Free Sapphire Angel by Khloe Wren Page B

helplessly watched as two more were taken silently. These were more fortunate than the first. Their deaths were quick as the vampires efficiently broke their necks. The two snaps reached his ears as the limp bodies fell quietly to the ground. Wincing, he turned his attention back to Darcy. Angelo was cutting the rope binding her wrists and scooping her up. With his entire focus on Darcy, Angelo didn’t see the Elder coming up behind him with the syringe.
    Karl took in as deep a breath as he could, preparing to yell out to warn them when his breath stopped in his throat. He watched as three vampires came behind the Elder, one grabbing each hand and arm, while the third grabbed a fist full of his hair and forced him to watch Angelo escaping with Darcy. He could hear the Elder’s growl as a fourth vampire came at his front with a large knife. With the night air being so still, Karl was able to clearly hear the vampire’s words.
    "You bastards stole my mother, imprisoned my father. Let your last sight before dying be watching Angelo leave with his rescued Bride, and know this, we know where you hide, and we will rescue all the others before this is over. Nobles will be no more."
    Karl’s heart began to race as he watched the knife disappear into the Elder’s abdomen and slide through his flesh up to his throat. He watched as the vampires dropped him to the ground and walk away. Karl closed his eyes and laid his head back, playing possum. Hoping the vampires wouldn’t see him as a threat in need of killing.
    Karl stayed like that, lying against the cold metal of the van for what felt like half an hour. When he couldn’t take it any longer he opened his eyes to discover he was alone. The golf course was now empty of the living. He looked up at his hands, and tugged on them, the rope held firm. Damn it! How the hell was he going to get back to the compound?
    ~ * ~
    Darcy woke with a start. Her body jerked as she remembered being stabbed. The movement caused her to slip below water. She instantly panicked, not wanting to drown. Was this what dying felt like? Or was she already dead? Suddenly she was back out of the liquid and she gasped in breaths, her eyes tightly closed against the burn in her lungs.
    " Piccola , breathe."
    Piccola ? Was she with Angelo? Had she died and gone to heaven? Because without him, there would be no heaven for her. She swiped at her eyes to clear the water away. The moment her vision was clear, she looked to where the voice had come from. Tears pricked her eyes and fell as she took in his beautiful face, with his clear deep blue eyes. He was her sapphire angel.
    "Am I dead?"
    Angelo chuckled at her and hauled her tight against his chest, "No, piccola , you are not dead."
    Darcy nuzzled her face into his chest, taking in deep breaths to fill her lungs with his scent.
    "How?" Her throat still burned so she tried to keep her words to a minimum.
    "I did not go alone. I took a team with me. I rescued you while the others dealt with the Nobles."
    Her lips quirked a little. He made it sound so simple.
    "How am I not dead?"
    "Oh Darcy, please do not be mad with me." He paused to tilt her face up to his, "I had to claim you. Only though bonding us together could I save you. You had lost so much blood. Which, of course, was their intention." He finished with a growl. His forehead creased as his whole body vibrated with rage.
    She raised her hand to smooth the lines from his face. The splash as her hand moved up caught her attention. Where was she? She pulled back slightly from Angelo to take in her surroundings for the first time. She took in the large spa bath she was in, the opulent marble tiles and counters.
    "This is your bathroom, in the apartment at the Docklands."
    " Our bathroom, Darcy. You are truly free and rescued."
    "Rescued..." She repeated the word as it triggered memories. She spun back to Angelo, "We have to go back! We need to rescue the others."
    "Yes, we will. Well, you will not, but there