Chapter Thirty-Three
Madison blinked up into Simon’s sky-blue eyes in pain and more than a little confused. “Where am I?”
“Back at the condo,” he informed her, while moving closer. “How are you feeling?”
She attempted to lift her arm, her mind homing in on the pain in her chest. Why did she hurt so much? Memory came flooding back with a vengeance.
Madison jerked upright in the bed, ignore the agony that movement brought her. “Svetlana—”
“Is dead,” Simon assured her, taking a seat on the mattress near her hip.
“But…” Madison glanced around the room at all the expectant faces; some she recognized, others, she didn’t.
Her hand unconsciously lifted to her chest. “Svetlana ripped out my heart. I…I know I didn’t imagine that?”
“Don’t think about that right now,” Simon suggested, drawing her attention back to his worried face. “It’s over. She’s in hell where she belongs.”
Memories of what took place in that cemetery assailed Madison. The demons, warlocks, and the desperation in Simon’s eyes as he fought to protect her.
She moved her gaze around the room, taking in the unfamiliar faces staring back at her.
A beautiful brunette with kind, hazel-colored eyes stepped forward. “I’m sorry we had to meet under these circumstances. My name’s Ember. I’m Angel’s mate.”
“I’m Nita,” a gorgeous dark-haired woman with mocha skin announced. “I’m mated to Vlad. And the pretty blonde standing next to me is Shon’s mate, Laura.”
Madison noticed the pain in her chest was becoming more tolerable. She attempted a smile. “I don’t know how you knew where we would be, but I’m grateful you showed up when you did.”
Vlad ran a hand down his face. “Mates will always hold the ability to find one another. No matter how much one wishes not to be found.”
Nita narrowed her eyes. “Suck it up, buttercup.”
Laughter erupted throughout the room.
Shon clasped the Impaler on his shoulder. “Come on, buttercup. Let’s give them some alone time.”
“Where is Sam?” The question came from Simon.
Madison raised her eyebrows. “Who is Sam?”
“The warlock whom I owe a debt of gratitude. You wouldn’t be alive right now, if not for him”
Madison’s heart stuttered at Simon’s words. “The warlock from Florida? The one Sawyer told us about?”
“Sam isn’t your average, evil scumbag,” Sawyer admitted from his position by the door. “He’s…different.”
Madison scanned the room in search of her savior.
Sawyer shook his head. “He’s gone.”
“I never got a chance to thank him,” Madison whispered.
Simon reached over and took hold of her hand, drawing her attention back to his beautiful face. “I have a feeling he knows.”
The sound of feet filing out of the room as everyone dispersed caught Madison’s attention, but she couldn’t look away from Simon’s eyes. “It’s really over? You’re finally free of Slutlana?”
Simon gifted her with a heart-stopping smile. “I’m finally free.”
“How did she die?”
“By Vlad’s hand. He took her life in the same fashion that she took yours.”
Madison thought about that for a moment. “A fitting end for her.”
“Madison…I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you. I—”
“You’re apologizing?” She leaned forward and cupped his face. “I’ve never had anyone fight for me as hard as you did tonight. Ever.”
“I would have followed you into hell if that’s what it took.”
Butterflies took flight in her stomach. Though it had taken death for her to realize her feelings for Simon, Madison accepted that she’d always harbored some sort of an attraction for him; even when she’d emptied a round of silver bullets in his chest. “I don’t know where I’m supposed to go from here. I only know that I want you by my side while I figure it out.”
Cheering erupted from the living room, eliciting a chuckle from Simon. “Shall I shut the door?”
“Would it do any good?”
He leaned in and brushed her lips with his. “Not in the slightest.”
The cheering quickly turned to laughter until Madison could hold back no longer.
Though it hurt to do so, she dropped her forehead against Simon’s and joined in the merriment coming from the assortment of creatures in the condo’s interior. “Jesus Christ, I’m so screwed.”
Simon burst into laughter as well, his beautiful blue eyes crinkling at the corners, giving him a boyish appearance.
God, he is gorgeous, Madison thought, unable to look away. And he’s all mine.