Only one sediento was so powerful it could move in the blink of an eye. They had found Vidal.
Or perhaps he had found them.
“¡Ayúdame!” Tío Domingo cried out as more sedientos broke through the woods.
Something landed at the very center of the battle. A large body crouching low and predatorial like a jaguar. Like the god who had created him.
“Vidal,” she whispered.
When he stood to his full height, he towered over Papá.
Papá raised his gun and pulled the trigger. But the sediento was far too quick. He was gone in an instant, the bullet smashing into a nearby tree. The next moment, the vampiro stood beforeCarolina’s father. His veiny hands grabbed her papá by the throat and lifted him over his head.
“No!” Carolina shrieked.
She raised her arm and smashed the lover’s dagger into Vidal’s back. The blade cut through muscle and tissue, but she had missed his heart. She tore the dagger out. Vidal screeched. His hold on Papá faltered. He threw his arm behind him, smacking his backhand hard against Carolina’s cheek and flicking her away like a bug.
Carolina rolled through the dirt. The wails of her dying loved ones burned into her ears.
She shoved herself up and cried out as her father and her family fought for their lives against their ancestor and his unnatural bloodline.
Hands grabbed her shoulders. She spun. Her dagger was ready.
“It’s me!”
A sob escaped Carolina. Lalo’s clothing was ripped and torn to bits. But he was alive.
She wrapped her arms around him. “Where have you been?”
“Fighting like hell to get back to you.” Lalo squeezed once, then eased her back. “I lost this when I plummeted down the sinkhole.” He raised the emerald-adorned dagger. “But I have it now. It’s time.”
Papá stumbled, falling hard on his rear, his rapier swiping through the air to defend himself against Vidal. Blood trickled down the side of Papá’s face. Deep gashes cut through his cheek and chin. Her uncle had been felled beside him. Meanwhile, the monsters seemed to multiply by the minute.
“We’re heavily outnumbered,” she said. “What if we all fall here and now?”
Lalo’s gaze found hers. “I won’t let anyone hurt you again.”
Papá grunted in pain. A low growl escaped Lalo. Claws elongated from his nail beds. “Let us end this beast for good.” He lunged forward.
Lalo jumped and climbed onto Vidal’s back just before the wretch could land a killing blow to Papá. From behind, he dug into Vidal’s face. Vidal reached up and gripped Lalo by his collar. He flung him hard over his head, slamming Lalo into the dirt beside Carolina’s father.
Vidal glared at Papá. “My Fuentes bloodline has come to smite me.” His voice was gargled, as if he drank down acid. His heated gaze flicked to Lalo. “I shall wipe you traitors out of existence for this. My one question is, which of you dies first?”
Lalo tried to rise, but a bone was jutting out of his arm. Vidal set his sights on him.
He launched for Lalo.
“No!” Carolina screamed. She dove between them. She would not let Vidal take her love.
Her back slammed into the dirt. Something hard and unyielding dug into her belly as Vidal’s body crashed into hers. She wheezed, her lungs expelling the last of their air.
Vidal’s teeth glistened with blood. But his glowing eyes were the only things she could focus on.
At that very moment, Carolina felt as if she could break apart entire worlds to save Lalo. She would tear this realm to shreds to have him nearby.
That kind of love was dangerous, all-consuming. If sedientos were monsters, it was only because Alma’s love for Vidal was more monstrous than anything on earth. There was no definitive right or wrong. There was only love and the aftermath that came.
“I understand,” she whispered. It was all she could manage, the tiniest of sighs. “I’m sorry for what you and Alma lost.”
