Page 40 of Cursed Lifeline (Eternal Love)

Thirty Nine

Evangeline

song: shake it out | the weeknd remix

Mount Erymanthos, Greece

“Don’t touch me,” Viktor growls, cowering in the corner of the cave I’ve teleported us to. His bloodshot eyes anxiously search the darkness behind me as I timidly step closer. Reaching out to dab more ointment on his wound, he angrily bats my hand away and scowls, “You don’t listen very well, princess.”

“When I know better than to listen to empty threats you keep hurling at me, no, your Highness, I don’t.”

“Highness?” Viktor scoffs. “I believe you’re confusing me with my brother.”

“I know who I’m dealing with,” I defend myself. Straightening my spine, I hold my chin high and refuse to back down. Even when Viktor’s heated stare begins to travel the curve of my face, then lowers across my neck, my chest, and the curve of my hips, I still don’t budge.

“Do you?” he grins. “Words are one thing, princess, but actions always speak louder.”

He nods towards my palm that’s clutching the damp cloth. Inhaling a shaky breath, I try to settle the trembling of my hand as I reach out again and attempt to wipe his brow. To my surprise, or perhaps my horror, he lets me. His eyes hold mine the entire time as I slowly sponge more blood from his temple. His breathing deepens. Mine increases. He wets his lips, I bite my own. Toweling off his forehead, I avert my gaze as I turn to put some distance between us, but I don’t get very far before Viktor reaches out, grabs my chin, and forces me to meet his stare.

“Why are you helping me?” he demands.

Jaw set like stone, anger paints his features. As I study him closer, his eyes, though guarded, reflect pain. Heartache. Fear of rejection.

When I don’t respond, he pulls my face closer until his breath feathers across my lips, and he growls, “What do you want with me, princess?”

“Nothing,” I whisper.

The word hangs between us like a threat. A promise. A lie that will be uncovered over time.

“No one does anything without expecting something in return,” he hisses. “You should have left me for dead. My immortal life isn’t worth you sacrificing your own. If honor and prestige are what you are after, I have none. I hold no power over the coven, not like my brother…”

“That’s where you’re wrong.”

Viktor’s eyes search mine. Leaning closer, I suck in a sharp breath as the heat of his own invades my mouth. As it tickles the curve of my lips, I stop breathing. “For centuries, I’ve endured learning my place. Whatever you believe you know, forget it. You and your delusions have no space in my life. So cut the bullshit and stop pretending like you give a damn because we both know you don’t.”

Viktor leans back against the rock wall behind him and I tell myself it’s okay to breathe. Looking off to the right, he rubs some blood out of his eyes and shakes his head with disgust. As I rise slowly, Viktor’s eyes drift back my way and fill with sadness. He tries to hide it, but I notice the suffering, the distress, the need to put up a mask so no one gets close enough to understand the hurtful burden he obviously carries.

We study each other as I walk away. He thinks I’m going to leave. That I am going to do what he tells me. But if there is one thing he will learn about me, it’s that my intentions don’t waiver easily.

Walking over to a small boulder where my supplies are spread out, I pick up a tonic that will ease the pain of his wounds. Clutching it tight in my palm, I take a long steadying breath as the heat of his gaze lingers on my spine. Wishing the mixture was strong enough to erase the hurt in his heart, I turn back towards him. Viktor instantly averts his stare and sits up a little straighter. Defensively, he crosses his arms across his chest and refuses to speak.

Smiling, I grab a fresh cloth, walk back to his side, and kneel before him. Dabbing a small amount of the tonic on the fabric, I slowly raise it to his face and say, “This might sting a little.”

His eyes lock on mine. Wounds covered up through centuries of bitterness and loathing stare back at me. Haunted by unjust injuries, a snide chuckle slips past Viktor’s lips. “Nothing you inflict can hurt more than the life I’ve been forced to endure.”

Lightly dabbing his wounds, I smile when a slight grimace graces his harsh features. He sucks in a sharp breath. My eyes rise and lock on his. A moment later, Viktor’s intense, thirsty stare steals my ability to speak.

“What’s your name, princess?” he asks as I lightly dab at his wounds.

“Why?”

“You know mine,” he shrugs. “Seems fitting I know yours.”

Grinning, I rise and walk back to the small boulder where my supplies are scattered. Picking up some gauze and tape, I return to Viktor and wrap the white fabric around his head a few times. When I still haven’t told him my name, he says, “Unless, of course, you prefer for me to continue to refer to you as royalty?”

My mind wanders to another man who promised close to the same not so long ago.

“My blood may be royal,” I smile. “But it’s been a long time since I have embraced the status.”

Breathing deeply, Viktor growls, “Your blood calls to me, your highness. How else do you think I knew to call you princess? Now, tell me your name before I taste you and figure it out against your will.”

My eyes lock on his as I fasten the gauze around his head. “You wouldn’t dare,” I tease.

“I’ve killed mightier bloodlines than yours for less,” he grins. “Your name. Don’t make me ask again.”

His right hand finds its way to my hip, and he pulls me closer.

Rolling my eyes at his continual empty threats, I concede, “Evangeline.”

His grip tightens.

Pulling me into his lap, Viktor’s eyes search mine as he whispers, “Messenger of good news.”

I search his stare for the evil everyone believes lives within him and see none.

“Tell me, Evangeline,” he says. I suck in a sharp breath as my name leaves his lips, and he brushes a stray strand of hair behind my ear. Trailing his fingertips across my mouth, he says, “Are you here to bring me glad tidings?” His right hand raises, and he grips my neck. Pulling me closer, my lips rest against his as he growls, “Or are you here to suck the life out of me, just like every other woman I’ve ever known?”

