I stalked over to the dummy and pulled the stake from my back pocket. I slammed it into the dummy with every ounce of strength I had. Eli turned around and saw that the stake had went in far enough to kill a vampire.

"How did you -"

"Uh-uh, a magician never tells her secrets."

"How is it possible?" His eyes glazed over in awe and wonderment.

"How is what possible?"

"How is it possible that you manage to impress me more and more every day?"

I smiled, our pa.s.sionate kiss was still fresh on my lips and they tingled when I moved them. "C'mon. Let's get some rest and then pack some things. We leave as soon as the sun goes down."

Eli walked me back to my room. It was still early morning and my body was very much awake, especially after training.

"So I'll -"

I threw my hands around his neck and closed the distance between our lips. The wonderful, indescribable taste of his lips pressed eagerly onto mine.

"Stop," he said in between kisses. I knew better, if he really wanted me to stop, he wouldn't kiss me back.

"You stop first." I giggled.

He suddenly moved forward, coming into my room, and kissed me hard. I kissed him back, possibly even harder. I didn't know where this might end but I knew where I wanted it to go. Who knew if we'd survive tomorrow night? I wanted to be with him romantically, to be physically intimate, and this might be my last chance. A nervous feeling began to trump the excitement that knotted in my stomach.

His forearm wrapped around my waist and he lifted me up so my legs wrapped around him. He carried me towards the bed, our lips still pressed together. I was afraid if we stopped kissing he'd change his mind. Gently he laid me down and he climbed on top of me, kissing me even more urgently. I needed air but refused to break away from him. I was too desperate for his taste. So much desire, need, want, pa.s.sion, all raged in that kiss. Nothing else existed but us.

Oh my G.o.d. This is really happening. How could anybody think that this was wrong? We we're so perfect together.

I ran my fingers up and down the back of his neck. I rubbed his shoulder blades and then his arms as we kissed. His body was so firm and masculine. He pulled his lips from mine and my breath hitched.

"This isn't a good idea," he growled seductively.

"So? We're probably going to die, anyway."

His face flinched and he rolled off me.

"What's wrong?"

He lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling. "I don't want you to do this because you think you're going to die tomorrow. I thought you wanted to do it because you care."

I caressed his chest.

"I do care."

His green eyes met mine and he genuinely looked hurt. My chest ached, I'd never seen him so vulnerable. I grasped his face.

"I love you."

His lips twitched a little as the words fell from my lips. He definitely wasn't expecting that. He didn't have to say it back, not right now. I a.s.sumed he would take time to process it. I knew he felt the same, I could see it in his eyes. They glowed with love and pa.s.sion.

He traced a finger along my cheek, down my neck, and across my chest just above my b.r.e.a.s.t.s, igniting my blood. He pulled me against him and our lips were reunited in blissful pleasure. His hand slid up my shirt, sending gooseb.u.mps all over me. Somehow he managed to get my shirt off. I was nervous and tried hard not to feel insecure in front of him. In seconds we were kneeling against each other and his shirt was off. It was all happening so quickly. I pulled my lips away and took in his entire body. I had never seen him with his shirt off before. He'd always kept a tank top on, even when we were training, but now, I was exposed to his manly chest and thick muscles. More clothes littered the floor and soon we were both naked and under the silk sheets. He paused and his eyes surveyed me as his hands roamed all over. It was obvious he liked what he saw, and I secretly enjoyed the effect I was having on him.

"You're not going to believe this."

"What?"

"I don't have a -"

"You've got to be kidding me."

He shook his head.

"I thought boys carry one around in their wallets all the time."

"I'm not in high school, Ruby. I don't carry one around, hoping I have s.e.x ..."

"What do we do?"

"We aren't going to risk it."

"You don't have any in your room?"

He laughed. "We were coming to live with vampires and the higher power, who, by the way, made it illegal for G.o.ddesses or G.o.ds and guardian angels to have relationships. The last thing on my mind were condoms."

I tried to hide my disappointment. "Okay, so now what do we do?"

"We get dressed, we pack a bag, we rest, and then we get up at night time and travel to Gerald Harbor."

"Oh."

"And," he continued, drawing small circles around my belly b.u.t.ton. "We continue this when we're free from all this ridiculousness."

"Promise?"

He bit his swollen bottom lip, fighting a tantalizing smile.

"I promise."

The Parting Surprise.

I opened my eyes as the last portion of the sun lowered beneath the horizon. I had gone back to bed once Eli left my room and I packed a bag of absolute necessities. Things like a few tank tops and fresh underwear, a hairbrush, a photo of my mother and I, and a toothbrush. Underneath it all was a few short wooden stakes. I was willing to part with the rest of my stuff, it was clothes mostly.

"Time to go," I groaned to myself. I climbed out of bed, raising my arms above my head and stretching. I grabbed my bag from the end of my bed and headed down to the sitting room. That's where Lucian said to meet up.

When I entered the sitting room the atmosphere was dark and tense. There were low, inaudible conversations taking place in the room and my stomach twisted. I couldn't shake the feeling that somehow they knew what Eli and I had almost done.

I searched the room for Eli and I found him by a wall to the left side of the room. Our eyes made contact. Briefly his were reminiscent of what had taken place this morning, and then they returned to their normal guardian angel intense gaze.

"Well, well, well." Lucian entered the room. "What a beautiful night."

The smile he wore sent chills down my spine. It seemed so threatening and almost psychopathic. Hunter and Anna strolled sheepishly behind him. Something wasn't right. I glanced at Eli, and judging by his expression, he was thinking the same thing. Lucian's gaze fell on me. It wasn't filled with his usual sarcastic, fake happiness. He was angry and somehow his eyes had grown darker than their usual shade of black.

