by Ginna Moran
I guess I should’ve expected as much. I mean nothing to this vampire. While she might have once been Bronx’s sister, things have changed. I can see why he never mentioned her. They’re not even in the same coven. Shows a lot about where their loyalties are.
She blows a few strands out of her face. “Don’t take it personally. While I think Bronx might’ve lost his damn mind risking his power and control of the region for you, I do like seeing him fighting for someone other than Zaire. He was a prick.”
Yeah, he was. Her admission makes me like her just a little bit. “You mean a dickhead asshole,” I mutter. “So glad he’s dead.”
Brooklyn tilts her head at me. “As much as I agree with you, I’d be careful with what you say. The Royales carry a fierce loyalty toward their leader.”
I twist my lips. “Must not have been that fierce.”
“What’s that supposed to—”
A moving shadow catches my attention behind her. I don’t get a chance to point before a strange vampire rushes from the darkness. Without thinking, I charge forward and ram into the gross-smelling man, knocking him back into the cave wall. He snaps his teeth at me, snarling, but doesn’t get a chance to bite me.
Brooklyn drags me away and tosses me outside the cave where I catch sight of the sun fading into the horizon. From my spot, I glimpse the enormity of the Night Palms Castle. I also realize that the sun sinks into the ocean. I had no idea it was so close. I doubt many people do. I can only see it because of how high up the mountain this cave hides.
“Gwen, watch out,” Brooklyn calls.
I don’t get a chance to react as two strong hands dig into my shoulders and drag me farther from the cave. I hit the ground with a thud and peer up into the pure silver eyes of a different vampire. His skin blisters and smokes in the sun. It slows him down but his hunger pushes him to risk it.
Bucking my body, I kick my legs up over my head, striking him in the stomach. He catches my ankles and tugs me so hard that if I didn’t cover my face with my arms, I’d have scraped my chin on the rough terrain.
Panic squeezes my chest, but all it does is make me fight harder. I flail and twist, trying to grab anything I can hold onto. I know the second he manages to get me into the shade, he’ll bite me. There’s no way I’m letting that happen.
Another growl sounds through the air. I realize the vampire isn’t moving this slow only because of the sun. Hanging out between two nearby boulders, a guy waits for his chance to rush us. The other vampire is just as creepy and dirty as he hovers in the shade created by the boulders. All it would take is the guy dragging me to slip up for a second. This is more than a game of who claims the woman in PJs. These assholes look vicious as shit. Feral. They’ll rip me apart if it means my blood spills.
The thought gives me an idea, and I slump against the dirt and stop fighting. I do my best not to react under the annoying pain of being hauled along the dirt burning across my skin. Just as I predicted, the vampire stops and drops my legs. He’ll pick me up instead because running is faster.
“Gwen!” Brooklyn yells, her voice ripping through the air. “Damn it. Wake up and fight. Don’t make me go out there.”
I ignore her, remaining placid on the ground. It takes everything in me not to flip over and lash out even as a hand runs along my bare leg to lift and drop it. Pain bursts in my knee from hitting a rock, and I accidentally suck in a breath through my teeth.
The vampire grabs me by the waist too fast for me to react and flips me onto his shoulder. Something inside me snaps—annoyance and frustration, fear, everything bad that has happened to me in my life crashing over me in an intense wave that makes my head spin.
My shoulder slams into the ground, and I somersault onto my back. The edges of my vision shadow as I gasp, trying to breathe while getting to my feet. A screech cuts through the air, startling me. I scramble to search for anything I can use to fight. I can’t let my life end like this. I didn’t escape Corona only to die at the hands of disgusting, starved outcasts.
The vampire roars. I squeeze my eyes shut, my mind whirling with fear and the need to survive. I punch him as hard as I can. He falls on top of me, and I shove him with my free hand, throwing him off with strength elicited from my nature as a dhampir.
My head pounds, the world spinning. Rage still clings to me, my vision burning. I can’t see anything clearly. I can’t get to my feet either.
The quick thud of footsteps draws closer, and I tense, expecting to get yanked off the ground and devoured. Another shriek rips through the air, and I cover my neck with my hands to try to protect my throat the best I can.
