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  The freezing cold bit at her and some part of her mind screamed at her to put a coat on, but she screamed back at it to wait a minute. There’s a demon in front of me!

  The demon took one, very long step towards her, placing it directly in front of her.

  “What do you want?” she whispered. She heard the screams of men and demons dying

  behind her and she couldn’t stop the trembling that started in her body. People were dying because of her. She never wanted any of this. How she wished she could go back in time and never do that stupid spell.

  The demon’s huge mouth opened, baring its hundreds of pointed teeth, then it spoke.

  “Uganaray k’thunu trime. ”

  Chloe had no idea what that meant. But apparently what he said wasn’t meant for her because demons grabbed her wrists, threw her to the ground then two more were at her ankles, holding her fighting body down.

  Chloe’s heart galloped in her chest, her breaths came in pants. “What do you want?” The demon held out its long, fleshy arm and another demon came up to it and placed a

  ridiculously long sword in its hand. Chloe couldn’t help it—she screamed.

  The scream was horrendous and piercing even to her own ears and the demon’s holding her lost their grip to cover their ears. Chloe didn’t hesitate. She got up and ran.

  The snow slowed her immensely but she ran wildly, blindly. She couldn’t go back

  towards the castle because the demon’s army was there, so she went off to the side and towards a forest of pine trees.

  She nearly made it to the trees before she was tackled from behind. Her body slammed into the snow, which struck her stomach hard, knocking the wind out of her. Gasping, she was turned around. Quickly, she curled into the fetal position trying to get the intense pain in her stomach to go away.

  As the demon lumbered towards her, idummi demons grabbed her by her ankles and dragged her through the snow back towards it. The demon spoke more in that harsh,

  unrecognizable language, rounding on her with that sharp, glinting blade.

  The demon wasted no time. It raised the blade high with its long arm. Suddenly, it cried out as a dozen arrows landed in its arm. Chloe and the demons turned to see the Atal Warriors beating down the demons, getting closer and closer to them. Yes! She just needed to hold out for a couple more minutes.

  As the demon’s arm fell limply to its side, its good hand picked up the blade. Chloe could feel the hatred and menace oozing out from the demon. Its red glowing eyes stared at her with a hungry passion that spoke of power.

  It didn’t lift its arm this time but pulled its elbow back and thrust the blade towards her.

  Chloe screamed and turned her body to the side. She stared, wide eyed as the blade dug two feet deep into the snow where her stomach had just been.

  The demon snarled something and then demons came at her, trying to grab her arms and feet. She kicked and caught one in the mouth. It snarled at her but another grabbed her other leg.

  Soon she was trapped, held down like an ancient offering.

  But then she heard a wonderful sound. Tyrian was calling her name. Chloe lifted her head, her eyes darting everywhere before finally seeing him fighting his way towards her. He fought with vigor and skill that far surpassed even the warriors he fought next to. He swung his double-bladed axe, ducked sword blows, and dropped demons in his wake.

  The demon didn’t wait for him. It pulled the big blade out of the ground and hacked it at her. Chloe froze.

  Adrenaline surged through her, making time slow. The sword came down and she twisted as it neared. The hold on her body was tight and she could scarcely move. The first touched of the blade on her skin was burning hot. Chloe heard herself screaming but didn’t recall actually making the sound.

  She contorted her torso just enough that the blade cut into her side, cutting through the muscles of her waist. But mostly missing anything major—she hoped.

  “The spell!” she heard Tyrian scream, sounding so far away. Chloe blinked and tried to remember the words.

  In a hoarse shout, she chanted the words, “Go back whence you came, I unsummon thee demon!” Chloe gaped as the demon stumbled back, its arm dropping the massive sword. Chloe fought against the demons gripping her.

  Arrows whizzed through the air and two of the demons holding her fell on top of her.

  Grunting and fighting, her wrists slick with sweat, Chloe wiggled out from under the bony, heavy bodies.

  Chloe never stopped saying the words. Louder and faster she chanted, “Go back whence you came, I unsummon thee demon.” The demon’s head shook, its hands flying to cover the holes of its ears.

