6. Death was an Art Form

CHAPTER 6

Death was an Art Form

E mery had always considered himself a good killer. It wasn't exactly a title he enjoyed having, but he was an honest vampire, and he could admit the truth to himself.

But Jelisette?

She took death to another level. It was an art form. He watched her work, wholly impressed by the way she killed the werewolf.

She was violently gorgeous as she slammed her fangs into Thorn's throat. Beautiful as she clawed at him, pulling him away from the poor woman in the corner. Stunning as blood poured like a fountain from the werewolf's throat, coating her in red.

Right then, Emery knew he would do whatever it took to keep Jelisette de la Point by his side. How could he let such a magnificent creature go?

He was so enamored by the violent vampire in front of him that he didn't hear it. A whispered snarl behind him. A pebble skittering on shale. A warning.

Jelisette turned, a violent smile carved onto her face, as she let Thorn's mangled body fall.

"The bastard is—look out!"

Her eyes widened, and a mangled scream ripped through her as a bundle of fur leaped out of the darkness towards Emery. He stumbled back, lashing out with his shadows, but it wasn't enough to stop the clamp of teeth that locked onto his arm.

Searing, flaming pain ran through Emery's arm, and he roared. The wolf bit down harder, and black spots appeared in Emery's vision. He shook his arm and went to pull the beast off, but his movements were sluggish. Quiet.

The song of his shadows was… gone.

Alarm pulsed through Emery. Had the werewolf somehow injected him with prohiberis? The magic-blocking substance was a rare commodity in the Republic of Balance, known for its ability to incapacitate and halt all magic, even that of vampires. Shifters could still shift, their animals being a part of them, but vampires…

No.

The wolf tugged on Emery's arm, and he felt something break. He cried out.

Jelisette screamed.

Emery's eyes shut against his volition, and he fell to the ground.

More screams. Growling. The weight lifted from his arm, but the pain… it remained.

The last thing he heard before darkness claimed him was the snapping of a neck.

Then, there was nothing.

Sharp, deadly needles were being shoved into Emery's arm. Each was a fire, burning him alive from the inside out. He groaned.

"Hold still, Emery." Jelisette's voice was sharp and left no room for discussion.

As per her request, he didn't move, but he opened his eyes. That was a damned mistake. The movement sent pain lancing through him, and he groaned as he took in the familiar surroundings of his cave. He was on the middle of his mattress, and Jelisette crouched in front of him, wearing an oversized sweater and leggings .

"What happened?" he croaked. His shirt was gone, and blood covered his upper body.

"The wolf damn near tore your arm off," she mumbled, holding a threaded needle between her teeth. "Fucking pack animals. They're horrid. I shadowed the girl to the nearest hospital, then came back and brought you here."

Then, there were no more words as she took the needle and expertly wove it through his skin. She tugged and pulled, the skin drawing closed.

Emery couldn't help it. His fists clutched the sheet beneath him, and he roared . Every movement of the needle through his skin was like fire running through his flesh.

"Sorry." Her brows knit, and concern radiated from her black eyes. "This is the only way. I washed the wound with rubbing alcohol to get rid of any traces of prohiberis, but you aren't healing naturally."

Well, fuck. That wasn't good.

In all his years and all his encounters with venomous characters throughout the Republic of Balance, he'd never been injured like this. What if Jelisette hadn't been there? The wolf would've killed him. Although perhaps he wouldn't have minded.

But now? He didn't want to die. Not when he had finally found this vampire who had sparked a sense of life in him.

So Emery laid back, gritting his teeth and counting the crystals hanging from his cavern's roof as Jelisette sewed up his arm. She worked silently and swiftly, his grunts of pain the only sound for several long minutes.

When she finally sat back on her haunches, putting the bloody needle beside her, she pursed her lips. "It's probably going to scar." She frowned. "I'm sorry, I?—"

"Don't." He reached out and took her hand. "Don't apologize. You saved my life."

He had been a fucking idiot, not checking the perimeter when they were searching for Thorn. Emery knew better. It wasn't like this had been his first hunt. He'd just been distracted by Jelisette's presence.

