Chapter 53

**DAMIEN**

------------------

I could feel Guinevere's presence, and I knew that the wolves and I would soon be upon Vladimir's lair. About halfway there, we stumbled upon Nikolai and his army of Vampires. They'd suffered fewer injuries than our wolf soldiers, but their casualties were just as great.

*'Something is wrong with Vladimir.'* Nikolai insisted through a shared mind link with Alex and me, *'I can feel my connection with him weakening; the other vampires don't have that same connection, so they can't sense it, but...'* Nikolai's voice faded out, his eyes staring at something ours couldn't see yet.

I watched his face contorted with pain; I watched his body shift, he looked like he wanted to run, but he forced himself to keep pace with Alex and me. *'Save him!'* Nikolai shouted through the mind link, his voice laced with pain, *'I don't know what you'll have to do, but just fucking do it. My army can't witness this. If they do, they'll lose control and be useless. Vladimir wouldn't want that. I'm going to circle my army around, and we will meet you on the other side of the lair.'*

Nikolai took off before he could explain who we were supposed to save. Alex looked over at me, confused, but I shrugged my head and pushed Leo to move faster. Something up ahead had worried the vampire commander, and we needed to be prepared for whatever it was.

​

It didn't take long for us to see what had spooked Nikolai. It was a sight that crippled me to look at. Guinevere was only a few feet ahead of us, rushing toward Vladimir, who lay on the ground with a white wisp pouring from his mouth. Above Vladimir was Jupiter, sucking the willowy wisp into his mouth; what I was witnessing was the sight of a succubus devouring one's soul. I wanted to race forward and push Jupiter off the vampire I now saw as my friend, but I knew I wouldn't reach them in time; Vladimir would still die, and I would give away Guinevere's position.

​

I hadn't expected the Vampire King to die today. Vladimir had so much power in him; I thought if anyone could maintain Jupiter until Guinevere came to finish the job, it would be Vladimir. Frozen in time, watching as Jupiter sucked the last of Vladimir's life force out of him wasn't as shocking as what happened to Guinevere when the sound of Vladimir's soulless body hit the ground and echoed throughout the Forest. When Vladimir's body hit the ground, Guinevere's body lit up in vibrant shades of gold and purple. I watched as Guinevere charged Jupiter, but a part of her had separated from her body.

Where Guinevere had stood earlier, there was another woman, her features so similar, she could be mistaken as Guinevere's twin. Except this woman's features seemed sharper, almost God-like, and when she turned her head to look in my direction, I saw her bright lavender eyes. This woman must be Sierra, Guinevere's succubus spirit.

The sadness in Sierra's eyes pierced my heart as her gaze settled upon me. "Help Guinevere and keep her distracted. She needs to focus all of her attention on Jupiter. Help your mate and leave me to help mine." Sierra whispered, her melodic voice carrying its way to me.

I commanded my army to charge toward Jupiter and keep watch over Guinevere, but I couldn't tear my attention away from the Succubus. Her sorrow called to my soul as she ran to her mate and collapsed on her knees before him. Her body convulsed as her heart began to break.

"You can't leave me. I only just found you. I'm not letting you go." She wept as she flung her body across his, clutching his head.

​Time seemed to stand still as Sierra cradled Vladimir's head. Her power purple aura grew with her sadness until it surrounded both Vladimir and herself. I watched, amazed, as flowers began to sprout around the couple and grass began to grow on the forest floor. She was somehow bringing life back to the Forest that had died while under Jupiter's magic. Sierra hummed a soft melody, and the entirety of Jupiter's lair came to life, like the first signs of spring after a long hard winter.

When she finished humming her melody, she lowered her lips to Vladimir's and placed a small kiss on his lips. "I've already lived the life I've been given, but your story still isn't complete." She whispered gently in his ear before pulling away; then, she began to speak softly in the language long dead, *"Cum duae flammae coniunguntur, una fiunt. Unica flamma clarior et acrior ardet. Servator animae tuae, pars data est flammae tuae ad retinendum, fovendum et nutriendum, donec ad te iter suum inveniret. Hoc osculo tibi flammam tuam remitto, ut ignis in te intus reluceat. Duo iterum fient una, et clarius et acrior ardebis quam ante."*

**When two flames unite, they become one. A single flame that burns brighter and fiercer. As the keeper of your soul, I was given a part of your flame to hold onto, cherish, and nourish until it could find its way back to you. With this kiss, I give you back your flame to relight the fire inside you. Two will become one once more, and you'll burn brighter and fiercer than you did before.**

I watched, mesmerized, as Sierra leaned over Vladimir's body and began to breathe her soul into him. As her life force left her body, Vladimir's body began to glow softly; I watched as his chest began to move again, signaling that Sierra had given him his life back. Sierra's body started to disintegrate as she gifted her soul to Jupiter because, as always, the scales need to remain balanced; life cannot be given without one being taken.

While it felt like time had stopped, the war raged on around me, Sabrina's yelp of pain tearing my concentration from the scene before me. Before I could comprehend what was going on, Leo had taken off racing toward our mate, who now lay on the forest floor, Jupiter quickly approaching her.

*'FASTER, LEO.'* I yelled at my wolf, worried we wouldn't reach her in time. I heard Leo snarl in response, and I knew that my commentary wasn't needed. His mate was in danger; he was already running as quickly as he could.

While I was in my trance watching Sierra sacrifice herself to save Vladimir, Jupiter's army had approached. Their numbers were far greater than my army, and my wolves were being slaughtered. Looking back at my mate, I saw Sabrina was back on her feet and using her powerful golden aura as a shield to protect herself from Jupiter's attack. I pushed Leo to the back of our mind, ignoring his anger, as I changed directions; instead of heading to our mate, I headed toward my soldiers. We needed to keep Jupiter's army at bay if Guinevere was to succeed with her mission.