Page 11 of The Vampire's Lament
Strangely, being with Paris helped. I liked talking to him, despite our choppy relationship. He fascinated me, turned me on—that shine of his having touched something deep within me. An elf to distract myself with while I shirked my kingly duties for a while.
You are letting your people down…
“Paris?” I tried again, pushing back the encroaching fear. “I’m here. Follow my voice. Come back to me.”
Would he hear me?
“Follow my voice, Paris. Follow?—”
“What are you doing?” he spoke suddenly, taking me by surprise.
I stroked his face. “Paris?”
His lips quivered, his throat bobbing. “What…what are you…what are doing?”
“Paris?”
He inhaled sharply as the Heart of All ached with desperation from every living vampire in existence. My people called to me through the thing that bound us together, the thing that kept us all alive. I collapsed onto my backside, their distress an aggressive current trapping me, reminding me of my responsibilities.
I’d been keeping their torment at bay, my past failures with Aidan now shared knowledge among us. Their pleading energyconstantly flowed into me through the Heart of All, seeking comfort from their king. And I’d come here, unable to face them. A cowardly move indeed.
I glanced down at the red veins spreading out from the pulsating ruby in the center of my chest. Sharp, stabbing pains assaulted every bone around the precious jewel.
I’m sorry…
I sent waves of reassurance through it, knowing it wouldn’t be enough.
Paris drew another breath, releasing a long sigh as if he were blowing out his cig smoke.
I scrambled back to him, holding him carefully. “Follow my voice,” I said again, a crack in my tone.
I couldn’t stay here. I had to speak with my people.
“I have to go,” I told the freezing elf. “Please come back.”
A thought hit me. Caer had told him there was something else inside him. Something linked to his crystal dagger and the resurrections.
An unknown presence.
He moaned, his forehead creasing.
“Paris…”
My goodness, this elf. This beautiful, complex elf dipped in brightness and grief. A curiosity and a hindrance, a man who’d killed my dear friend Layla as well as Rylan, a staple vampire in my court. Their loss forever tainted the Heart of All, never to be filled again.
I should hate him for that, yet I struggled to. He went beyond mere loathing.
Curse these feelings. I shook my head, releasing a growl of frustration.
“You have to come back!” I snapped. “Come back, Paris!”
Nothing happened.
The call of my people grew stronger, clawing at my ribcage. They needed me. Now. But I couldn’t leave him. He’d have to come with me, which meant moving him. He was so rigid, his spine still bent.
The Heart of All yearned, my chest a tight ball of squirming thorns.
“Please come back,” I implored him.
