“Let me go, you—”
“I would never, ever allow something to hurt you,” he growled, passionately enough that I stilled and blinked up at him. “Yes, I kept my true identity a secret. Yes, I fed you half truths, even avoided your questions entirely. I tested you because I don’t want our outcome to be the same as all the others. To have you fear and hate me. To let betrayal and bloodshed signal our end.
“But there’s something you should know, McKenna. Something that I swear is true. For every breath I take, I will do everything in my power to protect you.”
Overwhelmed and confused, I broke eye contact. Every word he said sounded genuine, but I’d been lied to so much. And no matter how hard I tried not to fall for the lies, I couldn’t seem to stop. Sighing, I muttered, “Because you need me to break the curse?”
When he didn’t reply, the tiny ray of hope that had bloomed inside of me withered. I pulled free of his hold only to have him grab my hand and press it firmly to his pounding chest.
“Because you mean something to me,” he ground out, gripping my chin with his other gloved hand so I was forced to meet his fiery gaze. “Because it would kill me if something happened to you.”
Cursing, he jerked back and severed our connection. “Kade, explain to her how Syphon abilities work. I won’t be far.”
My chest ached as he took off, leaving me more confused than ever.
Kade whistled softly, sauntering over to drape an arm across my shoulders. “Wow. That was . . .”
“Upsetting? Infuriating? Stupid?”
“Hot,” he said. “You two are like tinder and fire.”
I rolled my eyes. “Thanks.”
He lapsed into thoughtful silence for a moment, then, “He’s being honest with you. You really do mean something to him.”
I snorted, crossing my arms. “And what about all the Syphons before me? Did they mean something to him too?”
He stilled. “Not like this. You’re different.”
“Different, how?”
More silence. “Just . . . different. ”
Huffing, I shrugged his arm off me and faced him. “Did he kill them?”
He eyed me warily. “Who?”
“The other Syphons.”
His mouth opened and closed. “Uh . . . it’s not that simple.”
“Well, he either did or he didn’t. So which is it?”
Darting a hand up, he rubbed the back of his neck. “What did you mean earlier about Isla needing you? Is she okay?”
“Don’t you dare deflect on me, Kade Carmichael,” I said, jabbing a finger at his chest. Groaning, I threw my hands in the air. “Ugh, I can’t do this right now. All I can think about is the sun coming up and burning me to a crisp.”
“You’re doing very well, you know,” he replied nonchalantly. “I expected hysterics, like when you went through your werewolf phase. Maybe some frothing at the mouth.”
“I didn’t . . . Kade. Can you focus here? Me. Vampire. The sun?” I was so going to kick his butt after this.
“Oh, don’t worry. You’re not a real vampire, remember? Weaknesses like the sun and silver don’t affect you.”
“Are you sure? Like one hundred percent certain?”
“Pretty sure.”
“Kade,” I squeaked, flapping my arms in a panic. When he snickered, I whacked his stomach. Hard.
He curled forward, grunting, “You’re safe, little Kenna. Loch has done a lot of research on Syphons over the years. You still have human blood running through your veins, which is why the curse didn’t force you into vampire form. You have our strengths, though. Enhanced speed. Healing. That hit actually hurt a little.”
“Good,” I grumbled. “So if I’m not susceptible to your weaknesses, then why did I need to drink blood?”
He straightened with a wince, rubbing his stomach. “You didn’t.”
I gawked at him, feeling like he’d just hit me. “What?”
“Your craving for blood is only an instinct. An incredibly strong one, but you have the ability to control your bloodlust and abstain from feeding, unlike newbie vamps. That is,” he added with a wink, “if you really want to.”
“But . . .” My mouth uselessly flapped like a fish out of water. “But Lochlan—”
“Eased your suffering?” he interjected with a knowing look. “He doesn’t like seeing you in pain.”
“Well,” I spluttered, not knowing what to do with that piece of information, “tough. He shouldn’t have made me drink his blood.”
“Did he really make you? Or did you want to drink it?” Kade said with another infuriatingly knowing look.
