Immortal Wounds: Book #1 in the Immortal Wounds Vampire Series-Paranormal Romance/Vampire Romance/Romantic Fantasy (31 page)

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. The words had a double meaning, and I could tell by the look in Raymose’s eyes that he understood both.

“If you’re going to fight, it won’t be because of me.” I reluctantly met Marcus's stare. “But you can’t expect me to sit back and watch you die.”

I held my hand out to him, my fist clenched tight. He looked at it cautiously for a moment before he reached out. I could feel a lump forming in my throat. His mouth dropped open as he caught my ring in his hand. I turned Rain sharply, digging my heels in hard. I didn’t look back.

I knew I’d scared him. I knew he loved me beyond reason. But I also knew he wouldn’t forget the pain and worry I’d caused him.

I cried hard as Rain carried me through the forest. This would be the last time I’d ride him, and my heart ached at the thought.

The sun was well overhead now. The forest was quiet, aside from us tearing through it at a rapid speed. I looked behind me. Marcus wasn’t following. I didn’t really expect him to, but I had hoped . . .

I loved him. I needed him like the air I breathed. He had become the center of my universe; I couldn’t imagine my life without him in it. I didn’t want to. There would be no color left in my world without him. He had my heart.

I cried harder as I pushed Rain to run faster. The farther away I left Marcus, the more my heart ached for him. I wanted to turn back. I wanted to tell him that I loved him. That I’d do anything he asked of me. But I knew he had to let me go—and I also knew he wasn’t strong enough to do it. I couldn’t exist in his world, not the way I was: a fragile, breakable human. Someone he’d have to watch over every minute of every day. I knew Damen would never leave me alone. He’d find me wherever I ran. I’d have to face him sooner or later. Maybe he was right—we were connected now, and our futures would be forever intertwined.

Rain started to slow a little. His ears were tilting like they were listening for something.

“What is it boy?” I whispered nervously. I gripped onto the reins tighter. “Damn!” I realized I didn’t have my sword with me . . . I must have lost it when I fell.

I looked from side to side. I couldn’t see anything at first, and then something caught my eye. There, lurking in the shadows, two golden eyes flickered back at me. I wasn’t alone.

Rain’s speed quickened. I scanned the trees as we brushed past them, my heart in my throat. I couldn’t see it. Had I imagined it? I leaned out, strained to see through the tears that still clouded my eyes. Rain suddenly jumped—I fell off, rolling down an embankment.

I lay there for a moment face down in the dirt. Moaning. I rolled onto my back, spitting dirt from my lips. “This is just . . . great!” I pounded my fists on the ground. “I lost my fiancée, my sword, and now my horse!”

I stood up, dusted myself off, and surveyed the path above me. “Wonderful . . . climbing,” I grumped aloud.

I reached for a tree root to pull myself up when a deep growl from behind made me freeze. I swallowed loudly, shaking as I turned slowly around.

I could feel its hot breath against my face. Its yellow eyes stared right into mine. It was close enough to touch if I would have been brave enough to reach out.

I held my breath, frozen where I stood. My heart pounded loudly, drowning out all other noise . . . except for its breathing. Its lips slowly pulled back, baring its teeth.

“Marcus . . . help me,” I begged under my breath.

Something flashed past me, knocking the wolf aside. I tried to scurry up the hill backward, slipping back down the soft dirt.

Marcus was rolling around the ground with the wolf. It snarled as Marcus lifted it off him, thrusting it into a nearby tree. It staggered for a moment, regained its senses and lunged in my direction. I didn’t have time to react. Marcus had dove in front of me, hissing wildly as he held onto its head, prying its jaw open and twisted until a loud crack like a tree splitting echoed through the forest. I covered my ears, cringing as I saw the wolf fall dead to the ground.

Marcus turned to me, his chest heaving in and out as he breathed in heavily.

I could see his shining teeth, his blackened eyes, and the murderous expression on his face. For the first time, he looked like a vampire. My God, Marcus truly was a Vampire!

He moved toward me. My heart hadn’t stopped pounding. My eyes darted back and forth from the wolf to Marcus. I was terrified beyond words. I hadn’t seen anything so horrific in my life. I never expected to see that side of Marcus—I didn’t know it even existed. The wolf nearly killed me, and Marcus looked as though he were going to finish where the wolf left off.

“Phoebe, are you hurt?” his voice was strained. “Did it hurt you?”

Tears hung in my eyes. I couldn’t speak. I was in shock. I wanted
my
Marcus—not the man standing before me.

“It’s alright.” He spoke softer now, his face resembling more of his own. “You’re safe, it can’t hurt you now.” He moved toward me.

I staggered a few steps back.

He stopped, realizing it was not the wolf I feared.

“Darling, I’m not going to hurt you. I swear it.” He extended his hand out to me.

I looked at his hand skeptically, then staring into his black eyes. I was torn. My mind was telling me to run for my life; although, I had very little faith that my legs would cooperate. My heart reminded me that I swore never to doubt him again. I closed my eyes, deliberated with my mental tug-a-war, and took a deep breath. It took all my courage and strength to reach out to him. My body trembled as I slowly extended my hand.

“I won’t hurt you, my love.” His voice was smooth like velvet. All signs of aggression were gone.

Our fingers touched lightly—I gasped as he pulled me to him, holding me tight. I could feel the tension in his arms as they wrapped around me; the sweet smell of rainwater filling my senses. All the fear, all the pain from the day, came crashing down on me all at once. I clung onto him desperately, sobbing hysterically as I fell to my knees.

“Shhh, it’s alright Darling. I’ve got you.” He kissed my face over and over. “You’re safe now.”

