The Romanov's Pursuit (20 page)

Sasha smiled. “She’s going to make it.”

Nya chose that moment to finally open her eyes. She looked to Cutter and then to Blade and smiled. “Thank you.”

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“Even though it isn’t likely that they’ll return to the house
anytime
soon, a cleansing of their house needs to be done so that we can rid it of any remnants of Grigori’s darkness. We’ll rebuild the wards to protect this domain.” Sasha spoke as the crossed the threshold of Cutter and Blade’s home.

Thankfully, Nya had made a full recovery but she still required rest. Understandably she didn’t want to set foot in the house that had been tainted. Steel couldn’t blame her. So he had offered the use of his Moscow manner. While Sasha,
Niccolo
,
and Jagger had come with him to the twin’s St. Petersburg residence, the rest of the group opted to go with Nya and the twins.

The second he stepped into the house, Steel felt something was off. He assumed it was because of the blood magic’s effects but it was something else. Something inside of him was different as if he’d lost something o
r
someone.”

“You feel it too don’t you, uncle?” Jagger observed as he circled the living room.

“Yes. I wonder
where
Mother is? She said she’d stay put until we
retu
r
ned
.”

Sasha rolled her eyes. “She’s probably lounging around somewhere, like the queen she imagines herself to be. I’ll go upstairs to start the cleanse.”

“I’ll go with you.” Niccolo followed his mate out the room.

Steel went from room to room to verify there
w
ere
no intruders in the house. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. On the verge of inspecting another area, he heard Sasha’s scream.”

Steel teleported upstairs and then headed toward the direction he’d heard her scream. When he entered the room Steel found Sasha,
Niccolo
,
and Jagger standing over his mother’s body. Her eyes were open wide and her mouth was posed in a scream of pure terror. She almost had a
gr
a
y
tint to her lifeless skin.

She had been soul-sucked.

Chapter Nineteen

Nya was having the most delicious dream. She was surrounded in a bright pink haze and warmth filled her every pore. It was almost as if she was on another plane of reality. She walked through a garden full of daisies and sunflowers and came upon a party. There were hundreds of people, laughing, dancing and having a good time.

A modern song played while a group of the younger people did a choreographed dance. The older members in the crowd sat around regaling each other with tales of their younger days. Nya recognized every single one of them. There was June, who’d been the first person in her family to go to college. She eventually went on to become a doctor. Nya had been so proud to see her walk across the stage and receive her medical degree. She then saw Jimmy who had been a workaholic. He was twice divorced and didn’t get the marriage thing right until his third wife who
was
currently gazing at him with loving eyes.

A smile touched her lips when she saw Cheyenne who had been a star athlete. She’d run track and had medaled in several events. She
watched everyone from afar, smiling,
and then her gaze fell on someone who made her gasp.

He didn’
t look like the elderly gentleman that he’d grown into.
Instead
,
he was the vital young man who had accomplished so much in his life. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. At that moment, he looked up at her and waved. Nathan.

Tears sprang to her eyes. Every single one of her descendants
w
as
gathered at this party, like one big family reunion. They looked so happy.

“They’re all together now,” a familiar voice cut into her musings.

Nya whirled around to see the red-haired vampire who had granted her eternal life. “Adonis,” she whispered his name. He looked the same but there was something different about him. He seemed relaxed and for the first time since she’d known him, happy.

“Yes. I’m here. You look as beautiful as I re
member. One of the reasons
my mother and I settled in
a
southern state all those years ago was because she wanted to take advantage of America’s barbaric practice.”

Nya shuddered. “Yes, I remember.” Adonis’s mother had used black magic to stay young. She would find attractive young women and age them to the point of death while she took their youth. Beatrice had
believe
d
that slave women were easy pickings.

“When my mother set
her
sights on you is when you came to my attention. Even in my crazed state, I knew you were mine. I would have walked the ends of the Earth for you, but my mind was nearly gone. There were moments however when I would look at you and
thank
the heavens that you were my bloodmate.”

Nya wiped away a tea
r
that slid down the corner of her eye. “I still cared about you, Adonis. I wish things could have been different with us.”