  Chloe stalked to the demon, no longer fearing the beast. She wished she hadn’t lost her potion, but she could do it. This would work. She repeated the lines one more time.

  But suddenly, the demon’s cries turned into horrible laughter. It bared its teeth at her and swept out one heavy arm, catching her in the stomach. The air left her body in a painful burst and she went flying through the air. She landed hard in the snow, her breath leaving her on a hard whoosh.

  Her eyes opened in time to see the demon closer to her than she liked. But then again, Jupiter would be too close.

  She saw a dark flash of movement, and then Tyrian was there. His eyes cold and fierce, unlike anything she’d ever seen. He came at the demon, but it was ready and fought back with brute strength. Tyrian swung his axe and it cut through the demon’s leg sending it toppling over to the ground. Chloe’s teeth clanked together with the force of its body hitting the ground.

  She slowly stood. She had to help him. He couldn’t kill it. She didn’t know how she knew that, but she did.

  Tyrian closed in on the demon, his blade already swinging for a decapitation, but the demon raised its hand at the last second and blue power shot out from him. Chloe screamed, her heart dying in her chest as Tyrian shouted, his eyes wide. He dropped to the ground unmoving.

  Chloe didn’t think. She acted. She sprinted towards the demon, swept low, and grabbed Tyrian’s axe, never feeling the heavy weight of it. She turned and spun, using the counterweight of the axe to gain momentum, and then she let herself fly.

  The axe landed, burying deep into the demon’s stomach. Again, Chloe started chanting.

  “Go back whence you came, I unsummon thee demon! Go back whence you came, I

  unsummon thee demon!”

  The demon roared and Chloe had to cover her ears and turn away. The demon dropped to the ground, green thick blood oozing like lava from where the axe was buried inside him.

  It made one last grab for her and Chloe jumped away. The demon’s red eyes blinked

  slowly, one, two, three more times. Then stayed open, unblinking. Chloe slowly stood, her hands shaking violently.

  She had to finish this. She had to be sure. With strength she never knew she had, she stalked to the demon, grabbed the huge axe and tore it from the demon’s belly.

  Chanting louder and faster, she watched the demon twitch, its arms and legs and belly shuddering. She lifted the axe high into the air and watched the demon’s grey, ugly face.

  “Don’t ever fuck with a Bellum sister.”

  Then she let the axe fall. It caught the demon’s thick neck severing it in two. The demon’s twitches stopped completely. Green blood drenched the white snow.

  Chloe dropped the axe and stepped away. Her knees shaking and smacking together, her heart, she realized was racing at unsafe levels. Tyrian!

  She spun and saw him, still unmoving in the snow. She skidded on her knees to him.

  “Baby, are you okay? Wake up, please be okay,” she cried, hot tears spilling down her cold cheeks.

  She heard a low, harsh groan and pressed her ear to his chest. She felt it lift with air and started crying more.

  “Don’t die on me now, Tyrian. Not after all the progress I’ve made with you. I love you so much. Please don’t die!”

  His eyes fluttered. She wiped away
her tears so she could see better. His eyes found hers, his hazy and dull.

  “Blood, blood. Take mine! Take it now, dammit!” His eyes perked up at her voice and she shoved her wrist against his mouth. His mouth moved slowly like a babe’s. His lips pressing weakly against her skin. He never gained purchase though, didn’t have the energy to bite down.

  Pulling down his chin with her thumb, she saw his fangs were down. Hoping that was a good sign, she braced herself then jammed her wrist into his mouth. She felt her skin break—not easily or smoothly like when he did it, but she didn’t care. What mattered was that it worked.

  His tongue dabbed at her so weakly that tears started falling again. Please don’t die.

  Please don’t die. Minutes passed.

  Slowly, like a hurt animal finally getting up to walk, his lips closed around her wrist and he sucked. She half-laughed, half-cried, and bent down to press kisses along his temple and forehead. He took and took, then eventually pulled her wrist away.

  Chloe waited for him to say something, waited to see his eyes open again with alertness.

