Page 72 of His Stolen Queen
When I arrived at Alice's favorite spot—and the place she had been in my vision—I pulled up short in surprise when I was greeted by King Damon. But I did not have time to wonder, not when he was holding a bleeding and gasping Alice in his arms.
"Damon. What the fuck are you doing? Give me my mate!"
He kept an eye on Alice, his face etched in something akin to regret. He finally met my crazed stare, and what I saw in him shook me. "Ah, sleeping beauty. You've finally joined us."
"What the fuck are you doing?" I moved forward slowly, my tortured eyes staying on Alice's rapidly moving chest, noting how shallow her breathing was. Her shirt was completely soaked in blood. Desperation lurched at me as I felt Alice's soul detaching from her.
"I could explain it to you, but I've already done it once with Alice, and I find it tedious to repeat myself. Maybe she'll relay it to you…when you meet each other in the afterlife."
"You bastard!"
His eyes flashed. "You have no idea how true that is. Sorry, old friend. It's nothing personal, just an old vendetta that needed settling." He glanced down at Alice again.
"I'll kill you! I'll tear you to shreds for this!"
"Don't bother. You won't find me, and your delicate little mate needs you more. Although, I fear it may be too late." He gently placed her down. "Farewell, old friend." He disappeared, and I raced forward, carefully scooping her into my arms.
Alice's breathing was faint, her chest barely moving. Her eyes were wide as she stared up at the sky, her lips mouthing my name.
"No! Do not speak, my love. You're going to be okay." But we both knew she wouldn't. I could feel her life source leaving her. Wetness dripped onto her face, and I realized that I was crying for the first time.
We are here.
I glanced up, my face wet and racked in grief. "It is too late." I looked down at her still face, and a sob was wrenched from my throat. "You know what to do." I would join her in the afterlife. Von knew the plan on how to destroy me.
"There is one thing you can do," Von said, his tone quiet as he stared at Alice. He looked at me, his normally stoic features marred in sorrow. "Turn her."
My heart jumped at his suggestion, and I glanced down at Alice. The thought never entered my head. I just wanted to be with Alice—in whatever capacity. What was there to lose?
"You must do it quickly before it is too late," he urged.
I closed my eyes as rippling grief tore through me. "Forgive me, Alice," I whispered against her still frame before I buried my fist through her chest, straight to her heart.
Chapter 29
Acheron
Blood covered me. My face was drenched in it. So much blood. Alice's blood.
I stared down at her open chest and the still organ that I had bitten. Her beautiful face was ashen, her red lips now pale.
"Alice," I croaked. She was gone. Completely dead. I could feel it.
"Be patient."
I stared up at the doctor; my features twisted in anger. "What do you mean? She is dead. It did not work."
"Not necessarily. The change is usually immediate; however, because she had already died from King Damon's blade, it could take a while."
I disregarded his words and bent my head over her body. I had zero confidence that it had worked. Her body was cold and rigid.
After I had bitten her, I carefully took her back to our rooms and laid her out on our bed. I stroked her soft hair with a shaky hand.
I'm so sorry, my beloved.
"Von."
He glanced up at me, his face almost as pale as Alice's.
