Reese

Barnes wraps his hands around my throat, choking me. Terror overrides my every emotion as he crushes my windpipe. As I stare at him, pleading, I shudder. The look in his eyes is cold and calculating. He doesn’t care. While he uses his inhuman strength to lift me with one arm, I know this is the end. Then I hear Galen whisper a name.

“Orus.”

Not willing to give up, I claw at his hands, but my world is going gray around the edges. He’s going to kill me without a thought.

“Let her go, Orus. You want me, not her.” Even through my oxygen-deprived brain, I can hear Sariel’s timbre. He’s cool and calm, talking to Orus as though they’re having an easy conversation and not negotiating for my life.

“No. Gadriel wants her dead. She’s too distracting for you.”

His grip loosens just enough for me to take in a gulp of air before tightening again.

“If she dies, I’ll end all of this. I’ll walk Galen into the sun and send myself to purgatory to wait out the end of times. You won’t get what you want.”

Orus tenses, then slowly, as if he’s reluctant, sets me on my feet, his hand still tight around my neck, but at least I can breathe. “You’d rather face eternal damnation than see her again in Heaven?”

Sariel shakes his head. “You’re deluded if you think He will let us have what we want. We might be able to breach the gates, but you and I both know that our Father won’t let us go unpunished.”

I turn my head to stare at Orus. His irises are a curious and vibrant green. His lip curls up into a sneer as he shakes his head. “No. No. Azazel says we can prove to Him that we are repentant by shunning the humans and returning as a united group and asking forgiveness.”

Sariel laughs. “I should have known Azazel was mixed up in this. Has he rallied the troops? Recruited you all so you can get back into Heaven? That’s not going to happen. Is that what he told you? He’s guessing, the same as I. None of us knows what our Father will do, but I know that He has freed the souls of our mates into this world. I don’t think He would’ve let them go if we weren’t supposed to find them. Besides, how do you think He’ll react to you killing an innocent?”

Orus tightens his grip on my throat again. “And this one? You think she’s yours. How can you know?”

“I’m drawn to her. My vessel’s heart responds to hers.”

Orus scoffs. “A physical reaction. That doesn’t mean anything.”

“She’s carrying my child.”

I can’t believe Sariel has told him this. My heart races at the thought that Orus has more ammunition now than he ever did before. Sariel’s lips are pressed tight, and I realize he’s not sure how this is going to go. Oh God. I might really die here and now.

Releasing me, Orus turns to look at me, shocked. In that moment, two things happen. Sariel blurs across the room and pulls me behind him, and Devin takes off Orus’s head with a swing of what looks like a Japanese sword. I didn’t even see Devin until the moment he stepped up behind Orus and swung. The body collapses to the ground and turns to ash almost immediately. My stomach churns as I stare at the remnants of Barnes. He was innocent, and now he’s gone because of me. Just like Trisha.

“Well, that worked out nicely for us,” Devin says, cleaning his sword before sliding it into the sheath he’s got strapped to his back. “Could’ve gone a lot worse if I hadn’t brought my katana.”

Sariel nods at Devin. “Good thinking. I don’t know why I didn’t sense him sooner.”

“We need to get her out of here. I doubt they’re going to stop trying to kill her.”

In all this time, I kept silent, not trusting my voice to work. But now I know I have to say something. Clearing my throat, I call their attention to me. “Devin is right. Barnes … Orus told me they’ll kill Galen and steal Sariel’s grace if they have to.” My words are hoarse and weak, throat strained from Orus attempting to crush my windpipe. “They wanted me to agree to let them turn me.”

Sariel buzzes with anger. “They want to damn your eternal soul? Just to get to me.”

Tears sting the corners of my eyes. “Is that what happened to Galen’s soul?” The thought of Galen suffering eternal damnation tears me apart.

Shaking his head, Sariel cups my cheek. “So much care for him. How is that possible?” His tone is sad. With a sigh he steps back and takes a steadying breath. “Galen didn’t choose this. His soul is waiting in purgatory for his body to die. Only then will he be judged.”

“So, when you make the choice to become a vampire, your soul goes to Hell?” I ask.

He nods and flicks a glance at Devin, who looks shocked. I guess he hadn’t been privy to that much information either.

“You mean my soul is still waiting? I’m not damned?” Devin’s question is thick with emotion.

Sariel shrugs. “I can’t tell you if you’re damned or not. That’s not my call. I just know if you choose to join the devil, you pay the price. Free will and all that.”

As they lead me out of the club, the adrenaline starts to leave my body. My limbs tremble and my teeth chatter even in the late October cold. How are we going to get away from the Watchers? It seems pointless to me to run. They’re fucking angels. I’m sure they can find us anywhere. Sariel takes my hand, but I pull free from him.

“Give Galen back to me,” I demand.

