Chapter 22 - Your Heart Next to Mine
Michael:
It’s nearly evening when I awaken. Considering our wounds and general exhaustion, Valentina and I both fell into a deep sleep once we had satisfied our sexual appetites. I gaze down at Valentina’s sleeping form and smile. Though I was weakened by my wounds, I could not pass up the opportunity to make love to her. It’s as if she’s an addiction that I cannot deny. I do not want to deny it. She’s so beautiful, intelligent and brave that it takes my breath away. In fact, the only flaw I see is that she’s human.
I look down at my healed chest and sigh with relief. The queen surprised me when she fought with the sacred sword. But now that my power is fully restored, I know what I’m up against, and I’m better prepared to fight. However, I am left wondering how she was able to get ahold of such a weapon. A sacred sword is not something that you just stumble upon.
However, as I analyze what I remember of the weapon, I realize that it was unkempt compared to others I’ve seen. The handle was corroded, and the blade was dull with decay. I think about the history of the catacombs and recall that Nazis had also taken residence during the invasion of France in World War II. There were many museums that they raided and robbed. I read years ago in historical documents that the Nazis pilfered ancient weapons. It’s not beyond the realm that one of those weapons could have been a sacred sword. That would explain its neglected state and why the queen had it. It’s the only thing that makes sense.
Lying back on the pillow, I look at the ceiling. There is so much unsaid between us. Yet, there is no doubt that we are drawn to each other beyond the physical. Definitely not when my heart clenches painfully at the thought of letting Valentina go.
Valentina turns to me at that moment and releases a wide yawn as she unabashedly sits beside me, her tousled hair lying tousled around her shoulders, and her bare breasts are on display. She reminds me of a painting of a sensual french courtesan.
“Hey, how are you feeling?” she looks over my unmarred chest and appraises it carefully. “Wow, it’s like you were never wounded,” she says as she slides her hand down my pecs and abs.
Taking her hand from my skin, I kiss her knuckles and pull her across my lap. “Oui, I am cured thanks to your sweet ministrations.”
Her lip quirks, “Right, it has nothing to do with your angelic healing abilities.”
I place my hands on her waist and pull her down until our lips are touching. “That too, but I wouldn’t be feeling this merveilleux if it wasn’t for your tender touch, mon amie.”
Her eyes soften as she rests tender kisses on my lips and slides her hands up and down my chest, “In that case, I’m very happy to help.”
Our kisses are slow and gentle, with no other expectation beyond affection. Valentina rests her head on my shoulder and looks over at the darkened window, “Wow, we must have slept the day away.”
I nod and gesture to the receding sunlight. “I don’t usually sleep this much, but you wore me out, mon petit.”
She snickers in reply, “You’re not the only one who was worn out, babe,” she grinds against me playfully as she rises back up and lets her hair fall around us like a curtain. She rubs her nose against mine and whispers, “What we did was amazing,”
“Oui, I’m surprised that my bed didn’t catch fire. You are spectacular,” I embrace her tightly, molding her chest to mine, “I don’t know if I can ever let you go,” I whisper, changing the playful tone of our banter to a more serious one.
Valentina slides her fingers through my hair and kisses my jaw, “I don’t think I can ever let you go either.”
It’s as close as a confession of love as we can do at that moment. Considering the precariousness of our situation, it’s as much as we can do without laying our emotions completely vulnerable. But it’s enough.
“Then don’t,” I state plainly. I want Valentina to see that I’m irrevocably hers and let her make the choice of whether we should continue or not.
Valentina’s eyes gleam with untold emotions as she leans close and mutters, “There’s something that I need to tell you.”
Just as I’m going to reply, a loud bang and the sounds of windows and doors breaking resound across the house.
Rising up, I magically dress Valentina in leather clothes and a sword, don my own armor, and prepare to neutralize any threats that come our way.
“What the fuck is happening?” Valentina shouts as the thrum of a thousand feet weaving through the house rings throughout the room.
Jaw tight, I look out the window and see swarms of Naga surrounding the premises. “It seems that the Naga are eager to face us rather than wait for us to attack. The queen must have caught our scent and ordered them to attack.”
Valentina rushes beside me and jumps back when a flock of Naga land on the balcony and run to the windows.
“Stand back!” I call out as I release my flaming sword.
Valentina looks at the door as it begins to shake on its hinges. The Nagas are in the house, and there's no escaping them.
The windows shatter with the Naga’s powerful weight as they rush to attack. There’s no time to think. Valentina and I cleave and strike any Naga that gets in our way.