“Fuck,” a familiar voice says, pulling me from my haze of fear.
“Stay back, Jameson,” Everett says, his voice low in warning. “She might attack. Look what’s in her hand.”
Jameson sucks in a breath. “Is that—”
“Yeah, it’s a heart.” Bronx’s voice hums to me, pushing through the pounding in my head. “And I’ll get her. Just stay back in case.” More soft footsteps sound out. “Dandelion, you’re okay. You’re safe. Open your eyes and look at me. I need you to see me so that I can pick you up.”
I hadn’t realized I couldn’t see because I had squeezed my eyes shut or that I curled in on myself. I slowly blink and stare in shock at the heart squished in my fingers. How in the hell? Where did it even come from?
A cool finger touches my cheek, drawing my attention away from the pulverized organ. “You can let that go. That was one helluva punch.” Bronx remains expressionless, though something indecipherable flickers through his eyes.
I drop the heart onto the dirt and wipe my hands on the front of my nightshirt. Bronx reaches out for me and lifts me up, cradling me in his arms while wrapping the both of us in the blanket he uses to shield himself from the last few rays of sunlight.
I can’t find my voice to say anything, so I just rest my head on his chest and let him carry me back toward the cave where Everett, Jameson, and Mikkalo wait with Brooklyn. She stands against the cave wall, her hair barely mussed from her fight with another dead vampire in pieces on the ground.
The second Mikkalo gets a good look at the dead guy, he releases the scariest noise ever and kicks the vampire’s head so hard that it flies down the steep terrain to smolder in the dirt. I think I must whimper or something, because he freezes and turns to me with wide eyes. A dozen emotions sweep across his face, but he doesn’t rush to me even though I want him to. I just can’t get my voice to work to tell him it’s not him who scares me. It’s just my adrenaline leaving me, knowing I’m safe.
“Mikkalo, take Jameson with you and do one more sweep of the area. Make sure we’re really clear,” Bronx says, keeping his voice even. He adjusts me in his arms, turning me so I can hug him with my whole body the way he likes. I think he needs my embrace as much as I need his.
Mikkalo opens and closes his mouth like he’s about to argue, but another look at me stops him. Jameson motions for Mikkalo to follow him, and they both disappear. Everett closes the space to me and eases the blanket away from my body, tugging it from the death grip of my fingers.
“Gwen, may I examine you?” Everett says, keeping his hands to himself, though I can tell he wants nothing more than to steal me from Bronx. He touches my shoulder to ease me away from Bronx’s chest a bit more. “I can’t tell if all the blood on you belongs to the outcast. I want to make sure you’re not injured.”
“I—” I stop myself from telling him I’m fine. Now that my adrenaline dissipates completely, pain radiates through me. I’m certain I’m cut and bruised along my back, my legs. Most definitely my ass. “Okay.”
“Why don’t you escort Brooklyn from the premises?” Everett asks Bronx, keeping his voice low. “I need to give Gwen more blood.”
Bronx bows his head to me to whisper in my ear. “You okay with that, Gwen?” He doesn’t have to admit it, but I can tell that he doesn’t want to give me to Everett. His deep-seated nature flares as much as mine
.
So despite my aches, I glance to Everett and say, “I can wait. I’m just a little scratched up. I’d feel more comfortable if we were back home. I feel too vulnerable out here.”
Everett and Bronx share a look, and then Everett nods at me. “It’s probably better if you get cleaned up anyway. Bronx can help you with that.” He turns to Brooklyn, tightening his jaw. “Let me show you out. I don’t want my brother to act irrationally and try to attack you for allowing an outcast within a foot of Gwen.”
She straightens her shoulders. “Perhaps you four need to take better precautions. I was not expecting an attack right outside your property. Might I suggest you tell your brother that he was at fault for failing to secure your estate?”
