But nothing happens.
Bogdan pushes Simon back, moving toward Draven, like he’s bored with their conversation. “Why would we want order?” Bogdan asks, holding a crossbow in his hands. “Why would we ever want a council that punishes us for being who we are? We’re vampires. We kill and feast on the blood of mortals.”
Draven inches closer. “You’re wrong. We need order to keep our kind alive.”
“How do you plan to keep that order? By using your secret weapon if people disobey?” Bogdan inclines his chin toward me. “Don’t think I don’t know what she is.”
“She’s my wife. I’d never use her like that.”
The forest fills with laughter at Draven’s words.
“We know the wedding was a sham,” Rao says. “Obviously.” He waves his hand to Simon, and I hate him for spilling all of our secrets.
Draven speaks up, his voice louder than I’ve ever heard him. “It wasn’t a sham. I love her.”
His words enter my ears, travel through my bloodstream, straight to my heart, where they cause it to beat only for him. A tingle starts in my wrist and spreads through my palm. And then things happen so fast, I’m frozen in place. Draven lunges at Bogdan, going for his weapon.
They tackle each other to the ground, and I watch in horror as Draven and Bogdan fight one another. I scream, trying to get closer to Bogdan so I can change him into a mortal, but with them tangled together, I can’t get any closer.
Simon tries to help Draven, but Rao grabs him, restraining him.
Bogdan rolls out of Draven’s hold and regains control of his weapon, pointing it at me. “I think you’re more trouble than your worth.” He squeezes the trigger, and things seem to happen in slow motion.
The arrow zooms toward me, and my heart slows to an intermittent thump in my ears.
“No,” Draven shouts.
Before it hits, Draven, my beautiful vampire, my savior, leaps in the way, taking the arrow to his own chest.
He falls to the ground.
Our eyes meet.
One last time.
I see the love in his dark eyes. I feel it. I can’t lose it.
Tears fall like rain as I drop to my knees, cradling his head in my lap. “Please no,” I beg. “Please stay with me.”
His dark eyes flutter closed, and then he’s gone.
Just like that.
No goodbye.
No nothing.
I try to pull the arrow from his chest, but the damn thing won’t budge.
Simon drops beside me, placing his hand over mine, helping me tug at the spear lodged in Draven’s chest. “No. I never meant for this to happen. I’m so sorry,” he says over and over.
My heart turns to stone, forged by hatred for the man who shot Draven. A light emanates from my chest, so bright and blinding I close my eyes.
Every emotion raging through me amplifies and expands, threatening to rip open my body and seek revenge.
“Allison. Allison,” a voice chants.
I open my eyes. Bogdan and his men lie dead at my feet, and I realize it was me that killed them. My power wiped them out.