Gena Showalter: The Vampire's Bride

He'd been watching her sleep for hours, the gentle rise and fall of her chest a mating call. He hated to wake her and lose this peace, but it was necessary. "Delilah," he said, gently shaking her.

Slowly her eyelids cracked open.

And that's when he knew. His chest constricted with painful intensity. Once more her gaze was cold, blank. She rolled to her back, eyelids already closing. "What's wrong with me?" she asked groggily.

"Your emotions were taken again." Layel wanted to kill something. The goddess would be a nice choice.

"Oh." She didn't sound as if she cared.

"I love you," he croaked out.

She yawned. "I know. I love you, too."

At least she knew, even if she couldn't feel. Hestia had been right in urging him to use logic. "Do you remember everything you promised me?"

"Of course. It's my emotions that disappeared, not my brain."

He sighed. "It's time to find and destroy the monster, love."

"All right." Unhurried, she rose and dressed.

He'd half expected her to insist he allow her to continue sleeping. Hopeful, he pushed to unsteady feet. After he'd donned his pants, he plucked several berries from a nearby bush and held them out. "Eat."

"I'm not hungry." She studied the length of several blades before sheathing them at her sides. She didn't look as if she cared to use them or even knew what to do with them.

"Eat. Please. You need to stay strong."

Reluctantly, she took and ate the fruit.

"You said you remembered what you promised me, but do you remember last night? What happened between us?"

"Yes," she said, looking at him. Blinking without concern. "Are you ready? I promised to win this contest, which means I need to fight a monster."

He grabbed her shoulders, desperation flooding him. "Delilah."

For a moment, one sweet moment, warmth fluttered over her expression, chasing away the cold, but it was quickly gone. And then the beast was roaring in pain and fury, the high-pitched scream enough to bust his eardrums. Layel stiffened, realization settling deep. "The monster has been found. Come."

He clutched Delilah's hand and jerked her into motion, racing through the trees, his heart pounding against his ribs. She stumbled several times, and he began to worry for her ability to do what would be needed. Whatever would be needed. Not knowing what else to do, he picked her up and leapt into the air, flying high…higher…

An eternity passed, the mountain seemingly never ending. Trees knifed toward him, slapping, but then the beach came into view and he knew he was farther away from the action, not closer, the monster's newest roar weaker. With a twist of his body, he turned them around and headed back into the trees. Where in Hades were the other warriors?

Finally, in the center of the mountain, he caught a glimpse of Tagart exiting a cave, sword raised. Broderick jumped out and attacked him with a sword of his own, the two men swinging and thrusting at each other, grunting and slashing.

Layel didn't want Delilah fighting in this condition, but he didn't want to risk defeating the monster himself, either. Damn the gods! What should he do? He set her down. She didn't protest. Just sat there, watching the fight through indifferent eyes.

"Stay here," he whispered.

"I promised to win," she said.

"Worry not, love. I'll only be a moment and will find a way to ensure your victory."

She nodded, the easy compliance so unlike her, his heart sank a little.

"What's in there?" Broderick demanded of Tagart.

"Nothing." Tagart swung his sword. Missed as the nymph jumped out of the way.

"Sure?"

"Wouldn't matter. This is my kill. I found it first."

"Yes, but I'll be the last thing it sees."

Layel dropped to his stomach and inched forward. With the combatants distracted, he could sneak into the cave and injure whatever was inside. If something was even in there. How could this be a riddle?

He didn't get very far.

A huge, monstrous creature with black wings and red eyes lunged out, teeth snapping at Layel, then at the struggling warriors, who leapt apart with shocked gasps. Heart drumming in a wild frenzy, Layel backtracked, shoving Delilah behind him. She wasn't ready for such a battle. Might not care enough to dodge a death-blow.

"I don't think we should fight it," she said, voice devoid of either fear or eagerness.

He wanted to look at her, but was afraid to tear his attention from the monster. Afraid that a single moment of inattentiveness would cause the beast to attack him, and thereby Delilah. "Why?"

"I don't fear it." Stated so matter-of-factly.

"Well, I do. And you would, too, if you still had possession of your emotions, brave Amazon warrior or not."

"No, you're not understanding. The gods said we would find something the likes of which even the bravest of men would run from, something that we fear more than anything else. We are to face it, defeat it. But the thing I feared above all else was being without you. Last night I faced that fear. I defeated it. I gave myself to you, without reservation, hopeful for the future. Don't you see, Layel? I don't need to slay this beast. I've already won the gods' challenge."

A riddle. Just as Hestia had said. He stilled, his eyes widening. Delilah had done it. Had truly done it. And she'd done it without him. The foolishness he felt at not having figured it out himself was no match for his pride in the woman who had. His woman. Grinning, he turned and hugged her close. Her arms wrapped tentatively around him, and the small gesture warmed his heart.

"Very good, my child. Very, very good. And so a winner has been declared," a laughing voice whispered through the trees. "Ah, but do not fear, vampire, nymph and dragon. No one need die this day. The losers shall be spared, as each of you proved useful in some way. And I know what you are thinking, vampire. I told you otherwise before. But how could you have faced your worst fear if there were no consequences for your actions?"

With the words, the monster disappeared, though its roar continued to echo throughout the mountain. Tagart and Broderick whipped around, confused, searching. "Where did it go?" they panted in unison.

Each of the five gods appeared in a blazing cascade of lights. As Layel blinked against their brilliance, he saw that only Hestia was smiling.

The goddess faced Delilah. "Amazon, you have surpassed my expectations. Of all the warriors, you have displayed the most strength, courage, endurance and wit. At any point, you could have given up, yet you persevered, determination your beloved companion."

"Not true! My dragon displayed the most strength. You cheated," Poseidon growled at the goddess.

"As did you," she replied smugly. "Do you honestly believe none of us heard your meeting with the dragon last eve? You told him exactly what his greatest fear was, and still he failed to understand. The Amazon is unquestionably the winner of this game. And that means I have won our game, as well."

Ares clenched his fists so tightly blood ran from his palms.

Artemis regarded them coldly, as if the outcome didn't affect her one way or another.

Apollo was popping his jaw, the glow around him more diminished than before.

Then they each nodded in reluctant acknowledgment.

War cries abounding, an army of nymphs suddenly burst past the trees, and stopped. The roars became gasps and snarls. Layel raced forward, his goal to protect the nymphs, his friends, from the gods. But before he reached them, the gods repositioned themselves, beside him one moment, blocking his path in the next. Layel ground to a halt.

"Valerian," he called.

"Layel," the nymph king responded. "What's been going on? How can we—"

Hestia waved her hand at them and they disappeared as quickly as they'd arrived. "Good riddance."