The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires

The familiar sense of impossibility grew the closer I got to the Hashmallim, their flat, two-dimensional voids seemingly sucking in surrounding light. The air around us grew darker as I began the climb to the crown of the rock formation.

I took every ounce of strength I had to push myself up the path, but what else did I have to do with my time?

"Hello," I said, looking up into the terrifying black nothingness of the nearest Hashmallim. "I'm Portia Harding, and if you don't mind, I'm here to tell you about the man I love. His name is Theo, and he's a nephilim."

"Dark One is the preferred term. Nephilim cannot be members of the Court of Divine Blood, and as I am, in fact, a member, I must abandon my claim on that particular title."

My heart leaped at the familiar deep, softly Irish voice that rumbled around inside me until I felt it in my blood. The Hashmallim moved to reveal Theo standing with his arms opened wide.

I sobbed his name as I threw myself on him, merging myself body and soul with him. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again."

"I know." He kissed me once, a kiss that spoke volumes, yet left me wanting so much more. "My sweet little virtue. Are you through being a martyr? Would you like to go home?"

"I can leave?" I clutched him even tighter, overjoyed to find the darkness inside of him was gone. "You've got your soul back. It worked?"

"Of course it worked. You are my Beloved," he said dryly. "Your selfless act completed the Joining, returning my soul. In addition, your brave—albeit foolish, and never again to be attempted without first receiving approval from me—act saved the Court. The mare have a few things to say about the method of your madness, but after a little pressure by the sovereign, they have rewarded your bravery by granting you full membership in the Court, as well as anticipating the exculpation you would present on my behalf."

"The sovereign?" I gazed into his eyes, basking in the glow of love and happiness that shone there. "The sovereign who never makes an appearance showed up?"

"Yes. The mare weren't going to grant you a full reprieve, but the sovereign pointed out that you had earned it with your selfless act."

My jaw dropped a little. "You saw the sovereign? What does he…she…what does it look like?"

Theo laughed, gently closing my mouth as he pulled me after him toward a bright portal of light that sat in the very center of the rocks. "Yes, I saw the sovereign. We were all sworn to secrecy, though, so I can't tell you any details."

"Theo!" I smacked him on the arm.

"Well…I suppose it won't hurt to tell you that the sovereign has been known to keep an eye on things by pretending to be someone holding a minor position in the Court."

"Who?" I asked, my mind rapidly going over every face I could remember there. "Is it someone we know? Terrin? Gabriel? No, they're not minor. How about the dapifer? Oh! I know, it was that officious little man who introduced the mare. I'm right, aren't I?"

Theo just laughed, and kissed me.

"It's not him? What about the messenger girl, the one who rode around on the pink bike? The woman selling bread in the square? One of the people who sat around the well and gossiped?"

Theo didn't answer, just pulling me into the portal.

"Dammit, Theo, I insist as your Beloved that you tell me!"

"No."

"Well, at least tell me why the sovereign, evidently completely out of the blue, decided to make itself known and intervene."

"Think of it this way, sweetling—you have all of eternity to use your womanly wiles to persuade me into telling you about it," he answered, a wicked glint in his eye as he pulled me into a kiss that I knew would melt my socks off, not to mention drive all thoughts from my mind but the joy he brought me.

I was right. As his mouth took possession of mine, his tongue swept aside my irritation to send me spiraling into the familiar well of ecstasy.

You're hungry, I said, feeling the burning need inside of him.

Yes. For you.

It took an effort, but I managed to pull my mouth from him, looking around with wonder. We were in a familiar room, the one we'd been sent to while waiting for the hearing.

"You're a man of many talents," I said, my voice muffled as he pulled my shirt off.

"Oh yes, and you've just begun to tap the surface of them." He paused in pulling off my clothes when my stomach gave a rude growl. "Would you prefer to eat first?"

"Yes," I answered, kicking off my shoes, pants, and underwear before striking a seductive pose on the bed. "I'd like to eat you first, then you can nibble on me. Sound fair to you?"

"Oh, yes." His eyes burned black with desire as he ripped his own clothes off, his body positively burning as he lowered his length to me. "I couldn't have survived without you, you know."