Invincible (A Centennial City Novel) - By Fionn Jameson Page 0,72

taller man’s grasp. “Let me go!”

Matthias forced him down to his knees. “Sanguinate, when you say you wanted the one who turned your fiance, what exactly did you mean?”

Jason’s hands tightened around my waist and I heard him swallow.

“I want him dead.”

“No!”

It seemed like instinct, as simple as scratching an itch, to pull free out of Jason’s embrace, to place myself in front of my Master’s body, to unsheathe my sword in one fluid movement, to meet Shannon’s rushing form.

Everything seemed to move slow, like flies covered in honey.

I saw her eyes large and black, the amber fading away into monochrome. Saw her hands extended towards us, saw the fangs already sticking out of her mouth.

Surprise raced across her pretty face and I knew she had not expected this, had not expected me to take Jason’s place.

But once you jump, you can’t take it back.

“Ran, stop!” Jason screamed, but it was too late, much too late.

I didn’t even have to use my Sight.

Her body crashed into mine, but my footing was sure, steady. I did not stagger, did not move.

Except to twist the hilt deeper under her rib cage.

I was an expert at piercing vampire hearts and Shannon was no exception.

Her hands scrabbled at my shoulders weakly as she let out a small sound.

Hands wrenched me away from her, but the damage had been done and it only did more harm to her as the full two feet of silver composite metal was pulled free from her torso.

Blood, darker than anything I had ever seen, fell in a pool at my feet, soaking into my boots, the bottoms of my jeans and I flicked the sword once, scattering blood everywhere.

She fell back, fell back into Jason’s arms, eyes already closed, arms cradled over the womb that had once carried their child.

Nothing.

I felt nothing.

While my Master wept over the loss of his lover, I felt nothing but a very distinct chill that seemed to come from the very core of my body.

And when his eyes, wide and frightening, fell on me, I could do nothing.

“Why?” he mouthed, silvery trails of moisture making their way down his lean cheeks. “Why did you kill her?”

“Because you asked this of me,” I said quietly. “Because I am your Ailward and any and all threat must go through me.”

Tears spilled free from those onyx black eyes. “She was not going to kill me!”

I wished I could have felt something, anything, but there were no emotions I could dredge.

“She made herself a threat.”

He threw back his head and howled, his lover already turning into dust in his arms.

I stared at the glint of metal in her right hand, the small dagger that had brought Lazaro into Death’s embrace.

She had meant to kill.

Perhaps not Jason, but someone.

I bent down and took it from the rapidly flaking hand already smelling like acrid smoke and ashes. “You see this?”

For one moment, I thought he would kill me. Ah, and wouldn’t that had been just ironic?

“I see.”

“She wanted someone to die,” I said. “She wanted someone to hurt. Do not ever question my actions. I am your Ailward. Your life, your very existences lies in my hands.”

He was speechless.

Had anyone ever spoken to him like that?

“Don’t fuck with me.” Was this my voice? Did I really sound so heartless, so empty, so...void of life? “I mean it, Jason. Don’t you ever fuck with me. Or Ailward or no, I will hunt you. And I’ll kill you.”

The male vampire Shannon sought to protect groveled on the floor and Matthias shoved his face into the floor. “Ailward. What do you plan on doing with this piece of filth?”

I looked at Jason weeping over his ex-fiance. “Kill him.”

I sheathed my sword and left.

15

Ryder did not catch up with me until I was outside, headed for a car that looked like his. Then again, all the cars looked alike. Either that, or I just couldn’t remember.

“Hey! Wait! Where you going?”

Somewhere. Anywhere. I didn’t care.

As long as it wasn’t there.

As long as I didn’t have to look at Jason’s face anymore. As long as I didn’t have to hear the sounds of his cries. As long as I didn’t have to feel the raptured gaze of every vampire there, as hungry for the sight for spilled blood as they would be to taste it.

He put a hand on my shoulder and I pulled away quickly. “Don’t touch me. I mean it.”

Blond hair mussed, his eyes wide and confused, it was hard to remember he was