Consuela took a slow breath and let it out. She’d never felt so much power as when Erik took control of the dead. Even the vampires turned toward him as if they were ready to carry out his will. They straight up ignored her when he raised the entire cemetery.
“Never even heard of something like that,” Declan said. He shook his head and turned to Consuela. “Have you?”
“Only in myth. Few hundred at most. That was…” She shook her head, no words to finish the thought.
“And you won’t repeat a word of it,” Preston warned. “Erik won’t let the power go to his head. Though I imagine this will fuck with him for a while. Hopefully not too long.”
She smiled. “Maybe I can help with that. Give him a new perspective.”
Robert appeared. “On what?” he asked.
“On why he isn’t a monster.” Consuela looked around. “What he did scared even me. But I understand that side of things better than he does. Maybe more so now.” She glanced at Declan and blushed.
His brow arched. His head tipped. “You ready for home?”
“The car at least,” Consuela said. “If you don’t mind a drive.”
“Not at all.”
Robert took them back. “Should I expect to see you around more often?”
Consuela nodded. “I think so. I like it here. More interesting than home. And sometimes the past is best left where it lies. Though there’s something I need to deal with before moving.”
Robert offered his hand and they shook. He grinned. “Good luck and thank you for the help.”
“Anytime.”
Robert left, and Declan turned to Consuela. “What do you have to take care of?”
She sighed. “My brother should be put to rest. I’ve tormented him long enough.”
“What do you mean?”
She drew a slow breath and let it out. “He tormented my early years. The spirits of my house wanted to protect me. They chased him out of my room, down the hall, and he fell down the stairs. And now, Erik’s pointed out he may have been possessed before his death, meaning he may not have been in control at the time of his death.”
“What did he do?” Declan asked softly.
“He tried to take my innocence.” She closed her eyes. “No matter how much I fought, it wasn’t enough. He kept coming for me. Since his death, I force him to serve me. Punish him when he disobeys. And he might not have been in control.”
He tipped her face up, and she opened her eyes. “We all make mistakes. Do what you must. I’ll be here, waiting to learn more about my beautiful Deathcaller.”
“You will?” she whispered.
He placed a soft kiss to her lips. Energy danced through her. “I will. And tonight, I’ll stay until I have to leave for dawn.”
“Death won’t bother me. There are shutters. Stay, if you choose.”
He took a slow breath. “I’ll stay, but tonight I want to learn more about you. I’m not ready to take the next step.”
“I only request your presence. Nothing more. Not even a kiss if you aren’t willing.”
Declan smiled. “Drive, Consuela.”
* * * *
Preston stepped into Robert’s office and sank into a chair. “Did you have any idea Erik could do that?”
Robert shook his head. “Not like that. I knew he’d raise some. I expected dozens, maybe a hundred. Not the whole damned cemetery.”
Preston chuckled. “You cursed.”
Robert rolled his eyes. “I’m only human. I never expected what he did.”
“Think we can keep the Council from learning what he did?”
Robert nodded. “There were five other mages associated with Tarek at the graveyard, on the grounds. They’re dead. Kjell isn’t going to pull that move again. Let’s hope it was the last of her crew.”
“I doubt it’s that simple. Though Old Lady Murdock seems convinced this isn’t the last we’ll see of her.”
“Of course not. There’s something bigger going on. And once again, we’re just pawns. It’s getting old.”
“Think Erik will stick around?”
Robert leaned forward, placing his arms on the desk. “I have a feeling he’s going to ask for that transfer. I have a case in New York only he can handle. I’m going to send him, tell him to take some time and figure out what he really wants.”
“What do you think he wants?”
“Not to be a monster. He was shaken. He hasn’t processed anything, but give him time. He raised forty thousand or so corpses and tore apart half a dozen people. That’s not his typical mode. I say we let Monique fight for Erik. Let her pull his head out and get him to come back.”
“What if she chooses to move out there with him?”
“Then we let him go. Right now he’s scared of his abilities. Monique can reach him. I have a feeling she’s the key to getting him to accept his place in the Silver Council. She finally gets it.”
“About time. Though I don’t blame her. I spent years worrying about telling you what I really am. There was always the chance you would reject me.”