Next time, he'd do better. And there had to be a next time because he couldn't fathom letting her go. Not now.

Jelisette's black eyes searched his, and it was like she was staring into his soul. Emery had never felt like this before, never been so exposed and yet so… comfortable. He never wanted to put an end to this connection between them.

"It was a life worth saving," she said after a few minutes.

Emery smiled, and despite the pain running through him, he pushed himself up onto his elbows. "You were amazing," he said. "Watching you kill was… incredible."

Her cheeks reddened, and she lowered her lashes. "Thank you, that means a lot, coming from you."

Emery's hand was still on hers, and he squeezed. "I don't want you to leave, Jelisette."

"Well, obviously." She stared at the arm she'd just been stitching. "You'll need me to take those out."

He shook his head. "No. Not because of that." Perhaps a few hundred years ago, he would have waited longer before making a declaration like the one he was about to make, but Emery had nearly lived for a thousand years. He didn't want to waste any time. His heart was drawn to Jelisette, and he wanted her. All of her. "I want you to stay because I want you."

Her breath hitched. "You do?" There was a hint of shyness in her voice that drew him towards her like never before.

He nodded. "Yes." His voice was deep. "I think I've wanted you from the first moment we locked eyes across Starless Lake."

The pull between them had been present even then. It was why he'd left in such a rush—it had caught him off guard, and fleeing was the only thing he could think to do.

Another long moment passed before Jelisette's lips parted, and she dipped her head. "I'd like that very much."

"Thank the gods," Emery groaned.

Ignoring the pain running through him, he pushed himself up and drew her towards him. Their mouths crashed together in a kiss that was all tongues and teeth. It was not gentle, nor was it soft. Need radiated from them both as they kissed. Emery reached up with his good hand, weaving it through Jelisette's hair and holding her close as he devoured her.

He swept his tongue across the seam of her lips, and she opened for him with a moan. At the first taste of her, he groaned. She tasted like cinnamon, cloves, and the darkest night, and he couldn't get enough of it.

They kissed and kissed until Jelisette pulled away. Her chest heaved, and she rested her forehead against his. "As much as I enjoy this,"—she drew away just enough that he could see the twinkle in her eyes—"and I am enjoying this immensely, we haven't solved the problem as to why you aren't healing."

Emery's eyes widened, and he glanced down at his arm. He'd forgotten all about that. To be fair, he'd been rather preoccupied by something far more important.

"I think I need to feed," he admitted.

The blood in Jelisette's apartment a week ago had been enough to hold him over, but when vampires were injured, they often needed fresh blood to heal properly.

She studied him before nodding. "I think so, too." A long moment passed as she trailed her fingers up his arm. "We could find you a Source, or…" Her voice trailed off, and she shook her head. "No, that's crazy."

Emery's brows furrowed. "What's crazy? You can tell me."

He didn't think anything Jelisette could do or say anything that would ever put him off.

Jelisette frowned. Drawing her legs up onto the bed, she sat cross-legged and took his hand in hers. "I was thinking… but I don't know… it seems insane."

In all the time he'd known her—which, admittedly, wasn't that long—Emery hadn't heard her speak in circles like this. "Tell me, please."

She chewed on her lip for a long moment before blurting, "IwasthinkingmaybeyoumightwanttoBindyourselftomeandthenneitherofuswouldneedtogetanotherSource."

He blinked. "You want to Bind yourself to me?"

Emery knew what a Binding was, of course. Every vampire did. Bindings were rare, sacred events that brought two (or more) souls together beneath Isvana's sacred touch. They were eternal, unbreakable commitments. If done with a human, as it was long ago when the Last King and Queen were Bound, it extended the mortal's lifespan to match the vampire. When vampires were Bound, they didn't need any other Sources.

The only thing more permanent and life-changing than a Binding was a Tether.

"Well, I thought… but maybe… it was stupid. Never mind." Jelisette moved as if to dart off the bed.

Emery grabbed her arm and tugged her back. "Don't go," he said gruffly. "Please. I want to do it."

If someone had asked him a month ago if he would ever Bind himself to someone, he would've laughed in their face. What a ridiculous notion. But now? He was all in. Jelisette had seen him at his worst—twice now—and she was still here. What more could he ask for?

