by Becca Van
“How touching.” The words were facetious, and his voice grated on Callie’s nerves. She still couldn’t see him and wished that she could. She was more prepared this time than she had been before, and now that she knew she had magic inside of her, she wasn’t about to distrust her instincts.
“You’re not going to win, you know.”
“Do you think not?”
Callie didn’t bother replying. She was too busy trying to find him.
“Did you know the longer you stay here, the harder it will be to get out?”
“You think not?” Callie threw his supercilious words and tone back at him and knew she’d struck a chord when the cold in her bones deepened enough to make them ache. He was angry. As far as she was concerned that was a good thing. If she could keep him pissed off, she may be able to get an advantage over him. She needed to stay calm and in control, but that was a major task when she was once more alone.
When Dexter had faded away, she’d felt like her heart had been ripped out. She had wanted to bend over when pain had stabbed at her chest and cry out with fear and anger, but she wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of seeing her that way. So she had forced herself to remain standing straight and tall as she scanned the mist looking for him.
“You can’t defeat me. You were a human and now you’re just a fledgling. There is no way one so young could ever take me down. Why not give in and just come to me?”
“In your dreams, asshole.”
“No, actually in yours.” Callie turned, searching for him, and was glad she did. The blast came out of nowhere, and if she hadn’t been turning she may have ended up dead. It would have hit right over her heart. It hurt like a son of a bitch, and even though she gasped she didn’t cry out. She wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of hearing her cry of pain. She raised her right hand and shot out a ball of energy and fire and was filled with satisfaction when she heard his bellow of rage and agony. With care and stealth, she slowly crept toward where she shot, but as she moved, the cold in her body lessoned and she knew he had left once more.
Callie had no idea whether she had just winged him or if she done a lot of damage to the fucker. She hoped it was the latter and he wouldn’t come back until Dex or Vlad were back with her.
No, Callie. You can’t rely on them. This is your mess and you alone need to find your way out.
She moved back to where Dex had conjured the bed and climbed up onto the mattress. With care, she took off her light sweater and shirt to look at her arm. Her flesh from shoulder to wrist was red and starting to turn black and blue, and she hoped it was just bruising and not burned skin. She didn’t want to lose an arm because it died, but there wasn’t much she could do about it now.
The pain was astronomical, and tears flowed from her eyes and over her cheeks. The only way she could get help was to get out of here.
Callie carefully shifted on the bed until she was comfortable, pushed the pain to the back of her mind, and concentrated on Vlad and Dex. She needed to connect with them and if she could do that she might just be able to follow them out of her dream world.
She pictured them in her mind. Remembering what it felt like when first Vlad and then Dexter had made love to her. How she’d felt connected to them both so deeply and how much she loved them.
She felt as light as a feather, and it felt like her corporal being was floating through the air at a rapid pace as she searched for her mates, but no matter how hard she tried to connect with them she couldn’t. Maybe it was because the sun was up and they were sleeping deeply. Dex had warned her he wouldn’t be able to stay with her when it was light.
She was going to have to wait for the sun to sink from the sky and for the moon to rise. And she prayed that Pike wouldn’t come back for another attack on her. She was so damn tired. Her whole body was aching and her arm was killing her.
She forced her body to relax and sank into the pillows on the bed, letting her mind drift as she dozed. The woman seemed to coalesce before her very eyes. She was slender with creamy white skin and long silver-white blonde hair. Callie didn’t feel any alarm at her being close by and the woman moved toward her gracefully as she watched her through half-lowered lids.
“You need to rest, Callie. I will heal your arm. He won’t be back while you sleep. You hurt him good, honey.”
“Are you Zoe?”
“Yes.”
“Can’t you help me out of here?”
“Trust in yourself and your mates, Callie. Love will lead the way.”
Callie’s eyes drifted closed and she felt a tingling warmth travel from her shoulder down to her wrist. Her lids were too heavy to force open, but she knew Zoe had healed her. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Zoe’s voice was fading, but she heard it quite clearly in her mind. “Lower the barriers. Trust and love is the key.”
“Okay,” Callie whispered her reply before she fell into a deep sleep.
Chapter Fourteen
Vlad and Dexter woke as the sun lowered from the sky. They were both still cuddled up to Callie, and they met each other’s gazes over the top of her head.
