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

Jonathan shook his head. “Father Jude would never allow that—”

“Father Jude donated his body to Kresnik,” I snapped. “They’re now a single psychotic magic-stealing entity who’s looking for you.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down, and he pushed himself up the bed. The covers slid down a barrel-shaped chest criss-crossed with blue veins and prominent ribs.

I snatched my gaze away from the sight. “There’s something unique about your magic and Kresnik is planning on extracting the fifth chamber of your heart.”

“But I’ll die,” he whispered.

“He already killed Roman,” I said. “And a whole lot of others he sent into Logris on missions without magic.”

Jonathan moaned. “Why did you track me down? You’re the ugliest, vainest girl I’ve ever met, and you just can’t stand to see me happy.”

“He’s better off dead,” Valentine said, loud enough to reach Jonathan’s ears.

The smaller man scrambled off the bed in his yellow-and-white y-fronts and slammed a palm on an emergency button on the wall. “Help!”

Nothing happened.

Valentine walked toward him, his broad shoulders blocking my view of Jonathan. “Nobody’s coming to help. I purchased you from the demon who owns this place.”

“Valentine.” I pulled at his arm and tried to put myself between the two men.

Jonathan slid down the wall, his face wet with tears and his features contorted with anguish. “Please don’t let me die.”

Valentine glowered down at me with his jaw clenched and the cords of his neck flared. I stared back, withstanding his fury, and tried to shove him back.

His teeth parted to let out a growl. Killing Jonathan was the most efficient way to ensure that Kresnik never obtained his heart and never got the chance to hold large quantities of the magic he needed to defeat the Supernatural Council. I understood all of this and I hated Jonathan nearly as much as I hated Kresnik.

“The guards you sent to take care of me murdered the Überwald driver because he was a gossip,” I said, already dreading his reaction. “I can’t stand to have another person die.”

“Nut and Geb were right,” Valentine said through his teeth. “We will all do whatever is necessary for your safety.”

I spread my arms wide. “There has to be another way to keep Jonathan out of Kresnik’s hands.”

Valentine’s eyes narrowed, and his gaze flickered from me to the man cowering at the wall. He could kill Jonathan in an instant, race behind me and snap his neck, or use his power to slam Jonathan against the wall or ceiling until something broke.

My throat dried. How on earth would I convince a man with no soul not to commit murder when Jonathan’s death could stop Kresnik from gaining power?

A thin arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me into an even thinner body, and something sharp pressed into my jugular.

“Stay back or the bitch dies.” Jonathan’s warm breaths rasped against my ear.

The look Valentine gave me was part annoyance and part I-told-you-so. Without another word, he raised a hand and twisted his wrist. A high-pitched snap pinged against my eardrums, and Jonathan’s grip released. Before I could turn around to check on him, he fell to the floor with a thud.

Cold shock slammed into my chest. My lips parted, but my lungs were too busy spasming to allow me to exhale. Jonathan lay unmoving on the ground, his long limbs bent in awkward angles like a fallen marionette. Seconds later, the pressure around my lungs loosened and I sucked in a noisy breath.

“Is he dead?” I glanced up at Valentine, my eyes wide.

“He hurt you.” Valentine’s gaze never left mine.

Nausea slithered up the back of my throat. Two people died in one day because of me. I placed a hand over my mouth and doubled over.

In a heartbeat, Valentine wrapped his arms around my back and pulled me into his chest. “Anyone who threatens you must die.”

I rested my head on his shoulder, sucking in noisy gulps of air and forcing myself not to hyperventilate. Imaginary alarm bells rang through my ears, signaling that this was only the beginning of a bloody war that would result in our side killing more than just Benny and Jonathan.

“Mera?” Valentine sounded like he did when he thought I had run away because of the men he had stored for later consumption. He threaded his hands through my hair, pulling it off my face.

I met his violet eyes, expecting to see anger or impatience or at least a touch of remorse, but his brow wrinkled with confusion and perhaps uncertainty. My chest tightened. How could I fault Valentine for his protective instincts when he was a preternatural? How could I rage at him when he got into this soulless state because he had protected my life? It was a miracle that he still cared for me so deeply.

“You saved me.” I placed a hand over his chest. “Thank you.”

“I would go to any lengths to keep you safe,” he replied, his voice trembling with conviction.

My gaze dropped down to Jonathan’s corpse, which still lay at our feet. It was hard to tell if his threat had been serious, but I had to believe he would have stabbed me based on his past actions.

“What now?” I asked.

“I only need his heart.” Valentine dropped down to his knees and turned Jonathan over.

Adrenaline spiked through my chest, and I hurried toward the exit, where Nut and Geb crowded the doorway. Geb’s gaze wandered over my shoulder, presumably at Valentine tearing out Jonathan’s heart, and Nut swept her gaze up and down my form as though checking that I was still in one piece.

“What are you two doing here?” I asked.

“They know to come here if you ever disappear,” Valentine replied from behind me.

I turned back to Nut, who inclined her head. Right now, I wanted to be back in the cat enclosure, staring at frolicking felines. All these killings were chipping away at my soul, and I wasn’t sure if I would be the same person by the time we dealt with Kresnik.

Nut