Bozena and Sveta (Neuripra) (22 page)

Chapter 25

Zauran
:

Racing into the stand of trees, I grind to a halt, faced with a troop of red eyed vampyre, most of them turning into dissipating mirages as I reach them.

Sveta goes the other way, closing off the opposite escape, and in tandem the urge grabs us and we send a blast of plyx into the night, illuminating the monsters.

A tall silhouette stands behind them, his form familiar.

Sveta is almost on him when Zarak appears out of fucking nowhere, solidifying apparating vampyres, clamping them to his will, binding them instantly.

Running, I don't have time for the minions, I need their leader, but he's sauntering away, his casual gait belying the impossible speed he's moving at.

Sveta mirrors me, following my lead, and we shoot after the leader of the hunt, but he's gone when I reach the last place I spied him, even though I kept my eyes riveted to the prick.

Dropping to my haunches, I read the signature in the sand, closing my eyes and conjuring his image.

This was all we needed to hunt him, track him, to incarcerate him for his crimes against humanity.

My eyes snap open just as Akae appears between the boughs in front of me.

“
Arelstin,” he states unnecessarily.

“
Yup,” I nod, standing, surveying the area, knowing he's long gone.

Zarak joins the party, two captives attached to each of his hands, “He was after the slakax according to these squealers, but something else appeared tonight.”

Zaria! My petal! Moving, I start sprinting, “Zaria is unguarded! She's slakax!”

Sveta's eyes light up like bog lights, flaring orange balls to pinwheel into the darkness, “Zena's just as vulnerable.”

Zarak booms after me, I'm almost to the parking area, “The goddess is here! He wants her more!”

I don't care who he wants right now, my priority is Zaria and the boys growing in her belly.

*

Sveta:

Slamming to a halt, I turn and face Zarak, “What?”

“
The vesna are coming down from the mountain, they're fleeing.”

“
The vesna?” That chick with the hot legs, she's vesna?

The vesna never leave their mountain hideaway. They're more myth than fact they've been hidden for so long. They don't breed, they're a female only race, immortal, they do not mingle with the great unwashed masses. They are the holiest of the holy on this land.

This day is never fucking going to end, is it.

“
Vesna?” I ask again.

“
Yes Sveta, vesna. You have her blood on your chest, you've bonded already, and she's bonded with Arelstin because he's the one who cut her open.”

“
He cut her open?” The thought of the vampyres hurting women pisses me off. They can kick my ass but picking on women is what cowards with small dicks do.

My hands unconsciously move to my chest, feeling her dried blood imprinted on me.

Hey, it's a nice thought, but I'm in no shape to foster a new relationship with anyone, vesna or not.

Looking at Zarak, I indicate we should move, “I have to get my jacket, I need to check on Zena. Arelstin just lost his bounty, so he's probably going to target the consolation prize.”

I don't really recall anyone called Arelstin.

Zarak reads me, his eyes flaring so red he looks like he's erupting, “He's Ellindt's lover, guard, and mate.”

“He framed his lover for his own murders?”

The vampyre sink lower and lower in my opinion with each passing transgression.

“She's the most powerful vampyre on earth, and he knows all there is to know about her power, her reign, her reach, and the people in her pockets. He's had a long time to build an empire using hers as a foundation. I knew the bastard was evil, but to think he tried to dethrone her by framing her, and removing the neuri in the process so there's no one to stand in his way and stop him, that takes balls.”

Time's a wasting.

“I have to go,” I repeat, urgency beginning to ratchet spurs in my soul.

Zarak shakes the minions on either hand, “I'll take care of these.”

He vanishes, leaving me alone, everyone gone their separate ways in the aftermath.

Bolting for the steps, I need to get my jacket and get to Zena.

*

Aisyx:

Holding the glorious creature, I'm instantly afraid my grip is too strong.

Loosening my hands, I hold her like a newborn, overwhelmed with the scent of holiness encrusted in her skin.

Venix's words come back to me,
“
Spirit is thankful to you for keeping Božena alive, you will be rewarded with the mate you've been pining for.”

“
What are you?” I whisper, taking her to Zauran's office and laying her down on the couch lining the wall.

Caressing long hair off her face, it's instinct to examine her arms and legs, looking for the wound that caused the bleeding. My t-shirt is now saturated with her crimson loss, and it alarms me.

Akae appears out of nowhere, with Venix.

The archangel doesn't hesitate, closing the gap in a stride, laying his hand on her and blasting angelic power into her, closing the gouges.

Then he looks at me, “Take good care of her. There are only four vesna left.”