"Do you think I am weak?" he asked me.

The vampires in the room that stood in front of me parted like the Red Sea, clearing a path between Lucian and me.

"Not at all," I replied calmly.

"Hmph. Then why do you think you can outsmart me?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Lucian covered the distance between us in less than a second. Four vampires dove onto Eli, holding him back. He fought against them but there were too many.

"Don't play coy with; me, child. I know everything. I know that Ivan has planned an escape for you at Gerald Harbor tomorrow night. Did you actually think it was going to work? It's a good thing I have my little protege over there, otherwise I would have never known."

Oh no. I told Hunter about our plan. I only did it because I thought maybe he could help us. I looked at Eli. He stared at me in disbelief before shaking his head in response, disappointment plain on his features. I tried to convey how sorry I was, but he no longer looked at me.

"Hunter, how could you?" I yelled, tears threatening to spill over and run down my cheek.

"I'm sorry, he is my creator ... I - I don't have a choice."

Lucian ran a finger along my jaw bone and forced my attention back onto his face.

"It appears Ludiia didn't search Mr De Luca thoroughly enough to find his cell phone." Lucian clicked his fingers.

"No, no please! I'm sorry!" Ludiia begged. It didn't matter how sorry she was, Liam and another vampire tore her head from her body before she had a chance to explain.

"After everything I've done for you," he growled, his intense eyes searching my soul. "Tomorrow will continue as planned. I'll bring more vampires and we'll take care of Aleksandrov and the other pesky guardians if they show." He tapped his chin in thought. "But how should I punish you ..."

He clicked his long fingers. "Hunter, come here."

Hunter dashed over but I avoided his eyes.

"Drink from her."

"No!" I yelled. "Please."

"Do you want her to feel pain or pleasure?" Hunter asked.

He couldn't be serious. To tell my plans to his creator was one thing, but to try and drink from me was something else entirely.

"Hmmm, pain."

Hunter grasped my head and tilted it at an angle so I was facing Eli. Eli wore a panicked expression as he fought even harder against the vampires holding him. I heard the subtle sound of fangs clicking out of hard gums. My palms grew warm. There was no chance in h.e.l.l that I was going to be bitten by a vampire ever again, at least, not if I could help it. I pressed my hands against his face and hissed in pain, stumbling backwards.

My hands started to glow a more vibrant, healthy golden color. I felt powerful, I felt angry. My magic grew in size and pressure, causing my arms to shake violently. The surrounding vampires watched me in shock and fear. Eli managed to shrug off the four holding him off, pulling a stake from his back pocket. Before he could stake them, I willed the magic to release itself all in a single burst and it shot rapidly from my hands, incinerating the vampires that had held Eli.

The bright glow caused the vampires to screech. He forced them to pile behind each other, cowering, as it burned their skin. When the light dispersed, the vampires came back with a vengeance. They were p.i.s.sed off and there was nothing I could do. I had never used so much power at once before and it had taken a toll on me. I was finding it difficult to stand. The room began to sway.

No! Not now, Ruby! Don't you dare pa.s.s out.

"No!" a voice rang throughout the room.

Lucian was blocking my view, I couldn't see who it was. When I was yanked out from underneath him by Eli, I saw what was happening. It was Mithras. He was standing in the doorway, glowing like the sun.

"I won't let you take what's mine," he shouted.

He was crying. Mithras was actually crying because he thought I wanted Lucian to bite me. This man was seriously messed up. Mithras ran at me and no vampire could stop him. The vampires screeched and hissed from being burnt by the glow as he pa.s.sed by. Soon enough they fled, leaving Mithras, Eli, Anna, and I alone in the room.

Eli dove out of the way, if the light hit him, he would get some serious sunburn. Mithras grasped both my shoulders and I focused on absorbing his energy so it couldn't hurt me. As I absorbed it, I became more energetic.

"Get off!" I yelled as I kicked his knee out from under him. Mithras collapsed to the ground, clasping his knee and crying in pain.

"Don't make him too mad, he'll explode," Eli informed me urgently.

"Here, Ruby!" Anna called, throwing me a little green gem attached to a silver necklace.

"It will prevent him from absorbing energy to use against you."

I placed the talisman on his flesh and his skin stopped glowing.

"It will only work as long as it touches him," she added.

Whilst he laid there whimpering, I tied the chain to his ankle. I crouched in front of him, watching to see if he was okay. That was twice now that he'd attacked me, and yet here I was, still feeling sorry for him. Mithras jumped at me, catching me off guard and knocking me to the floor.

"What have you done to me?" he yelled, his hands squeezing my throat.

I couldn't breathe, any tighter and the sides of my windpipe would rub against each other.

Mithras's mouth dropped open and he gasped. His grip loosened and after a few deep breaths I could breathe again. It wasn't until I saw Eli stand up from behind him that I realized what had happened. Eli killed him.

I crawled backwards frantically as his lifeless body fell to the ground. Eli pulled me to my feet.

"I'm so sorry, Ruby. I had to do it, he -"

"I know ... it's okay," I panted, my eyes not leaving my dead father's body.

The doors burst open and in poured a ma.s.s of angry vampires. Lucian's face stood out against the rest as his eyes fell onto Mithras. I don't know how to describe his face. Anger? No. Sadness? No. Lucian was beyond those emotions, I could see it. If this were a cartoon, steam would be pouring from his ears. How could he get stronger and stay stronger now? His Heelian was dead and I was only half Heelian ... My blood couldn't give him as much strength as Mithras's did.

"Do you have any idea what you have done?" he hissed.

"He tried to kill me!" I protested.