“Never. You’re my oldest friend, Preston. Let’s see if we can give them the nudge they need to make it work.”
Preston chuckled. “Ever think we’d be playing matchmaker?”
“We aren’t, technically. Just helping them resolve their issues.”
“Maybe he’ll be smart and not bail.”
“Doubtful. You saw what he did.”
“Yeah, and I’m impressed. That shit is the stuff of legend.”
Robert shook his head. “That’s not how he’s going to see it. He’s worried about how the Council will take it. I have a feeling when he comes to do the report tomorrow, he’s going to make a case for leaving.”
“And this case?”
He smiled. “Fitting Monique manages to fix their issues in the same place she walked away. Maybe it will mean more.”
“Thought you didn’t want to get involved.”
He half laughed. “We’re involved either way. May as well help a friend out when he’s too blind to see the truth.”
“Good point.”
* * * *
Monique pulled Erik toward her room. She smiled as she took his trembling hands. “Shower first?” she asked, hoping it would wash away any trepidation he might have.
“Tonight wasn’t supposed to go that way.”
Her smile crumbled. “I’m fine,” she promised.
“I’m not sure how safe it is to be with me after tonight. What I did…” He looked away and closed his eyes. “Shouldn’t have done that.”
“What? Defend the woman you love? Squash the bad guys? What’s wrong with what you did?”
“The whole damned cemetery came to life. Because of me Nigel and several other people were ripped apart.”
“You’ve killed in the line of duty. This is no different. And he was going to make being Other a living hell. He would have made it so we were constantly looking over our shoulders, wondering what was coming next.”
“Maybe. But now someone has to have seen what I did. What I’m capable of. The Dark Templar will come for me. They’ll kill me like they have so many others over the years.”
“I don’t think that will be an issue,” Monique murmured.
“How can you say that?”
“I have a feeling we’re going to have a long, happy life. Like your parents.”
He sighed. “I wish I believed that, but I don’t think it’s that simple. You don’t understand the Dark Templar.”
“Stop. We’ll figure it out.” She leaned up to kiss him.
He resisted for a moment, then fell into it, shifting his fingers through her hair. She pulled him into the bathroom for a long shower, where she washed him clean and pulled him back to bed with her.
* * * *
This was goodbye. He couldn’t put Monique in danger like that again. Because of him, that asshole sent a crazy dark mage into her body. If the bitch had tried to drain anyone’s magic, she would have stripped Monique of her own magic. The thought of Monique withering away and dying gutted him.
He needed to feel their love once more before he left, never to look back. He didn’t want her hurt, didn’t want her found. Living without her was hell, but it was better than losing her because of his own abilities.
He climbed over her, kissing her lips as he caressed down her neck, over her collarbone, and placed his hand over her beating heart. The rhythm matched his own.
Erik looked into her eyes, memorizing her face, the love staring back. An ache started in his chest. For her, he would walk away to keep her safe.
He slid into her. She pulled his face down, capturing his lips. Erik poured every ounce of love into her, hoping to brand the memory into her heart.
Years of chasing her, trying to gain her trust. Now he was walking away to save her from himself.
She rolled him to his back, climbing over him and rising up. Monique stared down at him, her hands on his chest as she rocked over him.
Her eyes glittered, magic dancing over her body. He felt her essence twist through him as she made love to him. He flipped her over, rising above her, kissing a path down her neck, across her chest, and placing a kiss over her heart before taking a detour to lick and suck at one sensitive nipple.
She writhed beneath him, wrapping her hand around the back of his neck. He nipped and went to the other side as she flipped him to his back, taking his hands as leverage as she took their pace harder.
He loved the back and forth, the way she wanted to give as much as she took. Then release caught him off guard as her walls started to ripple around him. She cried his name as hers left his tongue.
Monique collapsed on top of him, and he turned on his side, bringing her with him as he pulled her into his embrace.
Their hearts beat as one, their breath in the same rapid pattern. They were always meant for each other. And once again, fate was tearing them apart.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead and held her closer. “I love you, Monique. Always have. I’ll never stop.”
“Love you, Erik.” She pressed a kiss over his heart and snuggled closer.