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So. She was right. Jack had forsaken her to be with the half-blood. He would not honor their celestial bond. He would not do his duty. She had sacrificed her love, but he would not sacrifice his. He had cast his lot to the winds, tempting fate, death, rebelling against the laws of Heaven and the laws of their blood bond.
She would never forgive him for that. She could have left for Paris when Kingsley had asked. She could have chosen happiness as well. But she had not. She had made her decision too late.
And now she was alone.
The Code of the Vampires decreed that anyone who violated the Sacred Law was condemned to death, the blood burning. Charles had refused to subject Allegra to the sentence. But Mimi was a different matter. Mimi walked out of the church, knowing that if she ever saw Jack again, she would have to kill him.
CHAPTER 68
Bliss
When Bliss woke up the day after Mimi's bonding, she was lying in a comfortable bed under a patchwork quilt. Across from her sat an ordinary woman with ruddy cheeks and a quizzical expression, wearing a worn cashmere sweater and a wool argyle skirt.
"Miss Murray?" Bliss asked. What was her history teacher doing sitting across from her?
"You've had a hard time of it, love. Take it easy; don't exert yourself."
The room was small and cozy, and Bliss realized this was the entire apartment. She had never been in a space quite so small. It was the size of a closet, practically. There was room for a bed and a stove and nothing more. If Bliss wanted to exert herself, she could cook dinner while lying in bed at the same time. But even though it was small, it was warm and comfortable.
"What am I... " What happened? Where's... "?
"shhh," Miss Murray said, putting a finger to her lips. "You should rest. She'll be here soon. She wants to talk to you."
"Who... "?
A woman appeared out of the air. She was fair-haired and green-eyed, clad in white raiment that glowed softly with a pure white light. As soon as Bliss saw her, she knew.
"Allegra," she breathed. "It is you, isn't it? Where am I? Am I dead?"
Allegra Van Alen smiled serenely. She looked a lot older than Bliss remembered from the hospital. The woman in the bed had seemed frozen in time, but this Allegra, standing in front of her, had lines on her face, and her hands were wrinkled. There was gray in her blond hair. But she was still very beautiful. Seeing her made Bliss want to weep.
"Come," Allegra said, holding out her arms. "Come here, my daughter."
"So it's true," Bliss whispered. "I am yours."
"I am sorry I have not been here for you, but your existence was hidden from me for a very long time," she said, and the sadness in her voice was unmistakable.
"Then how? Why?"
"You came to visit me not too long ago."
"Yes." Bliss nodded. She remembered that surreptitious visit to the hospital, while Allegra remained immobile in her bed.
"When you came to see me, I felt a presence I had not felt in a very long time. I was very afraid and I was very angry. I screamed. I think the whole hospital heard me. But now I understand that Charles and Lawrence did what they felt they had to. They did it for love, and sometimes love makes us do the irrational... even the inexcusable. But I don't know if I will ever forgive them for what they tried to do to you," Allegra said quietly.
Bliss curled her fists up in the quilt. She had a mother, but she had also been robbed of one. "So Lucifer did not lie to me," she said stonily. She felt conflicted and agonized.
"No, he did not. You are ours."
"But how, how?, you were bound to Michael."
Allegra nodded. "Yes. It is a long and painful story. But know that we made you together. In love."
"Where are you? Are you here? Are you actually here?"
"I am in you. I did not find the link until now. As I told your sister, I will always be with you."
"Okay." Bliss blinked back her tears.