He caressed her chee
k. “I know.”

“Maybe if your mother—”

He placed his finger over her lips. “No. I was as much to blame for my transgressions as her. It was my decision to start practicing black magic and my idea to participate in the atrocities I committed.
Even when I did those things, I knew I was wrong, but I tried to convince myself that the ends justified the means. I think the only times I was ever happ
y was when I was when
Giovanni
and I
were boys and when I was with you. You were the best thing that ever happened to me, Nya and I wasted our time together on a vendetta I’d created in my head. I let the black magic corrupt. It turned me in
to
a monster and I did horrible things. My biggest regret was hurting and taking away the people who meant so much to you. I’m sorry and if I could take it back I would
.”

Her tears freely flowed. This was the man she knew Adonis could be, the person who had been inside of him all along. “Thank you for that,” she whispered.

“They’re all happy now. They
are
all together and there will never be another tear shed or fear, or anger. Just joy. This
is
their eternity. It’s beautiful isn’t it?” Adonis nodded his head towards Nya’s family.

“Yes.” She’d spent so much of her life tortured by the hand that fate had dealt them.

“
After all
,
I put you through, I’m glad you found Cutter and Blade. They’ll take good care of you. They will each be the man I wasn’t. I want you to be happy. You deserve it.”

Nya began to cry in earnest. Adonis took her in his arms and held her. “Bella, why are you crying?”

“Because this dream is so beautiful. I don’t ever wa
n
t to wake up.”

He smiled, his amber eyes twinkling. “But you have to. Cu
tter and Blade need their mate. And I need to get back to my watch.”

She sniffed. “Your watch?”

“You spent most of your life looking after your
love
d
ones, now it’s my turn to watch over them. When you open your eyes, don’t allow the darkness to take over you
r
spirit again. Be happy.” He leaned over and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

Nya woke with a gasp.

To her
surprise
,
her cheeks were damp from tears. The dream had felt so real.

“Nya?”

She noticed Cutter sitting by the side of the bed for the first time. She looked around and didn’t recognize her surroundings. “Where are we?”

“At Steel’s home. You weren’t comfortable returning to our house remember?”

“Oh, I must have been drifting in and out of consciousness.”

He smiled at her as he stroked the side of her face.
“You were but
it’s
understandable
, you’ve suffered through a very significant ordeal. How are you feeling?”

“Good actually. I haven’t
felt
this way in a very long time. Actually, I don’t remember ever feeling this way. Do you know how they say you don’t know you’re feeling bad until
you actually start to feel good?”

He tilted his head in a brief nod. “I’m familiar with that phrase.”

“I know what happiness feels like.”

He raised a brow. “Is that so? And why are you so happy?”

She looked around. “Where’s Blade? I think he should be here too.”

“I’
ll mind link with my brother to let him know you’re awake. We’ve taken turns sitting by your bedside and sometimes we’ve sat together.”

“How long have I been out?”

“You’ve drifted in and out of consciousness for about two days now. There were moments when you appeared to be awake but then we realized you were rambling in your sleep.

“I was out that long?”

“What Grigori did to you took a huge toll on your body. You might have been fully healed physically but your spirit needed to be recharged.”

Blade chose that moment to appear. “
Solnyska
,” he whispered the word with reverence as he took a seat by his
brother. He pulled her into his
warm embrace and gave her a hard and hungry kiss before releasing her. “I’m so glad you’ve finally rejoined us.”

“I’m sorry I had everyone worried.”

“You’re not to blame for what some maniac did. While Cutter and I are pleased to see you finally lucid, there are a couple more people who are anxious to see you.” Blade gave her hand a tight squeeze.

Nya licked her lips.
“Who?”

“Us?” The bedroom door that had been slightly cracked opened to reveal her new visitors: Christine and Giovanni.

Nya smiled at the newcomers. She was slightly ashamed that she’d severed ties with two of her closest friends but at the time she thought she was doing the right thing. Now seeing them, she realized she shouldn’t have cut off her two closest friends.”

Cutter leaned over brushed her lips with his. “Blade and I will give the three of you some time alone. Just mind link with us if you need anything.”

