Free Immortal Rapture: Immortal Heart by Magen McMinimy Page A

monotone and dead around them. The feeling inside the palace walls wasn’t much better. Whatever Holly had been turned into, she was powerful . Darion was still feeling the effects of her magic. Esperanza nearly laughed at the thought that she had apparently bet on the wrong daughter. She sighed at her own cruelty. Rowan was dead at the hands of her lover.
    “Lady Esperanza?” A low voice called her name from somewhere near the room’s entrance. She knew she was a terrifying mistress, but the weakness that filled those that graced the palace was pathetic.
    “What is it, Jaeb?”
    “The snow is beginning to melt.”
    Esperanza’s eyes narrowed at the drifts of pure white below the window. “Are you sure?”
    “Yes, My Lady, the seer says Jelena is back with her sisters.”
    “And the child?”
    Jaeb shifted uncomfortably. “The Immortal Makyle has him.”
    Esperanza sneered as she turned on him. “Of course he has him. Where are they?”
    “Headed to the Human World.”
    “Then I suggest you get our warriors there as well,” she roared.
    “Yes, My Lady ,” he said, turning on his feet to scurry from the room.
    “Oh and Jaeb?” she called after him.
    “Yes, My Lady?”
    “When you are finished, come to Lord Darion’s chambers… He needs to feed.”
    “Yes, My Lady.”
    Esperanza sighed and moved to the passages that would carry her unseen through the palace and back to Darion. Since Holly had thrown her dreadful magic at them, hurtling those who were still standing during the battle back to the Dark palace courtyard, Darion had been weak, sleeping and feeding on the sexual energy of all he could get his hands on. It was as if he were experiencing his frenzy, even though he’d found his true mate in her. Without the multiple feedings daily, he would have perished months ago. With a deep breath, she pushed the stone wall open and entered their chambers. She smiled at the once-handsome man, who now looked to be only a shadow of himself, and began undressing.
    She slid into bed next to him and cupped his face. “How are you feeling today?”
    “Hungry,” he nearly growled before rolling on top of her to capture her mouth. She closed her eyes and hoped that Jaeb hurried. Darion was weakening her with every encounter.
    *** *
     
    “How about a movie?” Uriah asked as he stood from the couch.
    Marie shrugged. “Sure.”
    Uriah smirked. “I thought giving you something other than my profile to stare at would be appreciated.”
    She laughed. “Hardly, you’re the perfect piece of eye candy… I could stare at you all day.”
    Uriah shook his head. Marie sat up from her lounging position on the couch, where she had spent most of the past hour staring at him, her gaze flicking to the television every so often. It was taking all her control not to just lunge at him. After what had happened in the kitchen, she had reluctantly put her clothes back on when all she really wanted to do was strip him down and see all that hid beneath his jeans. She knew he wanted her too… if the hardness pressing against his zipper was any indication, but he had put distance between them. Forcing her to eat food instead of just letting her devour him.
    Too fast, maybe it had all happened to fast. Somehow that thought hurt… it was that sharp, piercing pain in your heart when you lose something that truly matters. How he had become something that could cause that kind of pain so quickly was goddamn scary and downright stupid. Less than twenty-four hours ago, he was mourning. It was altogether possible she had just taken advantage of the gorgeous man in front of her.
    “Actually, I’m gonna go to bed ,” she said, pushing to her feet. She grabbed their plates, made her way to the kitchen to deposit them in the sink, and nearly ran into Uriah as she came back around the corner to head up the stairs.
    She yelped. “Jesus, you move so fucking silently.”
    “Sorry… I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
    She sighed. “You