Chapter 41

Chris

“Not a chance in hell,” I snap at Oliver. “No fucking way are you giving her your tainted blood.” Danica’s breathing is soft and uneven. Our synced heart is beating so much slower now. We don’t have much time. I try to push past Oliver’s shadows, to force my wrist to her mouth, Oliver be damned.

The shadows encircling my wrist steal up my arm all the way to my shoulder and rip my arm away.

I shout in rage at Oliver as he holds my arm away from Dani. His eyes are alight in amusement as he walks over to me, grabs a fistful of my hair, and throws me away from Dani. Her limp body drops to the floor, her blonde hair slowly turning crimson as the blood on the floor soaks into the strands.

Oliver’s on top of me now, his hand in my hair, forcing my gaze to his. “I fucking told you, no. She’ll be mine. And you’re going to watch as I make her that way, knowing that you can’t do fucking anything about it.”

With my free hand, I punch up wildly, and my fist connects with his cheek. His hand loosens in my hair, and I shove him off me, jumping to my feet and getting right back into his face in one swift movement. Rage courses through me. I need to kill him somehow. I need to save my sanguise. I throw punch after punch into his face. Even though I’m landing each blow, he’s still laughing wildly, the feel of his skin splintering under my fists not phasing him at all.

“I wonder how you’ll come back without a heart,” I say with a smirk, plunging my hand into his chest and gripping his heart. Oliver exhales sharply at the assault on his organ, but when I try to pull my fist back, he just stands there, staring at me with a smile. I can’t pull my arm out of his chest. His shadows wrap around my arm and chest, clenching tight around my throat until I release his heart, my hand falling limply from his body.

“I don’t think we’ll find that out today, mate,” he remarks with a cocky smirk before gesturing with his arm.

His shadows forcibly lift me into the air. I can’t move except to narrow my eyes at him in fury and shame, because I feel so fucking hopeless. All my muscles tense as I shout at Oliver from deep within—all of my feelings erupt from me at once—the sound reverberates in the air, piercing through the tension around us. How the hell is he capable of this? In two short years of his vampire existence, he’s taken the rule book and completely rewritten it—it shouldn’t be possible.

Oliver grips a thin chain around his neck and draws out the small vial connected to it from where it’s tucked under his shirt. “This was a last resort, really, but I realize now that my plans have changed. I want you to watch me claim your sanguise.” He gestures at the vial. “This will ensure you won’t get back up for a long while.”

“What the fuck is that?” I snap, fighting against the shadows holding me in place.

“Soul shard dust,” he responds casually.

My eyes go wide. How is it, all of a sudden, a fledgling vampire who’s unable to die by a stake, has an entire vial of soul shard dust and is taunting me with it? Of course, the deranged lunatic somehow manages to get his hands on a substance lost to time. Makes sense.

If I inhale that, I’ll be completely fucked. It won’t kill me, but it will sure as hell make me wish I was dead. I’ll be a prisoner in my own body, unable to move for hours—unable to move or speak, completely fucking useless. The worst of it is that I’ll be trapped in my own mind until the effects wear off. I’ll hallucinate and see shit from my past for the next few days. I’ve got a few hours from the first inhalation before all hell breaks loose.

The fact that it’s sitting in front of me right now in the hands of Balor’s chosen fills me with terror. Balor must have known how to get his hands on this all along.

“And how did you get your hands on that?” I ask, a fine tremor running through my voice.

Oliver shrugs, holding the vial casually in front of me. “I don’t tell my secrets to enemies. Especially ones that I’m going to let live. I want you to survive this, just so you can feel agony for centuries, knowing what you’ve lost. The dust will just ensure you can’t follow or track us for a little while. It’ll impact your bond, as well. Eventually, your bond will weaken from not being together; once that happens, she’ll be mine. She’ll barely even fucking miss you after enough time has passed.”

“Don’t do this. We can work something out. You hate Balor? You want to be in control of your mind? Then let’s fucking work together. You don’t have to do it this way,” I plea. I have nothing left to lose. I will tell him anything he needs to hear, do anything he wants if he’ll agree not to do this. If he does, it will break me. I’ll lose my heart, soul, and sanguise. I’ll probably lose my mind too, but that’s less of a concern.