Her mate
s
vanished from the room leaving her alone with Christine and Giovanni. Christine took a seat on the bed next to Nya and gave her a big bear hug. “I’m so glad you’re all right. I’ve been so worried about you. I nearly lost my shit when we found you half dead in that warlock’s dungeon.”

Nya grinned. “Well, I’m glad I pulled through too. Let’s just say that’s not an experience I’d ever like to repeat.”

Giovanni stood by the bed and offered her a wide smile. “Welcome back.”

“Thank you.” She grinned back. “Cutter said I was out for two days. You guys have been here that long?”

“I didn’t want to leave without making sure for myself that you would be okay, after
all
,
I haven’t seen you in quite a while. I was worried.”

Nya stroked
a stray lock of Christine’s ink black hair. Christine was a dear friend she had met when Christine was still human. She had rescued the petite Asian woman from being raped in an alley by two random criminals. The two women had made a connection and had been friends ever since. Christine was the type of person who would go above and beyond for other people not because she had anything to prove but because it was the right thing to do. “I’m sorry. I’ve been a bad friend. I stayed away because I was in a lot of pain. I was still confused over my feelings for Adonis and to be perfectly honest, I was a little jealous.”

Christine raised both brows in obvious surprise. “Of me? You’ve got to be kidding. I’ve always been a little jealous of you. Besides, being a tall, gorgeous goddess, you’re one of the most badass women I know. You inspired me to live my life to the fullest when I was sick you were there for me. I’ve never been more pleased to have anyone as a friend than you.”

The other woman’s words touched Nya’s heart and she felt like she was on the verge of tears yet again. She took Chri
stine’s hands in hers. “It’s true
. You’re one of the sweetest, kindest people I’ve ever met. You actually do what you say and say what you mean and the way you go above and beyond for other people is more than I could ever do.
Having you in my life has been an honor because you reminded me that there could be goodness in mankind. But I was so broken on the inside. I’d experienced more
los
s
than any one person should and when you mated with Romeo and the two of you started a family with those two adorable children, I felt like I had lost you two. I cut you off before you could do it to me.”

Christine gasped. “But you just contradicted yourself. You claim I’m so good and kind but how could you possibly ever think I would cut you off just because I have a mate and children? You’re a part of my family and I will always need you in my life. Never pull a disappearing act on me again. Okay?”

“I won’t. I promise.” Nya held out her arms and the two vampire femmes hugged.

By the time Christine pulled away her eyes gleamed with tears. “I’ve
hogged
you enough. I’m sure Giovanni has plenty to say to you. I think I should get going. Romeo is waiting and now that you’re awake, we have to get back home to the children. We’ve left them with all their aunts who are spoiling them rotten.”

Nya smiled. “How are the children, by the way?”

“They’re doing amazing. Jaxon and Adrienne are growing like weeds and they’re both so precocious.
They are a handful but being their mother is the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Christine was the type of woman who was meant to become a mother. Anyone could hear the love in her voice when she referred to her little ones.

“I’m glad to hear it. I’ll be paying your family a visit soon.”

“You’d bette
r,” Christine wagged her finger,
“or else I’ll track you down myself. On a serious note, don’t ever disappear on us again.
There are
way too
ma
ny people who care about and love
you
for you to be alone
.”

Properly chastised, Nya answered solemnly. “Duly noted.

Christine gave Nya a quick peck on the cheek before
exiting
the bed. She waved as she headed out the room.

With her gone, Giovanni took the spot on the bed that Christine had just vacated. He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “You have no idea how worried I was about you. I’d like to ad
d on to what Christine just said, not only will I track you down but I will give you nightmares.”

Nya laughed. “Then I definitely won’t run away again. I’m really sorry. Part of the reason I put myself in isolation was my fear or losing more people I cared about. You had your mate, and Christine had her family. I wasn’t sure where I fit in.”

“Nya, as Christine already said, you’ll always be a part of our family. You’ll never be alone again, and I’m sure Cutter and Blade are eager to see to that. What you have to understand, my dear is that we’re immortal. You need people in your corner to get you through forever.”