She screamed when her orgasm took over, and she didn’t care, riding the wave like it was the last one of her life. If possible, Finn increased the speed of his thrusts, and as his magnificent body bowed, pleasure clear on his face, his fingertips started rubbing her clit.

  The onslaught of added pleasure being forced upon her was enough to alter her reality. If it was the same sensation as dying, Violet was ready to surrender her life into Finn’s care, every single night for the rest of her life.

  Finn shuddered, his body swaying before gently falling over her. Violet opened her arms to him and sighed as he relaxed in her embrace, his cheek against her breasts.

  They were both shaking with the last spasms of pleasure that gripped them, even if they were slipping away, but Violet didn’t mind, not when Finn was still deep inside her. There would be many other times; she would make sure of it. She wouldn’t go down without a fight.

  The idea of a battle soothed her mind—being a damsel in distress wasn’t a role that fitted her well.

  With her friends and Finn by her side, there wasn’t much they couldn’t conquer, and that thought stoked the fire in her belly.

  As she settled, the fire turned into an inferno. The pain was so sudden her body seized before her mind could process it. Arms flinging, she pushed against Finn, unable to process the suffering, breathing was quickly becoming an insurmountable struggle.

  Her hearing closed in as she heard someone calling her name. Body seizing, her skin sizzled, and all she could do was scream as the agony blinded her.

  She called to Finn with one last gasp as light died and she fainted.

  Chapter 24

  “Tell me you’re making her better.” Finn stayed as close as he could to Violet as Sera examined her unconscious friend, while Layla sat on top of the covers by her leg.

  Sera patted his arm and offered him a warm smile, but that didn’t push away the cold that had found its way to his bones when Violet contorted in pain in his arms and fainted. He’d never felt more helpless in his life.

  “Did she say anything before she blacked out?”

  Finn turned to Layla. “Nothing. We were lying in bed. But I felt something through our link, it was fleeting because she wasn’t conscious long enough, but it felt like a churn in her belly, maybe a burn, but more as if something or someone was trying to tear it open. I thought she was going to fling herself out the window or stab herself.”

  Layla shook her head. “I’d hoped we’d have a bit more time. The powers within her are starting to fight for control, or more accurately, starting to kill her, one piece at a time while doing so.”

  Her words were what Finn had feared. “Fighting. And what happens if one of the two wins?”

  A quick look at Sera’s face didn’t offer any reassurance, and Layla’s answer almost made his knees buckle. “There is no real winner. I doubt Violet will survive the battle. One power has to leave before it’s too late.”

  “She seems so peaceful now.”

  “It will come in waves, Finn. And eventually, accelerate. This time, she was surprised by it, and her body shut down. As it worsens, she may be unable to sustain the pain and remain conscious as a defense mechanism. Her body may put itself into a coma.”

  One word stuck with him. “A coma? Is there anything we can do?”

  “We need to know who wanted to do this to her and why. It may give us an idea of how to undo it.”

  “May? You’re not even sure if it’s possible?” He was now yelling and felt Asher and Ian move behind him, ready to intervene if he made a move to harm the two women. Or, more accurately, the witch and the witch-cat.

  Layla, despite her form, whipped her white tail and stood in front of him as if she were a tiger and not a house cat. “Don’t take that tone with me, vampire. I could fry your ass quicker than you could feel it. Do you think it doesn’t destroy me to see Violet like this? She’s like a daughter to me. I was there for her when her parents died, I’ve seen her grow up, so don’t think you’re the only one that cares about her. Loves her.”

  Finn could feel her magic prick his skin. He didn’t care about Layla’s power or anger; all he cared about was Violet. For her, he would keep his calm and focus on solutions. “I spoke with Soren, and we think that someone from my past might have answers.”

  Sera perked up. “That’s fantastic, all we have to do is find that person.”

  “Good, I’m glad you agree, because I’ll need your skills. I need to find someone linked to me through a blood revelation.”