Disappearing as suddenly as he arrived, I look at Akae, fucking confused.

“Vesna?”

“
Vesna are messengers. Oracles. They only appear to humans in spring. They live so high up in the mountains very few have ever seen them. Goddesses, females one and all.”

Snatching my focus back to the goddess, I carefully trace her cheek, “Who are you?”

Long dark eyelashes rest delicately on the top of her cheek, and they part to stare bottomless pools of serene green at me.

She stares so long with her berry blushed lips parting, and her hand clutches her chest. Blinking three times in quick succession, she stuns me with an unexpected smile.

She points at herself, “Nada.” Then frowning, she traces her blood all over my white shirt with her fingertips, “You?”

Where are my manners!

Still on one knee like a knight swearing allegiance, I lean in, kissing her on each cheek as is customary, then taking her hand, which is so tiny in mine, I use my free hand to point at myself, “Aisyx.”

“
Chased,” she gasps, her eyes widening, too bright with fear and unshed tears.

“
Not anymore. Now you're safe,” I smile, giving her hand a little squeeze of reassurance. “Are you thirsty? Can I get you a drink?”

She furrows her smooth brow, “I know you.”

I shake my head, she must be in shock.

“
No, I doubt it. I'm half neuri, half vampyre, and never go near your territory.”

She plucks at my t-shirt with her fingernails, pinching and lifting it, as if reading my soul through the blood smears, like a sage seeing the future in tea leaves.

“I know you,” she says again, determined, resolute.

Green eyes morph to aquamarine, then deepen to green so dark it looks black. “You make safe.”

The harsh slap on my shoulder jars me out of her spell, “Well that settles that. Looks like god thought you were worthy enough to land a vesna. Now keep her safe and lets drop the curtain on this endless night.”

Glaring at Akae, I don't know what to do. I can't take her home, surely? Or, maybe... what the hell. There's only one way to keep her safe from the hunters, and that's to keep her with me, but, damn... I haven't been laid in forever and she's fucking gorgeous.

She blushes bright red, as if I said it out loud.

A seer, a messenger, an oracle. Great. So she knows what I'm thinking?

She nods, a lusty laugh caressing my skin when she smiles.

I am so fucked.

Sitting up, cradling my hand like a teddy bear, she leans close and whispers in my ear, “You make safe.”

*

Sveta:

I need to get home and get my phone. I won't disturb B
ožena, but I will leave her a message so she knows I'm concerned.

Driving the Ghost down her road, I survey the area, seeing nothing untoward. Satisfied, I accelerate, heading for home. I need a shower, a change of clothes, and a peace offering.

*

Arelstin:

These neuri alphas are beginning to piss me off. They have the demons in their pockets, and they police so effectively they seem to be everywhere.

The youngest drives across my view, ruining the party.

Dimming my light entirely, I freeze, waiting for him to fuck off. When I hear the guttural chug of the bike accelerating away, I breathe out, solidifying and resuming my activity.

She's so out of it, exhausted, deep in the plyx of the subconscious, I lean over and exhale again, watching as she responds in deepest sleep.

Sitting next to her on her bed, I can't hide my gleeful smile.

A hand either side of her head, I press close, positioning my fangs over the marks Jowendrhan left, piercing the skin, slipping deep inside her, injecting lustful contraband into her bloodstream, relishing the gasp and arch of her body up against mine.

I haven't tasted the slakax yet. I need to know what Phoebe will taste like. I need to be prepared for every eventuality.

This is just homework, very satisfying homework.

Maybe she knows where Phoebe is.

Slipping inside her mind now that we share body fluids, I roam for the answers I seek.

Slakax power blasts into my mouth, exploding her light into mine, burning her spirit into my DNA.

Oh baby! Forget your blood, I want to suck your plyx.

The room turns red with my vampyre vision, the blood guilt leaking over my irises with the passion now raging in me.

Sucking harder, I drink her plyx, relishing the shivering of her petite form as I return the favor. Biting harder, harder, drinking, guzzling, I'm half drunk on it already.

She is redemption. Phoebe's the oldest, which makes her the strongest. If I can get this from Phoebe, I won't need god, I'll have found the key out of my prison without anyone's help but her plyx in my veins, in my light.

Euphoria bleeds over my clarity, fogging the ability to think, instinct taking over, sucking harder on her blood, plyx, skin.

Italy. Phoebe's in Italy.

I'm in her memories, seeing Zaria holding Phoebe tight, pouring her pink plyx into her sister. Looking harder, I see Phoebe's plyx is blue. This is fantastic! Phoebe contains the plyx of
two
slakax inside her.

