ONE
Lilith
As I floated through oblivion, my body oscillated like a siren’s song, calling my soul back. Stardust scattered through my veins, and dapples of a supernova pulsed through my being. The distinct sound of leather ripped, and a scorching heat exploded through my shoulder blades as the flesh shredded.
All at once, reality warped back, and a flash of white poured into the room.
Viktor feasted off my chest, draining my blood from the source, making my head spin from blood loss. The painful scraping of the sharp teeth against my sternum was indescribable.
I couldn’t be more thankful when Gabriel appeared and yanked Viktor off me. His forceful removal mangled the flesh in between my breast where he’d embedded his abandoned-like teeth. Viktor went flying away, and with no one holding me up, I collapsed onto my back with a thud.
Rippling pain exploded through my back, and I bolted up off the concrete without a second thought. Glancing down, the wound on my chest had healed with no restoration time at all. My soul buzzed inside my body, and instead of the ball and chain I'd been carrying with having demon powers in a once-human body, I felt free.
Gabriel’s uncensored interest appraised me as his glowing white eyes darted from the newly healed flesh of my chest to behind me.
A tugging pulled on my shoulder blades, and I turned my head. My breath caught in my throat, and a squeak made it past my parted lips. Two stunning red-flamed wings protruded from my back. I wiggled my shoulders, and the fire blazed. The destroyed warehouse room radiated an angelic red, unlike the familiar glow of Hell.
My gaze snapped toward Carmilla, who stared at me with wide green eyes.
I extended my hand out, and her body levitated toward me. Her black, glossy hair cascaded behind her as her gorgeous face twisted in terror. The bones broke as easily as her skin did when my hand burst through her chest.
Maintaining eye contact with her, my fingers wrapped around the warm heart that hadn’t stopped beating since Viktor was torn away from me. Since a vampire's heart only beat about once per minute, the tell tale of her rapid heartbeat signified she was more than terrified.
“Why?”
“V—Viktor’s my fa—father,” she sputtered.
“You’re a royal vampire?” Titan shouted as he fended off another abandoned.
“You deserve worse than obliteration, but I’m never giving you the chance to escape Hell.” My voice was smooth, uncaring as I crushed her heart and soul in my hand with one curl of my fist.
Viktor’s bellow shook the room. The guys struggled to hold him down, but my demons jumped in to help as he thrashed in their hold. The guys and my demons were having a tough time holding him, but I wanted him to feel the pain of losing his loved one by my hand before we obliterated him.
My heart pumped blood at a rate much faster than a human’s, but I wasn’t dizzy like I would’ve been as just a vampire. I was empowered, unstoppable as the magic flowed through my life-force.
In a blur of movement, I dropped to my knees beside Blaise’s broken body. I couldn't sense his soul anymore. His skin was so pale it looked gray, and his battered heart and ribs were visible.
I’d never seen Blaise look so lifeless. His cocky smirk wasn’t playing on his chapped lips, and it seemed like I’d never see the mischievous glint in his eye when he was being perverted. Even the playful aura he exuded was absent.
I refuse to believe he’s gone.
My trembling hand reached forward, hovering over the open hole that Viktor had made with his claws. Only a little warmth came from the blood dripping out from the wound. I sucked in a sharp breath before pushing my hand through the gaping hole. The broken pieces of his ribs scratched my skin as I scooped up what remained of his heart in the palm of my hand. I held it in place where it was supposed to be.
I’d watched Gabriel heal so many people before, but my instincts were taking over, and I knew what to do.
Please, work.
I can’t live without you.
“Come on, Blaise.” My eyes fluttered shut, causing the tears to fall faster.
With my hand wrapped around his crushed heart, nothing was happening. A despairing wisp ran through my body as hot tears continued to burn their way down my cheeks.
“Gabriel, why isn’t it working?” My voice turned shrill.
“It’s too late, Lilith.” Gabriel’s strong voice seemed like a boulder crushing me from above as he stood behind me. “You can’t heal the dead.”
Panic and desperation whirled in my chest as a gut-wrenching sob rattled through me, but even so, the hand holding his heart shook with determination as I willed him to come back to me. I knew I’d fallen in love with Blaise, but the depth of our love ran so fucking deep, I didn’t realize how intertwined our souls were.