The Vampire's Bride (Atlantis #4)(102)

"Better. I like you like this, vampire. Even a king should learn to show proper respect to the gods."

I hate you. What have you ever done to earn my respect? "Would you be willing to consider a trade?"

A crackling pause that seemed to stretch into eternity. Then, "What are you offering?"

"For the restoration of Delilah's emotions, I will promise to lose this competition. Not only that, but I will do all I can to ensure that she wins."

Another bout of silence. "A novel idea, but you cannot assure me beyond any doubt that you can acquire the victory for her. The dragon or the nymph could swoop in and stop you both. What's more, you cannot assure me that once her emotions are restored she will use them wisely to secure her own triumph. She could very well fight for you to win."

Very true. Stubborn as Delilah was, she just might try to aid him. "I'll stop her." Somehow, some way. "Upon my honor."

"You have no honor, vampire." Her head tilted to the side as she considered him. "But your proposition intrigues me nonetheless. What if I agreed to return her emotions for a single night? You would have one night to convince her of the merits of winning, no matter the cost. Even though she will lose her emotions again in the morning, the logic you plant inside her mind will still remain. And victory will once again be her concern." An excited laugh. "If I do this for you, you will not tell her about our bargain. Understand? You will tell no one."

A minute with Delilah's love was better than a lifetime without. "I would agree. To all your terms." Of course she wouldn't wish the other gods to know of her intervention. Layel stored that information, to be pondered later. "And as winner, she will still be awarded the boon. For aiding her, would I be given one, as well?"

"This is your boon. Now, have we reached an agreement? Will you help her solve our riddle?"

A single word caused Layel's mind to spin. Riddle. What kind of riddle? He racked his brain to remember what the gods had said earlier. You will find something the likes of which even the bravest of men would run from. He'd thought the answer a beast. His brow furrowed as he pondered further. If those words were indeed a riddle, could that mean there wasn't really a beast in the mountain? But he'd heard the snarling, hadn't he?

"Killing me will cause more harm than good," Layel said, forging ahead despite his confusion. "Surely you - "

"Enough," she interjected. "Answer. Now. Do we have an agreement?" Such sudden impatience. Either she'd realized she'd said more than she ought or she sensed his inner turmoil.

"I agree to everything," he said. "Return Delilah's emotions for one night. In turn I will purposely lose while doing my best to ensure that she wins by whatever means necessary." He wanted it spelled out, so there could be no question later what he had agreed to. "And I will not tell her or anyone what I've done."

Hestia was in front of him again, kneeling, placing them nose to nose. Her lips brushed his in a soft kiss that shot wave after wave of electricity through him. There was nothing sexual about it; this was just her way of proving her power, he supposed. "Then go. Your woman feels again."

Suddenly a scream echoed through the night. Delilah's scream.

Layel was on his feet in the next instant, running back to her, desperate to reach her, the goddess already forgotten. He broke through the final layer of trees. Saw her. She was curled in a ball, sobbing.

"I'm here, I'm here." He flew to her and gathered her in his arms, holding as tight as he was able without hurting her.

She didn't protest. No, she clung to him. "Oh, gods. Oh, gods. I feel...There's so many...They're so strong...Can't process all of them. What's wrong with me, Layel?"

"You've been given back what was taken from you," he said. He hadn't broken the pact, either, though he knew he skirted a dangerous edge. "In the morning - " he said, then stopped himself. As he watched, her eyes began to grow cold again, as if her emotions were once more receding. Her sobs quieted. Hestia was watching, he realized, and subtly conveying to Layel that she would reclaim Delilah's emotions if he broke his word. Layel clamped his lips together.

As quickly as it had appeared, the coldness vanished and her sobs returned.

"Shh, shh. I've got you now." He ran his hands down her spine, then up, under her half-shirt. Her skin was blazing hot. "I love you. I love you so much."

"I - I - Layel, Nola was taken and I didn't fight for her. You told me you loved me and I didn't care. Oh, gods. I should have fought. I should have told you I loved you, too, and would do anything to stay with you."

Joy burst through him, hearing that heartfelt proclamation, and he knew he'd lived these past two hundred years for this moment. This moment, and no other. Not revenge, and not to become worthy of Susan. Everything he'd done, everything he was, was for Delilah. All his torment had led him to her.

Softly he brushed her trembling lips with his own. "There's nothing we can do for your sister now. Once we leave the island - " no matter what the goddess said, Layel would not allow himself to be killed " - we will retrieve her."

"But you - you - "

"I love you, warrior woman. I love you. I am only sorry it took me so long to realize it. I am sorry for hurting you, sweet. So sorry."