I frown. “Hey, don’t you—”
“I’m sure he’s aware, Brooklyn,” Bronx says, cutting me off. His com device beeps, and he tugs it from his pants to glance at the screen. “Looks like the place is clear. You should probably hurry back to your coven. Send me the Blood Vow application. As long as Corona doesn’t threaten us again before we figure out what we’re going to do about our situation, I’ll send it through with region approval to the board.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing, Bronx,” she whispers. I don’t think Brooklyn realizes I can hear her. Reaching out, she risks getting close to me to pat his shoulder. “I already lost you once. I don’t want to lose you again. Not for some infatuation you have with a donor. Please make sure she’s truly worth it, okay?”
Bronx doesn’t respond to her, and Everett nudges Brooklyn toward the mouth of the cave. I squeeze my eyes shut and concentrate on the sound of Bronx’s heart beating, trying my best not to let Brooklyn’s words get to me. She poked right at my insecurities.
“Gwen,” Bronx whispers, hugging me close. His lips brush my ear. “You are worth it to me, you know. I don’t want you to ever doubt that. You’re not some donor to me. You’re our beautiful, smart, sometimes insanely infuriating rebel dhampir.”
I peek at him through my eyelashes. “She might be right, though. I don’t even know if I am. I’ve only caused you trouble.”
He shakes his head. “Don’t blame yourself for the decisions I make, okay? I’m aware of the consequences.”
I rest my chin on his shoulder. “That was before you knew what I was.”
He eases his head away, his eyes begging for me to look at him. “Doesn’t matter.”
I straighten my aching back to meet him straight on. “You sure?”
Leaning closer, he brushes his lips to mine, not even caring if I’m filthy from being dragged around. “Absolutely certain. Now can I take you home? All that other guy’s blood on you is making me crazy. I want it off you.”
I release a breathless laugh. “If it helps, it tastes disgusting.”
He grins. “That does a little. But you know what else would help?”
“Hmm?”
“If you’ll let me try to give you blood again.”
I can’t stop my heart from racing at the thought. “Only if you let me do the same.”
Chapter 6
Just a Taste
APPARENTLY RIPPING HEARTS OUT IS a real bitch on the hand if you smash right through a bunch of bones. Light bruises and scratches decorate my knuckles and wrist, my whole hand now tender. I don’t even know what really happened or how such a thing was possible. It was like my dhampir side decided to take over to protect me. Almost like an out of body experience.
Bronx clears his throat, drawing my attention to him. He looks hot as hell, just looking at me with longing and anticipation. “Are you ready?”
I play with the strands of my damp hair while I sit on the bed. I give him an extra-long once-over, trailing my gaze from his flexing muscles to his gorgeous brown eyes. “You’re nervous.” I keep my voice light, teasing.
He licks his lips, and now I can’t stop staring at his mouth. “No, just anxious.”
“Mmmhmm,” I say, smiling at him.
He chuckles, relaxing his shoulders. My teasing helps lighten his intensity. “Okay, just a little bit. But don’t tell anyone.”
I stretch my hands out to him, motioning for him to come closer. “Don’t be. If you managed to handle my crazy ass during that freak out, you can handle this.”
“This is far more difficult, dandelion. I can handle your ass being feisty.”
“But not turned on.” I bite my lip. “Or a little wild. In desperate need of your attention and affection...and that’s before getting a taste of you.”
Rubbing his hand on the back of his neck, he says, “Careful or I’m going to have to prove that I can handle that too.”
I bow a bit forward, letting my hair veil his view of me. I can’t help squirming under his desire. “Maybe that’s what I want.”
Bronx releases a sexy, throaty noise, his eyes flashing silver with my words. I know better than to tease a vampire, but I can’t help it. I love it. I love how he makes me feel under the weight of his gaze, how his heart beats out of control like mine, how he can’t stop himself from moving closer.
He sits on the bed next to me and brushes the hair I let fall in my face out of the way to expose more of my skin to him. “I love when you’re playful. Always teasing me.”
I reach out and run my fingers over his shoulder, exploring his muscles. “You think I’m teasing you? I’ve been staring at that empty thermos for at least three minutes.”
Bronx surprises me by biting his arm.