“You have to get to her right away, Vlad. I tried to stay with her, but once the sun rose I was too weak to hold the connection.” Dex ran his hand over his face with frustration.
“She’s okay,” Vlad said, trying to reassure his blood brother.
“How do you know that? I was pulled out and Pike was still there.”
“We’d be able to feel it if she was hurt.”
“You don’t know that for sure. Fuck! I hate this shit. We have to get her back.”
“We will,” Vlad said in a calm, determined voice, yet inside his gut was a big knot of anxiety and his stomach was roiling. He breathed in, held his breath for a moment, and released it slowly, trying to force the tension which had invaded his muscles away. “Stay quiet. I’m going to try and connect with her.”
“Get to her fast. I have a bad feeling in my stomach.”
So did Vlad, but he wasn’t about to voice it. He needed all his wits about him right now. It was paramount that he get to Callie and help her back into the real world.
One by one he tensed and relaxed each muscle in his body, concentrating on staying calm and relaxed. Little by little he felt himself sinking into the mattress and into the light sleep of a human.
His eyelids flickered open and white mist swirled all around him. He reached out with his mind, thinking of Callie. How much he loved and needed her as he walked slowly through the fog. The silhouette of the large four poster bed came into view first, and he couldn’t help but smile. He knew Dexter would have conjured that for Callie’s comfort as well as his own.
Dex hated not to be comfortable no matter where he was, and his friend always made sure he had what he wanted wherever he was. It seemed he like to have his luxuries in a dream world, too.
Vlad moved closer to the bed, and although he couldn’t see Callie per se, he saw the quilt mounded over her slim body. His heart lurched and his cock twitched. Even in her sleep she called to him on a physical level. He put on a burst of preternatural speed and very carefully got up onto the bed with her. It was really hard not to pull the covers back and examine her body for any injuries, but she was sleeping so peacefully he didn’t want to disturb her. God knew what Pike had done to her and put her through. She was probably exhausted. But his concern for her got the better of him, so he gently started pulling the covers back, slowly revealing her clothed body to his eyes.
He examined her carefully, and even though she looked fine, from what he could see, he had a feeling she had been hurt. He leaned in closer and watched her beautiful face and brushed a strand of hair off of her cheek.
She sighed and smiled, and then her eyelids fluttered open. She didn’t startle or blink in surprise, and Vlad wondered if she had been waiting for him.
“Hi, baby.”
“Hey.” Her voice was soft and sleep husky and went straight down to his engorged cock, making
it jerk in his pants, and his balls heated up. He so wanted to strip her down and bury himself deep inside her, make love to her, and drink from her, but he held back. She was already uncertain, worried, or even scared of taking blood from humans, and he was concerned that she would feel the same way about taking nourishment from him.
However, maybe he was wrong in thinking that way. Dex had told him all about their lovemaking before Pike had come along. If she wasn’t averse to taking blood from him or Dex while making love, then that was what they would do every time she hungered. And he wasn’t just thinking that because of the pro to him and Dex, on the sex side of things. Although that was amazing and he looked forward to making love to her often. She would become weak if she didn’t feed, and that was an abhorrent thought to him. Callie needed to be at full strength at all times, especially with Pike and his cronies after her.
If George Pike found out Callie had magic running in her veins, he could see the asswipe upping the ante to get to her.
“Are you okay, baby?”
“Yeah.” Callie turned over to face him, reached out, and caressed his cheek.
“Did Pike hurt you?” Vlad shifted on the bed until he was lying next to her, their faces so close he could feel her warm, sweet breath on his lips.
She looked away and nibbled on her bottom lip, and Vlad had his answer. He gripped her chin and brought her gaze back to him.
“Tell me what he did, Callie. I need to know so I can help you heal.”
“I’m fine.” She pushed up until her back was against the headboard of the bed and pulled the quilt up to her chest.
“Tell me,” Vlad commanded, and even though he hated to do so he put a little compulsion into his voice.
She glared at him and frowned. “Don’t start that, Vlad. I don’t want you or expect you or Dexter to push me.”
Vlad sighed and he, too, sat up and leaned against the headboard. “I’m sorry, baby. I just can’t stand the thought of you hurting. I’m a bit of a control freak, and if you need help then I want to help.”
