Salvation of the Damned by Theresa Meyers

Author:Theresa Meyers [Theresa Meyers]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-04-12T02:30:53+00:00

Chapter Four

Raphael let out a long breath simply to steady his inner turmoil. A strong desire to rebel and steal her away from them rose up within him. But as much as he longed to keep her for himself, he, too, would die without her sacrifice.

“Before I am transformed, or die, or whatever is going to happen to me, I want to know what it’s like to be with you.”

Such a simple request. Something he’d willingly give under any other circumstance. But there was no time. Especially no time to do properly what she’d asked of him. That could take…lifetimes.

“All I can offer you is a shallow imitation of what could have been between us. It is hardly enough.”

Eva wanted to laugh. He looked so solemn and serious. “I don’t think you give yourself enough credit. It’s what I want.”

He nodded and held out his hand to her.

Eva took it eagerly, lacing her fingers with his and gazing up at his elegant profile. Her heartbeat picked up a faster rhythm, and for an instant, she caught the quick tilt of Raphael’s head as though he’d heard the change.

They walked together hand-in-hand out of the ballroom, without anyone stopping them. She leaned into Raphael, suddenly feeling colder, as if she’d passed an open window. Glancing back over her shoulder, she stared at the others who disappeared from sight as they turned the corner and started up the grand staircase.

“They’re all vampires too, aren’t they?”

Raphael’s golden gaze slid to meet hers, and his lips remained in a firm line. “Yes.”

“And they’ve come for the same thing you have?”

“We are all connected, Eva. This time the virus has mutated, gaining more power. In the past, some of us have managed to survive it. Now…nothing is certain. All of us are seeking salvation from the plague.”

“It could wipe you all out?”

He shrugged. “I doubt it would be any great loss to humanity.”

Eva shook her head. “I’m not sure about that. There’s balance in everything. Look what happens when a predator is taken out of any natural cycle—things get really bad for those that are left. I think the same might apply.”

He slowed their steps, his mouth curving into a half smile as he reached up to stroke her cheek with the back of his hand. “Truly you are one of a kind.”

Their footsteps barely made a sound on the thick carpet that ran down the hall, which was lined with gilt-framed portraits in stark relief against walls decorated in crimson silk. Eva glanced up to see a picture of a man in knee breeches, with a brocade vest and long-tailed jacket, and recognized him.

“That’s you, isn’t it?”

This time he grinned, exposing the sharp white point of his fangs. “Not my first portrait, but one of the more recent.”

“Exactly how old are you, anyway?”

His eyes glittered. “Old enough to know exactly how to pleasure you, and young enough to find you absolutely intoxicating.”

His head bend closer, his lips barely brushing the skin along her jaw, skimming a warm trail down her neck.

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