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“Yes. I can’t think of anything more fitting, and I already checked. He didn’t touch the storeroom.” Luca put an arm around her. “Thank you.” I don’t want to leave Bastien to deal with this alone. It is too great a burden for a single soul, he added.
Viktorija led the way to retrieve the supplies they would need. When they were out of earshot, Luca faced Bastien, who looked nauseous.
“Are you sure you want to see this, Sire?” he asked.
Luca grimaced. “I don’t want to see it, but I know the sacrifice magic on this level requires when you won’t feed on the death. Your pallor and shaky balance show me that your power is depleting your life force. Let me share the burden.”
Bastien looked horrified at the idea of feeding on the negative energy in the palace. “I would never. The death here is tainted beyond anything I’ve ever encountered, and even if it weren’t, I don’t use that kind of magic. However, I would welcome someone to share the burden. I was worried that it would put me out of commission for a day or two.”
Luca opened the door and led the way into the throne room. He looked back and saw Bastien pale as he took in the scope of the massacre.
“My gods!”
“I know. So, how does this work?” Luca asked.
“The magic latches on to an individual genetic signature and seeks out everything that matches it. With this many, it’s going to look like a gruesome poltergeist is putting on a show, but thankfully, it should be relatively brief.” Bastien’s voice trailed off, then, “Thank you for not leaving me to face this alone, Luca.”
CHAPTER TWO
Sunset, Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Ten minutes after the sun sank below the horizon, Luca’s phone buzzed. He answered, smiling when he saw Ash’s name on the screen.
“Hello, beautiful.”
Imitating the Addams’ family’s butler Lurch, Ash dropped her voice to a lower register. “You rang?”
Luca laughed. “Gods, I love you, Ash. I just wanted to hear your voice.”
Her chuckle sent a wave of love and longing through him, and his arms ached with emptiness because she wasn’t there for him to hold. She replied, “I miss you like crazy, and I fucking hate that I’m not there with you right now.”
“Me too, baby. It was much worse than I imagined. So much worse.”
She sighed heavily. “I’m so sorry for everything you’re going through. I can’t even imagine.”
“There have been some bright spots,” he continued, returning to the small library for privacy. “Would you like to hear about them?”
“You bet your sweet ass, I do. Hang on. Let me get comfy. Okay, I’m good. Talk to me.”
Luca chuckled, grateful to have this amazing woman in his life. “Five of the Therian clans sent emissaries to pledge their fealty and help with the cleanup. Apparently, a certain newborn vampire is the subject of legends spreading around the world. I don’t think getting them to accept you as my mate will be as much of a challenge as we thought.”
“That’s fantastic news!” she squealed. “I can’t wait to see you.”
“Come back now,” he urged, not thinking about anything other than how wrong it felt to be separated.
“Luca, my love, you know I can’t do that.”
He groaned in frustration. “I know. I’m just impatient, and I miss you.”
“The feeling is mutual, and if you weren’t there doing what you’re doing, I’d entice you with phone sex. However, the timing never seems to be right. You know, with the war and continuous attacks and all. I have this constant, undeniable pull toward you.”
As she spoke, he felt that same pull urging him to close the distance between them so they could become one. “Ash? Is your mating bond…”
“Gone? I thought so at first, but now I’m not sure. I’ve been feeling…well, I don’t know what to call them. Tracers? Maybe the bond was overloaded by the magic when I changed, like a circuit breaker.”
“I still feel connected to you. It’s not the same without the bond sharing and amplifying your thoughts and feelings, but I think you are right. I thought it was severed, but I can feel the bare edges of you,” Luca answered.
Ash laughed. “I’d like to feel your bare edges, and I plan to do it since we’re coming to the funeral. I don’t have to stand with you, and I will wear a disguise if you think I should, but I refuse to abandon you during that. I would have come today, but I kinda catch fire in the sun. Between Vampire 101 classes with Zia and Eiko working her special magic to let us walk in the sun, I’ll be ready to handle whatever happens.”
