“Only if that is what you desire.”
“I missed you. I tried to replace you.”
“Did you succeed?” he asked, once they were standing at the top of the stairs.
“I made myself believe I had.”
“And now?” he asked.
She pushed the door open to her bedroom. “I can never replace you.” She sat on the edge of the bed.
“I have to tell you something,” he said.
“Can it wait?” she asked. She wanted to fall asleep in his arms.
“Your mother’s spirit visited me last night. She had a message for me…for us.”
Lela inhaled and then released a long breath. “What did she say?”
“The God of the Sea has returned the golden ball to land.”
Blood rushed from Lela’s heart. Holding her chest, she said, “How long do I have before it finds me, before vampires come for me?”
“Not long.”
Pacing the room, she said, “Where should I go? Blessed Gods, I need to formulize a plan.”
Wicked golden ball was intent on finding her. And once it found her, vampires would come for her…drain her, believing that her blood could make them human again. Sweet Gods, she was in trouble!
“You need to get some rest,” Eldrich said.
“What? How can I rest?” Oh, but she was exhausted.
“If we’re to fight my kind, you’re going to need your strength. Do as I say and get some sleep. I will wake you in two hours.”
“I’m scared,” she said.
“As am I.”
“Are we together?” she asked.
“Forever,” he said.
“Two hours of sleep and then what?” she asked.
“Then we’ll walk together. We’ll fight together.”
She nodded. “I love you.”
“And I love you. Now sleep,” he said, shutting the door behind him.
She was the queen of Barmoth now and he was the prince of the Barmoth vampires. Their lives together would not be easy. The path ahead would present many obstacles, ones that would prove difficult to overcome. But she would listen to her heart, now more than ever. And her heart wanted Eldrich.
Sleep and then the battle begins.