  And his eyes did open, clear and beautiful blue.

  “Chloe.” His voice was harsh and low. She loved it. She cried and hugged him close and his arms came tightly around her.

  She didn’t realize she was saying his name repeatedly until she heard his voice telling her it was all right. Everything was okay.

  “I love you, Chloe.” Chloe jerked back, disbelief masking her face. He frowned at it and rubbed his thumb across her lips. “I do. I hope you believe me because today you made me realize how stupid I’ve been. You were right.”

  Chloe didn’t know if she wanted to laugh or cry. So she did a little of both and ended up snorting in a very unladylike way. His lips pulled into a big, gorgeous smile.

  “Really? Is this what it takes for you to realize it?”

  He looked away, color coating his cheeks. “Actually, I realized it days ago. Not seeing you for these past days has been one of the hardest and stupidest things I’ve ever done. I kept thinking about you, smelling you wherever I went, and I kept thinking about how much I missed having you in my bed. I missed hearing you talk. I missed your voice. I was so terrified when you told me you loved me, because I realized that...I felt it too. And it scared the shit out of me.”

  Chloe pressed kisses over his face. “It’s okay. I understand. I love you, too. Now let’s go finish this battle.”

  Tyrian lifted his head to look behind her and smiled. “Looks like it’s already taken care of.” They both stood, their arms wrapped around each other’s waist and Chloe’s brow lifted high as she saw dozens of Atal Warriors marching towards them.

  “Is something wrong?” she whispered. He didn’t look down at her but shook his head no.

  The warriors stopped ten paces away and dropped to one knee. In a second, their

  weapons swung out, held out towards her. Chloe squeezed herself against Tyrian’s side. Her heart thundered in her chest, her jaw fell open.

  “They offer their allegiance to you for defeating the demon. You have claimed this

  victory,” Tyrian said, pride lacing his words.

  Wetness escaped down her cheeks. Chloe blinked, surprised, at the tears coming down.

  She didn’t want to ruin this precious moment. Unsure what to do or what to say, Chloe straighter, lifted her chin, then nodded to the crowd. “Thank you, warriors. I’m honored.”

  At once, the men raised their weapons high in the air shouting “hoo! hoo! hoo!”

  Goose bumps broke out over Chloe’s arms and she felt that silly need to cry again.

  Honored, she felt honored. The men sheathed their weapons with a hiss of sound, then stood and retreated to the castle. She nodded to them with a tremulous smile and hoped they couldn’t hear how fast her heart was galloping.

  It was then that Chloe gasped. “Wow. What a mess.” Half the castle was in ruins with destroyed walls and parapets. The front of the castle was littered with demon bodies and green blood. She was thankful to find that she didn’t spot any Atal Warrior’s on the ground.

  Tyrian laughed. “War is never clean.”

  “Tyrian, I need to see my sister.” Chloe’s urge was so strong that she started walking ahead of him, but he grabbed her and lifted her into his arms.

  “I’ll take you but you shouldn’t walk. You have a wound at your side. I’ll have Nanu take care of it straight away.”

  Chloe pulled his head down and kissed him good and hard. Then she let her vampire man carry her back to the castle.

  Chapter Thirty

  Henry came to and had no idea where the hell he was. A gorgeous face appeared above him and his heart instantly twisted. He opened him mouth to speak, to ask what had happened.

  That last thing he remembered was taking a sword through his chest. Normally, it might not have hurt him so badly, but the demon’s blade was forged from a metal that hurt other demons. A metal only crafted deep within the rift.

  Half-breed filth, the words came back to taunt him.

  “You were poisoned and the wound went clear through you, but I was able to fix you up.

  You should be able to move around freely within a few days.” Nanu’s accented voice fluttered over him like a butterfly.

  Henry nodded and closed his eyes. It hurt too much to look at her.

  “Henry...warrior, I know you are angry with me but I wish to speak with you. I need to tell you why I did it.” Henry shook his head. He tried to lift his body but he couldn’t move a damn muscle. Fucking pathetic.

  “No.”