Argh!
“What does solemae mean?” I blurted, desperate to change the subject. “Is it like a nickname or something? Lochlan’s called me that twice now.”
Kade went deathly still. “What did you say?” he said, so quietly that I strained to hear him.
“Sow-luh-may,” I enunciated, wrinkling my nose in confusion when he looked two seconds away from keeling over.
“Holy mother of Moses,” he whispered, dropping to his knees in the snow.
“Kade?” I dropped down beside him, still barely able to feel the chill seeping through my tights. At his glazed look, worry tightened my throat. “What happened? Are you okay?”
“I can’t believe it’s true,” he said, blinking rapidly as he swept his gaze over me. “I mean, I suspected. I hoped. But I never thought . . . Wow.” He slowly raised his gloved hand to touch my cheek, almost reverently.
Uh . . .
“Kade?”
“Hmm?”
“You’re creeping me out.”
He released a throaty laugh, then pulled me into a bone-crushing hug. My squeaked protest was muffled against his chest.
“What’s going on here?” a voice said from close by, startling us both.
A growl vibrated through Kade’s chest, but abruptly cut off. “I don’t know, Lochie, you tell me,” he replied, standing with me in tow. “I’m not the one keeping secrets.”
I peeled my face off his jacket, shocked to find Lochlan halfway through the change into his human form. I watched, unable to tear my gaze away as the darkness lifted inch by inch, exposing more and more deeply tanned skin. The thorned vine tattoo on his forearm became visible, disappearing beneath his rolled-up shirtsleeve. His eyes were once again the last to change, fading from a rich red to a bold black. They darted between me and Kade, narrowing the longer we stayed pressed together.
“You will explain yourself, drothen,” he said quietly, bending to retrieve his leather jacket, “but we have to get out of here first.”
“Why, what happened?” Kade said, also now in his human form.
Lochlan’s attention fixed on me as he replied, “My brothers have locked onto her scent. They’re headed this way.”
16
KENNA
“How far away are they?” I heard Kade say through the wind whistling past my ears.
“I don’t know. Everett called me. He figured out that we tampered with her trail,” Lochlan replied, glancing back to make sure I was keeping up with their vampire speed. I was struggling, but wouldn’t dare admit to it. He’d ask to carry me again, and I couldn’t allow that. Being near him messed with my senses, and I needed to remain alert.
They still didn’t know why I was out here, and telling them would put Isla in even more danger. I had to come up with a plan, now that waiting for Noah in the woods wasn’t an option. I still had so many questions about Lochlan and his brothers, but they’d have to wait, maybe indefinitely if my rescue attempt ended with me being captured instead.
Lochlan had been right though. I didn’t feel the cold, but my fingers were bright red and trembling uncontrollably. I worried that my toes were in even worse condition. If I didn’t get warm soon, I could lose a digit or two to frostbite.
Which was why I didn’t try to escape. I needed Lochlan and Kade, however briefly. I tried to suppress the guilt that I was using them
like so many of the people in my life had been doing to me lately. Despite the secrets they’d kept from me, they didn’t deserve my betrayal. Still, I would do just about anything to get my best friend back. She, more than anyone, didn’t deserve to suffer because of me.
In no time, we stumbled upon a secluded road. Lochlan’s black Lexus was just off the shoulder, and what I recognized as Troy’s car behind it. Lochlan swiftly approached the expensive gray vehicle, a model I didn’t recognize. Before I could guess his intentions, he removed his right glove. Extending his black claws, he thrust them into a tire, one after the other until all four were rapidly leaking air.
Still trying to catch my breath after our run, I sputtered, “He’s that strong?”
“Pssh, that’s nothing,” Kade said, ushering me toward the Lexus. “He could fold that car in half like a sandwich if we weren’t in a hurry.”
Okay, then. Knowing that made me curious about my own borrowed strength. Maybe I stood a chance against these rogue vampires who had Isla if I could figure out how to use my abilities some more.
“Where are we going anyway?” I asked, trying to sound only mildly curious.
