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“No!” Davina buried her face in her hands. The man was as stubborn as a mule. “Will you please just stop?” She slammed her fist on the dining table and mumbled a curse.
Broderick was still in her bedroom, rumbling and grumbling and ignoring her protests, flashes of his red hair crossing back and forth beyond the door. After Dr. Thompson had given her another syringe of multivitamins—minus the sedative—he’d left her apartment, and she had encouraged Rick to reminisce about their special times together through her previous lives, laughing and shedding grateful tears. He’d brought her up to speed on Angus and how they’d settled their age-old feud, uniting as brothers. She was overjoyed that was over, but when she’d mentioned how their reconciliation had fulfilled the prophecy, Broderick had announced his intentions.
He was packing their things and they were leaving.
He emerged and dropped her bulging duffle bag next to his in the middle of the living room floor. Glaring, he disappeared back into her room and made some more racket.
Davina threw her hands in the air. There was no talking to her husband when he got like this. He was determined to have his way, so she had to give in until he was calm enough to see rationally.
But Broderick’s fury regarding this damned prophecy had been simmering for almost five hundred years. She wasn’t sure how long it would take the fires to cool and, by then, it might be too late.
He stomped into the living room with her toiletries bag, laptop and purse, and stacked them on top of the duffle bag. “Did ye pack provisions?”
Davina sighed and rose from the chair. The room swayed, and she clutched the edge of the table. Broderick was at her side in a flash, his strong hands keeping her steady. She gazed up into his emerald eyes, filled with worry. “Honestly, Rick, I don’t think I’m fit for travel. And besides, you need to think about this.”
The muscles in his jaw twitched as he ground his teeth. “I’ve had centuries to think about this. We’re done.”
“Everything we’ve been through has been for this moment.” Her fingers curled, his shirt bunching in her fists. “Why do you want to run now that we’re so close?”
“Because I dinnae want to lose ye!” He pulled her into his arms and buried his face in her hair. “The whole fuckin’ supernatural world is coming at us like a flamin’ comet, and I’m scared to death yer gonna get crushed. What if redemption means death? What if—”
“I can’t believe that.” Davina lifted her head and placed her palms on his cheeks. “I don’t believe we’ve come all this way only to fail. To lose each other after everything we’ve sacrificed to get to this very moment.”
Broderick closed his eyes and his balance faltered. Although she tried to support him, his heavy frame was too much, and he staggered and dropped to his knee. “I can’t do it, Blossom. I can’t bear to lose ye again. It’ll be the death of me. I can’t sit back and watch what happens next.” His eyes implored her. “Please, let’s go now before—”
The front door splintered. A gust of air flooded the apartment and the lamps toppled off the end tables.
Davina ducked and covered from the flying debris. Broderick vanished from her side and she dared a peek through her arms.
The gale receded, but he stayed pinned to the far wall. His arms and legs flailed and kicked, trying to break free. “Angus, no!”
With the grace of a black panther, Kahli glided into the room, one hand clutching the air before her and her face contorted with rage.
Angus followed close behind, his silver eyes on Davina. “Hold him, Kahli. This won’t take long.”
Davina tried to scramble away from the Vamsyrian, but he swooped in and snatched her from the floor.
Angus twirled her in his grasp, his arms like steel bands as he forced her to face her husband. Rick’s gaze was sharp and filled with malice. He grunted and struggled against the invisible force holding him at bay.
Angus’s chuckle was a cruel grating in her ear. “Still so gullible, brother.”
Davina thrashed, trying to grip his hair, but he effortlessly dodged her weakened attempts and pinned her arms.
“Shall we finally get this prophecy business over with?”
Fear widened Broderick’s eyes.
Angus jerked Davina’s head against his shoulder, exposing her neck. She hissed as his fangs stabbed her neck. He drank deep and the world swirled with pleasure from his feeding.
“Davina!” The tortured cry of her husband grew distant.
“Hurry,” Kahli snapped.
Her mouth was forced open and a warm, coppery liquid flowed over Davina’s tongue. Blood. Gaining some of her faculties, she resisted and spat, coughing. Her side slammed the floor. Moaning, she pushed to her hands and knees. Red splattered the carpet as the blurriness dissipated.
Angus grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked. “Drink it, Davina.”
An agreeable warmth spread through her body. Compulsion. Angus had used it on her before, in another life. No!
Blood was forced into her mouth but, this time, she swallowed the thick liquid pouring down her throat.
Broderick’s roar filled her ears.
“That’s right, lass,” Angus encouraged.
There was no resisting a vampire’s compulsion. She eagerly swallowed the blood he fed her.
Angus released Davina and she hit the carpet, gasping and shivering. The Vamsyrian blood flooded her limbs like a stiff drink.
Kahli and Angus retreated into the murky fog of her vision. The floor careened, and Broderick crawled toward her, panting with tears streaming down his handsome face.
As he pulled her into his arms, his tortured cries dissolved in the shadows of unconsciousness and the world faded.
