”
“Just kill me now, then,” Katheryn hiccupped. “Just kill me so I can be with Ignacio.” Feeling her tears start again, she cursed. She’d thought she was all cried out. Between the champagne buzz and the tears, she was a terrible mess.
“He killed him, you know,” she whispered. “Hunter killed Ignacio after he promised me he wouldn’t.”
“Killing you wouldn’t be the answer.”
“Yes it would! I’d be with Ignacio. He’s my Soul Mate, and without him, I’m incomplete. There’s a hole in my heart. Right here,” she said, pounding her chest.
“I’m sure you feel like there’s a hole in your heart. But that’s because you’re upset.”
“You just don’t understand, do you?” Katheryn asked with exasperation. “Ignacio is a vampire. Vampires have Soul Mates. I feel what he feels; he feels what I feel. We hear each other’s thoughts, feel each other’s emotions, we share a soul. When he died and his soul left this world, it ripped mine in half.”
The guard didn’t comment. He ushered Monica from the room, locking the door behind them.
Alone again, Katheryn buried her face into the couch pillows and cried herself to sleep.
34
Nighttime finally arrived.
