By the time they were ready, Violet was fighting both nerves and pain but kept her mind peaceful for Finn’s sake. It wouldn’t help the process to know the dual powers inside her were gaining speed and power.
Just as they were ready to start, Finn came to her side, and before she could react, grabbed her hair, and brought his mouth down on hers. Everything was forgotten, all the fear and the pain, replaced by lust and love. The kiss was laced with despair, both his and hers, but it couldn’t be helped. There was no turning back, so she soaked up as much of him as she could, his taste, his breath, and his heart, to bolster her spirit.
When he ended the kiss, he didn’t fully release her and instead nipped at her earlobe. A shiver coursed over her skin, and she wanted more.
“That is just a reminder of what I’ll do to you for at least twenty-four hours straight when all this is finished and you’re yourself again. I can smell your want as much as your pain. You don’t have to hide it for me. In fact, you can’t because we’ll always have that connection, and I’ll always care about you.” His voice was tinted with a hint of Irish brogue, emotions and worry a sign of the toll it was taking on his self-control.
“I love you, Finn. Don’t overdo it. If it doesn’t work, we’ll find another way.”
His whiskered cheek rubbed the crook of her neck. “I’m ready to die to save you, witch.”
Emotion rose so fast, Violet thought she would crack into a million pieces, then and there. “The trouble is, I don’t want to live without you, so it’s all or nothing at all.”
His familiar crooked smile brought her some comfort before he kissed her forehead, and she had to let him go.
Just as he was about to step into the protected circle, Hunter clapped him on the shoulder in a manly sign of support, and Soren took his friend in his arms, whispering something that only Finn could hear.
Finn carefully made his way inside, not stepping on any of the symbols, his expression now cold and distant. There in the center of the room stood a centuries-old vampire, one ready for anything.
Violet moved as close as she could to the edge, as did the others, in a show of support and added power.
Finn lowered his head and joined hands, as if in prayer, and started humming. There ought to be words, but his voice was so guttural and low, they were impossible to decipher.
It took a moment for her to sense the magic crawling over her skin. It wasn’t the darker and volatile spells she’d felt during her curse, but an incredibly strong and earthly magic. Even before it appeared, the smell of blood invaded her nostrils, but instead of being repulsed, it felt heady, almost lustful. At that moment, she realized what was surrounding her was the sheer essence of a vampire, or more accurately, of Finn.
Time felt suspended waiting for something to happen. Lost in the rising magic, Finn stopped his incantation, and the silence became thick and shivery.
From that point, everything happened so fast Violet had no time to react. From behind, Finn produced a mean looking blade, and swiftly cut his wrists.
Her heart in her throat, everything in her wanted to go to him, to heal him, but that wasn’t possible. Swallowing her cry, Violet steadied herself and waited.
In fine rivulets, Finn’s blood dripped to the floor forming two separate pools of crimson at his feet. Finn continued to chant, and slowly, the blood started shifting on the floor, making its way toward the symbols around him, replacing the black with deep red. Once it started, everything accelerated until Finn swayed, his strength thinning as his life force escaped his body.
Power increased tenfold, and a sudden wind swirled around them. The faint light coming through the windows dimmed, and thunder could be heard outside. Whatever Finn was doing, it was raising an uncommon power.
Thunder rumbled, shaking the cabin as Finn fell to his knees. Violet’s body surged forward, but Layla’s sharp warning ordered her to hold her ground. How long could she remain there, powerless, helpless, when the man she loved was slowly dying in front of her?
Finn stumbled forward with a grunt, his hands leaving imprints on the worn wood, barely able to keep his head up.
“Finn! You have to stop this. End this now or you’re going to die!”
He didn’t look at her, but shook his head, trying to push himself up again. His arms shook, and the flow of blood dramatically slowed, announcing the worst possible outcome.
She’d had enough. Damn that spell, she wouldn’t stand on the sideline and watch the man she loved die for her. Taking a leap forward, Violet was violently pushed back by an invisible force field that prevented her from intervening.
From the other side of the circle, she saw Soren experience the same thing. The weredragon tried to punch through the barrier, but nothing moved. Hunter took a chair and swung it, only to have it break into pieces.
Now on her knees, Violet slammed the floor with her fist. “Finn, please! Look at me, stop this now.” She was crying but didn’t care.
Finn must have heard her because he started to crawl in the direction of her voice, getting so close she could almost reach for him. Soren and Hunter ran to her side, crouching beside her, yelling at Finn to come closer, to give them his hand.
Inch by inch, he approached, but it wasn’t until he breached the field that she could grab his hand. Soren and Hunter didn’t wait and pulled the vampire until he was out
