A Meet of Tribes (A Shade of Vampire #45)(62)

His gaze softened, and the turquoise in his eyes turned a shade darker. The corner of his mouth turned upward.

“You know, you’re a funny, clumsy little thing,” he quipped, his voice low and raspy. “Here I am trying to kiss you, and you keep falling out of my reach.”

His words knocked the breath out of me more than my fall. I stilled, my lips parting slowly.

And then he bent down, and the next thing I knew he was kissing me. Time stopped. His mouth took over mine, demanding that I give him everything. His lips were soft and moist. His tongue found mine as he explored everything I had to give.

I moaned gently, and he tightened his grip, keeping me close enough to feel his heartbeat echoing into my chest. Heat spread through my body, and I gave in completely as he deepened the kiss.

I felt a tear leave my eye as I surrendered my senses to sheer bliss.

A darkness enveloped us as his wings stretched out and covered us, giving us privacy from the rest of the world. It was just me and him, lost in each other, our lips and our souls fusing.

I had waited a lifetime for this.





Phoenix





I woke up in the middle of the night from what felt like a horrible nightmare. My subconscious was signaling my underlying fear of losing the last Daughter of Eritopia. I had dreamed of her sisters coming to us, with their violet eyes and their golden masks, and taking her away. I couldn’t stand the idea. It felt as if a knife had been driven into my chest again. The pain was unbearable and seared through my consciousness.

I sat up, breathing heavily. I wiped the sweat off my face and looked around my room, which was covered in darkness except one corner by the window, where the pearly light of the moon shone down on an armchair where the Daughter had fallen asleep. Her arms were wrapped around her legs, keeping her knees close to her chest. A waterfall of reddish pink hair poured over her shoulders and back.

My chest burned at the sight of her.

I got up and scooped her into my arms, unwilling to let her sleep in that uncomfortable position. Clearly, she didn’t want to sleep in her own room.

I laid her on the bed and pulled the duvet over to keep her warm. I got in and settled on my side, my back to her. I quietly counted my breaths. With her body so close to mine, my senses were playing tricks on me. My heart thudded.

I heard her moan and shift behind me. Soon enough, I felt her breath on the back of my neck and a delicious heat spread through my limbs. I focused on my pulse, alarmed by how my blood raced through my veins.

I gave in and turned to face her. She slept so peacefully with her head resting on the pillow. I took the whole picture of the Daughter in, feature by feature—her beautiful face, her soft lips the color of red wine, her small nose and delicate eyebrows. They all spoke of perfection.

I longed to feel her lips on mine. What would she taste like?

Probably heaven.

I fell asleep watching her, asking myself how I’d gotten to this point, from messing around in Hawaii to having my lifeline so irrevocably tied to this one, extraordinary creature.





Serena





I had no measure of time inside that chamber. All around me was luscious black marble. Deep cracks in the floor revealed the burning hot lava below. The air was surprisingly cool, despite the heat seeping from beneath.

I walked around for a while, occasionally glancing at the box, wondering what I had to do to get it to open. Inon hadn’t been specific.

My mind constantly darted toward where Draven was probably standing on the other side of the wall, frustrated out of his mind. Despite the uncertainty of my own situation I felt an ounce of satisfaction at the thought of him thinking about me in my absence. It was selfish, but it soothed my bruised ego.

Soon enough, my patience wore thin.

“Hello?” I asked, hoping the black diamond box might answer. “I’m here for the book. Can I have it?”

Nothing.

“The fate of Eritopia hangs in the balance, and I can help, but I need the swamp witches’ book.”

Yet more silence ensued.

I frowned and approached the box. It sat on a black marble cube at eye level. I looked at it from various angles, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary or out of place.

I reached out and touched one side, its cold surface sending a shiver down my spine.

It clicked.

I jumped back and watched a map of bright orange lines crossing it like tiny rivers of lava flowing carelessly all over the smooth black diamond. Its facets lit up, revealing its content beneath layer upon layer of hard, crystallized carbon. There was a book inside, bound in leather.

The box was showing me what was inside, and I held my breath with excitement.

It seemed to respond to my touch, so I pressed my finger against one side again.

The little orange veins pulsated with light in response.

“Who are you?” A soft voice echoed in my head, resonating deep in my bones.

“I am Serena Hellswan,” I answered.

“What do you want?”

“I want the book.”

So far, the questions seemed basic. Perhaps I wouldn’t rot in here after all.

“Why do you want the book?”

“Because I need it to save Eritopia.”

“Why do you need to save Eritopia?”

“Because it’s in danger. You might not know it, but there’s a crazed Druid out there killing everyone in his path and burning everything down.”