Bonds of the Vampire King (Blood Fire Saga Book 7) by Bella Klaus (reading e books .txt) 📕

at his own expense instead of drafting volunteers. That was Valentine: always giving and never asking for anything in return.

Perhaps now that so much was out in the open, from his imprisonment to his assassination to his miraculous survival, the vampires of Lamia finally understood how much their king sacrificed to guarantee their lives of comfort.

I slipped my fingers between Valentine’s and gave his hand an encouraging squeeze. He glanced down, meeting my eyes with a shimmering gaze that told me he wasn’t sure how to handle this outpouring of confidence and support.

“It would be our greatest honor to fight at your side,” Maitland said, and the other vampires in the entrance hall nodded with murmurs of agreement.

Warmth filled my heart until it felt like it would burst, for the man who had given me everything, including his life, for the king who cared so deeply for his subjects, and for the older brother who never wanted to burden his siblings. I gave him an encouraging nod and smile, silently urging him to say yes.

Valentine cleared his throat. “I’m touched by your words.” He paused, surveying the armored vampires, all holding weapons of firestone. “It would be my greatest pride to lead my subjects into battle and rid all worlds of the scourge that is Kresnik.”

The vampires burst into enthusiastic applause and parted to create a walkway toward the door, where Kain stood with Sylvester, Ferdinand, Constantine, and Lazarus.

I gulped. Lazarus?

My gaze darted to the crowd to Lazarus’ right, looking for Beatrice, who stood out among a group of younger vampires also dressed in armor. Our gazes met, and she rushed forward with the widest smile.

Time stilled for several heartbeats as I took in the sight of my best friend.

She was a vision. Thick, flowing hair that shone like polished mahogany, tanned skin radiant with health, and eyes that reflected the chandelier light like tiger’s eye crystals. Her tailored ivory dress clung to her curves and brought out the warmth in her skin tone.

Beatrice wasn’t just young and beautiful again, she glowed.

Fireworks exploded in my heart, across my chest, and before my eyes. Valentine had told me she was better, but that had been a massive understatement. I broke free from his side, leaving him to stride toward his family, and rushed to Beatrice with my arms wide.

I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, wishing that the leather encasing my body wasn’t such an impenetrable barrier. Beatrice smelled of summer picnics in Wimbledon Common when we’d sip Pimm’s and lemonade in meadows of wildflowers.

“Mera,” she whispered. “When Lazarus told me you were missing, it felt like I’d lost everything.”

“I’m sorry to have added to your problems,” I murmured into her hair. “Where I went, time moved differently.”

She drew back and shook her head. “You’re back now, and that’s all that matters.”

“How was the cruise?” I blurted.

“Unbelievable,” she said with a tearful laugh. “Have you ever been on the Sargon yacht?”

I nodded. “Which one?”

We both burst into giggles.

Beatrice’s gaze swept down my armor and up again, settling on my hair. “You look absolutely gorgeous.”

“Never mind me,” I replied with a giddy laugh, studying Beatrice’s face. She hadn’t just regained her youth—I’d never seen someone so happy.

Perhaps it was all the places Lazarus was taking her. Perhaps it was the love of Lazarus himself, but she was sunnier, more exuberant, and just… more of every positive feature that made her Beatrice.

“Look at you,” I murmured, my voice breathy with awe. “You’re young again.”

She flashed me a dazzling grin. “It’s all thanks to Valentine and Lazarus. You should have seen them in action. It was Die Hard meets Pan’s Labyrinth but with two equally gorgeous vampire heroes.”

I shook my head, still not believing my eyes. The last time I saw Beatrice, she had been on the brink of death. “How did they restore your youth?”

Beatrice exhaled a long and happy sigh. “With great difficulty, and at immense risk to themselves. It was a painful process, but I can’t regret a single thing. Not when it means Lazarus and I can be together.”

Questions tumbled through my mind, forming a jumble that made it impossible for me to decide what to ask. My gaze darted to the left, where Valentine wrapped his arms around Kain in a fatherly hug.

Something nibbled at the back of my mind. There was more to Beatrice than simply being content, but I couldn’t put my finger on what I found so unsettling. I stared into her dark eyes, opening my senses to her, and felt a sparkle of magic.

“You’re not human anymore.” The words tumbled from my lips.

“You can tell that from my dazzling smile?” she asked.

“If you can see me wearing this reaper cloak, then it means you’re also a supernatural. What happened with the faerie?”

“When Lazarus and Valentine finally forced them to return what they took, they must have added a little extra.” Beatrice raised her shoulders and grinned.

My eyes bulged. “You’re a faerie now?”

She shook her head. “We haven’t fully explored my powers, and we won’t until we’ve finished our cruise.”

I nodded.

Beatrice flung her arms around my neck. “If it wasn’t for that awful speed-dating meetup, I would never have made such a fabulous friend who led me to the love of my life.”

Squirming, I rubbed the back of my neck. “You and Lazarus clicked without my help.”

“If it wasn’t for him taking me hostage to draw you out of hiding, we would never have met,” she said with a smile.

“When you put it like that…” I let my sentence trail off. After everything Lazarus had done for Beatrice, it was hard to resent him for threatening her life, especially when it had just been a bluff to lure me out of hiding.

Valentine placed a hand on my shoulder. “It’s time.”

I tore my gaze away from Beatrice to find Lazarus and Kain standing at his sides.

“I’m glad you returned from the Realm of the Gods,” said Lazarus. “My brother was a wreck without you.”

“Thanks for taking care