Tempting Eternity Page 15

  What if Sylva had discovered the vampires and killed them? Perhaps by leaving them to bake in the morning sun?

  Pacing more swiftly with each thought entering her mind, she was so wound up by the time Victoria took her shoulder that she spun around to remark, “I can't stay here, Victoria! I have to find them!”

  Ironically, in the middle of her statements, Chandra appeared, teleporting into the room without warning. The sudden verve of light startled Isadora, though the sorceress' impassive visage offered a profound sense of relief she didn't bother hiding.

  “I'm glad you're back! Please tell me things went well.”

  At the request, Chandra quirked a slender brow. “Mathias didn't return to tell you himself?”

  At her question, Isadora's heart dropped into the pit of her stomach, gaze darting to Victoria and back before finding enough clarity to state, “No! Mathias never returned! Neither did Maddox and Stephan!”

  In contrast to the fear gripping Isadora in a firm hold, Chandra merely rolled her piercing eyes and muttered the word, “Wonderful. I suppose I should take you to Heliger, then. He asked that I return here to make certain the vampires were well after the blast left us unconscious until a few minutes ago.”

  “What blast? What happened?”

  Reaching out a hand, Chandra returned, “It's best if you see for yourself.”

  Isadora didn't waste a moment taking the sorceress' hand, and only paused to tell Victoria, “I'll call you as soon as I can.”

  “That's fine,” the draconian replied. “Just be careful, okay?”

  “I will,” she promised, allowing Chandra to teleport them into the Sahara where … whatever happened the previous night took place.

  Once they arrived, Isadora squinted in response to the morning sun burning bright over the vast desert, and waited for her vision to clear before realizing there was nothing to see, at least, not in the direction she faced.

  But turning around revealed a different story.

  Not ten feet away was a large chasm in the sandy ground, reaching into the earth for several meters. At the bottom were numerous fragments of stone, and Heliger stood at the edge above, eyes closed and hands clutching his staff.

  Hurrying toward him, Isadora only stopped when he stated, “Take care, the ground is unstable.”

  Slowing her pace, she approached more carefully and asked, “Why? What happened?”

  “Chandra and I believe Sylva accessed the power within the temple ruin, and unleashing it triggered a chain reaction. We witnessed the blast from a distance, and the reverberation was enough to knock us both unconscious.”

  “Oh no,” Isadora whispered, staring down into the hole. “Then this is the ruin?”

  “Yes, and I've done sweeps of the area above ground with a Third Eye, but haven't found a trace of anyone, vampire or fae. So I'm checking the chasm.”

  Isadora's heart plummeted, visually scanning the area but sensing no life aside from Heliger and Chandra. There weren't even any animals nearby, suggesting the explosion had driven everything away—if not killed it.

  Still, she tried not to lose hope. Derick said Sylva planned to release her sisters after accessing the temple, so perhaps they were now free, unharmed, and just as confused as she'd been to awaken after a week with no memories.

  But what about the vampires? Even if they were in the area, she'd never be able to sense them, leaving her with nothing to do but wait and focus on her concern.

  During her thoughts, Heliger remarked, “I can see beyond the collapse now, but it's mostly destroyed. There's an old chamber full of debris, and some sunlight is getting in, but it's dark further inside, meaning a vampire could survive down there.”

  “Does it look safe enough to teleport inside?”

  “Perhaps, as long as one is careful where they step.”

  With that said, the magician opened his eyes to gaze down at Isadora questioningly. “Why?”

  “Because I'd like to look for them, though it might be safer if only one of us goes, and I'm volunteering.”

  “Wouldn't you rather stay up here just in case your sisters show up?”

  “If they come around, I'll know it,” she promised. “Besides, I'm the smallest of anyone here, and the lightest on my feet.”

  The magician looked her over as if sizing her up, then remarked, “As you wish. Chandra and I will continue searching above ground, and if you find Mathias, give him this.”