“Search for the queen!” I call out to Valentina as she cuts through a couple of Nagas.
Valentina gives me an affirming nod before she jumps over a Naga and kicks another.
Like in the catacombs, the house is overwhelmed with Naga. Fortunately, my house is surrounded by gates, and my grounds are vast, so no humans would be able to catch sight of the mele.
The ground trembles as the walls and floors are destroyed by the Naga’s powerful weight. However, I’m not concerned. I can use my power to fix any damage.
Seeing that the house’s rooms are too confining for a fight, I call out to Valentina again, “Go out the Balcony! We can fight them on the grounds!”
Valentina rushes beside me and takes my hand, letting me flash us to my courtyard. The Naga wail and growl as they follow us out.
That’s when the queen appears. As predicted, she is wounded, but her leg is no longer hanging by a thread.
As soon as she sees us, she releases a deafening growl and moves to attack. She masterfully wields the sacred sword towards my heart, but I manage to avoid her strike.
While she swings, a Naga jumps on my back and bites down on my shoulder. Valentina grips the Naga and rips it off my back but doesn’t manage to block the queen when the queen stabs her through the shoulder.
“Valentina!” I cry out as I rush toward her, but the queen slashes the sword and cuts through my stomach. Hissing with pain, I cut at her wounded leg and impale another Naga in the chest.
Like sharks in the water, the Nagas smell our blood and become more brutal in their attack.
The queen aims at me again but releases an enraged cry when Valentina stabs her in the belly. Before Valentina can do further damage, a Naga grips her legs and drags her across the floor while another jumps on her back.
“Merde!” I reach for her but am tackled to the ground by the queen.
The queen sneers as she aims the sacred sword at my heart.
Just as she’s about to strike, the queen stiffens and gazes down at her chest with surprise. My eyes widen at the sight of a flaming sword cutting through her chest and moves up until it cuts through her neck and severs her head.
I glance behind her, expecting to see one of my brothers but growl with shock when I see the one thing that I never thought I’d see again. Valentina is in full archangel armor, her dove white wings extended across her back as she wields her fiery sword.
I watch in disbelief as she turns to the rest of the Nagas and throws power at them until they’re tearing each other apart.
Pushing the Naga queen’s dead carcass away, I rise to my feet and face my…my mate.
“Comment est - ce possible?” How is this possible?
My shock turns to anger when I realize her deception. Valentina’s my mate and didn’t tell me.
Once all of the Nagas have fallen at the hands of their brethren, Valentina faces me. “Michael…I…I can explain,” she holds her hand out as if to reach for me, but I flinch back,
“You lied to me,” I grown incredulously, “You’re War? You’re my mate?”
She nods, “Yes, I am…but you have to listen to me. I ─”
I hold my palm up to stop her words, “I do not wish to hear about your deceit!” I strike my chest angrily, “This whole time, I thought you were dead, and you were...”
I shake my head, unable to finish the sentence and turn to the Naga bodies littering my yard. Emotions bombard me, torturing me until I block them out. I dispose of the Naga’s corpses with the power of my angelic flames until the yard is back to its previously pristine appearance.
Valentina purposely strides toward me, but I manage to dodge her hold once more, “Listen to me, Michael, I─”
“Stop! Just stop!” I call out furiously, “Just stop talking. I can’t even look at you right now!”
Her expression falters as she gazes tearfully into my eyes. But I am too disappointed and indignant to care. All I can think is that while I was mournfully telling her about losing my mate, she kept her existence a secret. I feel so betrayed.
I gesture toward the unblemished grounds with a wave of my hand, “Your friend should be free of the Naga curse now that the queen is dead.”
I tighten my fists and clench my jaw when she nods. Knowing that I cannot bear to be around her another moment, I harden my heart and say. “Our partnership is now over, and I no longer want to see you again.”
Valentina opens her lips to argue but quickly closes them when I give her a glacial glare. A tear slips down her cheek as she waits for me to continue speaking.
“I will send you to her,” I say evenly.
Right now, I feel like she cut my heart out and stomped on it, and I do not have the energy to do anything but keep myself from falling apart. The mere thought of her perfidy throws me into a ball of rage and despair.
Memories of all the betrayals I’ve had to suffer in my lifetime weigh heavily on me. To think that my own mate lied to me is beyond unbearable. Without a word, I place my hand around her forearm and flash her to Gabriel. I do not join her. Instead, I return to my now repaired home and lick my wounds by imbibing on bottles of wine stored in my cellar until the hollow feeling of betrayal is nothing but a memory.