In the Dark by Lila Rose (36 page)

I'll try.

There was a soft caress deep in my mind.
That is all I ask.

Gerald, a man who looked in his twenties with long blond hair, and eyes that held nothing but coldness and death, smirked down at me.

He glanced up at MaryJane, gaining her attention, and then looked back to me. "This is what the fuss has been about?" He sneered at me as if I were nothing. His eyes slid to Isaac.

"It has been a long time, Isaac."

"I am sorry to say, Gerald, but it is not long enough."

He chuckled and then shrugged, before leaning back into his throne. "I thought it time I rid myself of a problem."

"I do not understand why we cannot live alongside one another without all this hostility."

He stood swiftly and boomed, "Because I rule alone! No one will take my place. I am master. I am Lord. I am—"

"Long-winded," I offered.

Crap, I just had to open my big mouth. His eyes flashed to me. Hatred shone hot in them.

"You speak so freely when I have your people captured." His hand waved in the air toward Daphne and Trixie. "Do you want to watch while they suffer more? Or will you all be willing to bow to me? If you do, I may just let you live."

"No!" MaryJane screamed. "They must pay for killing my mate. You promised me."

Gerald looked to her and whatever she saw in his expression had her cringing and backing up a step. Panic flashed in her eyes. She was smart enough to know her life could also be on the line as well, because Gerald was one fucked-up vampire with an ego issue.

Isaac released my hand and stepped forward. "You do all of this for what, Gerald? What does it prove to
your
people? It shows nothing but proof that you are scared with what the seer foretold." Gerald snarled, flashing his fangs. "You are scared because you are weak. You have let a prophecy take hold of your life. You have ruined many lives, and I can no longer stand by to watch it happen."

"You don't get to change—"

"I do," roared Isaac. "I do have the chance to change the future because… I. Am. King." His hand reached back to me. I took it and stepped forward to his side. "With my queen at my side, we will rule with an iron fist, but we will be fair. We will listen to our people and reach for the freedom we all long for. Instead of living behind a man who lives his own life in fear."

Gerald threw his head back and laughed. Throwing both arms wide, he said, "You think things will go your way when I have insurances that tonight you die and not I?" He shook his head and smirked. "You are naïve, Isaac. You do not stand a chance here. It is best you bow to me now or die."

Isaac's eyes met mine. I smiled in reassurance. Gerald could not live past the night.

We both looked to the people behind us. Jeremiah and Darik wore an expression of fierce determination. Actually, now that I studied them all, they all had the same look.

Gerald could no longer go on doing what he had. Already our people were suffering. It was enough.

We fight.

Stay safe, my love.

You also, Isaac, or I'll hurt you myself.

He kissed me gently
. I will look forward to it.

Gerald must have guessed our play—we were ready to battle—because he lifted his hands and clapped them together.

Vampires appeared from all different directions. There were so many of them, worry pounded through my veins. Our people already captured were sitting ducks.

I'm going after Daphne and Trixie.
And I was going to kill the bastard standing by them with a superior smile upon his face.

I have asked Darik to help you. Raven will be with him. Penny is unable to reach Gerald's mind. Like all master vampires, our shields are guarded. I will be seeing to him with Adan. The rest are spreading out to help our people and battle Gerald's.

Running my hand down his arm and folding my hand in his for one last touch, I sent into his mind,
I love you.

And I you, always, my love.

For the life of me, I was going to try to stay in my human form in case there were others like Freckles, with toxic blood. If there was,
I would be useless to everyone.

My legs kicked into gear. I bolted for the stage while battle cries broke out behind me. Two vampires tried to jump me; their teeth extended, ready to rip into my fresh. I dove and they crashed into each other. I quickly got my feet under me ready to stand, only to be dragged down again. A body climbed up me. Pushing back, I twisted and pulled a knife from my pocket. Just as he was over me, I plunged it into his heart and twisted. His remains rained down over me.

A scream hit me. Glancing through my hair, I saw Daphne tugging at her restraints while the vampire I wanted to kill bit into her.

With the knife I'd just used, I placed the sharp end in my palm, aimed and threw it. It landed straight into his back, only just below his heart.

His pain-filled cry was music to my ears, but it wasn't enough. I searched for Darik and Raven. They had their own battle going on with four vampires surrounding them. Raven had transformed into her shifter canine form.

Back on my feet, I swiftly ran towards them. Two vampires stepped in front of me and I halted. They made their move. There was no way I could let anything happen. I had too much to protect now.

I gripped their hair and smashed their skulls together. Strength I never knew I possessed caused their skulls to cave in. They screamed and I stumbled back, shocked. Darik appeared and sliced their heads off.

"Go!" he yelled.

I should not be that strong.

Leila, I didn't realise after our claiming we would share each other's powers.

Searching, my eyes landed on my mate. With his fangs extended, his eyes were black. He snarled as he danced around Gerald. He looked amazing. His hands flicked out to his sides and I watched as his nails grew as if they were mine.

We were sharing our gifts.

"You stupid bitch," was cried. My eyes found the source. MaryJane climbed to her feet while Jezanna stared at her smiling. Only Jezanna lost her smile when MaryJane moved swiftly into her space and backhanded her, sending Jezanna flying through the air and landing with a thud. Caelen roared his fury and flew through the people, knocking who got in his way, friend or foe, out of his space to get to Jezanna who was slowly sitting up.

My upper lip raised. The bitch was gonna pay.

Changing directions, I sped my way to MaryJane. Someone stepped in my way, ready to take me to the ground, until Darik was there, cutting him down.