  Lifting his hand, a light flashed in his palm and a stone appeared set in a golden disc.

  Taking the item, Isadora inquired, “What is it?”

  “A key to Sutrelle. You can use it to open a portal and escape the ruin if necessary.”

  Nodding, she stuffed the key into her jeans pocket, then allowed Heliger to teleport her into the ruin, though not before he promised to find her if they discovered anything significant.

  Inside the subterranean ruin, it was almost too dark to see. Had Isadora been a moon fae, the matter wouldn't have been an issue, but her sight wasn't as attuned to the dark as her kindred's.

  So she chanted a few verses in Latin, words of a spell that would enhance her vision. In mere moments, the words channeled energy through her until the surrounding tunnel grew brighter—and whatever triggered an explosion last night left the chamber completely devastated.

  Various broken columns lined the carved walls, all of it constructed from obsidian, or something similar. Additionally, the cracks in the pillars looked clean, proving they'd broken within the past several hours.

  The thought made her wonder how old this temple actually was, and what purpose it'd served. Worship? Study? Whatever the case, the destruction made it difficult to imagine what it used to look like, let alone navigate.

  Climbing over a toppled column, a mild vibration rolled through the walls, and Isadora froze in place, though the tremor wasn't enough to cause a cave in. Instead, only dust drifted down from the ceiling, allowing her to continue through the dilapidated tunnel.

  The further inside she moved, the darker it became, though there weren't as many obstructions in the path ahead. Instead, most of the debris lay scattered about the floor, and what remained of the temple was reminiscent of a shrine.

  Old candelabras and clay pots lay discarded, most broken and unusable. More notably, there were pieces of jewelry such as golden necklaces and rings of lapis lazuli in addition to several ancient coins. Human archaeologists would have a field day with such a find, and Isadora couldn't say she wasn't tempted to look through the relics as well.

  But as she gazed about the structure and everything stored within it, a glinting light amidst several shards of clay caught her eye.

  It seemed strange that anything would flicker so brightly in such a dark place, but as Isadora approached it, a second flash twinkled just moments before she crouched nearby to discover the source—and her lips parted in surprise.

  Sylva's pendant.

  It was difficult to believe she wasn't seeing things at first glance. But though Isadora had only seen the bauble once before, the strange markings carved into the metal around the gem were too unique to allow any doubt. This was the same accessory the witch used to control her, and the same Mathias came to take.

  He'd obviously succeeded as well—but why had he dropped it?

  Concerns raced through Isadora's mind as she plucked the pendant up from the floor. Was he hurt, or simply unaware that the pendant wasn't on his person?

  While questioning it, her head turned left in response to a low groan sounding nearby. The tone was decidedly masculine, and she attempted to trace the sound to the source with her eyes, asking, “Mathias? Stephan?”

  Another groan sounded in response, and she stuffed the pendant into her pocket before making her way over to a dais.

  “Hello?”

  There was no answer, but rounding the corner of the object revealed why—and Isadora let a shocked cry.

  “Mathias!”

  Sprawled out on his back b
ehind the dais was the vampire—or half of him, anyway. The right side of his face was badly burned, flesh seared away to the bone in some places. His eye was missing, clothing charred, and most of his right leg was gone.

  He must've been caught in the blast that knocked Chandra and Heliger unconscious. Yet the talisman she'd given him for luck and protection remained around his neck, the amulet cracked down the center.

  The sight of it made her wonder just how much the item had helped considering his condition was so bad it was difficult to remember that he'd heal.

  Regardless, Isadora leaned down to take his left hand, whispering, “Don't worry, I'm here, and I'll get you help.”

  The vampire didn't respond, his head lolling to the side just as his good eye opened, the blood red iris glowing through the darkness. The sight served as a stark reminder that there was only one way to help this vampire—by offering blood, and his empty gaze spoke volumes of the fact that he was currently operating on instinct and would be until he found it.