  Sera frowned, clearly clueless what he was referring to, but Layla’s gem eyes were boring into his.

  “Nothing is half-assed with you, vampire. Couldn’t you find a less dangerous spell to perform at least? Dammit!”

  Before Sera could ask more questions, Violet began to stir and moan as she pushed herself to sit up.

  Finn went to her and helped her up, cradling her in his arms, kissing her brow. “Easy, love.”

  Bless her heart; Sera produced a glass of water for her friend. Violet drowned its contents as if she’d been lost in the desert under the scorching heat. Two glasses later, Violet settled and relaxed against Finn as he breathed the scent of her hair in.

  When she leaned even more against his body, Finn’s world righted itself even more. “What is a blood revelation?”

  Finn shook his head. “You heard that part?”

  “You spoke in a whisper, but you’re thinking very loudly.”

  He shook his head, not surprised the woman would quickly pick up the advantages of being bonded with him. “You need to rest, my love. I’ll explain everything to you, but not now.”

  When he slid away from her, Violet closed her fingers around his wrist. The contact of her cool skin against had his lust rising but also worry for her well-being. However, she reminded him she wasn’t the type of woman to be cuddled or admonished. A vivid image of her kicking his ass popped in his head, and he was torn between scolding her and laughing.

  “You’re not being reasonable, Violet.”

  Despite his stern tone and the look of disapproval from her friends, Violet wiggled to the edge of the bed. “As I’m supposed to die soon, and as a result you’ll die as well, I don’t have the luxury of taking it slow. Either we find a solution that will save me, or at the very least, my friends will then have enough information to prevent this from happening again.”

  Sera helped her up, wrapping a thin blanket around her as she led her away.

  Finn was shaking her head when his gaze fell on Layla. “Is she always this stubborn?”

  “She’s trying to protect us all, especially you. I can’t wait to see her reaction when you explain what you intend to do.”

  Back at Sanctuary, Finn stretched time as much as he could, and it wasn’t difficult. Once they were all seated around the kitchen table, Sera and Violet turned a simple snack into a family gathering. With Asher and Ian there, and under Layla’s kind gaze, it reminded Finn of past times almost forgotten sitting around a fire with his own family.

  The laughter, the teasing, it amazed him to be included this way, especially by the two werewolves. Sanctuary was truly a unique place, open and inclusive, the opposite of what he saw in their world. However, the sense of peace was not to last.

  Violet took one last sip of coffee and waited for the general animation to wind down before locking eyes with him and bringing reality back into the conversation. “Finn?”

  He knew exactly what she was asking him, and there was no way other than laying everything down. He started by telling them what he’d discussed with Soren, and how he’d first talked about the concept of the resurrectionists with his maker Romus.

  “This Romus wanted to return as a man? Was that even possible?”

  Finn shrugged. “I never knew how old Romus was, but soon after he turned me, his mental state declined. He was smart and surrounded himself with brilliant people. One of them must have suggested the possibility. If a necromancer could raise the dead, it isn’t too far-fetched to hope that that same kind of magic could return life to a vampire.”

  Sera, who’d always been the scholar of the group, nodded. “I agree with you, but I’ve never heard of this before.”

  “No surprise there, we vampires are secretive. And I guess if someone found a way to return a vampire to their human state, it would make him or her rather more vulnerable and easier to kill.”

  Layla padded closer to sit next to Violet. “I see now how that person, whoever he is, would need the light witch magic. I guess it’s what humans call rewiring. Life magic rewired so death magic can act the same way and use it.”

  Violet frowned deeply. “A necromancer can raise the dead, but they only live to a certain extent. A vampire is already living. It can’t be raised.”

  Finn didn’t agree. “That bird and mouse, you didn’t raise them, there was no sign of death lingering in them like I’ve sensed in the beings necromancers have raised. They were fully back to life. They were resuscitated. I think that was the goal. They needed someone with enough power to push at the dark, at the death that is fused to vampires. Our hearts stop beating when we transform then it starts again, but it’s not life that keeps us here, it’s death.”

