The Vampire's Luna -
Chapter 72: Hozier - Arsonist’s Lullaby
Chapter 72: Hozier - Arsonist’s Lullaby
Damien took a slow step forward, red eyes locked onto the sorcerer.
"My son," Morvakar continued, "he chose his mate. Even after death. He tore open the veils of this world to reach her. Because that’s what you do for love. You sacrifice. Your pride. Your soul. Even the good in you."
His eyes glistened. "But your father... he couldn’t understand that. He saw love as a weakness. He called my son’s devotion unnatural. He called it treason. And then he killed him."
"I would choose her, Morvakar. Every single time. You want me dead to teach my father a lesson? Fine. Tell me what to do."
"You would really die for her?" he asked.
"I’d live for her," Damien replied. "But I’d die for her too, if it came to it. Because she’s not my poison. She’s my cure. The only thing that makes this existence bearable."
From the couch, Kyllian snored loudly and rolled over, mumbling.
Morvakar shifted against the cold stone floor, trying and spectacularly failing to get to his feet. The moment he put pressure on his injured foot, a searing jolt of pain ripped through him. He hissed, collapsing back down with a grunt of frustration, clutching the ankle Luna had so lovingly maimed. He could still feel the sting of volcanic glass embedded in his very marrow. "Brilliant girl," he muttered bitterly.
"You deserved worse."
Morvakar gave up the act of trying to stand and let his spine slump. He stared up at Damien. "Mark her."
Damien had known. Somehow, he had always known Morvakar would say those words. Sage Veyron had warned him in hushed tones, eyes grave with centuries of wisdom: Do not mark her.
"If I mark her," Damien said slowly, "she lives... and I die?"
"Yes," Morvakar confirmed. "The moment your fangs pierce her skin, the venom begins to counteract the chaos in her blood. It stabilizes her. She lives. But for you...the venom becomes a poison."
Damien laughed bitterly and took a few thoughtful steps around the old sorcerer. "Then I suppose I’ll come back just to have you executed for treason against your king."
"I have nothing left to live for. Revenge was the only thing keeping me warm at night."
"How long do I have?" he asked finally.
"That depends," Morvakar replied, rubbing his temples. "On how strong you are. But for an average vampire... a year. Maybe less. The poison attacks slowly."
"A year," Damien murmured. "This is why you chose a werewolf mate. You knew that either way, I would lose out. Because if I choose to be with her, I die. If she chooses not to be with me... I’m nothing."
"And yet," Morvakar said softly, "you will choose her."
He would. Of course he would. To Damien, dying for her wasn’t the tragedy.
Living without her was.
"Genius, wouldn’t you say?" Morvakar grinned, his posture slouched. He looked far too pleased for someone lying crumpled on cold stone, foot mangled and future uncertain.
Damien, who was currently inspecting Kyllian’s unconscious form, didn’t even glance at him. "Wake the mutt. We have to go."
"I... I can’t." Morvakar sighed, head dropping back. "Used the last of my reserve in getting him to sleep. Your mate drained me." He sounded more awed than bitter.
"I’ve got to say..." Damien shifted Kyllian to test his weight. "Thank you. She is a hell of a woman."
"You’re welcome," Morvakar said, half-smiling despite the agony that flared every time he moved a muscle. "Would you... give me a little help to my feet?"
Damien gave a bark of laughter. "Suffer." With that, he bent down and heaved the deadweight of Kyllian over his shoulder. The unconscious Alpha’s arm flopped dramatically across Damien’s back.
And without another glance at the man who cursed them all, Damien strode out of the parlor.
*****
Queen Ravena sat beside Luna’s bed, her hand gripping her daughter’s with the ferocity of a mother fighting to keep her child tethered to the living. Luna was still. Every now and then, she would scream her pain or pleasure. Her once golden skin was now bleached to a ghostly pallor, a shade that mocked life.
Ravena’s tears had dried in uneven tracks down her face, replaced now with that silent, soul-deep sobbing only a mother could know. Her fingers traced over Luna’s brow, brushing damp hair aside. Sweat still beaded at her temple, her body caught in the feverish death-throes of the transition.
"My sweet girl," Ravena whispered.
What would the people say when they learned the truth? Their beloved princess was now something... else. Would they crown her, or hunt her? Would they call her queen... or monster?
And what would Magnus do?
Ravena’s mind skittered to her husband. So full of pride. So rigid in duty. He would take it hard. He always did
But even as she thought of his potential fury, of the political consequences, of the panic and scandal that would unfold... she looked back down at her daughter.
Luna’s lips were slightly parted, revealing a hint of fangs. Her breath came in slow, jagged gasps. She was in agony, caught in a body betraying her for a fate she didn’t choose. And yet... even now, she was beautiful. Ravena’s heart cracked all over again.
If given the chance to do it all over, Ravena knew she would still make the same choice. A hundred times. A thousand. Even if the world turned its back on her daughter, Ravena never would.
"I would do it all again," she murmured aloud, kissing Luna’s hand. "Every last risk. Every secret. Every lie. To hold you. Just to love you."
Luna’s eyes fluttered slightly, just enough for Ravena to see the flicker of pain. The corners of her lips turned up, ever so slightly.
"Mother?"
"Yes baby." Ravena sighed in response.
"Please, let me go...I can’t take it anymore." Luna whispered.
"Hold on, just a little bit. Damien is coming. I know he can save you."
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