Page 176 of Immortal Bastard (The Order of Vampires)

Suddenly, Isaiah arched and bellowed as Maddox bolted for him, scraping his claws down the beast’s exposed flesh. Pain sliced down Delilah’s back as her gift absorbed the injury.

The incensed creature turned and hissed, thrusting Maddox back onto the ground. Rather than kill the immortal, Isaiah turned and roared at the elders, then loped off, bleeding and howling as he raced through the rain toward Cybil. The further away he traveled the more Delilah’s pain eased.

“He has a female!” an elder shouted as Isaiah scooped Cybil’s limp body into his arms. He clutched her slack form to his chest and raced into the burning woods.

“We have to stop him!” Cain yelled. “He has Cybil!” A bolt of lightning forked the sky, knifing into the fields. He rushed toward the flames, but Christian caught his arm.

“No. The woods are burning. It’s too dangerous.”

Cain shoved off Christian’s hold. “Isaiah is dangerous!”

“The girl is lost, Cain.”

He grabbed Christian, jerking him forward by his shirt. “The girl is your sister.”

Christian met his cold stare with placid detachment. “She’s a casualty.”

Cain released him with a hard shove. “You should all be ashamed of yourselves.” He scanned the fallen bodies and hobbled mob. “Where is Dane?”

Delilah looked behind Cain, more concerned with Maddox’s whereabouts. He was gone. Black puddles covered the ground as rain pelted the earth, kicking up mud. “Christian…” She called, still searching the shadows for his father’s form.

“Dane’s gone,” the bishop announced, pulling himself up at the aid of another elder. “As is Cerberus.” He tossed Maddox’s lifeless hand into the burning house.

Christian’s frantic stare searched the chaos. “Where is he?”

“Christian!” she yelled with great effort.

Her mate rushed to her side, cradling her close. “Are you hurt?”

She weakly clung to him. “I’m not great.” She tried to laugh but could only wince. “Their injuries. I need distance. It’s too much pain.”

He lifted her and they were suddenly racing through the stinging rain. As soon as her pain eased, he sensed her relief. “I should have known. Your gift extracts injuries so others can heal. You must feed, pintura. You need your strength.”

She weakly nodded, accepting his wrist the moment he pushed back his sleeve. Her body was so battered, she lost consciousness, nursing from his vein as her organs and cells recovered and healed.

“You saved me tonight, Christian.”

Delilah’s eyes fluttered open as the bishop approached. The chaos and flames at his back illuminated his silhouette as he stood over her and Christian, already recovered from his injuries.

“Your father wanted me dead,” he said solemnly. “And you stopped him from getting his wish.”

“That monster isn’t my father.”

Eleazar dropped the scythe into the mud. “It was a difficult choice nonetheless.”

“I only acted on instinct.” Christian’s jaw flexed as he held the bishop’s knowing stare. “My true father helped my mother escape tonight. It was my honor to repay the favor.”

The bishop eyed him with clear understanding and nodded. “You honor me, Christian. I’m proud to think of you as my son.”

She expected Christian to smile, but he only lowered his gaze, the weight of too many worries burdening his shoulders. “How long do you think she has?”

His worry cut through Delilah’s returning calm, so familiar to the pain she once suffered at the loss of her own parents. She tried so hard to protect him from this, but Adriel’s future was out of their hands. No longer feeding, she hugged his torso tight, so that warm love encircled him.

“Your mother’s stronger than she realizes. He’ll only be able to track her for so long. He’s lost blood. If she continues to run for several days, she stands a chance of evading him.”

“And Dane?”

The bishop looked away, his eyes hooded with dark regret. “He disobeyed The Council, freed the witch, and attempted to kill Isaiah.”

“Is he in danger?”

“Not from us.”

Christian nodded. “Thank you for taking mercy on him. Perhaps his leaving this place is for the best.”

“There are consequences for his actions, but he’s still your brother. If he ever needs sanctuary, he will find safety and shelter here.”

For once, Christian didn’t argue.

“Eleazar,” Cain snapped, interrupting the delicate moment. “I need to speak with you.”

The bishop sighed, and Christian stood, never once allowing her feet to touch the soggy ground. “I’ll leave you to your responsibilities,” Christian told the bishop, then turned toward their house, cradling Delilah protectively in his arms. “Come, pintura, let’s go home.”

CHAPTER 30

“Sometimes my body understands my needs more than my heart or mind ever could.”

Christian kissed Delilah’s throat, teasing her pulse into a rapid flutter as he thrust into her. “Give yourself time, my love.”

She playfully scraped a claw down his back, arching into him as he slowly took her. “Says Mr. Impatient.”

“He chuckled and groaned, burying himself to the hilt. “I waited three centuries for you. My patience was spent long ago.”