  “Please just hear me out, I beg you.” She sounded so sweet, so innocent...he could refuse her nothing. He slowly nodded even knowing she’d only say something to hurt him worse.

  “I left after that night because my brother, Heru, came for me.” Henry’s gaze shot to hers.

  Nodding slowly, she continued, “He pulled me from the room and made me promise never to see you again or he’d kill you.”

  Henry blinked. His mind spinning. “You should have told me. Heru could never best me in a fight.”

  She looked away and he saw the sheen of tears there. “That’s the thing, Henry. I couldn’t bear to see the man I love kill my brother, nor could I see my only family kill the man I love. I listened to my brother and agreed no matter how much it killed me inside.”

  Henry’s heart was racing in his chest. She leaned in close, her soft hands cool against his face.

  “I love you so much, Henry. Please know that I choose you. Now and always.” Henry felt her lips seek his and he kissed her back, his heart leaping in his chest.

  “Why now?” he asked when she pulled back. This time tears flowed down her cheeks.

  “He—Heru died in the battle. He fought very bravely but was killed. I no longer,” she sobbed, and it tore his heart open, “must abide his rules.”

  “Oh, sweetheart,” he said and somehow in his weakened state managed to pull her down onto him. He kissed her temple and held her as she cried against him. The sounds were horrible, heart wrenching and he hated the bastard.

  “I’m so sorry.” Surprisingly, he realized he meant it. He hated Heru, but he didn’t wish him dead. That isn’t how he wanted to win Nanu.

  Eventually the tears subsided and she gave him a tumultuous smile. “It is okay, really. He died a warrior’s death, which is all I could ever have hoped for. I want you to know though, I’d already decided, before he died, that I was going to choose you. I know you might not believe me, but it’s true.” More tears glittered in her eyes.

  “I know, baby. I believe you. Come here and let me hold you.” She nodded and climbed up on the hospital gurney with him.

  “I truly never wanted to hurt you. Will you forgive me?”

  Henry smiled. “Nanu, I couldn’t be happier than I am right now. I forgive you. The past is done, now we have a future together.”

  She smiled back at him, their arms wrapped tightly around each other.


  Chapter Thirty-one

  Chloe snuggled into Tyrian’s bare chest with a sigh.

  “I’m ready,” she said. His hands paused in stroking her naked back.

  “Are you sure?” She nodded and nipped at his neck. She’d been looking forward to this night all week. One very long week.

  Tonight she would become Tyrian’s mate. For different beings, the process was different.

  For a vampire to fully claim a woman as his, he’d have to drink her blood then share his with hers.

  Chloe cringed at the thought of doing this. The taste of her own blood was coppery and gross to her, so she didn’t anticipate his being much better. But she loved this man with all her heart, and what was a little blood in the grand scheme of a long life together?

  Tyrian’s raspy tongue flicked out to taste her neck. Chloe couldn’t stifle the delicious shiver that came over her. His arms tightened around her, then rolled her onto her back.

  Her legs naturally parted to make way for him.

  “I never thought I’d do this,” he admitted. His voice was husky and warm; it sent shivers down her spine. “I’m so excited that I don’t want to wait. Having to wait until your side healed seemed like an eternity.”

  Chloe smiled and pressed kisses across his broad shoulder. “Then don’t wait any longer, warrior.”

  Tyrian growled against her throat, the sound a wicked purr and then his fangs slowly slipped into her neck. Chloe moaned, gasped, wiggled against the straining cock nestled against her sex.

  Slowly, he pulled his hips back then squeezed his cock inside.

  “Faster,” she panted. His arms banded around her back, her waist, arching her and

  holding her close as he slipped inside her inch by inch. When he filled her an eternity later, she was sweating, twitching on the edge of a climax that would shake the foundation of the castle.

  He drank from her slowly, languidly, and she knew he was enjoying every drop, every second of this moment. Hips retreated then pushed back in, stretching her wet tissues and filling her with hot pleasure. Slow and easy, he worked her until her hips squirmed against him, trying to get that extra friction, that extra speed she needed.