Oliver scoffs. “As if I want you there, taking her attention away from me. I like my plan better, mate.” He uncaps the vial, pouring the cream-colored dust into his hand.

“Dude, stop! We can figure something else out. Please!” I shout. This can’t be fucking happening. Not after everything, not after I finally found Dani after all these goddamn years. Oliver holds my stare. I peer into his crimson eyes, hoping to see some evidence of the man that Dani once loved, and I see nothing. No remorse or love, no emotions there besides rage and bloodlust. Nothing I say or do will ever change that.

“Enjoy the show,” he says, blowing the dust into my face.

I hold my breath and squeeze my eyes shut, but Oliver smears the dust over my nose and lips, making sure that the drug can get into the membranes and be absorbed. I’m fucked.

The shadows loosen their grip on me, lowering me until my feet touch the floor. I stand still, trying to avoid the inevitable. I’m wiping the dust away with my arm, smearing the blood of their victims across my face in an effort to get all of the dust off before I need to breathe. Maybe there’s still a chance.

“Come here, Dani. Don’t die on me yet,” I hear Oliver say from behind me.

No, no, NO! I turn, opening my eyes. Oliver’s holding Danica in his arms and, as if that’s not fucking bad enough, has his bleeding wrist resting over her mouth. I step towards them. I have to stop this. “Don’t-” I feel every muscle in my body lock up as a small trace of dust still on my face makes its way into my mouth. I can’t move. Pain sears through me, and I drop to the floor in agony, watching my worst nightmare unfold before me.

Oliver laughs grimly as he holds his wrist firmly against her lips. “Watch me,” he orders me.

All I can fucking do is watch. Watch as his blood drains into my sanguise’s mouth. I feel my mind break just a little at the strain of seeing him pouring his life force into her.

I watch color come back into Danica’s cheeks as she regains consciousness. Not enough to think straight, just enough to know that she wants blood. She lifts her hand to Oliver’s wrist, pressing his wrist harder against her mouth so she can drink more from him. “That’s it, pet, drink deeply of me,” he purrs in her ear.

I try to call out to her. My mouth opens, but no words cross my lips. I watch the love of my life drink from another, and I can do fuck all to stop it. Despair fills me as I watch. Tears burn my eyes. My love. My sanguise. I scream into the vast abyss of my mind, begging her to come back to me.

As if she heard my call, Dani’s eyes shoot open, landing on Oliver’s face above her. A look of fury passes over her face, and she rips Oliver’s wrist from her mouth and pushes herself out of his arms. “Get the fuck away from me!” she yells, swiping at her mouth as her eyes search the room, finally landing on me. She moves towards me. “Chris, oh my god! What did he do to you?” Tears fall down her cheeks.

I try so hard to answer her, but all I can do is stare at her. Please run away, little kitten. Just leave me here to die. As long as you get away, I will die knowing I didn’t fail you.

She’s finally in front of me, kneeling next to me and reaching for my face. “Please answer me, baby. Please,” she whispers. Her cheeks are soiled with tears and filth from the carnage around us.

“Danica,” Oliver says calmly. “You need to feed more. The toxin isn’t all the way gone yet, pet.”

“Then I’ll drink from my sanguis. I don’t want your disgusting blood in my mouth again,” she hisses, holding my face in between her hands. “What did you do to him? Why won’t he answer me?” Her final question is a scream at Oliver. Her hands tremble against my cheeks, but she holds me so tightly.

Please don’t let me go, baby. I can’t do this without you.

“I did what had to be done. One day, you’ll understand.” Oliver dashes behind her, lifting her and holding her firmly against his body. She thrashes against his hold, trying to break free. Her eyes never leave mine.

“Let me go!” she begs again and again before she cries, “Chris, I love you.”

I love you too, baby. Until my body turns to ash, I will love you. Tears slide down my cheeks as I stare up at her. I try to will my power to thrum to life inside me, but it’s useless.

Oliver snarls into her ear, still holding her thrashing form as if she’s nothing. “Drink from me. You have no choice. Did you forget about Elijah? His light is about to burn out forever. Drink from me now, and I’ll let them both live.”

