Demonstorm: Heart of a Vampire #6 (20 page)

She watched him leave, wanting nothing more than to race after him, throw herself into his arms and demand he never let her go. But life didn’t work that way.

Cyrus finished his third plate of food, and sat back in the chair, staring at her. “So, sister. Have you become an idiot or a coward?”

Shock coursed through her at his harsh words. “Wh-what?”

“You’ve found the greatest gift that exists, that has ever existed. Something every being searches their life for. And you want to walk away from it? So, which is it? Idiot or coward?”

“Neither,” she replied sharply.

“Hmm.” Cyrus continued to stare at her.

Straightening her shoulders, she replied, “There are other things to consider.”

“Like what?” he asked.

She fidgeted uncomfortably. “Like your safety. Finding out what happened to our father and brother.”

“I’d think, after centuries, anything you could do for our family wouldn’t prevent you from having a life of your own.”

She dropped her gaze, feeling pinned.

“Besides,” Cyrus continued, “I’m not staying. Tonight, I’ll be strong enough to open a portal and return to our demon realm. Is your plan to follow? To give up everything you’ve found?”

She couldn’t speak from the lump in her chest. “No. Not forever.”

“Ah. So it is idiocy.” Cyrus slammed his hand on the table. “The great war is near and you want to run and hide.”

Anger flushed through her. “That’s not true.”

“Then what is it? I’ve never known you to shirk from anything before.”

Jumping to her feet, she paced the length of the nearest bed. “You don’t understand. Besides, it’s been a long time since we last saw each other.”

“You think I don’t know that well enough?” he demanded, rising to his feet and facing her. “You think I haven’t gone through just as much agony as you?”

Her heart fluttered. “I know you have. Now sit down, you’re not strong enough—”

He cut her off, grabbing her by the arms and spinning to pin her against the wall. “Sister, you see much, yet in some ways you are blind. I’m healing well enough. My strength is nearly returned. Tell me the truth.”

She slumped against his hold, throat burning. This was her brother, someone she’d always been able to talk to about anything. The words tumbled out from her in a rush, before she’d even realized what she was about to say. “You’re right. I’m a coward. I’m afraid.”

He drew her into a hug. “Being afraid doesn’t make you a coward unless you run from it. Father taught us that. So why are you running from the half-breed? I can see into his soul as well as you must. His heart is pure.”

Why was she running? She wasn’t quite sure. Moving from Cyrus, she sat on the bed, staring at her hands. When she’d thought death was near, she’d grabbed hold of everything Sean wanted to offer, and had given him her body, her heart and her soul.

She’d trusted him with not just her life, but Cyrus’s as well. He’d not let her down. Had in fact, proven time and again that her faith was well placed.

So why was she running scared now?

It suddenly dawned on her. Fear based on past betrayals.

But Sean would never betray her. It wasn’t like they’d get to his home and he’d turn her over to his clan to be used. Not Sean. Her heart beat sped up, warmth flushing through her at the realization.

Cyrus forcing her to face him. “You’re thinking so loudly, I caught some of those thoughts. Tell me this. You love him?”

“Yes.”

“He loves you?”

“Absolutely.”

“And he saved us both?”

“You know that.”

“Then let the past go.”

She remembered a conversation she’d had with Sean on their way to Alaska. He’d spoken of his own long captivity, and how he’d come to terms with his past, not letting it affect him.

When she had wondered out loud if such a thing was truly possible, he’d replied that it was, with hard work.

So the question was, would she put in the work, or allow Brüs to win after all?

Rising to her feet, determination filled her. A heaviness lifted from her shoulders as she felt free, completely, for the first time in forever.

Sean had rescued her from Brüs, yet she’d still been carrying around all the hate and mistrust he’d instilled inside her.

But the Abatu demon was dead.

She needed to bury him the rest of the way.

Pushing past Cyrus, she called, “I’ll be back.”

Her brother’s laughter followed her out the door.

Chapter Twenty-One

S
ean wandered aimlessly around town, trying to come up with an argument, anything, to convince Mayah to stay.

She loved him. He knew she did.

Rubbing his chest—though no matter how hard he pressed, he couldn’t reach the source of the pain—he turned another corner and found himself at a deserted park. He wandered across the grassy lawn, then sat on one of the benches, staring at the empty toys and swings.

As he looked blankly over the area, his pain edged with anger. He’d opened himself completely to Mayah.

And like everything, nearly everyone in his life, she’d rejected him. Before his thoughts could go down the road of self-pity, Sean stood.

She might be rejecting him now, but she couldn’t hold up against her own feelings, much less the strength of his love. If she needed to go to her demon realm and find the rest of her family, so be it.

But she damn well wasn’t going without him.

He’d gotten through her thick defenses before. He’d do it again.

He turned to race back to the motel and lay down his demand that he go with her.

Mayah stood next to the tire swing, twisting her hands in front of her, staring at him with a look he couldn’t quite read.

Sean started to speak, but she shushed him.

“Look,” she said. “I’m not perfect.”

“You think I am?”

Her eyes softened. “Mostly, yeah.”