“Somewhere my brothers won’t think to look,” Lochlan interjected before Kade could say a word. I bit back a curse. I could weasel information from Kade. Lochlan, not so much.
Waving away Kade’s offer of the passenger seat, I slid into the back. Doors slammed and the engine revved a moment later, followed by a blast of warmth as Lochlan cranked up the heat. We peeled out in a spray of snow and dirt, and I quickly buckled my seatbelt, remembering Lochlan’s reckless driving. Instead of commenting on it this time though, I used the opportunity to slip out Noah’s phone again.
Black Mamba, I typed into the map app, breathing easier when my search proved fruitful. It wasn’t too far away. As long as we stayed in the general area, I could walk there. Maybe even hitchhike. Did I have the ability to thrall someone into giving me a ride?
Holy crap. If so, mind blown.
So busy making plans, I didn’t realize how quiet the guys had become until it was too late. Glancing up, I jumped when I found two pairs of eyes staring me down, especially the one reflected in the rearview mirror.
“Who’re you texting?” Kade said, with an underlying note of suspicion.
I quickly shut the phone off. “No one.”
His eyes narrowed to slits, then he lunged, completely catching me off guard.
I shrieked when he snagged the phone and flicked it on. “Kade Carmichael, give it—”
His eyes rounded and he roared, “McKenna Belmont, why are you searching for a feeding den?”
The car swerved sharply, fishtailing on the sleek road. Gasping, I clutched the panic handle for dear life. Even as the car precariously slid sideways, Lochlan turned in his seat to pin me with a look. “Explain,” he said, his voice a low growl.
“Watch the road!” I frantically yelled.
Sparing the road a brief glance, he straightened the car, then locked eyes with me again. “Explain now, McKenna.”
“What? No,” I snarled, feeling like a scolded child. “Just give me the phone back, Kade.”
“No way,” he said, holding the electronic out of reach.
“For fate’s sake,” I shouted, feeling my fangs descend. “Give me the phone, or I’ll . . . I’ll bite you!”
Neither of them reacted to the threat in the way I’d hoped. Kade made a strangled, choking noise, and Lochlan slammed on the brakes. I yelped as the seatbelt dug into my sternum and thrust me back against the seat. An awful silence followed as the engine idled and the guys looked everywhere but at me.
Tension filled the car, thick enough that I could smell it. There was something else too, a scent I’d picked up once before during my time as a werewolf. Lochlan suddenly swore and stomped on the gas. We took off to a chorus of squealing rubber.
Uh, what just happened?
“What did I say?” I said, when no one seemed inclined to speak.
Kade groaned and faced forward. After a moment, he cracked his window open.
“Lochlan?” I pressed, more bewildered than ever when his hands tightened on the wheel.
He didn’t speak for several moments, clenching his jaw so hard that I worried for his teeth. Eventually, he said, “Don’t threaten to bite a vampire unless you intend to follow through.”
“W-why?” I stammered. “Is it a challenge to see who’s more alpha or something?”
Another strangled noise came from the passenger seat.
“No,” Lochlan replied, leveling me with a heated look in the mirror. “Being bitten is a vampire’s greatest desire. It’s the ultimate pleasurable experience. We crave it more than blood. So it’s gravely insulting to offer it up when you have no intention of actually giving it.”
I was pretty sure my face couldn’t get any hotter. My throat tightened with need all over again, and I quickly dropped my gaze. “Oh.”
“Yeah, oh. Now, are you going to tell us why you’re looking for a feeding den?”
I tucked my hands between my legs for warmth, still unable to look at him. “I don’t know what that is. I was only . . .” I squeezed my legs together. “Someone told me to meet them there, but I can’t tell you who. If you let me go without asking questions, then I’ll go with you wherever you want me to, even if it’s to see the vampire k—err, your father. Deal?”
Crap. His father already knew about me and had made a who-knew-what kind of deal with the headmistress. Somehow, I didn’t think Lochlan knew about this deal. Deciding not to complicate matters further, I kept my lips firmly shut.