* * * * *
“Drink it, Davina.” Angus’s voice echoed in the darkness. “That’s right, lass.”
Davina dug the heels of her hands in his chest. He grinned at her with blood on his teeth.
Her blood. And the coppery taste in her mouth was his.
Dear god, what had he done?
Rays of black light emanated from the Vamsyrian. He laid her on the floor and retreated to stand beside Kahli, Broderick, Cordelia, and Malloren Rune. They all surrounded her, the same black light streaming from their bodies.
Davina lifted her hands and frowned. White rays shone through the pores of her skin, growing brighter.
Broderick extended his hand, and she took it and stood.
He smirked and that wonderful dimple appeared in his chiseled cheek. She caressed it with her thumb and he bent forward to touch his lips to hers.
Razor-sharp pain sliced her gums, and she inhaled sharply.
Broderick bared his throat. Fangs pushed against her bottom lip. She pressed her lips to his corded neck and pierced her husband’s flesh.
The warmth of his blood filled her mouth, and she consumed a few swallows before releasing him.
Davina nodded then tilted her head for him.
Broderick fed from her and, as he stepped from her embrace, the black rays emanating from his body shimmered and transformed into white.
Kahli and Angus shook their heads and stepped backward.
Davina faced Malloren, who approached, and she performed the same transformation. Malloren faced Cordelia and performed the transformation, as well.
The blackened rays brightened to white and all four of them stood, radiant and with open arms toward the crowd of Vamsyrians who waited for their redemption.
“I call you Redeemed,” a voice reverberated from above.
Davina gasped and bolted upright.
“It’s okay, Blossom.” Broderick’s warm hand cupped her face. “I’m right here.” He sat at her bedside and his presence did wonders to calm the thumping of her heart.
Perhaps it was a dream. A nightmare.
“How do ye feel?”
She frowned. “What happened?”
“You have fulfilled your destiny.” Malloren Rune stood at the doorway of the hospital room in the Army of Light Headquarters.
So, it wasn’t a dream.
“Then Angus transformed me?” I’m a vampire.
Peace washed over her, the words to the prophecy becoming clear. All her mortal apprehensions dissolved as if the centuries were flooding in from the past and surrounding her like a comforting, warm pool.
Broderick dropped his brow to her hand, tightening his trembling grasp. Her beautiful husband. Surely, from his point of view, his worst nightmare had come true.
There was no running from the prophecy now.
Davina was the Deliverer. They had no choice but to see this through.
I’m okay with this. She stroked his hair. “Together forever.”
He lifted his tear-filled eyes. “Eternally yours.”
The words were a whisper, and filled with regretful resignation.
“It’s okay, Rick. I know what to do.” She brushed a tear from his cheek with her knuckle.
“What do you mean?” Malloren stepped to Davina’s side despite Broderick’s impending glare.
Davina caressed Broderick’s chin and guided his eyes away from the Prophetess. “Everything’s going to be fine. Angus did the right thing.”
Knowledge of her purpose, of what was done and why, all came to her as if her mind had pulled the facts from thin air. The words of the prophecy poured from her mouth with no forethought, as if God used her as His mouthpiece. “Through the Chosen One, the brothers will unite, and the Protector and the Penitent will find peace. When this conflict ends by the effort of their own hands, the wrath of God will be delivered. The Chosen One transformed unwillingly will become the Deliverer of God’s wrath and the cursed will once again choose life or death through this vessel.” Davina wiped another tear from his cheek. “Angus had to be the one. He fed from you, so he knew I had to be transformed unwillingly and that you couldn’t and wouldn’t do it.”
“Angus did what he’s always done.” Broderick grimaced as if the words were bitter on his tongue. “And I fell for it...again. He took advantage of—”
“Don’t you see the sacrifice your brother made? You told me yourself that his secret desire was to be united with you as family. How could his blood lie? He did this for you, risking his relationship with his only brother.”
“How was this for me?” Rick stood and glowered. “I’ve never wanted anything to do with this damned prophecy. If he knew what I wanted through my blood, he would have helped us get out of this mess.” He directed his venom at Malloren. “Ye got what ye wanted, so ye must be thrilled. But what happens to her? Or do ye even care?”
“Of course, I care.” The prophetess hugged her midsection and diverted her eyes to the floor.
Davina squeezed Malloren’s arm reassuringly and noted the time on the digital clock—11:45 a.m. “It seems I am not governed by the rising or setting of the sun.” She jerked her chin toward the wall.
Malloren grinned and Broderick’s frown softened.
Davina didn’t have to read his thoughts to know the burden of caring for her lessened, if just a bit. She didn’t need a ring or sun wolf blood to protect her during the day. She was a day walker. “Redeemed.”
“What?” Broderick cocked a brow.
Davina regarded the prophetess. “Please gather Cordelia and the others and have them meet Broderick and me in the conference room at one o’clock.”
“As you wish.” Without a backward glance, Malloren dashed from the room.
Davina threw the covers back from her legs and hopped from the hospital bed.