“Take your hands off of her,” a voice demands from the entry of the cave. A shiver rushes down my spine as Viktor’s eyes hold mine and refuse to acknowledge our intruder. The sound of metal unsheathing causes me to take a shaky breath. “I said…”

Viktor’s hand falls from my neck, but his intense stare never wavers as he growls, “The woman is not being detained against her will.” His eyes drift to Alfred’s. A deep scowl crosses his features as his assessing gaze dissects the watcher. “She’s free to go whenever and with whoever she pleases.”

Footsteps sound behind me as I study Viktor’s profile. Angrily, I’m yanked from his lap and pulled to my feet. As Alfred guides me a few steps away, Viktor rises slowly from his spot in the corner of the cave. Groaning in pain, he eventually finds his feet and leans on a nearby rock for balance. He studies Alfred and me closely as my eyes stay locked on his, and Alfred’s stay glued to me.

“What are you doing?” Alfred hisses. “You saved Viktor? Have you lost your mind?”

Bitterly, my gaze swings the watcher’s way.

“Lost?” My mind circles the word. “No, Alfred, I think I found…”

“Forget what you think you found , Evangeline.” Alfred grips my arm tightly and forces me toward the entrance of the cave. “When Felix finds out…”

“Touch her like that again, and you won’t leave this cave alive,” Viktor seethes.

Instantly, Alfred stops manhandling me toward safety, turns, and stares down Viktor. Stepping in front of me, his arm possessively pins me behind his back. Peering over his shoulder, my heart speeds up as Viktor stumbles towards us.

Eyes locked on mine, he searches my stare as if he’s desperate to uncover something I’m hiding. Or rather, something that he’s been desperately searching for.

“This coming from the man responsible for the mess we’ve all found ourselves in,” Alfred shakes his head as Viktor staggers another step in our direction.

“That’s just it,” I try to force Alfred to turn and look at me, but he won’t budge. Eyes trained on Viktor, his hand slowly raise to the dagger on his hip. Side-stepping around Alfred, I quickly step in between the two men. “If you both would listen…”

“I told you, princess,” Viktor shrugs, “Talk is cheap, while actions…”

“Always speak louder than words,” Alfred finishes for him as the two lunge for one another, and I jolt out of the way.

“Viktor is being controlled by a blood oath,” I blurt out, causing the two men to come to a halt right before they destroy each other.

The vampire's eyes are the first to find mine as Alfred keeps his sight trained on a threat he’s determined to eliminate if need be. Viktor’s eyes grow wide. He stumbles back a step.

“No one is supposed to know that,” he seethes as anger and bitterness fill his gaze. Taking a heated step in my direction, he shouts, “How did you…”

Dagger instantly raised at Viktor’s neck, the vampire stops in his tracks as Alfred says, “One more step, and I’ll kill you. I don’t care what she has to say, I don’t care if it’s our saving grace. You step out of line one more time, you threaten her in any way, and you won’t be leaving this cave alive.”

Stepping closer, I search Viktor’s hardened stare. His back stiffens as I timidly approach. He searches my face, wondering if I can be trusted. Eventually, his defenses lower and his eyes soften.

“Why’d you do it?” I ask.

Tense silence stretches between all of us.

“Why’d you enter into a blood oath with Drusilla’s sister?”

When I’m sure he won’t answer, he finally whispers, “Because Ember promised, if I swore my life to her, she’d break the curse on my family.” Viktor’s broken eyes fill with tears. “I swore an oath so my brother could be free. Little did I know, Ember didn’t have the power to break anything. Nor did I think she’d use her power and turn me against my family. That’s why my life isn’t worth saving, princess. It’s why you should have left me to die. At least once I’m dead, I’m no longer a threat. She’ll have no power over me. My brother, my coven, will finally have a chance to be free.”

Alfred lowers his dagger and I quickly step forward. Viktor instantly steps back, keeping his distance, and he shakes his head.

“Don’t you see, as long as I’m alive, Ember can use me for her gain. I don’t want to be her pawn any longer, princess. I’m tired of the game. I’m done living an eternal existence where I hurt the ones I love because I have no fucking control.”

Speechless, I reach out and take his hand. He snaps it away quickly as if I’ve burned him.

“Stay here with me, and we’ll find a way to break the bond,” I say.

“What?” Alfred scoffs, stepping forward and hanging his head low. He leans into my ear and whispers, “Saving him was one thing, Evangeline. But this…”

“You’re free to go, Alfred,” I snap. Turning and staring the watcher down, he takes a hurt step back and looks at Viktor. “No one is keeping you here.”

His eyes snap back to mine. “I’m staying,” he insists.

We’ll see about that.

Stepping around me, he saunters off towards the supplies I’ve laid out and busies himself with rummaging through what little I could grab before I transported us to the cliffs of Mount Erymanthos. The fae lands where I was born.

Viktor eyes Alfred angrily.

“Same goes for you,” I sigh, crossing my arms over my chest. Viktor’s gaze swings back my way. “You don’t want my help, fine. You’re free to go. No one is keeping you here, either.”

Viktor steps forward. I catch Alfred’s watchful gaze out of the corner of my eye and take a deep breath.

“Evangeline,” Viktor whispers, and I swear my heart flutters. “You’re the first honest thing to come into my life in centuries. I’m not going anywhere.”