His chest heaved—it looked—it almost looked like his heart was trying to wretch itself from his body.
“STOP PLEASE!”
Tears slew from my eyes as I slayed another solider, my sword slicing across his neck as Keziq’s voice rose, the ferocity of her chanting increasing. I threw out a burst of magic. It was sloppy, but anything, I’d try anything to stop her.
No, no, no.I had to get to her. I had to stop her.
My sword found home in another soldier’s gut, clearing my path to Keziq.
Everyone else was gone, the remaining soldiers, the Dhampirs, even Adreona was nowhere to be found. Only Keziq and the vampire remained.
I struggled to catch my breath as I ran toward Keziq. The vampire went still, blood bubbling from his lips and nose as he lay in Keziq’s circle.
Keziq removed her hands from the male’s chest, her eyes flying open as her body sagged.
The flames from the candles extinguished. A slow smilecrept up her face as I fell to my knees next to the male’s body.
“No, no, no,” I murmured.
My hands trembled as I searched for his pulse, pressing my fingers to the side of his neck.
“Please,” I pleaded. “Please be alive.”
My heart ricocheted in my chest as my own pulse thrummed violently.
The vampire’s chest didn’t rise. His pulse didn’t flutter under my fingertips.
No matter how much I pleaded, there was no reversing it.
The vampire was dead.
70
LUCIANA
My eyelids felt heavy, refusing to open.
I ran my tongue over my cracked lips. My mouth felt like it was full of cotton, and my limbs were heavy.
Dirt stuck to my face, my cheeks stinging from the cold.
Someone was saying my name, their voice muffled. I peeled my eyelids open, blinking against the brightness.
Arms swooped underneath me, lifting me, pressing me against their hard chest.
“Lucy.” Nico’s calloused fingers scratched over my face, moving my hair out of the way.
“Lucy, are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” My throat felt raw.
“What happened?” Was that my mother?
I shifted my gaze, looking past Nico’s shoulder.
Her dark curls were pulled back with a leather strap, blood spattered across her dark face.
“The spell—something happened with the spell—it must have taken too much, she passed out.”
