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“Next!” she yelled.
Devon rolled his eyes. “That’s my job.”
The next two also challenged Gabby, fights that she finished in record time. The challengers should have considered themselves lucky when they exited with all their body parts attached. The fourth challenger was smarter and decided the best course of action was to ghost the fight. The fifth contender called out Malika, and Gabby returned to the seating area.
Felix pulled her into his arms and took his time kissing her breathless. She tasted a little like sweat and the cinnamon flavored blood from this morning.
“You think I made my point?” Gabby asked, her cheeks flushed.
“Yes, I believe you did.”
He cupped her buttocks possessively and tugged her closer. Her eyes widened at the hard feel of him against her pelvis. With a mischievous smile, she ran her hands up his chest, leaving dots of fire wherever she touched.
“Can we sneak away?”
Felix roamed his gaze over the stands; vampires stared at them outright with suggestive grins.
“I wouldn’t call it sneaking, but yes, let’s go. Devon will let us know if someone challenges you.”
To punctuate his point, he slid an arm under her knees and lifted her off the ground. He shouted into the crowd. “We’ll be back!”
Wolf whistles and shouting from their audience. Gabby punched his shoulder playfully. “Did you have to?”
“Yes. I’ve waited six hundred years. I deserve some validation.”
Her gaze softened, loving warmth flooding down the mating bond. “I will give you all the validation you need.”
“Good, because I’m not letting you go again. This time it’s truly forever.”
Epilogue
TheroomAlistairre-materializedin reminded him of nineteenth century China. Dark cherrywood floors, wooden beams, and furniture with intricate botanical carvings, all polished to a shine, reflecting the soft glow from the rounded lamps adorning the thick columns. Other than the modern upgrades for electricity, nothing had changed since his previous visit during the Qing Dynasty.
Its master has not changed either. Weiyong Li, Head of House Rising Phoenix, sat in the wide chair at the back where the master of the family received their guests. He wore a simple black robe, a Qipao, with a phoenix, its wings widespread rising into the sky, embroidered in the front in silver and golden threads. It matched the painting on the wall behind him.
When Weiyong smiled, it emphasized the lines of his face. He’d been turned at fifty-five, an old age for the seventeenth century. His human life had been one of turmoil, leaving behind marks on his body. As a vampire, he’d transformed those imperfections to his advantage and adopted the role and demeanor of a wise sage.
“It took you long enough, my king.” His voice was gravelly, almost welcoming, except for the murderous aura that chilled Alistair to the bone. It was an aura as familiar to him as his own name.
“How?” He eyed the other vampire like a hawk, not falling for his outward composure.
Weiyong had been waiting for Alistair to show. Behind Alistair, Jiaren struggled against his bonds to no avail. He’d brought Weiyong’s subordinate with him. He didn’t trust Jiaren to not have another trick up his sleeve if left with Felix and Gabriella.
Weiyong leaned back in his chair, looking even more relaxed. His smile would be warm, inviting, if not for the touch of insanity. “The Ruins had always fascinated me. Did you know I grew up next to one?” A smug grin. “You didn’t wipe the records as well as you thought. I found an obscure Egyptian tome with details and experiments on how to open one. Granted, it took me a century before I perfected the spell, but the rest was more fate than anything. Imagine when I found the crystal in the first Ruin.”
Fate indeed. Hundreds of Ruins were scattered around the world, but only five crystals existed. For Weiyong to find one in the first Ruin he entered—what were the chances? A tendril of millennia old fear crawled through Alistair.
“How did you destroy it?” Alistair asked.
“I have my ways. The seal was breaking even before then. He helped me.”
He had known this day would come. The seal had been a band-aid, not a cure for the evil intending to destroy this world.
“Are you still Weiyong? Or has he taken over completely?”
“I’m me, but more.” Weiyong laughed with a cold joy. “It’s not only the power, but the knowledge.” Alistair steadied himself against the vengeful wrath on the other vampire’s face. “All the things I learned. Your own brother.” Weiyong tsked. “Fratricide is frowned upon, even among your exalted race, I believe.”
“I didn’t kill him.” Why was he defending himself? He’d long come to terms with his brother’s imprisonment. Just as he’d come to terms with his own role in it. Shooting Weiyong a frigid glare, he said, “Did he tell you his vow to wipe vampires and humans? He’s not your friend. He will use you and kill you.”
