Marius shivered, feeling as though he was trapped in a nightmare.
Fire streaked across his chest, but his gaze was locked on the dagger sticking out of the creature.
What kind of vampire could take a blow like that and survive?
Wings flapped. Vivienne had moved, and now she stood behind the First. Her sword was raised, and she slashed it through the air with a cry.
The First yanked out the dagger and threw it to the ground, spinning on its heels. Vivienne’s blade sliced through the creature’s shoulder, and a shrill shriek filled the air.
Marius yelled and went to raise his remaining dagger when black spots swarmed his vision. He raised his free hand to his chest, frowning when his fingers came away wet.
He looked down. Crimson coated his fingers. It streamed from his chest, where four long scratches tore the fabric of his shirt and ripped through his skin.
“Oh.” He lifted his gaze, meeting Vivienne’s wide eyes as his legs buckled.
Her scream of outrage was the last thing he heard before he fell into darkness.
“You stupid,insufferable man. Don’t you dare go and die on me now. How will I explain this to the king and queen?”
A cool hand pressed against Marius’s temple, and he rolled his head towards the sensation.
“Mhmm,” he murmured groggily. “That feels nice.”
The moment he spoke, the hand vanished as though it had never been there.
“You’re awake.” The warmth that had been present in her voice moments ago vanished.
He blinked, the action requiring far more effort than it should have. “It appears that way, yes.”
Everything hurt. His head. His chest. His arms and legs.
“What happened?” he asked, the words tasting like chalk in his dry mouth.
A scowling face framed in fiery red hair looked down on him.
“You almost died,” Vivienne said accusingly.
That wasn’t entirely surprising, judging by the ache in his chest and the feeling of dread that had settled over him. Death had been lingering nearby, waiting.
Marius tried to lift his head, but it hurt too much. Instead, he let it drop and took stock of his surroundings. He was on the ground, pine trees loomed over him, and the First was nowhere to be seen. Red coated the snow around them, mixing with the feral vampire’s black blood.
So much blood.
By all accounts, he should be dead right now.
“How am I alive?” Marius dragged his gaze up to his bodyguard.
She crossed her arms and frowned. Her sword had been returned to its sheath, the hilt outlined in silver moonlight. Her wings were retracted, and she was kneeling at his side, pursing her lips.
For the longest moment, Marius wasn’t sure she would answer.
“Viv?”
Her frown deepened, and she tapped her wrist. “I gave you some blood,” she replied reluctantly. “Just a small amount.”
His eyes widened. “You?—”
“Don’t get any ideas,” she interrupted, scowling. “It meant nothing, and I only did it because I prefer to remain alive.”
