“I’m saying you have trueDark Faepower, able to twist and turn in inexplicable ways.” The Master spoke with a glittering intensity in his ice-pale eyes now. “For if you can do this with your magic… then whoever unleashed this little demonstration today was right to challenge you. You are a tremendous danger to both Vampire and Fae with power like this; though fortunately, danger is something I am impressed by. Come find me up in my fortress at Novakitsk when you want to know more about what Dark Fae magic canreallydo. And I will help you understand what you are… and why everyone wants your opening might.”
With that, the tall Winter Fae Vampire flowed away, swirling out to a glittering white snow in the hall. Shocked, Ariana realized he could dissipate just like a Revenant – when she felt Lucca’s energy flash through her.
As her head snapped up, Quinn’s did also; the both of them seeing a vision of Lucca in his ravine. But something was wrong with the power he’d wielded to best the Revenants; the wound on Lucca’s forearm was not closing and he reeled from blood loss, unable to even mount his massive owl as it hooted, trying to get him up on its feathery back. Lucca trembled hard as he clasped a hand to his blood-soaked shirt, now bandaged around his forearm. Stumbling to his knees, he sent a desperate plea to Ariana, pain rioting all through him like his entire body was on fire with darkness.
And then the vision faded out – gone.
Ariana was already rushing from the hall as Quinn joined her. He snapped his fingers to Devi and Curio, and both were up fast. As Quinn waved his hand at an alcove, they regressed through it quickly. Their quartet was into the haunted blue halls of the back-Hotel in a moment, as Quinn raised his exhausted power through their group, sparking with fire.
“Everyone raise your magics.” Quinn spoke quickly. “We need to make a portal to the Summer Fae Prince, now.”
As Devi and Curio raised what was left of their battle-scarlet and winter-cold powers to the max, Quinn looked to Ariana. Feeling Lucca’s life flicker precariously on the other side of their connection now, frighteningly distant, she raised her own rainbow-dark power fast.
Even though all of them were nearly spent from the battle, Quinn took their magics and blended them with a complex sigil, opening up a black hole in the hall that stabilized into a view of silver-dark grass and waterfalls. As he rushed through, Ariana, Devi, and Curio strained to hold the portal – until Quinn ran back with Lucca’s limp form hefted over his shoulder. The moment they returned, Quinn snapped his fingers and the portal flashed out.
As he laid Lucca gently down upon the cold stone floor.
“Hold on, Lucca, hold on.” Quinn breathed as he ripped Lucca’s makeshift bandage apart with his strong hands, baring the wound. Ghastly, the slash was purple and terrible at the edges where Lucca’s blazing sword had burned it open, and far too much blood flowed from it.
Sucking air through her teeth, Devi went quickly to a secret panel in the hall, opening it and pulling copious Vampire healing phials from the shelves as Curio put his hands to Lucca’s wound and poured a winter’s chill into him. It undid whatever cauterization Lucca’s blade had done as Devi rushed back, upending twenty phials of unguent on the wound and spreading it out with quick hands.
Lucca grunted, breaking into a spasm from the pain, his eyelashes flickering as Ariana cradled his head upon the floor. But as Quinn summoned the last of his and Ariana’s power plus his entire Dark Haven now, then set his hands to Lucca’s wound and poured a tirade of crimson-dark light into him, Lucca heaved a sigh. Relaxing into Ariana’s hands, he reached up weakly, sliding a bloody hand around her waist though he didn’t open his eyes. But even she could see how quickly his wound was closing now under Quinn’s hands, as the Master Vampire gave his all.
At last it was finished, Lucca breathing quietly upon the floor, deep in sleep. Heaving a sigh, Quinn ceased, cupping Lucca’s cheek tenderly as his onyx eyes blazed. “You did it, my Prince.” Quinn breathed as Ariana felt joy sing all through him. “You came through for us. Sleep now; Ariana and I will be here when you wake. We love you.”
