And the man I love.
He would not consign Maddox to Oliver’s fate. Jeze charged him, but Killian held the memory of Maddox’s touch, of his voice, his scent, and his kiss as he deflected Jezebel’s magic, tossing her into a soft pile of dirt twenty feet away. She landed with a dull oomph, and Killian turned, using one hand to shield himself from Delphine’s attack while the other loosened the chains from his angel and sent them wrapping around Jezebel.
The other witches were currently occupied fighting a pale, petite blond woman who moved so quickly, she could only be one thing—a vampire. With Jeze rendered temporarily unable to cast a spell, Killian turned to Delphine. The words came to him, words he’d never learned but somehow knew would break the curse if he could just control his magic long enough to send the spell right where it needed to go.
“What is taken with vile intent will now be used to end torment. I face my truth, claim my rights, I will fear no more this night. Dread’s cold embrace will let me be, that I may save my love from thee.”
The crevasse just beyond his circle snapped closed, the tremor rolling through the ground all the way to Delphine. The High Priestess lost her footing and dropped to one knee, a bright ball of magical energy spinning in one palm, the vial half-full of celestial sand in the other.
Fear snaked icy fingers around his heart, but he had no choice. If he didn’t release the spell gathering inside him, Maddox would die, and Killian...he might as well die then too. Already the angel’s whimpers were so weak, he had to strain to hear them.
“I warned you, Delphine. What happens next...it is on you.”
With his love for his angel burning brightly inside him, he let go, flinging his arms wide.
Purple and blue light swirled around him, faster and faster until he could see nothing but a tornado of colors. And then the eddy widened, spreading out in all directions. Jezebel screamed, and in front of him, Delphine disappeared into nothingness.
“Killian.” The single, whispered word sent terror flooding him, and Killian raced over to Maddox, now lying on the ground next to the gravestone.
His bare chest was covered in blood, his left wing twisted, and his back still bent at an unnatural angle. “Mad, you’re going to be okay,” Killian said as he cupped the angel’s cheeks and leaned down to kiss him.
“No. Too...far gone,” Maddox choked out as tears streaked down his temples. “Even the sand...can’t help me now.”
“No, but I can.” The vampire knelt on Maddox’s other side, bared her fangs, and slashed at her wrist. She held it close to his lips. “Drink, angel. This will hurt. Worse than anything you’ve ever imagined. But it will keep you alive until your body heals on its own.”
Maddox shuddered as the first drop of vampire blood spilled onto his lips. “Love you,” he mouthed, then his eyes fluttered closed.
“No! Do something, vampire!” Killian said as he took Maddox’s hand and held it to his lips.
The woman arched a brow and shoved her bleeding wrist harder against Maddox’s mouth. “What do you think I’m trying to do, witch? If he’s dead, I can’t force the blood down his throat.”
“He’s not dead. He’s not.” Killian rested one hand over Maddox’s heart and the other on the vamp’s shoulder. “Mark this place and stop this time.”
A subtle warmth infused him, and as Killian cast his gaze around the cemetery. the blades of grass were perfectly still, droplets of rain hovered in the air, but at his side, the vampire swore softly. “Drink, angel. By the ancient gods, drink.”
Killian pressed his lips to Maddox’s temple. “Please, angel. My angel. Come back to me.”
The woman pulled her wrist away and licked the wound. It healed before Killian’s eyes. “Vampire—?”
Maddox sputtered and coughed, then curled onto his side towards Killian. “Fuck, that...hurts, Mist.”
“I told you.” Mist patted his shoulder. “Release the spell, witch. And tell me what to do with the one you called Jezebel. She is the only one still conscious.”
Killian looked from the vampire to his angel. “Leave her. Let her spend the night here to think about what she’s done. Mad?”
With a groan, Maddox wrapped an arm around Killian’s waist and tried to raise himself up, and Killian fell back on his arse and pulled Maddox against him.
“You’re a bloody fool,” Killian said sharply. “Don’t risk yourself for me again.”
“Had a whole plan. Didn’t know she could pull the sand back...out of me.” Maddox shifted his legs, then sighed. “Thought I was a goner.”
“You almost were.” Killian cupped the back of Maddox’s neck and kissed him. “You taste of vampire blood. We are going to have to fix that.”
“What did you have in mind?” Stronger now, Maddox almost managed to get to his knees, then scanned the cemetery. “Fuck, Killian. What did you do?”
“I saved you. And broke the curse. The rest...I think the rest needs whiskey.”
C H A P T E R T H I R T E E N
