“Let James and A. J. go and I’ll do what you want,” she said feeling defeated, hoping he’d be willing to do an exchange of prisoners.
“Actually you’re going to do what I want because I have them,” Silvano said and she felt a defiant anger flare up inside her. He obviously thought as long as he had her son and James she was going to do what he told her to. Well then it’s time for plan B and even her little monsters agreed with her this time.
“No I won’t,” Lily spat in reply grabbing the dagger with new found determination; it seemed oddly poetic to use this dagger. Silvano took a step back ready to defend himself, he obviously thought she was going to do some foolish attack on him. She turned the dagger inwardly holding the tip over her heart. “Free them, every one of them or you will never have your pet! I shove this silver dagger straight through my heart,” she warned him.
“No! Don’t you dare,” James shouted with a growl, startling Lily. She had forgotten he was even there. She glanced over at his direction. His desperate and anguished face filled her with so much guilt that she had to look away. Sorry James but this has to be done, she said silently
“I’m afraid I’m inclined to refuse your request, Lily. I don’t think you would kill yourself because we both know you don’t want to die,” Silvano replied said with clear amusement. No, she didn’t but she wanted A. J. safe with his father more than she wanted to live
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Lily told him then raised the dagger, James shouted at her to stop, but she kept her will strong and her eyes on the vampire king. Let this be quick, she prayed silently as she closed her eyes and she brought down the dagger with all her strength.
Lily looked up at the vampire with a defeated look on her face and it broke James’s heart to see it. It didn’t take him long to see that she wasn’t in any conditions to fight Silvano to begin with. How could Tony have let her come alone? “Let them go all of them and I’ll do what you want,” she told the vampire king. James’ lip curled. No, she couldn’t give herself up like that. The vampire looked down at her with a smug look on his pale face. This is just what he wanted.
“Actually you’re going to do what I want anyway because I have them,” Silvano mocked her. Lily’s eyes flashed red gold and she snarled at the vampire, her beast and vamp were close to the surface and it was obvious she was even closer to losing it.
“No, I won’t,” Lily spat with disdain then took out a dagger and Silvano took a step back ready to defend himself but instead of going for him she turned it on herself, holding the point to her chest. No, no, no! James chanted as he watched horrified. He pulled on the silver chains that bound him to the ground, like some kind of perverse pet. “Free them, every one of them or you will never have your pet! I shove this silver dagger straight through my heart,” she warned him.
“No don’t you dare,” James shouted growling finally feeling his beast stir against the silver. He couldn’t allow her to do this. She gave him a quick glance then looked back at the vampire king.
“I’m afraid I’m inclined to refuse your request, Lily. I don’t think you would kill yourself because we both know you don’t want to die,” he said with clear skepticism in his expression.
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Lily told him. It was as if time slowed down to a crawl as he watched her raise the dagger. It was on her face, the truth. She’d plunge that blade into her chest to save A. J., to save him. He had to do something. They had to do something. Come on Beast, fight! She needs us! He wouldn’t fail her again!
Rage and fear filled every pore of his body, he’d never felt anything like it before. He couldn’t allow her to kill herself to save them! He couldn’t live without her; he needed her more than the air he breathed and he knew deep down she needed him just as much. Pain suddenly tore through him, causing him to cry out. His skin tingled painfully as the beast clawed and tore his way to the surface and to shift. It was the most painful shift James had ever felt.
Beast closed the space between his mate and him in a matter of seconds. He slammed into her violently, his fury had no room for kindness. She flew a good ten feet and the dagger slid even farther, out of her reach. He stood erect, shook out his fur and bellowed out in fury. Lily seemed to cringe at the sound. Good, he wanted her to know he was angry with her. But now it was the vampire’s turn. Beast locked his eyes on the leech that had hurt his mate, possibly his pup, and himself.
He roared at the vampire in challenge, the sound echoing around the room and acting as an amplifier. The vampire looked back at him wide-eyed. Prey, beast thought with a snort. “You may be impressive, but you aren’t a match for me either dog,” Silvano told him and the beast chuckled silently. Foolish prey then, he thought amused and slowly walked to the vampire who took a defensive stance. Without warning the beast leaped at him with claws extended.
While the vampire deflected his claws with his cane, the beast fell on him. He snapped, punched, clawed, and bit at the vampire. The vampire managed to defend himself, but it wasn’t long before the stench of his tainted blood filled the room. Beast was faster, stronger, and very, very angry. With another roar Beast slammed his fist into the vampire hard and sent him flying across the room.
He growled with victory and jumped onto the vampire’s chest on all fours. The vampire cried out as a sickening crack of his ribs echoed through the room. It was over. “No, you can’t beat me! I am Silvano Raul Alvarez DeCastilla! A vampire king,” the vampire demanded, but the beast growled at him. Words, lots of words. Beast had no need for words. Just meat, blood, and death! Beast clamped his jaws around the vampire’s neck, who kept using lots of words.
With a growl Beast closed his jaws, the vampire made a strangled cry and finally fell silent. Beast spat out dead blood and meat. They were tainted and no good. He threw his head back with one last mighty roar of victory. He was strong! He was better! The vampire, now decapitated, aged quickly till its flesh dried and cracked to become nothing more than dust. The beast heard something to his right.
With a smooth jerk, he looked over to see his mate starting to stand but her movements were slow and jerky. He rushed over to her, sweeping his head against hers to show his affection and to scent mark her. He took in her scent with quick deep breaths, checking for fouls smell of blood or worse. Thankfully she smelled healthy. His mate moved away from him, but he followed.
He had missed his mate terribly and wasn’t about to let her get away but as she kept trying to move away with a nervous look on her face. Beast growled to her in warning. He’d beaten the vampire in the challenge, she was now his and as his he wouldn’t allow her to be so foolish. “Do not do that ever again Mate!” he growled at her the. She jumped with surprise on her face for a brief moment.
“I only did what was necessary to make sure you and A. J. would go free,” she justified and he growled at her again. Lots of words but no meaning, he thought with a loud snort.
“Putting you, my mate, in danger is not necessary!” He snarled in reply. She opened her mouth but closed it again.
“Fine whatever you say,” she said and pulled back enough to stand. “I have to look for A. J. He might be here,” She said and he stopped her, wrapping his massive arm around her waist. He pulled her against his chest.
“No mate,” he told he, rubbing his head against hers. “You’re too weak you must rest.”
“I’m fine! I’m not resting until I find A. J.,” she shot, trying to free herself from him but he refused to let go. She growled at him, making beast chuckle silently. Mate wanted to challenge him. He liked it when she challenged him. Amused, he growled back. “Damn it! Let me go!” she yelled, hitting him with her fist but in her human form it did little to the beast.