The Last of the Red Hot Vampires - By Katie MacAlister Page 0,103
is a future with you, my love.
The world as I knew it rocked, shifted slightly, and settled back, but it was changed. I was changed. I stared at Theo, stunned by his words, by the feelings he had shared with me. My mind struggled to cope with the revelation he laid open for me - it was as if I'd spent my whole life waiting for that exact moment in time, the moment when I knew what it was to truly be loved above all else...and the knowledge that I would literally move heaven and earth for the man standing next to me.
That is, without the slightest doubt, the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. I just can't believe how much I love you, Theo.
As much as five to the tenth power? he teased.
Oh no, my darling, my love for you can only be described in terms of equations containing complex numbers. My tone was light, but I shook with emotion as, deep in the back of my mind, an idea was born.
"It would be within Portia Harding's rights to refuse to participate in the seventh trial," Disin said after a brief consultation with the other mare. "Furthermore, we feel it important to point out that even if she does successfully complete the trial and is accepted as a member of the Court, any exculpation she seeks is not automatically granted."
I gathered my wits together and tried to regain control of myself. We still have the Beloved path of soul redemption. How would you feel if I ditched the virtue business? Could we get along just fine without the Court?
More than fine, he answered, and allowed me to see the truth in his words. It's you I want, Portia. Not reparation, not even my soul, is as important as a life with you.
My knees turned to jelly under the look he gave me. I didn't think it was possible, but I fell even more in love with him. I knew then what Irina had meant about being lost. Theo had shown me the path that I needed to take.
I looked at Milo. "Theo has decided not to pursue his exculpation. I will pass on the position of virtue. The seventh trial will be conducted without my participation, and given my failure, I assume I'll be booted out of the program."
Suria and Disin nodded.
"So nice try, Milo, but your little scheme to use us for your own evil plans isn't going to fly."
Milo's laughter rolled with sickening intensity down the length of the ballroom. "You have chosen not to pursue exculpation...do you hold Theo's soul in so little value?"
"On the contrary, I'd do just about anything to retrieve it...just about anything, but not this."
Milo stopped before us, his head tipped to the side as he looked at me. "Consider this, Beloved...you have completed the seven steps of Joining, but you have yet to finalize it by making a sacrifice. You look surprised that I am so familiar with the rules governing Dark Ones, but this plan has been a long time in the making. Do you think I would go to the trouble of arranging for Bael to curse Theo if it was not important to gain leverage for just such a situation as this?"
"You bastard," I screamed, lunging forward to throttle him. Only Theo's restraining hold kept me from strangling Milo...that and the sense of calmness and love he poured into me. "You planned this?"
"Of course. The downfall and subsequent complete restructuring of the Court is not something to be undertaken without some thought."
"Well then, you've gone through a whole lot of trouble for nothing," I spat, still wanting badly to attack him for what he'd done to us. "There is another way for me to get Theo's soul back. I will not become a virtue."
Milo heaved a mock sigh. "You still don't understand, do you? Even if you refuse to become a member, thereby saving the Court, you will have damned Theo to an eternity without his soul."
"I'm his Beloved. All I have to do is make a sacrifice on his behalf, and I'll get it back - " I started to say.
"Exactly." Milo smiled, and my stomach turned over. "You see it at last. You can save the Court of Divine Blood, or you can save Theo's soul - but only the act of sacrificing the former will grant the latter."
Chapter 23
Tell me that Milo is insane.
The silence that met my question was disconcerting.