Broderick rushed to her side. “Are ye sure—”
“I’ve been transformed, love.” She grasped his hand. “I am no longer mortal and therefore you don’t need to be concerned for my health.” Davina stood on tiptoe and slipped her hand behind his head to bring him down for an open-mouthed kiss.
Broderick moaned.
“Come with me.” Davina led her bewildered husband down the halls to the elevator, which opened as soon as she depressed the button. They stepped inside and, as the metal doors closed, she noted the droplets of brown blood that stained the collar of her terrycloth robe in her reflection. “First, I’m getting out of these soiled clothes and taking a shower.”
Broderick scowled, his hand still clinging to hers.
The elevator dinged and opened. She pulled Broderick with her and halted at the gaping hole fronting her apartment. “Oh, that’s right.” Angus and Kahli had blown the front door right off the hinges. “Do me a solid and grab our bags, would you? We’ll go to your apartment, instead.” She held out her palm and Broderick stared at it as if dumbfounded. “Keycard, please?”
He nodded, dug into his back pocket and produced the plastic card.
“I’ll have some scotch waiting for you.” Not giving him a chance to question or comment, she spun and let herself into his abode.
Going straight to the liquor cabinet, she poured them two fingers of Rick’s finest. After she set the glasses on the coffee table, she headed into the bathroom.
Davina tossed the blood-stained robe and pajamas into the hamper, along with her panties, and donned the fresh blue-and-black plaid flannel robe hanging on the back of the bathroom door. Sized for Broderick, the sleeves hung past her fingers, so she rolled them up as she headed back into the living room.
Broderick entered and kicked the door closed behind him. He dropped their duffle bags and luggage on the floor by the kitchen, that same scowl set firmly on his face.
“Come sit down so we can talk.” Davina picked up the scotch.
Broderick swaggered to the couch, took the rocks glass she offered and sat.
With her free hand, she hiked up the robe and straddled her husband’s lap, ensuring he saw she was naked under the robe.
His lips parted and desire sparked in his gaze, but the hard line of his mouth was evidence he clung to his anger.
Davina took a healthy gulp of the smooth whisky, enjoying the burn down to her belly. She dipped her finger into the amber liquid and spread it over Broderick’s bottom lip, softening his frown. Leaning forward, she tasted the liquor on his mouth and Broderick sighed, the tension easing from his body.
Davina smiled, her lips caressing her husband’s. “That’s better.”
“Tell me what’s happenin’, Blossom.” Fear filled his emerald eyes.
She took another sip of scotch and set the glass on the end table. “My job as the Deliverer is twofold. Give Vamsyrians the choice to turn back to God by transforming them into what I’ve become. And to build the true Army of Light.”
“The true Army of Light?”
“The Army as we know them were only the servants of God. The true Army will be every person I transform. And those people will give other Vamsyrians the same choice and transform them. This is how the Army will grow and this is how redemption will be delivered.”
Broderick’s frown returned. “And what if someone refuses?”
“Then they will not go through the transformation.”
“Ye don’t have to kill them?”
Davina shook her head, remembering how Angus and Kahli did not choose redemption in her vision upon awakening. “They have free will to choose or not choose. If they die and they were not transformed, eternal death is their punishment.” She did hope Angus and Kahli would make the choice to be redeemed and the vision wasn’t prophetic.
“So that is the wrath o’ God?”
“That’s it. As the Deliverer, I am the vessel in which Vamsyrians will find redemption. Through this transformation, they will receive God’s forgiveness. But the others I transform will have the same ability. I and everyone who becomes like me will be known as the Redeemed.”
Rick’s frown softened and he seemed to weigh the facts as his eyes wandered around the vicinity. His face brightened. “Then this means, eventually, ye won’t have to do the transformin’. If anyone ye transform has the same ability, we only need to change a handful of people and leave the rest o’ the world up to them.”
“I suppose that’s true, but I have a feeling we have a bigger responsibility.”
Broderick’s scowl returned. “Like what?”
“At this point, I don’t know. It’s more of a feeling, so there’s a chance I could be wrong. Before we get to that part, though, I need to start transforming people.” Davina smiled. “You will be the first.”
Rick’s eyebrows hiked toward his hairline. “Me?”
She nodded.
“How? An exchange o’ blood?”
“Right, but I don’t believe I need to drain quite as much blood as was done when we became Vamsyrians.”
“You mean ye’ll feed from me for a change?” That roguish smile tipped the corner of his mouth and brought out his dimple. His hands slid under her robe and smoothed her bare thighs.
Her limbs tingled, and not just from the alcohol. Davina dipped her head for a kiss and melted in his arms.
Broderick pushed her back, wariness in his narrowed gaze. “I’ve never trusted how this whole damned prophecy has unfolded. It’s caused us more pain than I care to revisit. And though I’m hopeful our involvement can be reduced to watching this transformation o’ Vamsyrians from the sidelines, I don’t want us to let our guard—”
She placed her index finger on his mouth. “Will you shut up and make love to me?”