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I wanted to tell them Nadira would become one of the most powerful beings alive, but not in front of Kristoff. The less he knew, the better. Or perhaps he already knew.
When Markane and Abacus gave me a curt nod, Nadira blinked her eyelids open. The little princess had awoken at last.
The last bit of the sun hit her violet eyes, eyes like Joleen’s, radiating like a star amethyst. She didn’t even blink from the brightness.
Markane placed her down in front of him, his arms steady around her.
Nadira’s eyes grew wide and pointed to the sky. “Someone powerful is coming.”
Everyone ignored her, but I knew better and trusted this “someone powerful” was on our side.
“What are we waiting for?” I said and punched into the air, toward the tower where Rafael soared.
His ass was mine.
Chapter Forty-Six
Divine Dagger
Joleen
As my body collided with Victus, his back thumped on impact and I fell on top of him. But something hot shot down my body like a lightning bolt, tearing through my muscles and bones as pain held me immobile.
Rafael had stabbed me instead.
I wanted to scream, but I couldn’t as golden blood spilled out the corner of my mouth and dripped on Victus’s beautiful face.
“Joleen!” Victus pushed up and remained on the ground as he cradled me in his arms across his lap. He tilted his head to the darkening sky as his scream was louder than the thunder.
Rafael gripped his wrist and dropped the dagger as if it burned him. His eyes rounded in shock and he backed away.
“I didn’t mean …” Rafael jumped on the edge. “This is your fault, Victus. You should have surrendered. You’ve killed Joleen. It ends now. And—”
Heart-shaped wings flapped in my peripheral view and a fist rammed against Rafael’s back. Rafael went flying across space, and Michael went after him.
“Victus.” I coughed up more blood.
His fingers raked through my hair. “Don’t talk, my love. Don’t talk. I have to get you out of here. I have to find a healer. Nina. She can help.”
His desperate rambling broke my heart. There was no medicine or cure for the poison from the divine dagger that would spread through my body, and his words were meant to comfort me. I didn’t know how much time I had left so I had to say what was on my mind.
Tears streamed down my face and my voice grew weak. “When I was in the cave, my greatest fear was I was going to lose you and Nadira.”
“Mine was the same, my love.” He kissed my hand and held it gently to his heart. “When I saw your face and remembered you, I couldn’t wait to get out and tell you how sorry I was for the way I treated you, and all I wanted to do was hold you forever.”
My effort to smile failed as my lips shuddered. “You and Nadira are my life. I’m so grateful I got the chance to recall our happiest moments.” I choked up and more tears fell. “I wish things were different. I don’t want to lose you and our child so soon after we found each other. Do not weep for me when I’m gone. Take back your kingdom and do what is right for your people. They need you. Do what we couldn’t the first time. You have a second chance.”
“But not without you, Little Dove.” His body trembled, keeping his pain bottled up as he remained composed.
“We will always be together, in life and death, in body or spirit. My love. My life. My everything. We are two halves of the same soul.” I put a palm to his beautiful face and ran a finger along the dark tendrils.
His crimson eyes beamed brighter like two flames. Lightning flashed over us, then a red teardrop fell down his cheek, then a few more, and fell to the ground and sizzled like water on a hot pan.
I never knew vampires could cry. I shivered, so cold, as if I dunked myself in the freezing lake. Whatever the effect of the dagger or the poison that would end my life, it must have taken over my body.
Victus kissed my lips, soft and tender. “I can’t lose you. Nadira needs her mother and I need you.” Then he sank his teeth into my neck and drank from me.
Oh, heavenly bliss. Even in the state of near death, the euphoria of his bite overtook the pain and the cold. I could die like this. Die in the arms of the man who loved me, and remember the way he felt and how much we loved each other. There was no greater way to die.