Fuck, that rocks me so hard I'm going to cum right here.

I get all three inside of me. I'm harnessing Božena's right this second, and when I find Phoebe I get hers
and
Zaria's.

My appetite rumbles and I suck harder, withdrawing Zena's plyx, unable to maintain the charade of a gentleman. Ellindt has given me wicked appetites, and this chick right here will do for tonight.

Touch me, come on, touch me. Let me own your dream. Closer, that's it.

Chapter 26

Sveta:

Leaning with my back against a tree trunk, I look out over the valley as the sun comes up, flooding the land with long hot fingers, glossing the autumn leaves with a sheen so vivid the entire world looks like a banquet.

I hope she likes the flowers. I keep checking my phone, because she's usually awake at this hour, but so far nothing, and I'm trying my damnedest not to panic and think the worst.

“Mind if I join you?”

Hiding my fright, I refuse to look at him even though I would recognize that voice anywhere.

“What do you want?”

Screwing my eyes up, my jaw tensing, I maintain my position, my elbows resting on my knees, swilling a long stem of dried grass in my fingers, irritably digging my heel into the loamy earth.

He sits next to me, staring out at my magnificent view. How the fuck did he find me?

“
You need to know something,” he says, shielding his eyes from the brilliance of sunrise, looking at me, dropping the vampyre act, sitting here looking human.

Exhaling through my nose, I give up. Annoyed, I look at him, wishing they'd all fuck off and leave us alone. I arch my eyebrows, waiting.

“Vampyres can see through walls. That's how he knew about her bruises. She didn't betray you.”

“
Why are you here?” I repeat, gritting my teeth.

“
To apologize. I am sorry for letting love blind me. Jowendrhan has egotistical tendencies, and they are leading him astray.”

Gee, I wonder where he got those tendencies from. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, where I'm sitting.

He smiles, “I deserve that. I'm moving the family to Cape Town. Ellindt lives there. The twins are staying with me, but if Zena ever wants to see them, she has my number and I'll arrange it.”

“
What do you want?” I ask the archangel, unable to hide my suspicion.

“
I have to save my family from entirely falling into ruin. Darise and Jowendrhan have never been violent, their behavior shocked me as much as it did you.”

“
It didn't shock me. You kicked my ass for the sheer fun of it too. They're just like you.”

I leave the rest out, the part about never fighting with an honor code, without gentlemanly conduct, blindsiding their target, never playing fair.

Picturing him appearing on the highway, my blood burns with rage.

“
Angels have egos too. That's something earth dwellers seem to forget. They think angels are altruistic and like god. We are from Spirit, yes, but the moment spirit takes on a physical form we are afflicted by the physical world. We all fight the same issues deep inside.”

I nod, humoring him, remaining silent.

“You love her?” he says.

“
None of your fucking business.”

He laughs, it's deep and foreboding. “I must go. Healing you was my way of saying I'm sorry.”

I nod again. I'm never going to thank him for that. He can fuck right off.

He holds his hand out for me to shake, and I stare at it, torn. It's like making a deal with a devil.

Dropping it, he stands, “Take care of them.”

Watching him loom over me, he vanishes in a shimmer, leaving behind the key.

The key!

What the fuck was he doing with the key?

*

Božena:

With the way I'm feeling, you'd swear I spent my night drinking one hundred percent pure alcohol.

My mouth is dry, my head pounding and foggy, my body weighted with fatigue.

I need coffee.

Rolling out of bed, I catch myself on the side of the mattress, forcing myself to push up and stand.

I think I'm coming down with something. I feel truly shit.

Blinking, trying to focus, I stare at the bloodstain on my pillow. I don't remember stabbing myself in the head. What's that all about?

Fuck it, maybe I did drink? I feel like Hell on heroine.

Rubbing my arms against the chill, I stumble down the passage to start the coffee, stopping off in the bathroom first.

I miss Sveta. Fuck, I hope he's okay.

My heart cracks and sobs swell up, wracking me, leaving me weakened and sliding down the cupboard to sit heavily on the floor.

Shit! Triple fucking shit!

It's over.

Nooooo! The snot blubs up, choking me, the sobs slamming so hard I can't breathe.

Curling into myself, I cry long after the coffee is ready.

*

Sveta:

I can't take this.

It's now after nine and I still haven't heard a peep. Does she really hate me that much that she won't even acknowledge me?

Burying my pride, I text her. Then resume watching my phone like it's a bomb ticking, ready to explode.

I cried like a fucking baby in the shower. The second I stripped I could smell her on me, the scent only increasing when hot water hit my skin.

I fucking love you so much.

