I collapsed right as we touched down in the woods. The last minutes of twilight are fluttering by as Vincent ripped a hole in his wrist and thrust it to my mouth. I felt the warm sweet cinnamon glide down my throat. All of them were touching me, encouraging me to return to them. Sam was cradling me in his strong arms while Vincent force-fed me. Eric was stroking my hair and Vlad was nearly panicking as he tried to massage me to encourage me to drink.
I opened my eyes and they all were watching me. I drank until I felt mostly normal. Sam exhales, “That was too close.”
I smile up at my men, “I'm fine now. You can let me go.”
Vincent sighs, “You blacked out Eva. This is serious!”
I felt off but I didn't think it would make me lose consciousness, “Oh! I was lightheaded before we ported. So maybe I just overdid it.”
Eric says sternly, “You are resting when we get home!”
Sam murmurs, “No arguing! Eat!” as he gave me a protein shake and a sandwich he had packed in his backpack.
We walk out of the woods. The sun feels so good. I just lay in the grass and bask in it for a bit. I hum, “Mmm such warmth!”
Once I feel renewed, I spring up, “Alright let's go get our Elena!”
They just look at me as I shrug, “I'll explain later!”
I have a hunch but I won't know for sure until I physically touch her. We walk up to the castle like we own the place. Well in under an hour, we will! Vlad and I bring in the wildlife to assist. The guards eyes go wide as I can only imagine what seeing a woman flanked by vampires and a werewolf surrounded by animals looks like.
Our spells work as planned. We make our way in and continue to clean the house. We approach the throne room. I look at Vlad and he nods. Sam busts the door down. Vlad and I have the birds bust all of the windows. The sun comes pouring in as everyone screams in shock and fear.
The others know to focus on the other vampires while Vlad and I focus on Merdon and Elena. We see them sitting on their plush thrones. Merdon is exactly how I saw him. He's an average-looking man who obviously must bewitch women to notice him.
I laugh, “I told you I was coming! The bitch is here! Now it's time you reap what you sow! My twisted king will get his revenge.”
I giggle and smirk at Vlad as he just raises an eyebrow at me. I shrug. These men of mine feed my confidence. Merdon has ghouls come in. I rub my hands together, “Oh, this will be fun!”
I point to the ghouls as I say, “Time for me to have some fun. Let's play!” as the ghouls turn into dragons, surround Merdon, and block his escape.
“Now that no one can come or go, let's have a chat,” I tell him.
Exasperated, he asks, “How?”
I smile as I use my hand to skim my body, “Easy, bow to the supreme goddess!”
“Witch!” he yells.
I laugh, “Nope!” I port beside Elena.
Merdon screams, “Get away from her!”
So what if he might care about her. I know that she is loved and deserves to choose who she lives with, “Nope!”
I touch her and I feel the connection. Also, I see a bit. Now I know that I’m doing the right thing. She's meant to be with me!
I know she saw and felt it too. I smile and tell her, “You’ll be free shortly.”
Elena smiles, “Thank you.”
Merdon hisses, “You can't free her!”
I grin, “But I can! You only bound her by flesh and blood. While my mates and I are spiritually bound…an unbreakable bond. Yours is broken a few different ways.”
Merdon tries to say a spell. I laugh, “I wouldn't try to chant if I were you. It won't save you! You sealed your fate when you killed my mate's wife and then abducted and bound his second one.”
Elena smiles as she gazes at me in awe. I return it and say, “Yep I can hear his thoughts and I'm quite amused too!”
Elena asks me, “Can he hurt you?”
I shake my head. I am ready to accept it all, “No, I'm eternal he's merely an immortal.”
Merdon screams in disbelief, “Impossible!”
I wholeheartedly laugh, “Oh that's what Natashia thought right before she became ash!”
Vlad looks at me with respect and love, “Eva may I?”
I smile, “Since you asked nicely, just a taste for now!”
Vlad has a red ridgeback dragon pickup Merdon and brings Merdon to him.
Elena looks at me in shock, “His eyes!”
I smile, “Yes, beautiful!”
“Very, but yours are exquisite!” Elena says.
I smile, “As I'm sure yours will be once you're free!”
Vincent looks to me with concern in his deep blue eyes, “Love, if Vlad..”
“If he kills him, I have a plan,” I reply.
Vincent sighs, “By that look it's a risky one.”
I shrug, “Isn't everything.”
He caresses my face, “Not everything,” he says softly and brimming with love.
I kiss his cheek, “I'm trusting Vlad to keep control. He's done well thus far. After Elena is free, he can plummet this place to hell for all I care!”
Eric asks, “What about our captives?”
I give my orders, “Sam, go free any in his dungeon that you don't smell evil on.”
“Alright, and I'll have them make their way to Vlad's,” Sam replies.
“Yep, it's time we recruit!” I exclaim.
Sam grins as he shakes his head, “Just don't go overboard, Snow White!”