Passion of the Vampire King (Blood Fire Saga Book 5) Bella Klaus (the red fox clan TXT) 📖

eyes that shone with mirth. “Is that what you want, Innamorata? To control me?”

“Yes,” I said from between clenched teeth. “Since you’re back to normal, I want you to fetch your heart and let me put you back together again.”

“That cannot happen yet,” he said, his words grave.

“Why not?” I asked.

“Kresnik is the most dangerous person to have existed in an entire millennium,” Valentine said. “No matter how much we destroy him, he returns in different iterations, always compensating for what he has lost.”

I rested my forehead on his shoulder, letting my eyelids flutter shut. “Even his shadow is a menace. Did you know he used to be Prometheus?”

“Why does that not surprise me?” Valentine muttered. “I suppose you got this information from Hades?”

The way he said the name suggested that Valentine wanted to wring the Demon King’s neck.

My brow furrowed. “I thought you saw our interactions when you rifled through my mind last night.”

His lips tightened. “I skipped all the scenes of you wandering about alone. I was looking for Kresnik.”

“Why don’t you work with the other members of the Supernatural Council and defeat him with your combined armies?” I asked.

Valentine shook his head. “Kresnik thinks I’m under his control. This might be the Supernatural World’s only opportunity to learn how to destroy him and his organization.”

Rising off his lap, I adjusted my legs so I could straddle him while staring into his eyes. All traces of red had disappeared, and the overhead lights illuminated his rich, bronze skin. I’d never seen preternatural Valentine look better than he did under Kresnik’s regime, and I didn’t dare to ask if he was now feeding on more than two humans a day.

I slid my fingers over his warm skin, and sighed. “This isn’t like you.”

“Mera?” His brows drew together.

“This version of you wants to stay at my side or keep me locked up. Now you’re leaving me so you can go after Kresnik. What’s changed?” I cringed as I said those words. Moments ago, I chastised Valentine for controlling me. Days ago, I raged at him for locking me up. Shouldn’t I be pleased that he trusted me enough to give me freedom?

“Possessive?” He cupped my cheek.

“Confused.” My jaw clenched. “Why are we apart?”

Valentine’s lips spread into a wide grin. “All I think about is you. Drinking you. Fucking you. Protecting you.”

I slid my hands over his chest. “Then give me your heart, come with me to Logris, and protect me from there.”

His eyes softened. “You’re going to live for millennia, and Kresnik will never stop coming after you until I destroy him.”

I turned my head, but Valentine slid a hand behind my neck and massaged my tight muscles. My body relaxed under his touch. This was such a change from the Valentine who snarled at me for leaving my room. It was almost as though he was alive, and I couldn’t help wondering if it was because he’d taken so much of my blood.

“Do you know how he defeated his strongest enemies?” he asked.

“No,” I murmured.

“Through the people they loved.” Valentine smoothed back a lock of my hair and tucked it behind my ear. “He used the love of powerful supernaturals against them to set traps. We can’t start a family knowing that he might one day resurface and hold our children hostage.”

I lowered my head onto his shoulder and let out a long breath. Valentine had a point, and I understood why he wanted Kresnik destroyed, but there had to be another way. “You’re sure about this?”

“He sent a team of warriors to Hell, demanding that they bring you back.” He rubbed a hand down my back.

A groan slipped from my lips. “Seriously?”

“Six people died this morning just to retrieve your soul.”

The words hit like a punch to the solar plexus, making all the air rush out of my lungs. I drew back, my eyes wide. “He killed them?”

Valentine nodded, his features grave. “Kresnik won’t risk entering Hell, and everyone else in his team capable of crossing the realms is either banished or dead.”

Grief stabbed me in the gut, filling my insides with cold. He was referring to Aurora, who Kresnik had punished for failing to find the eagle that had eaten his liver while he was Prometheus. Now that he had combined his soul with Father Jude’s, he probably couldn’t enter the realm of the gods.

I dipped my head and tried to push out the memory of her fiery death. The next time I spoke to Hades, I would ask him how she was doing in Hell.

“Alright” It was hard to argue with this version of Valentine, when he wanted to create a safe future for us both. “We’ve got to make sure he’s really dead this time.”

My stomach rumbled, and I clutched myself around the middle.

“You haven’t eaten.” His brows drew into a frown.

“They offered me breakfast in Hell, but I didn’t trust the food.” I wrinkled my nose.

“I’ll give you something to eat,” he said with a smirk.

Excitement settled low in my belly, and the corners of my lips curled into a smile. “Like you did in Gourmande?”

With a chuckle, Valentine rose off the love seat and carried me to the other side of the room. “Have something more substantial first.”

“Oh yes?” I leaned into him and pressed a kiss on his lips.

He set me on my feet within a dining area on the other side of the room that I hadn’t noticed until now. Tall black screens covered the wall, illuminated by floor lamps with red shades. A domed tray sat atop an iron table with matching chairs, and behind it stood an iron four-poster from the Victorian era adorned with red sheets.

“What is this place?” I asked.

“One of the Koffie’s hotel rooms.” Valentine lifted the dome, revealing a thick slice of toasted ciabatta topped with shakshuka—eggs poached in a spicy tomato-and-pepper-based sauce.

Next to it was a stack of Belgian waffles and a bowl of chopped bananas and strawberries, with whipped cream and jugs of