It felt like an entire year passed before Jelisette nodded. "Okay. Good. Let's do it." She rolled up her sleeve and moved towards him. "We should do it now so you can heal."

He wouldn't argue with that. The pain of the wolf's bite was radiating through him, and each moment was worse than the last. He wasn't sure if a werewolf could kill a vampire, but he was not interested in finding out.

Emery shifted on the bed, moving so his back was against the headboard, and he looked over at Jelisette. The crystals glowed all around her, giving her a radiant aura. She was absolutely gorgeous, and she was going to be his.

"Have you witnessed a Binding before?" he asked Jelisette.

She shook her head. "No, have you?"

"No, but I have a book around here somewhere that talks about it." His gaze swiveled around his home before he found the title he sought. "There. The third one from the bottom."

Usually, Isvana's Chosen priests and priestesses performed Bindings, but it wasn't a requirement.

Jelisette slid off the bed, her movements lithe as she crossed the cave and found the book. " Isvana's Blessings: A Recounting of Bindings and Tetherings throughout The Three Eras. Well, this reading material is… delightful."

It was delightful. Emery had a variety of books, both fiction and non-fiction, to suit all his literary needs. However, he recognized that perhaps not everyone enjoyed reading as much as him.

Jelisette brought the book over, and Emery flipped through it with his good hand until he found the passage he was looking for. He read it quickly, then nodded. At his direction, Jelisette found a cup before taking a seat beside him.

"This shouldn't hurt," he said.

She smiled. "I don't care if it hurts. I'm ready."

So was he.

Keeping the book open, Emery turned to Jelisette. "You're sure?"

It wasn't like they could go back after this.

"A thousand percent. Let's do this." Without waiting for him to respond, she brought her wrist to her mouth and bit. She pulled her mouth away, and crimson trickled into the cup she held underneath her arm. The skin healed quickly, and then Jelisette turned to Emery.

He already had his good wrist in his mouth. His fangs broke the skin with ease, and he quickly held his wrist over the cup, adding his scarlet contribution to the drink.

As his blood trickled into the cup, Jelisette held the book open on her lap. Her voice was melodic and smooth as she read the Binding spell. It had been translated into the Common Tongue, the words heavy and archaic as she read them. Magic thickened the air, and shadows slipped from her palms.

Then, she turned to Emery. "It's time," she murmured.

He took the cup wordlessly, his gaze locked on hers as he lifted it to his lips. The blood was warm as it slid down his throat, and he groaned at the delicious flavors flooding his mouth. Her blood was everything he'd tasted in her mouth but amplified a hundred times over. It was ambrosia, the most delicious thing he'd ever tasted, and he wanted more. He needed it.

Already, he was beginning to feel better. The pain in his arm was less pronounced, and it felt like he could breathe.

Jelisette took the goblet, swiftly drinking the rest of the blood. The moment the cup was empty, warmth spread through Emery. It started in his chest and quickly spread through all of him. The song of his shadows grew louder and louder until their thrumming beat was the only thing he could hear. Magic rushed through the air, and Emery's skin tingled as the Binding took effect.

He took over the reading, speaking the final words of the spell. "Two are becoming one. Bound together through eternity. Never to be undone."

The tang of magic thickened as he spoke the final words, and a flash of crimson light burst from both their palms. The magic twisted around their wrists, tightening as it sank into them.

Then, just as quickly as the crimson light had appeared, the magic vanished. In its place, an intricate black swirling tattoo formed a permanent bracelet on Emery's wrist. A glance up confirmed that Jelisette had a matching one on hers. Both were as thick as three fingers put together, a mark to all the world that they were Bound.

Jelisette closed the book with a resounding thud and turned towards Emery. Her black eyes gleamed, and she whispered, "Bite me, Emery. Take what you need."

This time, Emery didn't ask if she was sure. He wouldn't do her that disservice. Instead, he wound his hand behind her head and slowly pulled her towards him. His Bound Partner arched her neck, giving him clear access. He licked his fangs and, with a groan, surged forward.