I don’t want to kill her.
A hand closes on my arm, and Lilith hauls me to her. “Now, Keon.” She orders. “Kill her now.”
She spins to counter an attack, leaving me with her reinforced command. Rage infuses my blood, and I propel myself across the room to engage with two super vamps. I can take them both easily, but the order in my mind is a distraction that has me slip up twice. I end them both but walk away bloody and wounded.
I walk right up to Fee as she finishes off a super vamp and turns to me with a triumphant grin. Hunter and Grayson are close by, but they see me with her and return their focus onto the enemy.
No. Don’t you see? I am the enemy. She isn’t safe with me.
Oh god, why do they think she’s safe with me.
“Keon?” She tilts her head to the side. “Are you okay?”
Kill her. Kill her now.
I grip my blade tighter. “Fee…” My voice is strained. “I…”
Her eyes widen. She knows. She knows what I am about to do.
There’s a shadow behind her. A super vamp with a sword, and it’s arching toward her neck.
Let her die.
“NO!”
With every last ounce of will I can muster, I shove her to the side and take her place. The blade pierces my heart, burning, rending, tearing, and Lilith’s voice is finally silent.
Fee
No…
I watched Keon fall, only distantly aware of the others coming toward me and taking down the super vamp who’d struck him. I reached for Keon, grabbing him as he fell, trying to staunch the blood pumping from the wound in his chest.
So much blood.
“Keon. No.”
His mouth moved in a whisper. I leaned in to hear.
“I can’t kill you,” he said. “I would rather d—”
I looked at his face, his beautiful, blue face. But the eyes that had burned with feeling were empty and cold.
Keon had saved my life by giving up his own
Lilith had given the order, and he’d thwarted her.
Lilith…
The rushing in my ears, blocking out the cacophony of the room, was replaced by a burning in my chest as I locked eyes on Lilith across the room.
“You did this.” My voice was a whisper yet the whole room was suddenly silent. “You did this.” Not my voice. Too gruff, too loud, like the voice of a titan filled with vengeance. “He didn’t need to die.”
“Seraphina…” Samael held up his hands to placate me.
“You ordered him to kill me.”
Samael’s hands drooped to his sides, and he turned to Lilith in horror.
The rage inside me swelled. “This is wrong, and the price must be paid.” The words echoed through me from a place deep inside connected to the righteous blaze. I was no longer in control, because Keon was dead. My Keon was dead, and all who had hurt him would pay.
“No, Fee!” Azazel cried. “You need to shut it down or it will kill you.”
But it was too late. The power had me. The blast burned through me, searing me, tearing my insides and bringing the coppery taste of blood to my mouth, and then the world went white.
My knees hit the ground as the dazzle faded. My vision blurred and darkened.
Dead.
She had to be dead now.
But even though the ashy remains of the super vamps that rained around her, Lilith was whole and protected in Samael’s arm. A blue shimmer radiated around them.
He’d shielded her. Protected her.
“No!” The flame rose again.
“Stop!” Samael demanded. “Lilith’s the only one who can bring him back.”
Bring him back?
The flame didn’t care. It wanted out.
“Lilith can save him,” Samael shouted. “Shut it down.”
Fire in my throat, behind my eyes, and in my blood. I tamped down, pushing back against the power with every last iota of will. My scream was a banshee wail and then there was blessed numbness.
The flame was out.
I fell forward, bracing myself on my palms, slick and sweaty against the marble tiles.
Azazel hauled me into his arms. “Fee. Oh fuck, Fee.”
I coughed and blood spattered his face.
“Sorry.” The word was a gurgle.
Cora wiped my mouth. “You’re okay,” she said thickly. “You’re going to be okay.” But her eyes said different.
“Keon.” I turned my head to look down at the daemon. “Fix him.”
Samael propelled Lilith across the room and pushed her to her knees beside Keon.
“Bring him back,” he ordered.
Lilith let out a strangled sob.
“Bring back your son,” Samael ordered again.
Her head snapped up. “You know?”
“I’ve always known. I chose to let you pretend. You have much to answer for Lilith, but first you’ll pay the Gateman and bring back your son.”
“Keon’s my brother?” Azazel sounded stunned.
Lilith reached out to touch Keon’s cheek with trembling fingers, and the veil of confidence and granite that encased her melted. The lines on her face softened, and her mouth quivered.
Her shoulders heaved in shuddering sob. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m so sorry.”
She pressed her palm to his cheek and closed her eyes.
Keon
The man leans up against his bike and studies his nails. The purple bus idles at the curb by the bus stop.
“Who are you again?” I ask the man.
“A friend.” He says. “It’s not often we get the likes of you come this way. The last one was a few centuries ago. You look a lot like him.”
“Who am I?”
“My friend,” the man says.
This doesn’t feel right, but my mind is confused, and I can’t simply sit at this bus stop all day.
“So…” The man jerks his head toward the bike. “You want to come for a ride?”
I take a step toward him.
“Stop!”
A woman appears out of the darkness. Alabaster skin and dark hair. She’s beautiful, and my heart stirs for her.
The man groans but then gets a look at the woman and straightens. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the queen of the damned herself. And to what do I owe this… Wait a second.” He looks at me then back at the woman. “This one’s yours, isn’t he?”
Hers?
“I want him back,” she says. “I need him back.”
The man sucks on his teeth. “You’re willing to pay the price? Are you sure he’s worth it?”
She looks at me and there’s warmth in her eyes… Love and regret.
“He was always worth it,” she says. “It’s I that must prove my worth.” She takes a deep breath and turns to the man. “Leave me enough time to make amends.”
The man seems to consider this then nods and holds out his hands. The woman takes them and then my world is filled with light.
Fee
Lilith’s eyes remained closed for long seconds, and the air began to vibrate with a strange hum. Something was happening. Gray streaks appeared in Lilith’s hair and fresh lines materialized on her elfin face.