Heirot

Knight pulled her in tight, kissing her back. His legs didn't want to work, so he tumbled with her onto his side on the floor, laughing victoriously. "It is done," he proclaimed, his voice echoing across the empty throneroom as he pressed his lips to her forehead and ran his fingers lovingly through her hair. He pulled her face in against his chest and held her like he'd been away from her a thousand years. "It's truly done. Are you hurt?"

Tenele smiled against his chest. "A bit banged up, but nothing too bad," she murmured. Her fingers tightened in what was left of his shirt, and she let out a heavy sigh. "I was so afraid of this moment... and I had no reason to fear at all. I feel so foolish for being so hard on them." She pressed a kiss to his chest over his heart.

"It was no easy fight. Your concern was only normal. And, as you correctly pointed out, Vlad was in no condition to try to do this." The guardian's voice tightened with effort as he spoke. "I should get you back to the mortal plane."

Tenele frowned in concern. "Okay," she whispered, nodding. "Take me back." She kissed him again, long and slow, and with all the thanks and love she could. Without him... Tenele couldn't imagine what would have happened.

Knight kissed her, passionate but also intimate, like her touch was the sweetest thing he'd ever had, or would have again. "I love you, Tenele. Regardless of what happens next... knowing you will be safe from him is the truest happiness I could ever know," he murmured against her lips.

He sat up, pulling her with him. In a shaky war of muscles, he made himself stand. The world blurred slightly as he held still to regain his balance. "We must go quickly," he said, holding his hand out to her.

Tenele nodded, standing with him and taking his hand. His words scared her more than she was ready to admit. If Vlad was dying... then he knew it. He knew he'd never be able to see her again. Did that mean that Vlad was dying? Tenele's throat closed around the question.

Knight clasped her hand tightly and embedded the other in the scruff of Stalker's fur. "Hold tight," he said, summoning the power to move them. The world spun and drifted as they flickered out of existence and finally reappeared in their bedroom. Knight released her as soon as they landed and dropped to his knees, shaking from exertion. Stalker pressed his nose into his face, investigating the pain that hadn't been caused by any physical injury.

"I'm out of time," he gasped out. "He's out of time. Separate them," he looked up at Tenele, "Quickly."

Tenele sank down to the floor with him. "Okay," she whispered, her throat tightening. She pressed her forehead to his. Tenele was afraid to send him away, afraid of what would be before her once he disappeared and her husband and Atul were returned to her. "Thank you, Knight. Sagra ne eiro."

He's out of time. The words twisted her insides in knots.

Knight split apart almost instantly, far more easily than usual. Maxwell jumped up from the desk in the corner as Vlad reappeared where he'd last been standing. The vampire seemed suspended there for a moment as his body rematerialized. His skin was drenched with sweat and had an unhealthy, grayish sheen. The shock flashed to life in his eyes. He slammed back against the wall, then fell heavily to the floor.

"Hnng" he ground out, delirious with pain for the moment. It hurt to move, or breathe, or just to think. He clasped a shuddering hand to his forehead and dug his nails into his scalp, as if clutching it would make his skull stop pounding.

"Vlad!" Tenele cried, running from where she was standing to the other side of the room. Stalker followed at her heals. She dropped down next to him, her hands hesitating before moving to rest on his arms to draw his hands away from his face. "Look at me, please look at me. Tell me you are okay." He didn't look okay, nothing close to it. Her heart raced, fluttering fast enough to make her dizzy.

Vlad's arms didn't have the strength to resist her. His hand pinned easily to the ground on either side of his head. He winced and took a deep breath, forcing himself calm. "Tenele?" he said dryly, and swallowed. "Are you safe?"

Tenele nodded, brushing her hand across his face. "I'm safe," she whispered. "I'm very safe. He's gone. He's dead." She brushed kisses across his cheek and his lips, careful not to let him taste her own blood in her mouth from Verin's strike. He didn't need a cause to worry, when there was nothing to worry about. "You were right. Now was the time. We did it, my love."

"Verin?" Vlad breathed, afraid to really believe her until he was certain.

"Dead," Tenele told him confidently. "He will never, ever, hurt us again. He's dead, Vlad." Her fingers brushed lightly across his gray skin. "What can I get you? Do you need more blood? I'll send for more of Atul's prisoners..."

Vlad smiled, laughing weakly. "He is. Of course he is." Pride glowed into the corners of his irises, a touch of red against the near-brown hue.

"Feeding may help to stabilize him for a short while, if he can keep it down," Maxwell added, walking over to them.