Fisting my hands until they ache, the tears burn again and I pound my curled hand hard against my forehead. Why does it have to hurt? Is this what you felt like every day of your life? Fuck, it's enough to drive me into doing something reckless.

I check the phone again, wiping my eyes impatiently.

*

Božena:

Using the coffee mug to warm my hands, I dawdle back to the bedroom to get dressed. Or climb back into bed and stay there. I haven't decided which.

Passing the front door, the weirdest stuff catches my eye.

What's that?

Walking to the door, I lean down to peer at the stalks in the letter slot. Putting the coffee down, I lift up the flap, looking outside, holding fading green straws.

Ohmigod, they're flowers!

Carefully pulling them through the slot, I'm holding a tiny posy of sweet-peas. Periwinkle blue sweet-peas. There's a note tied to them, and I unknot the string binding them, opening the tiny piece of paper.

I saw these and thought of you

They're for my Angel, because she's always blue

S

My heart slams so hard into my ribcage, it leaves me breathless. They're from Sveta! It's natural to sniff them, inhaling the delicate fragrance. I vaguely recall these growing in his garden.

He was broken... as I recall... trying to remember, my head pounds with a violent throb... swallowing hard, I shake the nausea. He went all the way home to pick these, then come all the way back?

I don't deserve him.

What does this mean? Has he forgiven me? Reclaiming my coffee, smiling happily at my flowers, I hold them possessively to my nose, hope burgeoning in my heart. Injecting me with energy.

Where's my phone?

Rummaging in my jeans, I unearth it, leaving my coffee on the bedside table, sliding the bar to send him a thank you, praying this wasn't a goodbye gift.

I have a message.

Please just let me know you're okay.

My hands start trembling. Resting the iPhone on the bed, I struggle to message back.

I'm okay. Thank you for the flowers.

It vibrates almost immediately.

Can I come see you?

Yes!

I'll be there in ten ...x

Yay! He ended it with a kiss!

Oh my god! I have to get dressed! Brush my teeth!

Panic sets in and I start running around like a schizo with Alzheimer's, giggling with delirious happiness that he's okay, he's coming to see me, he left me flowers!

*

Sveta:

Punching the air, I sprint down the mountain to my den.

I don't care if I break every speed limit between here and there, I will be there in ten minutes or die trying.

*

Božena:

I'm so nervous as I open the door. He looks fabulous. You would never know he was beaten and broken five hours ago by looking at him.

Morning light caresses his chestnut hair, glinting the short spikes with copper fire.

Swallowing hard, my heart slides heavily to my knees and tears rise up to fill the space, thickening my breath and making inhalation impossible.

“
May I come in?” he asks, his voice deep and smooth.

Nodding, I step out of the way, wishing with every blood vessel in my body he'd just sweep me up and hug me to death when he walks in.

Closing the door, I stare up at him in the dim shadow of the passage.

“
Are you okay?” he asks, a faint apricot haze coming out of his right eye.

I nod, still too upset and nervous to speak.

He brushes a palm over his hair, slumping a broad shoulder against the wall and perching in that slant, a half smile on his lips, “Is this the silent treatment?”

Shaking my head to answer, his gentle approach and half-joke undoes me, and a sob pops out of me like a loud burp. Shamed and embarrassed, I smother my fist over my mouth.

He loses the smile, his eyes darkening when they grow serious, highlighting the embers of light in their darkness.

Turning away, misery engulfing me again, I jump when he touches me, because I didn't see it coming. Folded against him, he hugs me.

I'm so sorry Sveta. I didn't mean to hurt you.

I can't speak, my eyes are burning up with a hot flood, but I know he can hear me.

The hold tightens, squeezing the breath out of me.

“
Right back at you, baby.”

We hold on, tight, for what feels like days, and I feel rejected when he pushes me away, dropping down in front of me so he can look me in the eyes.

“Zena, there's a hell of a journey ahead of us, but I'm willing to take it. Tell me to fuck off and I will. But if you feel the way I do, we can do this together.”

It comes out like a question, and I nod, impulsively reaching out and holding his jaw in my hands, soaking in the soft prickle of stubble, staring at the fire in his eyes.

His jaw twitches, the muscles jumping into my hands.

“
Say something,” he says, and it's gruff enough to expose him.

He really cares.

“Care? I put my ass on the line for you three times a day, and then some,” he laughs, smiling, deepening the dimple in his chin.

“
Shut the fuck up and kiss me, or I'm evicting you.”

My heart hammers when he sweeps me up in his standing, slamming me into the passage wall, kissing me so hard I never want to come up for air.