“I don’t believe you!” she shouts.

“You have my word. No further harm will come to them.” His original bite is already sealed back up, so he bites into his wrist again and brings it to her mouth. “Just a little more, pet. We can end this now. Just drink, and then it will all be over.”

“They’ll both live? Oliver, you swear it?” The tears won’t stop from either of us.

“Yes, I swear it,” he says, bringing his wrist closer.

“I’m doing this for you, baby. For you and for Elijah. I can’t just do nothing, when I could save you both. I’m so sorry,” Danica whimpers, her eyes still on mine.

I know, little kitten, I know.

She brings Oliver’s wrist to her mouth and drinks. A part of me shatters knowing that she’s doing it to save me. She doesn’t know that, without her, there’s no part of me worth saving.

I watch as the wound on her arm knits itself back together. The poison is gone.

But Oliver’s not done. He has his palm wrapped around the back of her head, pressing her beautiful mouth to his wrist to drink more. I know the exact moment when her experience changes, her arousal scenting the air.

Danica groans against his wrist, tightening her fingers around his arms. I want to fucking scream and rip off Oliver’s head. He’s doing this on purpose, making me watch her get turned on by drinking his blood. I know it’s not her fault; sharing blood is an intimate experience.

Potent rage almost blinds me. I’ll fucking have my revenge. I know it won’t be today, but as soon as I’m free, I’m going to fucking find them and tear Oliver limb from limb with a smile on my face.

“That’s enough, my love, you’ve done so well,” he purrs against her ear, pulling his arm away from her mouth. Wrapping his arm around her stomach, he tugs her closer to him. “That was so fucking hot,” he moans into her ear, grinding himself against her.

The movement seems to snap her out of his seductive allure, and she looks down at me with so much guilt and sorrow in her eyes. “I didn’t mean… Oh my god.” Her voice wavers the way it does right before she starts crying.

It’s okay, baby, I understand. But I need you to get out of here. Please, kitten, just run. Run. Run.

“I can’t wait to spend eternity with you, Dani. I told you once before. You’ll be mine again,” Oliver says, moving his hands higher on her body. “You’ve always been mine.”

“What? I’m not-” Snap.

DANICA! I try to force myself to move, to run to her, to hold her. But I’m trapped here on this goddamned floor, imprisoned by my own body. Oh my fucking god. The tears overflow from my eyes. I want to scream. How am I not screaming?

Oliver snapped Danica’s neck. A sound that will now forever be engraved into my memory.

I watch the light vanish from her beautiful brown eyes. Once filled with so much love and passion. So much fight and bravery. Gone. Her face goes blank, a single residual tear sliding down her pretty face. It happened so slowly—too slowly. Her body is limp as she falls, first to her knees, then over onto the floor.

My sanguise is gone. I can feel our bond still, that cord quivering inside my body. It’s still there, which means she’ll turn. But, she’ll be sired by another.

I turn my gaze to Oliver, his wicked stare already on me, a smug grin splitting his face as he destroys my fucking world, shredding everything that’s good in my life. I’m going to kill you, motherfucker. I’m going to fucking destroy Oliver Shaw.

“Oops,” he says with a shrug. “I must have forgotten to mention that she wouldn’t live through this. No matter.” He leans down, picking her off the floor and throwing her lifeless body over his shoulder.

I watch her arms dangle behind his back. I watch her hair ripple. I’m so irate that my body, my immobilized, useless body, shakes with rage. I feel my fingers twitch. Just a little bit more. I need to move just a little bit more. I need to get up. Now. I can’t let them leave.

“I made a promise to her that I wouldn’t kill you, or Elijah, but that doesn’t mean I have to help keep either of you alive. I hope your mates can find you in time before Elijah dies.” Oliver rubs his hand along my sanguise’s back. “It’s going to be so much fun letting you watch everything that’s about to happen. She’ll be sired to me now. You know what that means, don’t you?”

I glare at him with pure malice. Yes, I am very much aware of what that means. I’m sure he will still rub it in my face and gloat. Don’t worry, Oliver, I’m going to peel the skin from your bones oh so slowly and gloat over your flayed carcass.

