Blood of a Red Rose (18 page)

* * * * *

CHAPTER
THIRTY-FIVE

Decision

(Christian)

I
always knew Rose would become my consort, but what I didn't know until the decision was made, was that by turning her
...
she would also become our hybrid.

As I drank from Rose, bringing her to the brink of death
,
all my thoughts were fuzzy from the effect her blood was
already
starting to
hav
e
on me
.

I knew for Rose to become my consort I
needed t
o perform the consort ceremony while delivering the sedative of eternal life.
So
as I settled into my subconscious
,
I
began to think the words t
hat would seal our consort bond, layering them with my Sire command.
"Your life to me, my life to yo
u, through this bond our love is
true. Whatever shall come
,
we share in whole. Life to death, e
tern
ity
our goal."
I felt the scanning ability snap into place for Rose as I fell to the ground with her in my arms.

* * * * *

(Rose)

After leaving Christian behind in Evie's office
,
I started to help set up the tables and chairs in the club. Suddenly
,
I felt my phone vibrating and looked down to see my dad's number.

The relief I felt was so overwhelming that I snapped the phone open, buzzing with excitement. "Dad. You're alright?"

"Yes, Rose. I'm fine."

"Oh
,
thank god. I was so worrie
d
that crazy bitch would hurt you when you told her you were leaving. Are you on your way to The Rising Pit now?"

A knot in my stomach started to form when the line
remained
silent for just a little too long. "Rose
,
I need you to listen to me, baby. I know this will be hard to understand
,
but...I'm staying with Meredith.
W
e're having a baby."

No words could flow past the anger now rising within
me.
I knew without a doubt Meredith had somehow tricked my dad into staying with her.
That bitch is going to pay.

I didn't even both
er
hanging up the phone
,
but instead threw it across the room and watched it smash into tiny pieces. I knew this was the end for me as I couldn't control my demon side any longer. I started seeing red as I threw chairs and smashed tables. I didn't care if everyone knew
,
because the second I left here
,
I'd be going to kill
Meredith
and would probably never return anyway.

Suddenly from behind me I heard Christian's voice
.
"
Rose, my god, what's wrong?"

I spun around
,
trying to catch my breath and stared at him with my glowing red eyes. Even though I was angry
,
the sight of him had me wishing I had time to explain and apologize for everything. But I didn't.

Everyone was sta
r
ing at me
,
and just as I prepared to run for the door, Christian was flyi
ng at me with his vampire speed. T
he next thing I knew was the feel
ing
of his fangs sinking into my neck as I heard Evie scream, "Christian, NO!!!"

I had no control over my body going limp as the man I loved drank the life from me. Suddenly I heard Christian's voice layering my mind.
"Your life to me, my life to yo
u, through this bond our love is
true. Whatever shall come
,
we share in whole
. Life to death,
etern
ity
our goal."

As I started to take my last breath, I felt
a strange snap in my mind as we fell to the floor.
The last thing I heard was Christian's voice
in my head
.
"Rose, I forgive
you."

Look for
other books
in The Rose Trilogy

at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and other online vendors

Scent of a White Rose - Book 1

(Available Now)

Roses & Thorns - Book 1.5

(Available Now)

Death of a Black Rose - Book 3

(Available
September 1
8, 2012)

by

Tish Thawer

Praise for
Scent of a White Rose

"...everything about Scent of a White Rose was such a fresh new concept when it came to vampires, actually it was just a whole new concept in general for the paranormal genre! This is a read any paranormal lover should read!" ~ YA-Aholic

"Tish adds her own unique spin that makes Rose and Christian's story intriguing. The plot twists will definitely have you turning the pages to see what is going to happen next." ~ The Book Lovers Realm

"
Scent of a White Rose
is not the plain Jane girl meets vampire and falls in love story...I will tell you that you should add this book to your TBR list." ~ The Book Nympho

"Thawer managed what I thought was an impossible feat. She was able to put yet another new spin on the age old vampire tale." ~
T
he Bookshelf Sophisticate

Praise for
Roses & Thorns

"
I totally fell in love with the characters, the action, the writing style, the plot
..." ~ Proserpine Craving
Books

"
If you're a romantic at heart you'll love this forbidden vampire romance filled with emotion and enchanting characters. Roses & Thorns is the perfect follow up to the first book in the Rose Trilogy
..." ~ Romancing the Darkside

"
I have lost count of all the things I love about this short story. The imagery she used to describe the tender relationship between Rose and her mother Loraine is breathtaking. It is truly heartwarming and will leave you wanting more.
" ~
The Booklovers Realm