Page 79 of The Vampire's Redemption

“Have you heard from Nikolas?” Gabby didn’t fail to notice Felix tensing.

“Yes. He’s on his way back. We have the cells ready to hold the vampires you captured.”

“Good. That’s all. Can you give us some privacy, please?” She preferred they didn’t have an audience for what came next.

“Of course.”

Gabby girded herself and faced Felix. His expression was unreadable, his emerald eyes flat. Arms crossed, he waited for her to make the first move. No doubt he already sensed the whirling mix of fury, resentment, and fear within her.

“You could have died.” There, her voice came out steady. She even sounded accusatory. After all, it was his fault for making her suffer through the last few hours.

The storms of worry, of pain, threatened to drag her down and drown her.

For a split second, she thought he’d died.

Gone, just like that.

It had been the worst second of her life.

Worse than when Armando had killed her.

Worse than being locked in the dungeon.

Worse than the decades of unbearable longing that had forced her aground.

“Isn’t that your wish? You will be free.” His voice was pitched low. Dangerous. Vicious. Nothing like someone who’d only recovered from death’s door.

Free.

Yes, she’d fought tooth and nail for her freedom. From him. From her brother. Yet, when he’d fallen, his body dead, a part of her had screamed a furious denial.

Because, without him, she’d return to a state of simply existing.

His death would be worse than what Alistair had shown her. It wasn’t only about the mating bond. Even if Alistair broke it, if he was alive, she would live.

But if he died…

Her mind recoiled from the thought.

Gabby paced away, otherwise she would run her hands all over him to ensure he was safe and sound.

No, touching him would only lead to more physical intimacy she wasn’t ready for.

Intimacy she yearned for. She needed to feel alive. To confirm he was alive. To rid herself of the shadows of emptiness within her.

“How many times must I say this? I do not need your protection. I had it under control.”

Felix rose to his feet, his jaw tight with tension. “Yes, and then what? You would be the one with your neck torn out.” The next few words seemed to be wrenched from his soul. “I would rather die than watch you suffer.”

She refused to be moved. “Ugh!” Throwing her hands up in the air, she bit back, “Easy for you to say. I thought you died!”

His green eyes flashed red. Gabby’s heart stopped, then hammered against her ribcage. She’d hit a nerve.

Realization dawned in a flash.

He’d watched her die. He had held her in his arms as her mortal existence was snuffed out.

All these years, all these centuries, she’d been so focused on her freedom, on growing stronger as a vampire, she’d never stopped to think about her death. How it must have impacted him.