Ryan’s footsteps shuffled closer. “Blood won’t bring back the dead.”

“She’s not dead.”

“Yes, she is.” A soft voice—Zoe?

His head turned. He saw her standing, pale, trembling, just behind Ryan.

“She’s not breathing, Alerac,” Zoe told him with pity in her eyes. “She—”

“She was in the ground for two centuries!” Alerac yelled back. “A witch put a spell on her then. She didn’t need breath. She can still live!”

He had to make her live. He cut his wrist, sliced it quickly with his claws, then dripped the blood into Jane’s mouth. Then he massaged her neck—she’s warm, that means she lives—as he attempted to force the blood down her throat.

“We’re linked,” Alerac whispered. “She made me more than just a beast. I made her more than just a vampire.” Please don’t leave me. Please. “She’s still here.”

He held her tight. He gave her his blood. “I love you, Jane,” he whispered. He told her that truth again and again.

But her eyes didn’t open.

And the beast within him broke just as the man did.

***

Ryan felt as if his own heart had been cut out. Alerac wouldn’t let his sister go. He clung to her too tightly. Had to hold her close constantly. Alerac had finally left the woods moments before, with Jane still held in his arms.

“Are we going to…to lose him?” Zoe’s voice. She came toward him, a torch in her hands. Her movements were slow, her body still trembled, but her gaze was unflinching as it met his.

She saved my life.

By sacrificing her beast.

The fire in his chest was gone. The pain, the certainty of death—all gone.

Because of her.

How was he supposed to repay a debt like that?

“Will he s-survive losing her?” Zoe asked. Her voice broke a bit. Her throat was almost fully healed. He knew the catch in her words came from grief, not pain.

Ryan wasn’t sure that Alerac would survive. But one thing he did know…he had to burn Lorcan’s body. That had been Jane’s last order to him.

Bite…her whisper had floated through his mind, and he’d found himself sinking his teeth into Zoe’s arm.

Then…

Stop Alerac. Hold him.

He’d been at Alerac’s back in the next moment.

Burn Lorcan. Nothing can remain.

He took the torch from Zoe. They’d waited until Alerac left for this last act.

But…when he burned Lorcan, would Jane’s body turn to ash, too? He knew that was what Alerac feared.

“Go to him,” he said quietly. “Make sure…” That he doesn’t jump into the flames if Jane’s body sparks fire. Make sure that he doesn’t turn on his pack as the rage consumes him.

Zoe nodded and she hurried away.

Ryan stood over Lorcan’s body, staring down at the vampire who’d ruined so many lives.

But now, now that vampire would burn in hell.

“My sister’s free of you,” Ryan told him, voice thick. “You can’t ever hurt her again.”

He lifted the torch. He’d wait just a few more minutes so that Zoe could get to Alerac. Just a few minutes more.

***

“Alerac, stop!”

He didn’t stop. He kept walking, numb, holding Jane tight. Had he ever told her how beautiful she was? When she smiled, it was the most perfect sight he’d ever witnessed.

He wished that she had smiled more.

He’d wanted to spend an eternity at her side.

He’d been given just days.

Zoe grabbed his arm. “Let her go.”

He couldn’t, not yet.

“Ryan is burning Lorcan. You know it has to be done. He was so strong—”

His body tensed. “That will burn her.”

“Y-yes…”

He spun in an instant and rushed back through the woods. Ryan should know better. Ryan was her brother. He should want to keep her alive. Not give her to the flames. As he ran, Alerac kept Jane locked tightly in his arms. Was her body growing colder? No, no, it couldn’t.

The smell of smoke teased his nose. “Stop!” Alerac bellowed.

Flames began to crackle.

“Stop!”

He burst into the clearing.

Ryan shook his head and lowered the torch. The fire caught the edge of Lorcan’s shirt. Grazed over the vamp’s skin. Then Lorcan ignited.

The flames spread instantly.

And Jane’s body began to feel warmer.

“No,” Alerac whispered. This couldn’t happen. Things were supposed to end differently for them. He was going to protect her. Going to spend all of his life with her.

“Put her down before you burn!” Zoe cried.

But he just held Jane tighter.

“Things were going to be different,” he whispered.

Lorcan was completely engulfed in flames.

Jane’s body was even warmer now.

“So different.” He closed his eyes and bent his head. His lips brushed over her forehead.

Then he heard…it.

A soft thud.

A heart, beating again.

Breath whispered from lips that had been still moments before.

Alerac was afraid to look at Jane. What if his vision proved the other senses to be a lie? Better to stay this way, to just hope…

Has my sanity left already?

Without her, yes, he knew it had.

“Things will be different.” That was her voice. Soft and husky and hers.

Helpless now, his lashes lifted.

Jane’s pale lips tried to curve into a smile. “I could…sure use a little…more of the super blood y-you…have…”

He’d give her anything.

“Feel like…death warmed…over…” Jane told him.

She was trying to joke? When he’d just nearly lost his life? Because if he’d lost her, his life would not have been worth living. I couldn’t survive without her again.

He lifted her higher. Her arms curled around his neck. Her fangs sank into his throat.

Alive. Alive. Alive!

“Jane?” Ryan sounded shocked. “Holy hell, Jane!”

Her mouth pulled away from Alerac’s throat. She looked up at him. Stared deeply into Alerac’s eyes. “I’m only bound…to you now.”

He’d always be bound to her.

“You p-pulled me back.” Her voice was gaining strength. Faint color filled her cheeks. “You gave me…some of the beast inside. Inside me.”