Page 124 of Samhain Savior

“Over my dead body.”

Twisting harder, I smiled as I heard the bones in Arnaud’s arm snap, his squeal of pain feeding my soul in ways I both hated and loved. Whipping my tail around, I snapped it against the backs of his knees, smiling as he crashed to the floor in front of me.

“Merde!”

Releasing his hand, I grinned as the ruined arm fell back to his side, limp and useless. Grabbing his throat, I lifted his chin and forced him to look into my eyes. To see the eons of rage and hatred and despair that lived within me,waiting to escape, and I smiled when I could smell his terror.

“I’m afraid you’re mistaken,” I stated, my voice calm even as my heart pounded in my chest. Within me, the bond to Delilah pulsed, and I could feel her fear. Something was wrong, and I needed to get to her.

Turning my head, my ears picked up a scream—her scream—and my own fear spiked.

Ready to be done with the pathetic bloodsucker before me, I lifted my hand, pleased when Vine placed a wooden stake in my palm.

“C’est toi qui vas mourir.”

Arnaud’s eyes widened at my words, but he didn’t speak, only offering a defeated sigh of resignation that was music to my ears.

Plunging the stake into his heart, I released his throat and dropped his body, not caring enough to watch him die.

Striding to the open door—knowing Vine would follow—I stepped into the darkened garden, spread my wings, and leapt into the night sky.

My mate needed me, and nothing would stop me from getting to her.

Never again.

Chapter fifty-eight

Delilah

The diamond called to me.

I could feel it, the temptations that it held—Pride, Lust, Gluttony—pulsing in the night, daring me to follow.

Turning back to the grand house, I stared at the door, my heart thudding as the sounds of fighting echoed into the night.

Archer had told me to run, but why did I listen? I never listened to him!

“Don’t do it,” Mex said, stepping forward and placing her hand on my arm. “Don’t distract him. He needs to know you’re safe, so let’s get you back to the club. He’ll find you when he’s done.”

“No!” Stepping back, I raised my hands, surprised to see that they were glowing. I stared at them, curling and uncurling my fingers as wonder and shock flowed throughme, then turned them palm out to Mex, holding her back. “I can’t leave. Not yet.” Lowering my hands, I tried to reason with her. “The diamond is so close, Mex. That’s the whole reason we’re here. The reason for all this death and destruction.” Turning, I took in the house, the sounds of fighting and snarling still echoing in every room. In my chest, I could feel the pulse of Archer’s anger, his fury at the vampire who had put his hands on me, and it filled me with hope.

Hope that he would win that fight and we could finally be finished with this insane quest.

Knowing that Archer was strong and had Vine at his back, I turned my back on the house—on my mate—and began searching for Genevieve and the diamond once more. “I’m not leaving without it.”

“Cher,” Mex said, her steps close behind mine. “You sure you know what you’re doing?”

“Yes,” I replied, even though I wasn’t entirely sure. The back garden appeared deserted, but I knew better than most what kinds of things hid in the dark.

“You are gonna have one seriously pissed off demon on your tail.”

“I couldn’t let her get away,” I insisted as I wove through the finely trimmed shrubbery. “We’ve worked too hard to let it slip through our fingersnow.”

“What is your plan, then?” Mex pressed, her hands suddenly filled with a pair of wicked looking daggers. The edges were sharp, catching the moonlight as she matched my pace. “Because as much as she pisses me off, I can’t exactly condone the killing of a Vampire Queen in my territory…at least not without a good reason,” she added with a smirk.

“I’m hoping it won’t go that far.” Looking to the left and right, I tried to sense the diamond, ignoring the hot pulse of anger that burned through the bond. “If I can just talk to her, maybe I can get her to see reason.”

“Good luck with that.”