A knife in each hand, I threw the first. Landing it in MaryJane's lower back. Her gasp of agony made me smile. I'd just severed her spine. Before she had the chance to reach for it and remove it in order to heal, I was in front of her.

Her eyes rounded and just as she slid the knife out of her back, I plunged one into her abdomen.

My free hand went to her shoulder where I brought her in close and whispered in her ear, "The amount of pain you put me through, taking
my mate
for those precious few days, will never be forgiven, and the pain I'm about to inflict will never be enough. Still, I'm more than happy to deliver it." Shifting back, I smiled brightly. "Goodbye, MaryJane." Then I sliced the dagger up her stomach. She struggled and cried, but I was stronger and held her at bay.

My knife glided through her intestines with ease, right up to her heart and before I eliminated it, I winked and relished in the panic and pain I saw in her features as I tore into her heart, shredding it to nothing. Her ashes floated down around me and I found myself wishing I could kill her all over again.

There was no time to enjoy her death because Darik urged me into a running speed once again with a hand on my lower back. I had to get to Daphne and Trixie. I looked down to see Raven panting beside me.

With a leap, I was on the stage and stalking towards my prey. He'd managed to get the knife out of his back and dropped it to the floor.

"Come and play, pussycat," he taunted. "I've had my fun with your friends. They've bled enough already, wouldn't you say?"

"I'd say they should never have bled at all."

Movement to the side and I glanced there to see Sinister Dude had friends. Darik stood at my back and Raven growled at my feet, low on her hunches.

"Oh no, there would be no fun in that." He licked his lips suggestively. "My, my, they tasted good."

Daphne cried out. Fuck, another was at her now. Drinking from her. Trixie, beside her, whimpered and then yelled, "They'll drain her."

No!

With a snarl, I started forward. Two vampires charged me. My claws grew where I sank them deep into their stomach. They gasped and looked down. I twisted my fist inside of them and pulled my hands back out. Their intestines dropped to the floor.

"Raven," I called. I knew she would make the kill. I just needed to make a show of my strength and it worked. The one who'd bragged about taking my girls backed up with wide eyes.

"I'm not some meek and mild queen. I will fuck you up for touching our people, and I will do it with a smile upon my face."

Kicking out, my heel connected with his jaw. With the force behind it, he flew through the air. I was about to go after him when a jolt of pain stabbed me in the shoulder. I spun, my eyes landing on my mate falling to the floor with a sword sticking out of his back.

"Stop!" Gerald roared.

We did.

He pulled the sword from Isaac's back and kicked him over to place the tip over his heart.

Isaac's eyes met mine. In them, I saw pain and regret.

"No!" I screamed.
No, Isaac, fight. You promised you would. Fight for us.

Gerald laughed and ordered, "Then bow to me in defeat."

Isaac?

We bow to no one,
Isaac growled through my mind.

I smiled and saw surprise shine in Gerald's eyes. He pulled the sword back, ready to plunge it in, when Isaac flew up from the floor. He knocked the sword out of Gerald's hold with one hand while the other, with claws extended, drilled into Gerald's chest and twisted.

His ashes floated to the floor.

Silence filled the air.

Weapons crashed to the floor as Gerald's fighters sank to their knees, heads to the floor. They were giving in.

A flurry of movement started. Isaac's people started to cart away the injured and captured.

Casualties?
I asked Isaac.

Adan, as far as I know.

He will be missed.

Yes, my love.

Turning, I watched Daphne and Trixie being helped down by Ty's people. I caught Darik's eyes and pointed to the one who'd harmed them and said, "He stays alive for now. They deserve to have their own payback." I looked to the girls. "If you want it?"

"Yes," Daphne uttered. Trixie nodded. The man wasn't so tough now. He was being carted away by Xavier and Jensen, screaming, pleading with the new King.

Leila.
I looked to Isaac. He stood in front of the throne and gestured to me. As soon as I was close, I threw my arms around him and held on tight.

You scared me.

I'm sorry, my love.

It's over.

It is. Now it is
our
future.

Pulling back, I smiled.
Yes
. Then kissed him.

We separated and I stood beside him, looking out at the mess. Many lives were lost. Adan's wasn't the only one. I could see this by the forlorn looks upon faces. There were so many I didn't know, but would still mourn. Jezanna was off to the side in Caelen's arms. Jeremiah was snarling something in Sofia's face. She laid her hands upon his chest and pushed him back, only to grab him again and pull him towards her before she kissed him. I watched Jeremiah melt into it and take her into his arms. Darik was doing the same with Raven, celebrating with a kiss. I saw Seraphine and Hamish huddled in close together, and Jack smiling and talking with Ty and their people.

Whispers caught my attention, and people parted as a cloaked woman headed our way. Looking out the corner of my eyes, I saw Isaac wasn't worried, so I immediately calmed.

The person stepped onto the stage and threw her hood back. Pure white hair cascaded down around her shoulders. I gasped when she turned to us and smiled. Her eyes were also white.

Who…?

The seer, my love.

She threw her arms up in the air and cried, "To our new King, Queen and their child."

A flutter swept through my belly. My hand went to it. I beamed at my mate. His eyes shone with delight and heat.

Isaac took my other hand and brought it up to his mouth. He kissed it before raising it into the air. Eruptions of cheers and claps echoed around the room.

We were the start of a new era, a new freedom for our people. I was eager to lead it with my mate, Isaac, at my side. Hope blossomed in my chest at the possibility of our future. Together, I knew we were strong enough to face any enemies who attempted to take it from us. And we, the people, would no longer be forced to live in the dark.

The End

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