His pain faded beneath the bloom of hope.

“Anyway, the past hurts.”

“It does.”

“And we can’t ever get away from it completely.”

He took a step closer, heart beating wildly.

“But, maybe with enough support, we can put it behind us,” she stated, matching his step forward.

“Hard work, but doable. With the right kind of help.” He took another step toward her, and she did the same.

“Well, I guess I was just thinking. People have betrayed me. Used me.”

“I know.” They drew even closer to each other.

“But you would never do that.”

“No.”

He reached her, but didn’t dare touch her. Not yet.

“I… I don’t know if I can get Brüs out of my head. Not completely. But I won’t let him win anymore.” She smiled hesitantly. “So, if you’re willing to put up with me—”

He jerked her against him, cutting off her words as he kissed her hard enough to make her purr happily. Wrapping his arms around her, holding her tight, he felt like he held heaven in his hands.

She kissed him back.

He didn’t think, only felt the love and passion between them. It was powerful. Never ending.

Drawing back, he looked into her eyes. “Don’t ever forget again how much I love you. Together, we can conquer anything.”

Hope and trust filled her gaze. “I love you.”

“Always,” he replied, vowing to show her every day for eternity.

Epilogue

S
ean tucked Mayah’s smaller hand in his as he strode into his clan’s castle. This time, though, he barely noticed the askance glances shot his way. It no longer struck him, making him feel out of place. Forever unwelcome, forever alone.

Now, he had Mayah by his side.

He held his head higher as they reached the King’s receiving chambers. “Is Jordan in there?” Sean asked one of the guards.

“Aye. Already waiting,” the vampire said.

Sean nodded sharply, then pushed the door open, unsurprised to see Jordan and his queen, Dalia on one bench. His parents sat on another. Though Jordan was millennia old, he was up to date with technologies, making sure cameras and alarms secured the perimeter of the miles wide property. No one snuck in. They had to have known he was back the second he’d arrived.

Ashlyn jumped up, rushing to Sean’s side. She reached out, drawing him into her embrace. “Darling, everything all right?”

After a quick hug, Sean tugged Mayah into the room. “Everyone, there’s someone special I’d like you to meet.”

A cackling laugh full of glee rang out from behind him. Sean and Mayah both swung around.

Jezamine strode down the hall, smiling a gap-toothed grin that made her wrinkled face scrunch up. “Knew ye be the right one to send.”

The old woman stopped right before them and looked Mayah up and down. Then she bowed. “Long time, girlie.”

“Very long,” Mayah replied.

“Got ye out.”

“You did. I am in your debt.”

Jezamine winked. “There be much to ask of ye.”

“I’ll help where I can.”

The old woman nodded sharply, then waved Sean and Mayah farther into the room.

After quick introductions, the old crone stated sharply, “Tell us all ye’ve seen.”

Sean took a seat, releasing Mayah’s hand as she began to pace, twirling a braid nervously while she studied everyone else in the room. When her gaze fell on him, a softness lit her eyes and her shoulders relaxed the smallest bit.

She began to speak, about the old entities, the chess board. The war.

She moved on to the few wars of the past anyone knew of, about Atlantis. The Prince-turned-King, the origin of the Fey and the swords.

Jezamine jerked to her feet. “Tell me ’bout these blades. Don’t leave a single thing out, ye understand?”

Mayah drifted to the back of Sean’s chair, laying a hand on his shoulder, as if to center herself by touching him. Then she continued.

As she talked, Ashlyn stared at them both, her gaze assessing. Sean caught her glance, raising an eyebrow. His mother blushed.

When Mayah finished telling Jezamine about the swords, the old woman sat back down. Staring at Jordan, she stated, “We be needing those precious weapons on our side.”

The King nodded.

Sean stood, taking Mayah’s hand. “We’ll go.”

But Jezamine was shaking her head. “Be another task ye two must do for me.” To Jordan, she said, “We be talking later about who you be sending.”

The King sat back, as if relaxed, though his jaw muscle ticked.

Dismissed, Sean led Mayah up to his bedroom. She glanced around, her gaze landing on the bed. Then she smiled. “Think we have some time to ourselves?”

Sean grabbed her and spun her into his arms, then backed her against the wall. “Whether we do or not, we’ll make time, my darling.”

She slipped her hands under his shirt, over his back, her nails scraping lightly. His hell cat’s eyes glowed with desire. With acceptance. With unending love.

* * *

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed your time with Sean and Mayah as much as I did. If you have time, would you please leave a review for me? Reviews are what help authors sell more books, which in turn means I get to keep writing more for you.

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Praise for Heart of a Vampire Series

Bloodstorm

When duty forces a shaman to stop a vampire from her revenge, love doesn’t just burn… it bites.

“ Ms. Kallyn delivers a whirlwind of magic & intrigue that will have your heart racing for more

~ Jami Gray, author of Shadow’s Edge

 
“Loved It! Wonderfully written and with a fascinating plot, Bloodstorm will keep you wanting more”

~ Crystal

Hungerstorm

After centuries alone, can a vampire king trust the woman who’s woken his heart?