“Of course you do. I can see it in your eyes. Since I sired her, your beloved sanguise will have to answer to me and obey. And you and I both know she still has some feelings for me. Even if you pretend to deny it, you know it’s true. And what happens when a vampire is sired by someone they have an emotional tie with?”

Motherfucker.

“Our sire bond will be amplified. She won’t be able to resist me. And that’s the most exciting part of all of this. She’ll be wrapped around my finger, drinking and getting aroused by my blood, and there’s nothing you can do about it.” Oliver laughs. “How stupid you must feel right now. You listened to my threats, and didn’t bring your mates in here with you to help you. This may have ended very differently for you and Dani if you hadn’t been such a little fucking golden boy. What a tragedy that is. Not for me, though.” Oliver leans down and taps my face roughly.

Dani’s scent washes over me, and I clench my teeth at the pain that lances my chest, knowing I might never be able to see her or smell her or touch her again. A growl rumbles out of me, starting deep in my chest until it pours from my mouth, echoing in the cavernous space.

Oliver taps my face with his finger again. “This is your world falling apart, and it’s all because of me. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her from you. You heard me when I said I needed her. I wasn’t fucking about, mate. I need her in ways that you can never even begin to understand. And now I’ll have her for an eternity, all thanks to you for bringing her to me. And guess what, you can’t even kill me. We both learned that today. So sit there and wallow in your pity for yourself. You can’t kill me. You can’t beat me. I fucking win.” Oliver slides his tongue over his canines. “When Dani wakes up, I’ll tell her what happened. That after she died, my mates came in to finish you off. She won’t go looking for you, not that she’d be able to even if she wanted to. Eventually, you’ll just be a memory for her. A thing of her past. I’ll be sure to comfort her while she grieves for you. Think about that while you lie there, you useless cunt.”

Oliver stands over me, but my eyes are on my beautiful sanguise’s still form. I’ll find you, little kitten. I will always find you. I’ll scour this entire world for you, and burn it all down until there’s nothing left but ash and decay just to find you. We will be together again. My sanguise. Given to me by fate and the universe herself. How fucking cruel that life finally led me to you, just so it could rip you away. We didn’t have enough time. I didn’t have enough fucking time. We were supposed to have nothing but time.

Oliver thinks he’s won, but he has no idea of the destruction and havoc I’ll leave in my wake to find her. I will kill anyone who gets in my way. Anyone who helped this piece of shit will find no mercy from me. I’ll seek aid from Aeliana and Zarek themselves to finally kill Balor and his whole fucking line of blood minions once and for all. Oliver has no idea what he’s unleashed by taking her from me. He’ll regret this day when he faces the raging inferno that I will make of his life. I will burn bright and see his whole goddamn world cast in flames. I promise you all of this, little kitten. I will do all of this for you.

“I can only imagine all of the shit you’re thinking in that head of yours.” Oliver chuckles. “By the way, thank you for taking care of Amanda for me. She was becoming a real pain in my ass. If I killed her myself, though, Balor would have skinned me alive. It had to be you. I was rooting for you the whole time, mate.” Oliver turns, Danica’s arms and bloodstained hair swaying along with him.

Balor should not be your biggest concern, mate . I will skin you alive and make my sanguise a coat from your flesh.

“If we meet again, the Danica you remember will be no more.” His gaze shifts to Elijah, his head tilting as he listens to something only he can hear. “He’s almost gone. As soon as I leave, your mates will come through that door. Enjoy your soul shard dust trip. Only a few more hours until you lose your mind. I wish I could stay and see it myself. Have a nice life.” And then they’re gone. Oliver vanishes with Danica into the shadowy mist.

My heart shatters inside my chest. My sanguise. He took my fucking sanguise. I’m able to muster a strangled scream through clenched teeth, and I don’t stop. My screams of despair fill the room, fill every corner of the building, so that this building is nothing but a monument to my anguish. He will fucking pay. He’ll pay in blood, and destruction, and death. I will remember this moment every day, until she’s back in my arms again. And she will be. I promised—I will always find you, little kitten.

The front door opens, and I hear footsteps and shouting as my brothers and Scarlett rush into the room. I can do nothing but stare at each of their wary faces.

“What the fuck happened here?” Benji shouts. “Chris? Man, where are you?”