  Everyone around the table nodded, but Asher, frowned. “And if this is possible, if Violet, because of the dual powers within her, can return a vampire to their human state, how much of her would it take? What would be the toll?”

  Finn nodded at his friend. “She won’t do such a thing. Resuscitating two small creatures may have triggered the flare later on. I can’t imagine what the entire transition of a vampire would do to her. That’s not a risk we can take.”

  Violet sighed. “I don’t know if it was the spell, or the fact that I’m overfilled, so to speak. Another thing we need to ask is why whoever commissioned the two humans to do this to me hasn’t tried to get me back.”

  Asher straightened in his chair as did Ian. “Do you think he would come here? To Sanctuary?”

  Finn could tell by the swishing of her tail, Layla wasn’t buying that idea. “She’s been protected all this time, and I don’t think we have enough time to put in place a plan where Violet is the bait. If her condition is deteriorating as fast as it seems, I’d rather try another plan, like the one Finn suggested.”

  All eyes went to him. Inside his head, he could feel Violet’s presence like a soft mist, but instead of reading his thoughts, she remained unmoving, waiting for him. Under the table, Finn took her hand in his.

  “I talked earlier about a blood revelation. In the vampire world, there aren’t as many spells and magic as there are in the witch realm. There’s one thing for us that’s precious and magic—blood. It starts with our human blood and then transforms when we become a vampire. It mixes with our makers, and power or magic, if you like, invades our every cell, transforms us on a primal level until what we were is no longer.

  “Blood lineage is transposed from the first one to the last one, mixing and mingling, but never lost. The first one who ever told me of the resurrectionists was Romus, my maker. I don’t know if he’s still alive, but if he is, he may know who could’ve done this to Violet.”

  Curious as ever, it was Sera who leaned forward and started asking him questions. “What is the relation between ash and blood? What is that spell you were talking about.”

  Violet’s hand squeezed him even tighter. “The blood revelation is one of the rare vampire spells used as means of reconnection through the blood. In ancient times, we didn’t have as many means of communication, so to find a blood relative, or more specifically, someone from your lineage, we used our own blood. By using blood, you go back to the essence of one being, like a roadmap, leading you to the others who have influenced your blood, one way or the other.”

  Sera leaned against Ian. “Doesn’t seem like a complicated or dangerous bit of magic. I guess we can accomplish the ritual by ourselves without too many problems.”

  Finn debated how to explain what it entailed, but Layla didn’t bother with such considerations. “During the spell, Finn has to shed blood. A lot of it, enough that we reach the answer he’s looking for. And as that Romus guy comes from his distant past, I think we’ll be threading a fine line of not emptying him of all the blood he has in his body.”

  Finn wasn’t surprised to feel the sudden surge of fear and indignation from Violet just before she jumped to her feet.

  “No way! We might as well spike him through the heart. We’ll find another way.”

  The red flags on her cheeks contrasted on the paleness of her skin, and she as soon swayed, Finn quickly made her sit. “Easy love. If done right, I won’t die. I’m much too aware that our lives are linked. But I also know that you want to live, and we’re running on a clock that’s accelerating every fucking minute, fighting what’s inside you. I trust you and your friends, and I truly believe that Romus has the answers. The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced it’s the way to go.”

  Violet let out a shaky breath, but something changed in her as her resolve and strength took over, and at that moment, Finn couldn’t have loved her more.

  Her big eyes locked to his, daring him to prove her wrong. “We’ll do it. I’m in, but don’t you dare die on me, or I’ll kick your ass, vampire. Deal?”

  He kissed her nose, and despite the risks and the dread, there was only one answer he could give this amazing woman. “Deal.”