And as Quinn bared his heart to Lucca, Ariana felt Lucca sigh. The smallest smile curled Lucca’s lips as a beautiful light filled him, and Quinn glanced over to Ariana with his dark eyes shining. As Quinn clasped her hand, she understood that they had won tonight, against all odds. And she knew that their trio had wielded unprecedented magics, as Quinn and Lucca gave their all for the people they loved.
And for their new love with her.
CHAPTER 27 – POSSIBILITY
Sitting at Lucca’s bedside, Ariana held his hand as he lay convalescing in Quinn’s ebony bed. With alert emerald eyes, Lucca’s cousin Alleno leaned against the bedpost in his charcoal-grey Darkwatch attire and copious blades, watching as a physician of the Summer Fae Court checked Lucca’s pulses, gazed into the Prince’s eyes, and examined the mostly-healed gash on his forearm. Standing next to the bed in a chic black Armani suit and his regular gold and onyx accoutrement, Quinn held an intense gaze as the physician finished. Resting in Quinn’s cathedral-like rooms for the past three days, Lucca had been in and out of sleep until this morning.
Waking and insisting he was hale – and prompting a visit from the Summer Fae’s Royal Court Physician.
Dressed in a white Italian lace cocktail dress and matching heels today, Ariana stroked her fingers gently through Lucca’s as the physician finally smiled at his Prince. The physician’s violet eyes were pleased but cautious as he straightened, putting implements away in his black leather bag and tucking a pocket watch into his plum silk vest.
“You’re healing nicely, my Prince.” He spoke at last. “Whatever spell you used three days ago has ceased to poison the wound. You will feel tired from blood loss for another week or two. But beyond that, you are well enough to be moved to the palace.”
“Thank you, Benvolio.” Lucca spoke to his physician, and Ariana felt through their magical bond that the man was a friend. “Tell my father I will be home this afternoon. I have a few things to discuss with the Master of Florence first. You may go.”
“Of course, my Prince.” With a nod, the physician packed up. But even Ariana could see how little he trusted leaving his Prince in a room of Vampires and Dark Fae as Lucca lingered in such a vulnerable state.
As the physician hesitated, Alleno gave an amused chuckle. “Come on, Ben. I’ll show you out. Lucca will be fine. I will keep a close eye on him until he returns to the palace.”
“Very well.” The physician sighed, though he allowed Alleno to escort him down Quinn’s ornate wrought-iron staircase to the lower floor.
As his father’s physician left, Lucca waited in bed. Wearing a white silk shirt, vest, and trousers, he looked like a beautiful Victorian invalid as he listened alertly for the physician’s departure. As soon as the man was out the door, Lucca tossed back the covers. As he tried to rise, reeling with lightheadedness, Quinn was there fast – swooping in to catch Lucca under the arm and guide him back down to the bed.
With a growl, Lucca made a fist and punched the sheets, though Ariana smiled as amusement flitted over Quinn’s lips. Looking around, Lucca lifted a straight blond eyebrow at her, though his bright blue eyes were sunny today – amused at his predicament.
“Well. Maybe I’m not going anywhere after all today. Poor me.” Lucca spoke impertinently as he reached out, caressing Ariana’s cheek. She smiled as he touched her lips with his thumb, a deep heat racing through her to feel so connected to him this morning, when his energy had felt so wan these past three days since the battle.
“Coffee helps with blood loss. Shall we?” Quinn asked as he gestured to an ornate breakfast laid out upon his ebony breakfast table nearby.
“I could eat a horse.” Lucca agreed as he reached out, having Quinn help him up this time. As Quinn aided Lucca to a seat at the table, Ariana joined them. Adjusting her cocktail dress as Quinn poured them all coffee and doctored it with cream and sugar, Ariana sipped as Lucca raised his cup to the Vampire in a salute. As Quinn continued serving them from a lovely spread of sweet crepes, mini quiches, and fresh fruit upon the small table, Lucca gave a snort.
“Easy on the crepes and whipped cream, Quinn. I don’t have a sweet tooth that bad anymore.”