Hurt flashes across him, but he closes his eyes, and when they open again, I see Galen. He wraps his arms around me and kisses the top of my head before pulling away and inspecting my neck.

“Are you all right? Did he hurt you?” I nod and lean into him. Over the top of my head, he says, “Devin, can you go to her place and pack? We need to get as far away as we can. Clearly they’ve got more eyes on us than we do on them.”

Devin laughs. “Yeah. We’ve got exactly zero eyes on them since we’ve got no fucking clue who they are or how many of them are here.”

“Where are we going?” I ask.

Galen shakes his head. “I’m not telling you or anyone else. You’ll find out when we get there.” Devin nods as Galen cocks an eyebrow and tilts his chin. He must know exactly where we’re headed.

As we get in the car, I’ve finally stopped shaking, and the bruised skin of my throat begins to ache. “How are we going to stop them? Right now all I can see for us is a future of running and trying not to get killed.”

Galen sighs. “I have no clue. Honestly, that’s a question for Sariel, but I don’t think he knows either. It’s like he’s expecting God to protect you both now that you’ve found each other.”

My heart stutters. “I haven’t found Sariel. I’ve found you.”

He shakes his head. “I wish that were true, a ghra.” He takes a deep breath and starts the car. “You need to know … this baby …” He places a palm over my flat belly. “It’s not mine. You’re pregnant because you’re Sariel’s soul mate. I’ve been such an ass, not telling you. I just wanted to hold on to you a little longer.”

Nausea rolls my stomach. “No. I am not his. I don’t feel even a fraction for him of what I feel for you. I love you. Even though it’s only been a little more than a month, even though you’re a fucking vampire, even though I’ve almost died twice now. It’s you. Not him.”

As he drives, he grits his teeth and stares straight ahead. “Stop it.”

I place my hand on his knee and squeeze. “Galen.”

“Stop.” His voice breaks and he takes a shuddering breath as he pulls the car over. “This is fucking hard enough, hearing him in my head all the time, watching your body react and not knowing if it’s me or him making you feel this way. Don’t you understand? I would never have been drawn to you if it weren’t for him. He’s yours. You just have to let him in.”

A tear spills down my cheek, and I swipe it away quickly, not wanting him to see me cry. “I don’t want him.”

“You will.”

* * *

Galen

I’m home. Ireland. It’s beautiful, even shaded in the darkness. I take in the rolling fields surrounding my small stone cottage. I’ve owned this place in one aspect or another since before I was turned. The air smells like my past, and a pang of regret for everything I lost slices through me. I’ve changed so much in only a few short weeks. It’s all Reese’s fault. Before her, I’d buried my humanity, not allowed myself to think beyond my next kill.

Now I care.

I care about her, about what my children would think of me, about my soul.

Reese doesn’t want to let me go. She made that clear, but I know this isn’t a matter of if. Soon, she’ll figure it out. She’ll open to Sariel. When that time comes, I’ll surrender to him. I’m not sure if I’ll live through him, loving her right along with him, or if I’ll sleep. I can’t decide which is worse. Of course, none of that will matter if the Watchers find us.

I can hear the shower running as I walk into the house. Reese is singing, and my heart swells at the beautiful sound. She might think she’s a bad singer, but I could listen to her all night. Her voice is smooth and smoky as she fills the hall with the strains of a jazz ballad. For someone who says she doesn’t like it, she sure can sing jazz better than most. I pause outside the door, listening. She’s left it ajar and I can’t help but push it open just a little bit farther. I want to be closer to her. She sings about her lover not knowing what love is, her connection to the song evident in the emotion she puts behind it. We haven’t spoken since our conversation in the car. Long hours wasted in tense silence.

Unable to stop myself, I step into the steamy bathroom, pulling my shirt over my head while slipping my feet free of my shoes. As I let my pants pool to the floor, I clear my throat, not wanting to startle her. The last time a vampire was in the bathroom at the same time she was, Reese killed her.

“Galen?” she questions, her tone holding a tendril of fear.

“Yes, a ghra. Mind if I join you?”

A happy hum escapes her as she pulls aside the shower curtain. “Please. I need someone to wash my back.”

“When I’m done with you, you’ll need someone to wash a lot more than that,” I say as I step inside the shower.

She stares into me and if I had a soul, she’d be able to hold it in her hands. Relief washes over her when she realizes it’s me and not Sariel talking. I can’t help my surge of happiness at her reaction. I know I’ve only got a limited number of nights with her loving me.

“I’m sorry,” she says. “It’s getting harder to tell when it’s you or him.”

I’ll never take her without her knowing it’s me. Tell her that, Galen.

I keep my mouth shut, not wanting to let him into this conversation.

“Kiss me,” I insist, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her close. Her firm breasts press against my chest, and she moans before crushing her lips to mine.