“You came for me,” I cried, my lips breaking free from his momentarily.

“I could never let you go,” he kissed my lips again and again. “Don’t you know by now there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you?” He took my face in his hands, holding it firmly. “I would die for you!”

His mouth took mine aggressively. I didn’t protest. I was in Marcus's arms, safe, and no matter how hard I tried, I knew I wasn’t strong without him. I needed him more than I’d realized. More than I’d wanted to admit. I needed him as much as he needed me.

He pulled back from me, his thumbs desperately trying to wipe away the tears that were still falling. “Never risk your life for me, do you understand?” He touched his forehead to mine. “I can’t live without you again, I can’t! You
are
my life. You are the only reason for my existence!” His mouth crushed mine in the next instant. I could feel how badly he wanted me, how badly he needed me.

My arms found their way around his neck, pulling him closer, my body meshing up against his.

His kiss heated with an intensity that rivaled any other kiss. I didn’t want it to end, and neither did he, but one of us had to breathe . . . eventually . . .

His lips reluctantly broke free from mine. The both of us panting as he pulled my left hand up to his mouth and kissed the ring that had somehow found its way back on my finger. “This belongs here; never doubt that.”

Tears were falling from my eyes once again. “I don’t want to leave you Marcus, but Damen—”

“Will never touch you again,” he interrupted.

“I know I scared you,” I began. His face hardened a little. “I put myself in indescribably danger—I’d do it again!” I glance away from him for a moment, trying to maintain my courage. “I couldn’t breathe thinking you were all alone out here. I had to come!”

He turned my face to his.

“Marcus, please say you understand, that you forgive me.”

He shook his head. His lips protested, curling up into a slight smile. “I . . . forgive you,” he said in defeat.

I threw my arms around him again, hugging him to me.

“I was so scared when I couldn’t find you . . . and when I saw you lying on the ground with Raymose crouched over you, I thought he’d . . .”

“You thought he’d killed me?” I asked incredulously.

“Yes!” Marcus hissed.

“But surely you know Raymose is in . . . he cares for me deeply. He’d never hurt me. I know it.”

“I’m aware of his feelings for you. He’s never hidden it.” Marcus's voice rose a little. “In fact, he has just made it quite clear that should anything happen to me . . .” Marcus didn’t need to finish.

I half laughed, blushing at the thought.

“You are human, and wolf now—his reaction to you was completely unknown. He could have just as easily killed you.” Marcus stressed.

“He was so happy to see me, he—” I noticed the uneasy look on Marcus's face as he watched me. I could feel my cheeks blushing again. “He was really happy to see me.” I repeated quickly, turning my head a little to the side, avoiding his stare.

“I told him I’m not the same Phoebe, although he insists that I am.” My face still burned from the memory.

“He . . . kissed you?” Marcus's voice was shaky.

“Marcus . . . please don’t be mad.” I wasn’t sure what I should tell him. “He was so excited I was alive . . . he just . . . reacted!”

Marcus looked as though he were turning green. I reached out and gently grazed his lips with my thumb. “You must know by now that yours are the only lips I want to kiss.” I stood on my tiptoes and gently brushed my lips against his. “You are the only man I want to love.” I fisted his shirt in my hands. “The only man I need.”

He grabbed my waist and lifted me up against a tree, pressing his body to mine. I wrapped my legs around him, hugging him tightly. He couldn’t hold me close enough.

“I’ve waited my whole life for you,” I breathed. “Don’t make me wait any longer.

His mouth took mine, our lips seamlessly moving together. I moaned feeling lost in his kiss, his touch. He pressed me harder into the tree. I didn’t care. The world could have stopped moving, and I wouldn’t have known it. I gripped his shoulders. My head fell back, exposing my throat. His lips glided along my jaw and down my neck. He inhaled deeply, sending a shiver through my body.

I looked up into the trees, watching them sway overhead. His sweet scent engulfing me—I felt deliciously intoxicated.

“Marcus . . . I’m going to faint.” My vision blurred a little.

“I’ll catch you,” he breathed into my neck. His mouth found mine again, kissing my lips over and over, drawing me deeper into his spell. “I want to spend the rest of time loving you Phoebe.” His eyes were smoldering.

As if I wanted to, or could, say no. Marcus had rendered me incapable of sorting out the simplest of thoughts. I wanted him desperately. I could feel my body going limp in his arms. I kissed his lower lip, biting it a little. He groaned as if he was in pain—the look in his eyes suggested it was pure pleasure. 

I suddenly felt myself being carried through the air. We were flying. His mouth never left mine. I hadn’t realized where he’d taken me until I felt the familiar surroundings of my bed beneath me. He leaned over my body, still panting from our kiss, his eyes, red with desire.

“You’re sure I’m the one you want? You seem to have quite a line forming of eligible men,” he asked in a husky voice.

Oh yes. I was sure. My hands moved down his chest. I watched his eyes as they stared into mine, awaiting my answer. I lifted his shirt up, and he let me take it over his head. I grinned. “You are the
only
man I want.” I removed my own shirt in one swift motion.

He stared wantonly at me, wetting his lips slightly with the tip of his tongue. I pulled him down on me. His skin on mine felt silky, soft and cool.

“You’re sure you want me?” I asked reluctantly. My hands roamed freely over his God-like body. “There must be some vampire girl out there who would be less trouble than I am?”

“There is no one, but you,” he proclaimed. His face had grown thoughtful. “You’re really quite lovely you know. You’re more beautiful than I remembered.” He rested his cheek over my heart, listening to its beat. I breathed heavily at the intimacy of it.