  At the thought, he inhaled a deep breath through his nose, then groaned as if pleased by some appealing scent, and she didn't have to question what it might be. Instead, she only wondered over the safest way to proceed. Thankfully, he couldn't be strong enough at present to pose a real threat, so perhaps it was best to simply use the key Heliger had given her to open a portal to Sutrelle and drag the ancient vampire through it.

  Then again, she'd been attacked there once already, and Mathias was in no condition to offer protection. So the Spire Shard Heliger had—“Ah!”

  Isadora's startled cry filled the chamber, thoughts interrupted when the vampire used her grip on his hand to tug her in, then rolled her over so swiftly she wasn't even certain what happened. But as soon as her back hit the floor, a sharp pain erupted in her neck, and everything became clear.

  She'd underestimated Mathias' condition, and was now paying the price with her blood.

  For the first time since they'd met, Isadora was suffused with fear of the vampire, her scream echoing out as his fangs clamped down, piercing her flesh with a harsh, greedy suck.

  Once, twice, he growled like a mindless beast while pinning her to the floor, and there was no way to fight his strength. Kicking her legs and clawing his arms, Isadora's heart pounded as frantically as she squirmed. In his current state, he could unintentionally kill her, a prospect that seemed likely when dizziness overwhelmed her.

  But even as she grew faint, her fear was short lived due to an unexpected sensation.

  As the vampire took more and more blood, another presence formed in the room. It was fleeting, but sudden, appearing out of nowhere as if Heliger or Chandra had just joined them from the surface. But the presence wasn't half elven, or even human.

  It was simply there.

  Was blood loss affecting her senses? Possibly, though she wasn't inclined to believe so in detecting the resumed beat of a dormant heart.

  Mathias' heart.

  Isadora couldn't explain it, but what she now sensed was the vampire above her, his body mending as a result of feeding on her blood.

  During those brief moments, Mathias was alive, or as close as a vampire could get, providing her with a sense of connection that faded far too quickly for her liking. Still, it served as a potent reminder that deep down, she knew he'd never cause her permanent harm no matter how badly he needed blood.

  As if to prove it, the vampire released her.

  Rolling away with a groan almost as quickly as he'd pinned her down, the action left Isadora on the verge of passing out, but able to recover with rest—and if she had the ability, she would've reeled over the turn of events.

  Despite being starved for blood, he'd freely released her, and as her gaze drifted over to Mathias' face, she found contentment there that suggested he'd be fine.

  The thought filled her with satisfaction. Her neck now ached from his rough bite, an act that initially scared the hell out of her. But knowing he wouldn't harm her even when starving offered a sorely needed peace of mind that her attraction to him wasn't leading to something impossible.

  She only wished he'd left her with the strength to curl up against his side, but in that moment, the most she could do was take his hand in hers and thread their fingers together.

  Would Mathias even remember this later? It was hard to tell, and she didn't have the presence of mind to wonder what he might say, or why this vampire of all men had sparked her interest.

  At that moment in time, knowing he had was enough.

  — NINETEEN —

  Whatever happened after Sylva unlocked the ruin was a blur in Mathias' mind. He only knew for certain the injuries sustained in the blast wouldn't mend without a significant amount of blood.

  So why was his body fully intact upon opening his eyes?

  Looking down in confusion, the only part of him in dire straits was his clothing. The tattered garments served as proof he'd been caught in a devastating event, yet he felt strangely invigorated.

  With the thought came the realization that a faint hint of the richest blood he'd ever tasted was lingering on his tongue, and his heart nearly stopped in fear. Somehow, he'd fed, and judging by the way his body sang with strength, it wasn't on human blood.

  It was fae—specifically, Isadora's.

  Because of their link, he'd know her blood anywhere, even without more than a hint of taste in his mouth to go on. The amount of healing his body required had already taken the edge off of the euphoric effect as well, but the life now flowing through his veins was as clear to him as the strange dais standing nearby.