Blood rushes to my dick, hardening it almost to the point of pain.

Her mouth is frantic on mine, tongue delving in and out, breaths harsh against my lips. When she breaks away, I frown.

“You haven’t fed in a long time.”

I nod. She’s right. I was planning to hunt last night, but Orus happened instead.

“Feed from me,” she demands. “I want to give you something you need.”

My fangs descend as soon as the words leave her. I couldn’t want anything more.

As the water cascades over us, I lift her up, her legs around my hips, pressing her back against the tile. I lick a trail down her neck and chest until I find the swell of her breasts. They’re heavy, the nipples darker against her pale skin. I tease one pert bud, tracing circles around it with my tongue, and she cries out, twisting her hips. Fuck, I need her. I need to take her in every way I can. My fingers find her wet and ready, her clit swollen with desire. I trace her entrance, teasing her slowly as she presses her hips forward in a desperate attempt to get some friction.

“Oh God. More, please,” she pants.

The same moment I slide my fingers deep inside her, I clamp my mouth around her nipple and my fangs pierce her flesh. As I feed, her pussy contracts around me. Her hands fly to my shoulders, nails digging into my skin as she screams and shudders. My cock aches, my balls tingle, and I know nothing will keep me from sheathing myself inside her as soon as I can.

She groans as I pull slowly at her breast, taking my time and drawing out her orgasm from my bite. I roll my eyes up to take in her expression. The sight of her flushed cheeks sends a spark of pleasure straight to my dick. Her bottom lip is between her teeth, lids tightly closed, brows drawn. If I didn’t know she was feeling intense pleasure, I’d wonder if she were in pain.

Her cries are weak as her legs tremble around me. Finally, I release her breast and ask, “Are you all right?”

Her answer is a breathy moan. “Yes, Galen. So fucking good.”

“I’m going to take you now, and you’re going to fucking love it. Do you hear me?”

She nods, and I sink my cock deep inside her. Her heat sends waves of sensation raging through me.

Moving inside her, I chase my own release. Her sensitive clit rubs against me, and her body tenses as her climax builds again. I want this to last, I want her to come around me, but I know I can’t let Sariel feed from her now. She’s not ready, and I don’t want to share her this time.

“I’m coming. Oh fuck, Galen,” she cries as her pleasure bursts over her.

She begins to tighten around me, those rhythmic pulses signaling I’ve done my job, and I think of anything I can to distract myself from the orgasm currently racing down my spine. I can feel Sariel readying himself to take control at the last second so he can take his fill. Pulling out of her, I come, eyes rolling back in my head. My pleasure spills all over her belly, and Sariel roars in anger.

As soon as my legs are steady, I set her down, adding some soap to her washcloth and lathering it up. She smiles at me, and my chest tightens. We stay silent while I wash her body, taking special care to clean the slight bite mark I left over her nipple. When I move to prick my finger and heal the small wounds, she stops me with a hand on my chest.

“Leave it. I like it.”

A rush of pride floods me, a purely possessive caveman reaction. Nodding, I continue scrubbing her body.

“Why did you pull out?” she asks as I massage shampoo into her hair.

“I … well, I didn’t want Sariel to feed from you. I thought maybe my climax had something to do with it.”

“Huh,” she says. “Were you right?”

“Yes. He’s properly pissed off right now.”

She leans back against me, the feel of her naked skin on mine making me harden all over again. “That makes sense. The time you fought him off at my apartment, he was inside me already, but he couldn’t feed.”

My shoulders stiffen at the memory of that night. I’d been nearly powerless to stop him for too long. It was only when she’d insisted he stop that I was able to break through.

“Why didn’t you want to let him feed?” Her question is soft and tender.

“I’ve shared enough of you with him. This was about us. I don’t want to spend the time we have together worried about when it will end. He’s a part of the end of us.”

She shakes her head while turning in my arms. “There will never be an end of us. As far as I’m concerned, this baby isn’t his. This…” She takes my hand and presses it over her belly. “This is what you and I did.”

Sariel rages in my mind, but he’s not making any sense. All I can gather from the emotions cascading through me is disbelief, hurt, and fury.

A stabbing pain in my head turns my vision white, my knees buckle, and I hit the floor with the sharp crack of my skull meeting the tile. Blood rushes in my ears. All I can hear is the sound of my pulse and the muffled cries of surprise coming from Reese. Closing myself off against the agony slicing through my brain, I welcome the dark.

* * *

Sariel

I shouldn’t have done that. Galen deserves better, but damn it all to hell and back, this can’t be happening. He’s locked away, and I’m not entirely sure I’ll ever give him back to her. I’ve reached my breaking point. The harsh reality hit me the moment he took her blood.

There’s not a trace of my grace in her blood.

The child is his.

Reese isn’t my soul mate.