“No. He was never truly your ally. You just couldn’t admit that to yourself. And now you’ve taken someone he loves and turned her into a puppet.”
Rafael barely spared the girl a look as he said, “The little slut was asking for it.”
The degrading remark sent Lucas over the edge. He shot across the room and wrapped both hands around his father’s throat. “I hate you! I will never stand by your side, never!”
“Be ready!” Cain shouted in her mind, then within seconds, he was in front of her and wrenching at the heavy chains, but there were so many. It took several attempts before they all fell to the cement floor. Diamonique practically collapsed into his arms. Cain turned, and they both saw Rafael and Lucas in a bloody battle.
Cain tucked her tighter to his chest. The next moment, they materialized inside his home. Diamonique was barely able to hold herself upright so he took her straight to the couch.
As soon as she was seated, Cain snarled, “He will die a slow death for this.”
Diamonique frowned and looked down her body, then shivered when she saw the wounds on her skin. “How?”
“The chains were dipped in holy water.”
“Then I am truly grateful to be alive.” Cain had saved her. She fastened her gaze on his dear face and then scanned his body.
There were red welts on his hands. “Cain, your hands.”
“They’re sore, but I’ll live.” Cain leaned in and kissed her cheek, then whispered, “And it won’t matter to me if you have scars. You will always be my beautiful diamond.”
“Cain, I—”
“I need to help Lucas,” he cut in. “I also cannot let Rafael’s crimes go unpunished. When I return, we will talk, love.”
“See that you don’t come to any harm, Cain.” She had so many things to say. She loved him—had always loved him. It took nearly dying to see the truth.
****
Cain had nearly gone insane earlier attempting to locate Diamonique. Rafael was the oldest vampire of any of their kind and hiding his location had been no great feat. An hour had crept by before he and Lucas had managed to break through Rafael’s mental shields. When he’d seen Diamonique chained to the wall, fear in her eyes, he’d nearly wept with joy that she was still alive. Then rage had set in, and he’d ached to rip Rafael’s heart out with his bare hands doing away with the monster, once and for all. He thought of the glass ceiling in the dungeon-like room and quickly made a cape appear in his hand. He flung it over his shoulders and wrapped the hood tightly around his head, then made a pair of gloves materialize to protect his hands from the chains. He closed his eyes and focused on Lucas and Rafael. In an instant, he was in the room again.
The sun was coming up. He had maybe ten minutes before they’d all roast.
Cain cursed when he felt the heat stinging him through his clothing.
He swung his gaze around the room. Rafael held Lucas off the ground. The old man was pummeling him, showing no mercy. Lucas was barely recognizable. Cain flew across the room and yanked Rafael backwards. Lucas dropped to the ground and began to crawl towards Elizabeth, her flesh already burned in several places from the rising sun.
Rafael jerked away and ground out, “You’re dumber than I thought, Cain. You should have stayed with your bitch and left me to my son.”
Cain reached for Rafael and grabbed him by his hair. “I had some unfinished business, Rafael. Now you die.”
With Diamonique safe from harm in his protected mansion, Cain allowed his rage free rein. He pulled Rafael to the far wall where the chains he’d yanked from Diamonique’s body still lay. In his mind he saw her burnt flesh once again. Vengeance gave him the power to throw Rafael against the cold cement wall, where he crumpled. Whether the rapidly advancing sunrise had helped deplete the older vampire’s strength, Cain didn’t care. Any aid he could get was welcome. Before Rafael could gain his feet, Cain struck him with the heavy metal. Blood oozed from Rafael’s arms and torso. Although, the ancient vampire tried to fight back, soon his face resembled a mass of bone and tissue.
Cain crouched down and whispered into his ear, “You should never have touched her.” Then a wooden stake materialized in his hand and with all the force of a vampire avenging his mate, Cain slammed it into Rafael’s chest. Rafael gurgled and clutched at the wood protruding from his heart. A ray of sun crept across the bloodstained floor and touched the vampire’s limbs. His body burst into flames.
Cain stepped back, and for the first time realized, the sun had burned through his clothes. The smell of his and Rafael’s scorched flesh filled the air. Anger was a powerful painkiller it seemed.
He turned to find Lucas cradling an unresponsive Elizabeth in his arms, tears streaming down his blood
y cheeks. Cain reached out a hand and ordered, “Take my hand.”
Lucas grabbed hold. Cain closed his eyes and instantly they were out of the room and inside one of the guestrooms in his home.
“Where are we?” Lucas asked, as he carried Elizabeth to the bed and laid her down, and then carefully covered her with the heavy red quilt.
“My home. You may stay as long as you wish.”
“Thank you, Cain. For everything.”