Page 57

CELINE

“ I t would seem our two lab rats have escaped,” Genevieve purrs. She clacks her long nails together like some stupid villain in an animated cartoon. I have to admit, thinking of her that way makes her a lot less scary.

I shiver in Valen’s arms, and he grips me tighter. I thought we were making headway and now we’ve hit a huge roadblock in the form of this vampire bitch. She just won’t go away.

“Move,” Valen rumbles.

I applaud his bravery, but more vampires appear behind Genevieve, and I know we’re well and truly fucked.

Valen’s expelled a lot of energy to kill the first round of them, and he was already in a weakened state despite the blood.

And it’s not like we’re in a place where I can offer him more.

Even if I could, I’m not sure if I’m in well enough shape to.

Wracking my brain in my half-asleep state, I try to come up with a plan to get out of this. Everything I think of ends in us dead or trapped back in the basement ... and then dead.

And I really don’t want to die.

“You have to realize your little escape attempt has failed.” Genevieve slowly walks closer to us and Valen steps back in turn.

The ultimate chess game. What would be our next move?

Her goons go to follow her, and she holds up a red nailed finger to point at me.

“Grab the girl.”

“Over my dead body,” Valen snarls and I grip his neck in fear at the approaching vampires.

Desperate hunger contorts their features in a grotesque way. Barely hanging on by a thread they seem to barely listen to Genevieve. All they see me as is a fresh body of blood.

“You wish. Too bad we still need you.” She flicks a hand in my direction again and the vampires pursue.

Valen takes off back down the hall from where we came from, and it feels like each step we take is one further from escape.

A whimper crawls out of my throat at the fact that we’re going backwards, not forward, but I’m not one to give up.

Even if it’s getting harder to believe we’re getting out of this alive.

At least if I die, I’ll know I went out fighting for my escape.

Abruptly choosing a door and going inside, Valen breathes heavily and sets me against the wall to rest while he barricades the door. We seem to be in a storage room of sorts with filing cabinets which end up being perfect for securing us in.

“Are there any vents or secret doors in here?” I can’t sit still for long, starting to feel around the room for just those things.

“Secret door,” he snorts, rolling his eyes. “Doubt it.” His eyes dart around, and the door starts to groan under the weight of the vampires trying to get in. He looks up and points. “Air vent, though.”

I look up at it with a frown. “It’s small.” I eye his massive shoulders. “Can you fit?”

He swallows a lump in his throat. “Probably not.”

“I won’t leave you here.” It’s probably too noble of a statement to make in the face of imminent death, but I don’t think I could live with myself to leave him behind.

The banging gets louder, and I know with that many vampires on the other side it’s only a matter of time before they find their way in.

As if conjured by my thoughts a split appears in the door.

“Can you get yourself up there? We have to at least try.”

Valen purses his lips and nods. “We try,” he concurs. He’s tall enough that all he has to do is stand on a chair to rip the vent off the ceiling. “C’mere.” He lifts me easily and gives me a boost into the vent. “Go, Celine. If I can’t make it, promise you’ll keep going.”

I look down at him, my stomach churning at the thought of leaving him behind. “I’ll bring help. My mate?—”

He shakes his head. “Go.”

A shrill scream that has to be from Genevive has me crawling on all fours through the vent in record time. I hum softly to try to keep my breaths even. I fucking hate spaces this small. But if it gets me to freedom I’ll keep going.

The vent rattles as Valen joins me. “Fuck,” he groans, dragging behind me. “I can’t believe I’m saying this but thank God they’ve been starving me or I would never be able to squeeze through here.”

We army crawl through the vent and I have the horrifying thought of what if I fart? Poor Valen.

There’s another scream behind us and I’m not sure how far we’ve made it from the room, but I move a little faster.

Get out. I have to get out.

The vent groans and I freeze near the next opening. “Hold still,” I whisper to Valen. “It’s?—”

My words are cut off when the vent gives way, falling from the ceiling to crash below. The metal breaks around us and my body screams in pain from the fall.

“Celine,” Valen says, my name laced with worry.

“I’m okay,” I grunt out, all the air having been expelled from my lungs with the fall.

Valen shoves the debris aside and helps me to my feet.

I’m unsteady and sway in place. He holds my shoulders to steady me.

Grunts and cries of pain can be heard not too far away, but where we’ve landed the coast is clear.

There’s even a door at the end of the hall open for us like whoever came through it was on a mission and didn’t have time to make sure it was shut.

Valen picks me up again and carries me through the open door and into the exact place I suspected we were being held beneath.

Vex.

Except the club is looking a little different at the moment. Bright rays of sunlight stream in through the front of the building where a car has driven through the doorway. A car I very much recognize as Zav’s.

He came.

He found me.

If it weren’t for the fact that Valen’s holding me in his arms, I know my knees would give out on me now.

“Celine!” A female voice cries out in surprise.

I look toward that large open space where people on the street are gathered looking at the mess of the car in the building and find Ava running toward me, her hair a pink cape flowing behind her.

