The only problem was, this time, it was someone Quinn was responsible for.
As if smelling chum in the water from an injured whale, the intrigued metaphysical searches from other Master Vampires stabbed in, trying to taste Ariana’s power and find out what the blowout in her suite had been about. As Quinn banished their searches with a growl and a wave, Arturos sliced them back also, Lady Eiseth cutting a path through all that energy like a sword.
But as they swept between the curtains into the alcove, it was clear Ariana’s magical explosion had been felt all over the Hotel. Dozens of powerful Masters were shocked now by what was happening in Quinn’s establishment – shocked and darkly intrigued as they felt the Dark Fae go wild.
As Quinn opened a hidden door into the back halls of the Hotel and they stepped through, Ariana breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn’t even known how much the Masters’ energies had been affecting her until they were suddenly dampened by whatever ancient magics kept the back halls of the Hotel safe. Her mind felt clearer and her careening bloodlust ratcheted back a few notches as she took a deep breath.
But as she rubbed her chest, Quinn eyed her in the blue-lit tunnel. As their gazes connected, she felt her passions leap to him again, like a dark-bright lance all the way through her. A fast move from Arturos cut that lance off; even so, Ariana felt how her and Quinn’s entwined powers rocked Quinn.
As it did, his own magics came rushing out, swirling around her in a tirade. Like a thousand cords of darkness and fire, Quinn’s aura heaved to her, piercing her and flooding through their connection like a hurricane of sex, lust, and power. Crying out, Ariana’s eyes rolled up as her entire body heaved, answering that thrust as his vast need crashed into her.
But her bright-dark rush was cut off by a quick slash from Lady Eiseth like a silver blade – and Ariana screamed. Heaved up into Arturos’ strong arms, Ariana was carried by him as her vision blazed crimson, insane with her powerful bloodlust.
All of a sudden, everyone’s veins smelled impossibly good; Arturos had to bind her in his magics again as she thrashed. But none smelled so good as Quinn’s – and Ariana felt his power give another terrible fire-bright heave, rushing towards her. Once again, Lady Eiseth sliced that roaring energy back.
But it was all she could do now, to keep Ariana’s bloodlust in check.
“Quickly, Quinn. To a safe place.” Ariana heard Eiseth speak tersely. “And by the Goddess of Night, get the Summer Fae Prince here. Now.”
As Arturos hefted Ariana more solidly in his arms, Quinn nodded, sending a thought to Curio to hurry. And then they were rushing down the hall as Ariana’s vision washed red in the night.
Everything lost to her bloodlust darkness.
CHAPTER 22 – RITUAL
As Ariana finally returned from her bloodlust, she realized she was laying upon a slab of stone outside. Far above, diamond stars shone down, the sickle moon still hanging in the sky on its way towards setting. She didn’t know what had pulled her out of her bloodlust when she had been writhing in crimson torment only moments ago; but as she felt fangs slowly retract from her upper teeth and tasted blood, she realized she had just drunk from someone.
A bright energy hummed through her now, reviving her as she blinked around, seeing she was in a circle of ornate tombs and whispering willow trees. As Lucca’s relieved face moved into her vision above, she felt his hand on her forehead, stroking away a sheen of sweat as she breathed quietly, her body still. As he smiled, his beautiful smile flooded Ariana’s world.
Filling her with a silver-gold glow.
“She’s back, Quinn.” Lucca said quietly, and Ariana felt another presence step to the bier.
“Thank the gods.” Quinn’s breath was soft as he came into Ariana’s vision also, his handsome visage as relieved as Lucca’s. As they both stood beside her, Lucca with his warm hand on her forehead and still wearing his riding outfit from today, while Quinn wore his quilted burgundy robe, his touch at her wrist-pulse, Ariana looked around.
The three of them were alone in a clearing of tombs and mausoleums; all around, ornately carved granite and marble shone beneath the stars and moon. Flowing water sounded, and Ariana realized her stone bier was on a grassy island of tombs within a much larger pond filled with waterlilies. Luminous night-moths and gold-blue fireflies wisped around the small clearing, their quiet dance accompanied by the chirrup of frogs.
“Where are we?” Ariana asked, feeling soothed as Lucca’s bright blood sang through her, Quinn’s darkfire calm joining it through his touch.
“A Fae cemetery, just outside Florence.” Lucca spoke gently, stroking Ariana’s cheek. “You weren’t stabilizing when Quinn took you to his Vampire grotto under the Hotel; too much energy of the Night. So I had them bring you here. It’s got Night energy since it’s a cemetery, but it’s pervaded by the Light, since only Fae are buried here.”
“This place has powerful wards to keep out anyone who has not at one time possessed Summer Fae blood, so Eiseth and Arturos could not join us.” Quinn spoke also, as he smiled sadly. “But they managed to stabilize you long enough to get you in here and have Lucca donate blood to bring you back. And now we must conduct the ritual, for the hour grows late.”
“The ritual from Eiseth?” Pushing up, Ariana found that she could with both Lucca and Quinn supporting her. As she breathed deeply in the night, lightheaded, everything seemed almost viciously clear; colors were more saturated, edges sharp, and she startled at the hoot of an owl like it had been right in her ear.
She could feel both Lucca and Quinn’s heartbeats in the darkness; Lucca’s pounded hard with fear and worry though he was trying to be stalwart, while Quinn’s beat far more slowly but with a sharpness to it as if he was also afraid. As they exchanged a quick glance, Ariana saw their deep concern at what they were about to do.
As Quinn sank to a seat upon her stone slab, taking her hand.
“Ariana.” Quinn spoke, watching her carefully. “Eiseth has poured her knowledge of this bonding ritual deep into my mind. It is not terribly complex… but it is vastly dangerous. Lucca has given his permission for us to proceed, but I need yours. The magic we use will be wild; if anything goes awry, it is likely none of us will leave this cemetery alive. I have left instructions with Devi as to the Dark Haven’s care if we fall, and have cut myself off from their energy so they will not be affected by what we do here. Likewise, Lucca has left final wishes with Alleno for his people if he dies. Do you have any legacy you wish to secure, if we fall tonight?”
Swallowing hard, Ariana thought about it, then nodded. “I want my parents to know. And I’d like to tell them I love them.”
“Of course.” Quinn spoke quietly as a sad smile touched his lips. Taking his cell phone out of a pocket of his robe, he opened the texting app, then glanced at Ariana. “Think of what you’d like to say and I will get it down. I will send it to Devi so she can get your words to them, if we do not make it back.”
“Okay.” Focusing, Ariana’s heart clenched as words started coming inside her mind – apologies of how she had suddenly disappeared from their lives and gratitude for how they’d raised her. Her love for her parents spiked and tears were in her eyes; receiving her thoughts, Quinn waved his hand over his phone as text appeared in it by magic. Wiping her tears away, Ariana hitched a hard breath as she finished with,I love you. Glancing up, Quinn paused to make sure that was all, then hit the send button. Rising, he walked his cell phone to the far edge of the tombs, putting it behind one as if afraid their magic tonight would damage it. Returning, he sat upon Ariana’s bier.
Smoothing his hand gently over hers.
