A Shade of Kiev 3(17)

Trying to steady my hand, I picked up the glass again.

I shut my eyes and took the first sip.

Before I swallowed, the memory of the first time I’d laid eyes on the vampire flashed across my mind. I forced out memory after memory with each gulp of the potion I took, each another puncture to my bleeding heart.

By the time I’d finished half of the jug, tears were streaming down my cheeks. It was hard to control my sobs.

Rhys knocked on the door. “What’s wrong?” He sat down next to me on the bed.

“I’m sorry,” I gasped. “It’s just these memories... I’m going to miss them.”

He remained silent, sitting with me for a few minutes while I cried. Then he got up and left the room again. I guessed he thought this was just something I had to work through on my own.

After I’d finished the jug, I left the room and climbed into Rhys’ bed, sliding beneath the covers. He wrapped his arms around me, stroking my forehead.

As I lay there in his arms, I was determined to stay up all night. Because now those memories were alive in my mind, more vivid than ever before. And for once, I allowed myself to get lost in them. I allowed myself this one last indulgence, because by the morning, they would all be gone.





Chapter 16: Mona





When morning arrived, I woke up to feel Rhys’ breathing against the nape of my neck. Whatever I’d taken that potion to forget was gone from my mind. I couldn’t remember anything about it. But it must have been dear to me because my cheeks were stained with tears.

I rubbed my temples, realizing that I had a headache. And my bladder felt like it was about to burst. I’d drunk a whole jug of that liquid, after all. I rushed to the bathroom. In the mirror my skin was looking pale as usual, the circles beneath my eyes dark as ever.

When I returned to the bedroom, Rhys had woken up. He sat leaning against the headboard, looking me over as I approached the bed.

“Get dressed,” he said, standing up. “I want to take you somewhere.”

Once we were ready, he held my hands in his and we vanished. The next few seconds were chaos as wind howled around us. Then I felt a warm breeze against my skin and solid ground beneath my feet. Opening my eyes, I took a step back.

We were standing at the foot of a waterfall, the crash of waves filling our eardrums. I gasped at the sheer beauty of the place. The trees towered up almost higher than I could see and their leaves spread out to form a shimmering canopy, sheltering us from the sun. There were bright flowers, and butterflies the size of Rhys’ hand. A lilac mist hung over the churning waters.

Then it dawned on me.

“Aviary,” I gasped, looking up at Rhys.

He nodded, giving me a small smile.

Memories of being trapped here serving Arron came flooding back. I’d escaped this place. But for some reason I couldn’t remember how.

“Why are we here? Isn’t it dangerous?”

Rhys chuckled and shook his head.

“Not while you’re with me. As to why we’re here…”

He scooped me up in his arms and led me closer to the water. I thought that he was going to jump in with me. Instead, he walked around the edge of the pool and ducked behind the waterfall. The sounds were deafening now as Rhys walked into a cave behind the falling waters.

The beauty of the place took my breath away. There was a wide patch of soft moss in the center, surrounded by an array of precious stones and gems. He walked over to it and put me down. He lowered himself next to me. We both sat staring at the gushing water.

Although it felt odd, I appreciated Rhys’ romantic gesture. He was making an effort to make this easier for me.

“Thank you for bringing me here,” I said softly, looking up at him.

He nodded.

I reached for his hand, a few inches away from me. I held up his branded palm and ran a finger over it, tracing the outline of the black rose. I pressed my lips against the center of his palm and watched the brand come alive, even as my own rose began tingling.

Rhys raised a brow, as if asking for permission to take things further.

I lay back on the grass, never breaking eye contact with him. Slowly, he bent over me and began easing me out of my dress. Then he stood up and undressed himself. Just looking at his muscular physique made me feel weak and vulnerable.

“Kiss me,” I whispered.

He leant over me and gripped both of my arms, pulling me into standing position against him. Goosebumps ran along my skin as he propped me up against the wall of the cave.

And then his lips were on mine. He kissed me slowly at first, but soon he was ravishing me. He left my lips and began pressing his mouth against my neck, sucking on my skin and grazing me with his teeth.

He touched my feet to the ground, leaving a trail of kisses as he made his way down my body. He stopped just above my navel.