The Vampire's Bride (Atlantis #4)(96)

She shrugged.

Tagart approached Delilah's side, eyes narrowed on Layel. "Come," he commanded the Amazon. "We'll work the mountain together."

All of Layel's possessive instincts surfaced with a roar. Mine! "You will not touch her. You will not aid her. I will."

Delilah, ever emotionless, shrugged off Tagart's hold. "You have issued ultimatum after ultimatum, dragon. I was to follow you or risk death. Well, I am tired of following you. Our alliance ended when the teams were dissolved. I think you now want me to die. Anything to punish the vampire. So I'll work the mountain on my own. Besides, I'm an Amazon. I don't need a man."

She turned and strode away from them, Layel's gaze tracking her every movement. She approached a - His eyes widened. There was a mountain, huge, towering, dark and surrounded by foreboding shadows. Even the bravest man would run from what's up there, the gods had said.

Tagart took advantage of Layel's distraction and attacked, claws raking Layel's chest. Rather than engage, Layel simply dematerialized. Only one thing mattered right now - and for once, it wasn't the dragon.

DELILAH FELT DEAD inside as she increased her speed, going from a stroll to a run in seconds. She dodged trees, their limbs slapping at her, jumped over thick roots and ignored the eerie animalistic purr that reverberated through the air. Soon she was panting, didn't know where she was or where she was going, and didn't care.

Her sister had been sent away to be mentally and emotionally tortured, and she hadn't been able to save her. Layel was toying with her for some reason, offering her everything she'd once desired. I want you, he'd said. She still couldn't bring herself to care - not even if he'd meant every word.

I should care. But in the void that was her heart, there were no regrets. No happiness, no concerns.

"Delilah."

One second she was running, the next she was soaring through the air. She struggled until she drew in the scent of man, strength and blood. His arsenal of weapons pressed into every point of contact, abrading her skin.

"Put me down," she said flatly.

"Hold on to me." Layel's voice was strained. Sweat beaded every inch of his face, and lines of fatigue etched his eyes and mouth. Never had he appeared more exhausted.

"Put me down." There was a spark of awareness inside her, arousal about to bloom, but it was quickly snuffed out as if it had never been. What was wrong with her?

"I hurt you," he said into her ear. "I am sorry for that, so very sorry."

"As sorry as you are about your mate's death?" she found herself asking. She didn't care about his answer, but something compelled her to ask, anyway.

"Yes," he replied without hesitation.

"There's no reason to lie. You're nothing to me now. I was merely curious."

Pain glowed in his eyes, deepening the blue to a sorrowful black. "I want to be everything to you."

A few hours ago, she would have rejoiced. Now..."I told you, I no longer want you." Truth. There was nothing inside her to give him. Or anyone, for that matter.

"I want you. You are all that I desire, and instead of cherishing you as you deserve, I was cruel. I beg your forgiveness for that, and will do anything to get it." When she said nothing, he added, "I hate that I hurt you, that you now look at me as if I'm invisible."

Wind ruffled her hair across her face as she studied his features. She saw what she'd wanted to see all these many days: tenderness, kindness and caring. She saw...love? In that moment, she did regret the numbness. "You were calling her name. You told her you were sorry."

His brow furrowed in confusion. "When - Oh. Yes, I was. I was telling her goodbye."

"Telling her - " Delilah couldn't form the words, couldn't comprehend what he was saying.

"Telling her goodbye," Layel repeated. "Susan is no longer my mate. She is gone, and I am here. I want you. I want to be with you, have a future with you."

"Layel - "

"You asked me for a chance, but I didn't give it to you. Now I am begging you for one." He shifted her in his arms, forcing her to wind her legs around his waist and lock her ankles to maintain some sort of balance. "Please. I will do anything for it. Anything at all."

They were hovering in the air, over the trees and inside delicate puffs of white. She braced her arms around his neck, staring deep into those bright eyes. "I'm sorry. I have nothing inside me to give you anymore. Besides, there's no time for this. Tagart and Broderick are searching for the monster, or whatever it is the gods wish us to slay."

"We will make time. Nothing is more important to me than you. Not even the win."

"But without the win, one of us will die."

He sighed at the reminder. "Much as I wish otherwise, you are right. But..." He nuzzled her cheek with his nose. "The blankness still lingers in your eyes and that tears me up inside. What can I do? Tell me what to do to help you?"

"I wish I knew. One of the goddesses came to me earlier. Hestia, I realize now. She wanted me to forget you and focus on the game so she...she..." Delilah's eyes widened, the truth crystallizing. "She took my love for you so that I would no longer place you above victory."

Layel's arms tightened around her, anger flashing over his countenance. "I don't understand."