Not surprisingly, Lochlan growled, “No deal. You’re not going anywhere near that den.”
Anger shot through me, and I snapped my fiery gaze to his. “I’m not a child, you know. You can’t just tell me what to do.”
“No, you’re not,” he agreed, but before I could claim my victory, his eyes darkened suggestively. “I’m very well aware that you aren’t a child.”
Kade guffawed.
I pinned my angry glare to the back of Kade’s head, fighting off an even fiercer blush. “Whether you want me to or not, I’m going to the Black Mamba. I don’t care how dangerous it is. I need to go.”
Lochlan and Kade shared a look, one lasting long enough to make me fidget. If Lochlan wasn’t driving so fast, I’d contemplate jumping from the car before they could stop me. I was that desperate.
“Then we’re going with you,” Lochlan abruptly said, shocking my socks off.
“B-but,” I sputtered, floundering with what to say. “You can’t. I have to go alone.”
Two sets of frowns swung my way. Crap! I was screwing this up royally.
“Why?” Lochlan demanded, switching his gaze to the mirror again.
I pressed my lips together, refusing to say more. They knew way too much already.
It was Kade who broke the silence, quietly saying, “I don’t think this is about Kenna finding someplace to feed on humans.”
I jerked my head back, wrinkling my nose in disgust and confusion. “What? No. Why would—? Is that what a feeding den is?” Nausea roiled in my stomach and I swallowed hard.
Kade nodded. “Technically, feeding dens are legal, since humans aren’t brought there against their will. They often double as nightclubs, except that vampires run them and humans leave high as a kite without the aid of pills—and with a little less blood in their veins. The biting part is erased from their memory, but not the pleasurable experience, hence why these places are quite popular.”
My mouth dried. I didn’t know whether to be sick or aroused. I couldn’t help but remember my own experience being bitten, which had been anything but pleasurable. “B-but won’t the humans, you know, turn if they’re bitten?”
“That’s a myth. Our fangs are only useful for feeding and injecting venom.”
I gulped. “Venom?”
A wicked smirk twisted Kade’s lips. “It’s what makes you feel pleasure instead
of pain. Vampires can decide when and how much to secrete. Receiving too much can cause addiction problems, kind of like being shot up with dopamine.”
Oh. I tried hard not to squirm as warmth infused my cheeks. “But what about the bite mark? Don’t humans notice it?”
I felt the burning intensity of eyes on me then, and switched my attention to the rearview mirror. Sure enough, Lochlan’s gaze was fixed on my neck where I’d been bitten. Self conscious, I tugged my blazer up over the spot. After a moment, he tore his gaze away and said, “Our blood has healing properties. If you smear a little over the puncture wounds, they’ll close within minutes.”
Wow. Well that explained a lot. Between that and thrall, no wonder vampires were able to remain undetected. I lapsed into silence, trying to digest all this new information and realizing how utterly out of my depth I was.
“You mentioned Isla earlier,” Kade broke into my thoughts after a bit. “Does any of this have to do with her?”
I looked down at my lap again, but not before tears sprung to my eyes. The car slowed as Lochlan clearly detected my distress. No, no, no. They couldn’t know about my plans! I panicked and lunged for the door, yanking on the handle. With a snap, it came off in my hand. I simply stared at the metal piece, too stunned to react.
“McKenna.”
At the soft use of my name, a lump formed in my throat. Still, I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the broken door handle. The longer I stared at it, the more hopeless I felt. It reminded me too much of myself, of how impossibly fragile and helpless I was in the face of so much power. Who was I to swoop in and rescue Isla? With my luck, I’d get us both killed.
“Kade, you drive,” I heard Lochlan say. Movement came from the front seat, but all of my focus was on keeping my tears at bay. So when a hand touched my shoulder, I jumped, whimpering like a small child. Embarrassed, I bit my lip and peeked up at Lochlan. He was now in the back with me, having climbed over the middle console, I guessed.
Curse Touched: A Paranormal Vampire Romance (A Touch of Vampire Book 2) Page 14