I suck in a breath through my teeth and shift closer, dropping my hand to his leg. His chest rises and falls with his deep breathing as he drips his blood into the thermos to fill it up. I know just touching him like I am drives him wild. A mixture of emotions swells through me. It takes everything in me not to jump on him and intercept the blood to drink directly from him.
Anticipation makes me dig my fingers into his thigh, making him release another sexy as hell noise. My body tingles, remembering how incredible his blood alone makes me feel. How amazing it tastes. But another part of me is nervous as all get-out. What if the side effects are just as strong and I lose control? What if my dhampir side runs wild and not the kind he might like?
“If you’re too nervous, I can call one of my brothers to...stand by,” he says, balancing the thermos between his legs as he staunches the blood on his arm.
“You know, you’re risking a lot even keeping that thermos where you have it.”
Damn him with that sexy noise. It’s driving my body wild. His attraction to me is so palpable that I can feel it in every part of my body.
“And I’m not nervous. I’m anxious,” I say, licking my lips. I use the same words he used on me.
Except he doesn’t tease me like I do him. He rests his hand on mine, pressing it even more into his leg. “Everett thinks it’ll be okay since you already have blood in your system to dilute the effects.”
I suck my bottom lip into my mouth and pry myself away from him to lean on my elbows. I know if I don’t put at least a little bit of space between us, I might climb right on him. “Are you sure you want me to? This is your last chance to change your mind. I can’t promise I won’t attack you with my lips because I already want to.”
His face lights up with his chuckle. “You not only like teasing me, but you also love testing my restraint, huh?”
I nudge him with my hand. “You like it.”
Joking with him helps get my racing heart back in control. All I want to do is forget the mess that happened earlier. I want to forget Corona and Brooklyn. Laredo. The other memories trying to break free if I don’t distract myself. Being this close to Bronx, inhaling the scent of his blood, feeling the weight of his hand as it touches my leg—it’s all I could ever ask for. He makes it feel like there isn’t a world outside his room.
“I do,” Bronx says, turning his attention away from the thermos and fully on me. “I also really want you to try. You have no idea how torturous it is that I can’t give you blood like my brothers can. I
want to be able to take care of you in every way you need, Gwen.” His voice turns soft with the words, his eyes flashing silver.
There goes my heart again. It beats wildly in my chest, and I reach out and touch Bronx’s cheek.
I knew that exchanging blood was personal, intimate even, but it didn’t dawn on me that it would bother him that the side effects made us both want to be cautious. I didn’t realize this was the reason he wanted to try again. Now his hesitation in the cave makes sense. He wanted to be the one to give me his blood to help me heal. It’s more than what he teased me over about the gross blood of the outcast driving him crazy. The fact that he wants me to try again speaks volumes about where he stands with me.
“You’ve been nothing but caring of me,” I say, leaning forward. “So much so that I feel like I haven’t done enough for you.”
“You don’t owe me or my brothers anything.”
I play with strands of my hair. “I know, but I wasn’t kidding earlier. I want to reciprocate and take care of you if you’ll let me. It’s just—you risk a lot and your sister’s words got to me. I need to understand why. I’ve never met a vampire who freely gives with nothing in return.”
“I know you think you give me nothing, but you do. You’ve changed my life, given me unexpected power, and brought my brothers and me closer than any of us knew possible. It has strengthened our bond. Most covens fall apart without their leader, even with a first in line in place. Now, I feel like we’re stronger. Powerful. Better than ever.”
“Even with everything at risk? What if what you feel is...?” I let my words trail off. I don’t know if I want the answer.
“What I feel is more than just what you make me feel, Gwen. I’ll be honest. I can’t explain what drew me to you, and even if it does pertain to what you are like what you said before, well, that shit doesn’t matter to me. I didn’t realize how much you being here and choosing to stay meant to me until Corona took you.”
I nearly forgot my conversation I had with him and his brothers in the bathtub, a moment that feels so long ago. And him saying this? It means more to me than I thought possible. Because being here, spending time with the four of them, agreeing to see where all this goes without choosing someone to take my Blood Match contract is still ludicrous to me—but in the best way possible. I’ve never felt so wanted for who I am and not what I am in my life.