Succubus Shadows Page 0,70

shock wore off that I remembered I could fight back here. I could shape-shift to twice this guy's size and -

Thunk. The Nazi's head lurched forward as something struck him from behind. His hold on me released, and he fell to the ground unconscious. Bastien stood behind him holding a hat block: a heavy, rounded wooden object used for constructing hats.

"I'd know your scream anywhere," he said.

I had no time for his joking or to offer thanks. I dropped to my knees beside Luc and pulled off my blazer, frantically trying to use it to stop the bleeding. He was still conscious, and his eyes were on my face, still full of that hope and love that was so characteristic of him. Bastien knelt beside me, face solemn.

"No human medicine can fix this, Fleur," he said quietly.

"I know." I'd known as soon as I'd seen Luc fall. It was why I hadn't sent Bastien to get help. "Oh God. This can't be happening."

"It's...all right." Luc's words were barely audible, and I had a feeling he was choking on blood. "You're safe...all that matters..." He coughed again, and this time I did see blood near his lips.

"No, no," I said. "It wasn't worth it. It wasn't worth it. None of this should have happened!"

It was my fault. All my fault. Luc had come to save me from the German. I'd run into the German because I'd fled from Luc. And I'd fled from Luc because I'd suddenly latched on to a moral high ground and refused to have sex with him. If I'd just given in...if I'd just said I'd marry him and taken him like a succubus should have, this never would have happened. We would have been lying in the grass right now, naked in each other's arms. Instead, he'd died in this alley because of me, because of my weakness. I was a succubus who'd tried to act human - and I'd done a shitty job at both.

Luc was beyond speech now. Everything was said with his eyes as he gazed at me, like I was some angel sent to carry him home. Bastien nudged me.

"Fleur, he's going to stay alive a little while. You know how long stomach wounds take. It's agony."

"I know," I growled, choking off a sob. "You don't need to tell me."

Bastien's voice was grave. "You can stop it. Ease his suffering."

I stared at Bastien incredulously. "What do you expect me to do? Go get that knife and finish him?"

He shook his head. "He's only got a little life left, Fleur. Only a little. You won't need to do much."

I didn't get it right away. When I did, I felt my eyes go wide. "No...I can't..."

"He dies regardless," said Bastien. "You can make it faster...sweeter..."

I was still shaking my head, but Bastien's words had penetrated. He was right. He was right, and I hated him because he was right. Turning from Bastien, I looked back at Luc, whose brow I'd been stroking with my hand. His gaze was still turned upward, still at me. A drop of water fell on his cheek, and I realized it was one of my tears.

"Good-bye, Luc," I said softly. It seemed like I should say a million other things to him, but I couldn't form the words. So, instead, I leaned down and brought my lips to his. I pressed against them, making full contact, though it had none of the animal passion from before. This was gentler. A whisper of a kiss.

But as Bastien had said, it didn't take much. The beautiful, silvery sweetness of his life energy flowed into me. It was just as pure and perfect as before - and it was gone quickly. I took it into me and sat up, just as Luc exhaled his last breath. The eyes that had watched me so adoringly saw nothing now. I sat up and leaned against Bastien.

"I killed him," I said, no longer holding the tears back.

"You brought him peace. You were his angel." It was an eerie echo of my earlier sentiments.

"No, this...I mean, before. He shouldn't have been out here. He's here because...because of me. If I'd slept with him, this wouldn't have happened. But I couldn't. I didn't want to hurt him...didn't want to taint him...and then this happened...."

Bastien put his arm around me. "If it makes you feel better, his soul won't be going to our people."

I buried my face in his shoulder. "This is my fault. My fault...I should