A Midsummer Night's Demon - By Brenda Sparks Page 0,22

went wide, his face contorted in either shock or pain. Ky expected the vampire to recoil, try to escape, but instead of pulling away his opponent leaned his weigh forward, pushing the blade into Ky’s flesh.

The slide of the blade burned through his skin, and pain lanced his body. He saw the hilt of the dagger sticking from between his ribs. Although not a killing blow, the wound would weaken him. He needed to end this now. Luckily his opponent’s move had also brought his hand deeper within the chest, and he wrapped his fingers around Raziel’s beating heart.

Determination helped Ky to push aside the pain and focus. He gathered power to him, pulling it from nature’s energy around them. He fostered it, helping it to build until it threatened to consume them both. The massive pulse of power rolled from his body, the wave so strong it became visible as it rippled out from his center. He willed it toward the vampire, sending his form flying backwards though the air. The movement pulled Ky’s hand from the chest, the vampire’s heart held in his closed fist.

Knowing the fatal strike had killed Raziel, Ky’s thoughts turned to Lyn. He sat up, still holding the heart in his hand to find his mate. She seemed unharmed physically. However, he could not be so sure she’d survived mentally. He could only imagine what went through her mind when her gaze landed on her attacker. He followed her line of vision, watching Raziel’s blood soak his shirt and pool beneath his crumpled body.

A fresh wave of pain lanced through Ky’s body, pushing a groan from between his clenched teeth. His eyes locked with his heartmate’s. Wrapping his free hand around the hilt of his knife, he pulled the blade from his chest with a quick yank. The warrior’s face contorted with pain as the dagger slid back through his sinew and skin.

Daelyn’s gaze shifted from his gory blade to the bloody heart still in his hand. Her breath left her lungs in a huff. She grabbed her stomach, and doubled over to heave its contents.

Ky scowled, watching his mate lose her dinner. He wanted to comfort her, bely her fears. Try to explain what she’d witnessed.

After tossing the heart aside, he rolled onto his hands and knees. Pain tore through his body. His muscles protested each movement, but the warrior struck the pain down, forcing his body to obey, so he could press off the ground. Unable to rise to his full height due to his wounds, he stood hunched, taking heavy breaths from his exertion and the pain. With practiced ease, he stuffed the blade back into its sheath, unconcerned with the blood that flowed from the wound in his chest.

Lyn’s spine straightened as Ky made his way to her on staggering feet. Noting her gaze rested on his torso, his eyes dropped to the wound on his chest. His shirt hung in ruins, strips of the material dripping blood. The wound in his chest had already closed perceptibly.

Ky sensed her panic rise. She looked confused, afraid. He approached her but she took a step back, her gaze still on his wound. She brought her hand to her mouth and swallowed several times before finding her voice.

“What…” Her eyes locked with his. “What are you?” she asked in a small voice.

Ky held out his hand, and winced when he realized blood painted his flesh. His? The vampire’s? He lowered his hand, wiping it on the side of his leg, watching as his mate took another step away from him. “Lyn, wait. I can explain.”

She narrowed her eyes in disbelief. “No, you can’t.”

“I can. Please give me a chance to explain.” He took another step forward.

She retreated another step, clutching her purse to her chest. Tears welled in her eyes, tearing his heart in two. “Please don’t hurt me.”

Ky stopped his advance. She feared him. And he couldn’t blame her. He’d wanted her to leave the minute he’d arrived at the park as much for her safety as to keep her from seeing the battle. Of course, she had not done what he asked. He should have known she would want to remain behind, to help him if needed. He should have told her what her attacker was then maybe she would have left like any reasonable being. Now, she not only knew her attacker was something other than human, but that he was too. He’d really made a mess of this.

“Lyn, sit