“I shook up the monster world, yes. But I did it for a good reason,” Damek says. “And now I’m here to save you for good reason. Stand behind me.”
“What?” I cover my bump with my hand.
“Just do as I say.” Damek’s eyes blaze like Dominik’s do on occasion.
Outside of the room, I hear the sound of boots. Past me wants to fight, but present me is very much reminded of how pregnant I am. I fight when it’s necessary, and if I can put a vampire in between me and danger, it seems a more sensible option.
I step behind Damek as the door opens. To my surprise, rather than do something vampiric, Damek pulls out an assault rifle from under his jacket, and I just have time to put my fingersin my ear when he lets rip with it. The air fills with the scent of cordite as I hide behind him, hoping no one fires back.
Finally the noise ends, and the room is filled with a mist caused by bullets impacting the walls and floor.
“It’s time to go, Lucy,” he says, shoving the rifle back under his coat. “And if you forgive me, I value what limbs I have left, so I won’t touch you, as Dominik will take my hands.”
He gestures to the now open door, and I expect to step over bodies as I exit. But it appears the volley of bullets from Damek has caused whoever was coming for us to change their minds.
“Go up the stairs. I’ll be right behind you,” Damek says, and I do.
At the top, there’s a door which is slightly open, and I halt my progress, checking if the way is clear through the crack.
There’s some movement and the sound of voices. I lean close. Regardless of whether I have an armed vampire, chances are my uncle and his minions have regrouped, and I’m absolutely certain they will want to deal with Damek using extreme prejudice.
“Hello, little dove,” Dominik rasps in my ear.
I think I levitate a foot off the ground.
“What? How?” I gasp as he wraps his arms around me.
“Did you think I’d leave you to the mercy of your unhinged family?” he says with a fanged grin.
I peer behind him, but there’s no sign of Damek.
“I had high hopes.” I slam my lips against his, and he kisses me back with the most perfect intensity.
I know we don’t have time for this. I know we don’t, but I thought my uncle had ended him not so long ago, and to have my Dominik, my vampire king, back in my arms again, his body pressed against mine—I don’t want to let him go.
“I’d have preferred it if you didn’t have to end up staked,” I add.
“Same here. It’s ruined my favorite suit,” Dominik says, brushing his lips over mine and making me tingle all over.
“Damek was here.” I look up into his face. “He helped me get out.”
“He washere? Why?”
“I don’t know.” I shake my head. “But he said he lost his mate to the vault.”
Dominik’s eyes darken. “He did. She had powers I’ve never come across in a vampire, and she thought she was opening a portal to another world. It was not. Her folly led to him losing her and eventually himself.”
“This amulet, the one from the museum, belonged to her.” I pull it out from under my clothes. “What does it all mean, Dominik?”
“I don’t know. But if he wants to open the vault…”
“What if he just wants to get back to his mate?” I say quickly. “What if he can’t exist without her?”
Dominik studies my face.
“He made his choice,” he says, but his voice is less certain.
“And what choice would you make?” I whisper.
