Bloodsong

Chapter 59

T he arrow struck me in the chest, and a sharp, burning sensation made me gasp. A dull ache followed, and I struggled to breathe. Screams pierced the air. My name. Horror filled Lilith’s eyes. I fell. Matteo rushed at Lilith before she could fire again, and the two of them fought.

I’m going to die.

“Matteo,” I managed to ground out. He could help me. “Matteo,” I called out again. I willed him not to hurt her.

There was a crack, followed by a scream of pain and anger. Lilith fell to the ground holding her wrist, crying out.

“Quinn, why did you do that?” He was there, lifting me in his arms. I leaned my head against his bare chest, his cold seeping into me. My Matteo. I had missed his presence. There was a rush of wind, and when he stopped, we were surrounded by trees.

“Please, take it out,” I gasped, reaching for the arrow. “It hurts.” Tears streamed down my face, the pain beyond anything I’d experienced before.

“Shh.” His hand grabbed mine to stop me. I reached my other to his face as tears spilled over, down his cheek. “Quinn, mi amore .”

Carlos appeared beside him, his white tee-shirt ripped and covered in blood. “What happened?”

“The Hunter aimed for me,” Matteo said, his eyes not leaving mine.

Don’t let me die. I couldn’t speak, my chest tightening. Did he not hear what I said before I took the damn arrow for him?

“I heard,” Matteo said, hearing my thoughts. Hope reflected in his eyes.

All I saw was his face. “Please,” I begged.

“She’s going to die,” Carlos said. “I’ve learned her death will have consequences on you. Turn her, Matteo.”

“What are you talking about?” Matteo asked.

“She’s not entirely human. And you two were meant to be. You’ll feel her death, and I don’t know what that will do to you. Just hurry up!” Carlos growled.

Matteo’s fangs came out. His eyes, those red eyes that had once terrified me, filled my entire vision. He moved me and something jolted in my chest, the pain agonising, and tearing a scream from me. He’d pulled the arrow out, and warmth spread out as I started to bleed. His and Carlos’s hands lifted me. Matteo brought the tip of the arrow to his own neck, slicing deep. Blood welled up, and he pulled me towards him, guiding my mouth to his throat.

“Drink, vita mia ,” he whispered. “Drink. You will need a lot more than last time, so drink.”

I already knew his blood, and something in me yearned for it. I opened my mouth, and latched on, letting his blood flow into me. Power mixed with fire filled me. I closed my eyes.

“You need to create the bond,” Carlos told him.

“I know.” Matteo lifted my arm, and his fangs sunk into my wrist. The pleasure burst through me, easing my body into euphoria. A distraction from the pain. His mind opened to mine as the blood bond connected us. I let out a sigh against his throat.

‘Keep drinking.’ His hand stroked the back of my head, soothing me. ‘ Let go. No more pain, no more fear. Just the two of us. Forever. ’

I clung to him, as I took his blood. Forever. He was my forever. The cut in his throat healed, and I instinctively bit down.

“Let me,” he whispered and pulled me back, cutting his throat again with the arrow, bringing me back to drink. “ Mi amore, my blood is healing you. Remember what I said happens. It will overwhelm your system and begin to change you. It won’t be as last time. You’re going to experience a mortal death. You’re going to sleep as your body changes. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

Mortal death. My fear of death kicked in, and I fought against him, panic rising. I don’t want to die. I growled.

‘ Shh, Quinn. Remember, you’re not really dying, only going to sleep. Keep drinking, you need to keep drinking.’ A feeling radiated from him that surrounded me. Protectiveness. A tenderness and warmth, followed by relief. ‘ I’ll have her by my side forever .’ His thoughts brought tears to my eyes.

Memories washed over me. His memories. The moment he woke up a vampire with overwhelming hunger. His wife’s death. Sending his daughter to his brother, where he knew she’d be safe. The moment he killed Bianca. His bond with Carlos. Gabriela’s control over him, and over her clan. The moment he’d heard my voice and seen me at the bar. That first kiss on the balcony. Dancing, our faces inches from each other. What my voice did for him in the cell, pulling him out of bloodlust and breaking Gabriela’s sway over him.

I felt myself fading as his blood flowed through me. I could almost feel it changing me, starting with the hunger, and I listened to his heartbeat. He pulled me away from his throat, his eyes burning into mine, shining with love. He stroked my cheek with such tenderness. Matteo’s and Carlos’s hands lowered me to the ground, the leather jacket still around me. I wanted to say something, to tell him I had Called him, but I couldn’t form words.

“I can hear Hunters looking for us. We should leave,” Carlos’s voice was low.

‘ Quinn Ti amo. Sleep. I will wake you from your slumber. ’ Matteo whispered into my mind.

I slipped into darkness, taking his words with me.