“Guys, over here! I found him!” Tyler calls. Everyone hurries over, my family surrounding me.

I look at their faces and can’t stop the tears. I can’t move or speak. I can’t tell them what happened, that he killed and took my Dani from me. I’m desperate to let out my rage, to burn this world to the ground, but all I can manage is this muffled scream. The fury builds inside me, ready to detonate, and I can’t do a damn thing about it.

“What happened, brother?” Bash asks.

I just stare.

Benji’s head tilts as he catches sight of the powder on my face. “Uh, guys? Is anyone else thinking what I’m thinking?” Benji asks.

Todd responds first. “It’s possible. But how? No one has had soul shard dust in centuries.” I’m flicking my eyes to Elijah, hoping they’ll follow my gaze. They need to save him. I can’t do it, and it’s the only thing my kitten asked of me, besides keeping myself safe—and we saw just how successful I was in following that order. I can’t fail her again by letting her best friend die. I’m trying to scream his name through my closed lips, but all I can do is look in Elijah’s direction over and over again.

Scarlett follows my eyes and sees Elijah. She gasps, rushing over to him and listening for his heartbeat. “Oh my god, he’s still alive somehow.”

Then fucking help him and stop talking.

Scarlett tears the nails impaling his limbs to the board out of his flesh, and lowers him gently to a seated position against the stage. Scoring her wrist with her fangs, she lowers her bleeding wrist to his mouth. “He isn’t drinking it,” she calls.

“Lay him down and tilt his head back,” Todd says, leaving my side to approach them.

Scarlett listens, moving him to the ground and letting her blood drip into his open mouth and slide down his throat.

Elijah’s finger twitches once. And then again. He lets out a low moan, his many wounds starting to heal.

“Let me take over,” Cade says, walking over to Scarlett.

“Okay, if you want.” Scarlett shifts out of the way to allow Cade to feed Elijah.

Cade tears into his wrist and brings it to Elijah’s lips, cupping the back of Elijah’s head in his hand to hold him up. After a second, Elijah begins drinking on his own, letting out a groan the more he drinks.

We saved him, kitten. I wish you were here to see it. At least I didn’t fail you on this.

Benji kneels next to me. “I’m guessing he took Dani. I’m so fucking sorry, Chris. You know we’re going to get her back, right? She’s our family, too, and we’ll help you get her back. No matter what it takes. We will make them pay for what they’ve done.”

I clench my fist at my side. Oh god, I can move. That’s good, yet also a terrible thing. It means the hallucinations will begin sooner than expected. I slam my fist onto the ground. I’m regaining movement in my arm, but all I can bring myself to do is slam my fist into the hard floor over and over until my knuckles are bleeding and broken shards of bloody cement are scattered around us.

“What can we do?” Benji asks.

My voice cracks as I struggle to speak, my vocal cords still impacted by the dust. “Oliver,” I growl. “I want… Oliver.”

My face will be the last he ever sees. The minute he slips, I’ll be there to catch him. Lying on this bloody floor, surrounded by bodies, gore, and the remnants of my broken promise to my beautiful girl to keep her fucking safe, I make a vow to myself. I will kill Oliver fucking Shaw. I focus my mind on his face, so it’s all I see.

Then I reach deep within myself. I let myself feel the emotions of losing my sanguise one last time, the broken, aching void gaping inside my chest. We will be together again, my love. I’ll do whatever it takes to bring you back to me. Just please forgive me for what I’m about to do. Goddess knows I may not forgive myself either. The last time I did this, I turned into a monster. But if Oliver is playing dirty, then so am I. I’m going to match his crazy and increase it tenfold.

With one last shuddering breath, I turn off my emotions entirely. I feel nothing but rage and fury. All love is lost to me. Nothing matters to me but finding Oliver. I want revenge, and I’ll kill anyone who gets in my way, even if it’s my brothers.

My tears stop. I stare at the ceiling, feeling my lips turn in a smirk, the hunger raging deep in my belly. Oh yes, the minute I can get up, I’m going to drink my fill. I look forward to the carnage that awaits. I’m going to bleed this fucking town dry, and then, I will find Oliver Shaw and turn him to dust.