  The sight of it reminded him again that Sylva had unlocked a ruined temple—the chamber around him was too reminiscent of a shrine not to think this hadn't once served as a holy place. Yet he couldn't recall crawling inside to escape the morning sun, nor did he know what happened to the pendant—a worrisome thought. Had Sylva returned for it while he was unconscious?

  It was a possibility, and yet, he couldn't focus on the matter in that moment.

  Instead, his sole concern was for Isadora.

  Though faint, the lingering taste of her blood left him gripped by fear, the notion of what it might mean prompting him to sit up and locate her as quickly as possible.

  Yet he paused in realizing the fingers of his left hand were thread through another's—and a glance in that direction revealed a sight he'd hoped never to see.

  “Gods, no!”

  The shout echoed throughout the chamber as if a stranger had yelled the words, and Mathias couldn't move. Not three feet away was Isadora's lifeless body, her skin wan with two bloody holes marring her neck a few inches beneath a pointed ear.

  The image turned his blood to ice, heart murmuring as if to stop beating entirely. I've killed her … !

  With what felt like a tremendous amount of effort for such a simple task, he pulled the limp fae into his arms, and it wasn't until she was resting against his chest that he realized her pulse hadn't actually stopped—it was only slowed.

  He stared in uncertainty, thoughts in turmoil. Was he simply so desperate to know he hadn't killed her he was hearing things? Her sudden, raspy breath indicated the opposite, sapphire eyes cracking open to gaze up at him in uncertainty.

  But the dubious expression quickly faded into a relieved smile.

  “You're awake,” she whispered happily.

  Gods … she shouldn't be smiling at me. He could've stared at that look all day and night, finding immense satisfaction in her contentment over his well being. Yet he felt unworthy of it—she should be struggling to get away, not acting so pleased to know he'd survived.

  But there was no time to consider it. Convinced Isadora was on the verge of dying once more, Mathias quickly lifted her with the words, “You need to heal. I'll take you outside.”

  “No!” she rushed, clutching what remained of his shirt at the collar. “It's daylight, Mathias.”

  “You think I give a damn? Particularly when I'm the reason you're in this situatio
n.”

  “I'm fine,” she insisted, her voice weak, but determined. “I'm just tired.”

  Mathias let a growl, coming to a halt. If she was truly well, there was no sense putting himself in danger to save her. Yet he couldn't let the issue go as easily as she seemed able to, the upward curve of her lips capturing his full attention again.

  “Why the hell are you smiling at me?”

  Her eyes closed, smile growing bigger. “I'm glad you're okay.”

  “Isadora, I nearly killed you.”

  “But you didn't. You took a lot of blood, but you stopped, and I'll be fine with a little rest.”

  I stopped? He stared at her uncertainly. Considering fae tempted coherent vampires to take much more than necessary, it seemed strange that he'd stop without any conscious effort involved—and Mathias knew he'd operated on instinct alone in biting her, driven by the need to feed and nothing more. So how did I stop?

  Even more curious was her presence in the ruin, prompting the inquiry, “How did you get here anyway?”

  “Chandra came to get me,” she replied, explaining the situation as it'd unfolded. “She and Heliger were knocked unconscious by the blast last night, and they're on the surface looking for Maddox and Stephan now.”

  Hearing this, Mathias' blood chilled. Maddox … . After all that had happened, he hadn't considered the fate of those who'd journeyed to the ruin with him, and wondered if he'd lost yet another child that night.

  Was she injured and left helpless to escape the rising sun? Or perhaps killed in the blast outright?

  As if a physical weight pulled him down, Mathias leaned back against the nearest wall and slid to the floor with Isadora settled across his lap. If something happened to Maddox, the fae would be all he had left where it concerned an actual connection.

  She seemed aware of his worry as well, mentioning, “I'm sure they're fine. You sought shelter in this ruin, and they've probably done the same. Or maybe they weren't injured, and woke before the sun came up.”