  Chapter 25

  Violet felt the tearing pain inside bloom into a steady agony, but she was damned determined to keep it secret from everybody else, especially Finn. She may be a newbie to this shared link thing, but she was a quick study, compartmentalizing was the key, only allowing him to feel the love and concern she had for him. That was all that truly mattered.

  Using her energy wisely, she let her friends decide the details on where and how with Finn. Layla took over, preparing, checking, making sure everything was to her high standard for the spell to be performed.

  They’d agreed, and to protect as many people of Sanctuary as possible if the summoning went wrong, the ritual would be performed in an abandoned hunting lodge deep within the forest.

  Sanctuary Sentinels would patrol outside, being the last line of defense if something went wrong. Their inner circle of friends would be in the eye of the storm. Finn had asked to keep it minimal so Sera, Valeria, and their mates would stay out of it.

  It took some convincing and several discussions, but finally, they’d agreed to stay outside with the Sentinels. Therefore, the only ones inside were Layla, Soren, Hunter—because the human could be even more stubborn or senseless than any of them—Finn, and herself, surrounded by a whole lot of faith in the unknown.

  As the men were clearing the space, Layla swirled by Violet’s legs before jumping on a shelf, bringing her almost level with Violet’s head. “Is the pain bad?”

  If she could hide the worst from Finn, her mentor was another matter. “I’ll manage, but I think it won’t leave me alone now until it consumes me. Do you really think we’re on the right track to finding the source of all this?”

  Instead of looking at her, the witch-cat’s gaze roamed the room. “It’s the only option we have. I know you don’t want anything to happen to Finn, but I think him bonding his life force to you is the best thing that could’ve happened. The most improbable, but the most logical.”

  Violet didn’t know if it were true, but the fates had given her that man, and she was willing to risk a lot to have the chance to explore what they could have together.

  Hunter gave one final sweep to the dusty floor as Soren started placing candles in a large circle. Finn was on his knees, drawings symbols in black, and Violet recognized them as being specific to vampires. Some of them were so like the ones used by her kidnappers, her skin crawled with disgust.

  Layla left her side to guide Finn in drawing additional protection symbols alongside the others, and they would need them. A blood summoning hadn’t been performed in a long time, and not by any of the people inside the lodge. It could go right, or frightfully wrong.

  By the time they were ready, Violet was fighting both nerves and pain but kept her mind peaceful for Finn’s sake. It wouldn’t help the process to know the dual powers inside her were gaining speed and power.

  Just as they were ready to start, Finn came to her side, and before she could react, grabbed her hair, and brought his mouth down on hers. Everything was forgotten, all the fear and the pain, replaced by lust and love. The kiss was laced with despair, both his and hers, but it couldn’t be helped. There was no turning back, so she soaked up as much of him as she could, his taste, his breath, and his heart, to bolster her spirit.

  When he ended the kiss, he didn’t fully release her and instead nipped at her earlobe. A shiver coursed over her skin, and she wanted more.

  “That is just a reminder of what I’ll do to you for at least twenty-four hours straight when all this is finished and you’re yourself again. I can smell your want as much as your pain. You don’t have to hide it for me. In fact, you can’t because we’ll always have that connection, and I’ll always care about you.” His voice was tinted with a hint of Irish brogue, emotions and worry a sign of the toll it was taking on his self-control.

  “I love you, Finn. Don’t overdo it. If it doesn’t work, we’ll find another way.”

  His whiskered cheek rubbed the crook of her neck. “I’m ready to die to save you, witch.”

  Emotion rose so fast, Violet thought she would crack into a million pieces, then and there. “The trouble is, I don’t want to live without you, so it’s all or nothing at all.”

  His familiar crooked smile brought her some comfort before he kissed her forehead, and she had to let him go.

  Just as he was about to step into the protected circle, Hunter clapped him on the shoulder in a manly sign of support, and Soren took his friend in his arms, whispering something that only Finn could hear.

 

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