“Ava!” I whimper and Valen sets me down just in time for me to fall into my friend’s arms. He watches, eyes wide as he takes us in, and then I watch him practically melt into the space around us and disappear.

What the fuck? Is he some kind of chameleon? Can he go invisible? I’ve never seen Zav do anything like that.

Worry clings to me, but I hope wherever he’s off to that he’ll be safe.

“You’re okay,” Ava sobs, holding my cheeks and taking me in. “I thought you’d be dead.”

“How long have I been gone?” I ask her, squeezing her tight. I need to get out of here, but something tells me that Zavier’s handling Genevieve and her goons and I needn’t worry.

“About two weeks,” she replies, smoothing my matted hair back.

She makes a yuck face and says, “I’ll schedule you for a hair appointment.

” She eyes my nails. “Better get nails done too.” She seemingly shakes herself free from those thoughts and says, “I’ve been helping Zavier track you down.

He couldn’t smell you and…” She pauses, glowering at me.

“When the fuck were going to tell me your boyfriend is a vampire? A vampire!” She shrieks and I hope no one on the streets can hear her over the sounds of traffic and the music blaring from Zav’s wrecked sports car.

“He told you?”

Ava wipes away a tear from my face. “I mean, he kind of had to. I accused him of murdering you and I might’ve tossed some threats around.”

I smile and hug my friend, a few more tears leaking out of my eyes. Ava can be a bit much at times, but I wouldn’t have her any other way.

“I need to go find him.” I grab her by the shoulders.

“Oh, no you don’t, missy.” She tightens her hold. “You got away from that psycho bitch, Genevieve, and you’re not going back.”

My lips part. “How did you know it was her?”

Ava rolls her eyes. “I pay attention. Duh. If it wasn’t for me, Zav would’ve never figured it out. For a redhead he’s a bit of a dumb blond, don’t you think?”

A laugh bubbles out of me. “A little,” I admit. “Can you get me a blanket? Some water? I’m so thirsty.”

Ava, oblivious to what I’m doing, nods and squeezes my shoulders. “I’ll find some. Why don’t you wait outside?”

“I’m okay here.”

She gives me a funny look, like she can’t figure out why I’d want to stay in the club, but shrugs and goes in search for what I’ve asked for.

As soon as her back is turned I sprint, well hobble, for the open door I just came through. I’m insane to be going back, I know that, but the need I feel to get to Zavier is indescribable. The tug has never been this strong before. He needs me. I know it.

It doesn’t take me long to come upon the carnage I have no doubt he left in his wake. Bodies and limbs litter the long hall, growing in numbers the farther I go.

I round a corner and there he is.

Something inside me knows I should be trembling at the sight in front of me, but I’m not scared. I could never be scared of him.

His eyes are such a brilliant green behind his glasses that they’re otherworldly. His mouth and most of his body is covered in blood and from his right hand hanging by the strands of her hair is Genevieve’s decapitated head.

“Zav,” I breathe out his name.

His body shakes with the thunderous breaths he takes.

“Zav,” I say again. “I’m here. I’m here and I’m okay.”

I can tell he’s not fully with me. My guess would be that he’s fighting his baser, vampire instincts at the moment. Taking out that many other vampires couldn’t have been easy and if I were to guess, he’s been hanging on by a thread up until now.

“Zavier,” my voice breaks on his name. “Come back to me. I’m begging you. I’m right here. I’m safe. Please, baby.”

When his pupils continue to stay enlarged, I worry not even I will be able to pull him back from this. I’m not afraid of him, though. I ignore the gore beneath my shoes and close the distance between us. He lets Genevieve’s head drop and I try not to gag as my hand finds the back of his neck.

“Hey.” I smile, seeing his eyes begin to return to normal at my touch.

“There you are. I knew you’d find me.” I wet my lips with my tongue, trying to keep my tears at bay.

“I love you, Zav. I know I didn’t say it before and I’m so sorry, but I want you to know now that I love you.

” Stroking the hair at the base of his neck I revel in him being in front of me.

Slowly, I feel him place his hands on my hips. “You … I’m not imagining this am I?”

“No.” I shake my head, sniffling. “I’m here, baby. I’m alive. Looks like I was trying to get out to find you and at the same time, you were coming for me. We really are mates, aren’t we?”

His fingers stroke my cheeks gently like he’s still trying to convince himself that I’m alive and in one piece.

“I love you,” I say again. Now that I’ve said the words I want to keep saying them.

He presses his forehead to mine and closes his eyes. “Fuck, Celine. I’ve never been so scared in my entire life. I thought … I couldn’t survive it if I lost you. I love you, too. You are … you’re my soul. Without you there would be nothing left of me.”

He moves in to kiss me and I cringe away. “Um … maybe kiss me after you shower, hm? I wouldn’t mind a shower first myself.”

He seems to realize then that he’s covered in blood. “Yeah, good … that’s a good idea.”

I can tell he’s still a little dazed, but he’s returning and that’s all that matters.

“Please, get me the hell out of here,” I beg, and he does just that.