“Okay.” She sighed again and pushed her hair back before smiling at him. “I’m fine. Yes, Pike did hurt me, but Zoe visited me and healed me.”
“She did?”
“Yes.”
“Thank the Lord.”
“I hurt him more than he hurt me.”
Vlad smiled, pride filling him that their mate could be ferocious when she needed to be. “Good girl. Now tell me.”
Callie explained what had happened, how she’d been hurt and about Zoe healing her. He’d never been more thankful that his mate was able to take care of herself, especially when he and Dex hadn’t been able to get to or stay with her.
“Are you ready to leave here yet?” Vlad asked cautiously.
“God, you have no idea.” Callie moved in closer to him and Vlad wrapped his arm around her shoulders, hugging her. “I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused. I had no idea I was so…averse to…drinking blood. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
Vlad kissed the top of her head. “Of course you didn’t, baby. I’m sorry we didn’t realize you were having concerns over feeding. Are you okay with it now?”
Callie blushed and nodded.
Vlad tipped her head up so he could see her eyes. “You are so beautiful, baby. Your skin is so soft. You have a gorgeous body and the most stunning face I’ve ever seen. I love you so much, Callie.”
He didn’t give her a chance to reply but lowered his head and started kissing her. He only wanted to show her how much she meant to him, but as soon as their lips connected he was lost. He was lost in her scent, the feel of her lips beneath his, the sensation of her skin under his fingertips, and the love he held for her in his heart. His heart stuttered so full of her it was almost painful, and he felt like he was drowning in her soul. She was his world and he needed to be hers, too.
Vlad deepened the kiss, pushing his tongue into her mouth and twirling it around hers. She tasted so damn sweet, and there was no way in hell he’d ever get enough of her. When she whimpered into his mouth he was scared for a moment that he was being too aggressive, but she reached up and clutched her fingers into his hair and held him tight, as if she was worried he would pull away and didn’t want him to.
But they both needed to fill their lungs with air, and he regretfully broke the kiss. Her eyelids fluttered open, and he loved seeing that heat-filled, passion-glazed look to her eyes. His body was aching and so tense he felt like he would snap, and he needed so much more of her.
Vlad shifted down the bed, bringing her with him, and with a thought removed their clothes while he began nibbling and licking down her neck. She sighed and moaned, and lust to be buried deep inside her wet pussy rode him hard, but he pushed his inner beast back and continued pleasuring her.
He loved the scent of her skin and her musky, feminine desire and breathed in deeply as he moved toward her breasts. For such a little thing she was well endowed, and he loved the color of her pink nipples, but what would be even better was to have the velvet-soft skin of her areola in his mouth and her hard nipple rasping over his tongue. Just the thought of her taste had his body pumping up with blood and tautening with desire. She made him feel so masculine, and even though he wasn’t of this era where equality was more prevalent than it ever had been, he’d never felt so manly before. She did things to him no one else ever had. She made him feel special, and he wanted her to feel that way, too.
He swiped his tongue over one hard pink nipple before sucking on it firmly, and then he moved to her other breast and treated it the same way. When she was arching up into him and writhing beneath him, he released her breasts and worked his way down her body.
The sounds she made bored into him, again filling him with masculine pride, and he wanted to hear more. He wanted to hear her screaming his name as she came.
Vlad moved to between her legs and wrapped his arms around her upper thighs, placing one hand on her belly, and the other he moved to cup her mound. She was so wet her dew coated her outer lips, and her musky scent was calling out to him. His mouth filled with saliva, and he gave in to his hunger and lowered his head. He licked her from top to bottom, took a moment to dip his tongue into her dripping hole, and groaned as her sweet, feminine flavor exploded over his taste buds.
He stiffened his tongue and pressed the muscle as deep as it would go and then curled the tip up, collecting her decadent honey and drinking it down. Again and again he stabbed deep and growled as her juices flowed and dripped into his mouth. When she was keening with desire, he caressed up between her soft, wet petals and licked over her clit as he pushed a finger deep inside her cunt.
She cried out, her hips bucking, her hands tightening in his hair as she shoved his face deeper against her pussy, and he couldn’t do anything but heed her call. He added another finger and began stroking in and out, going deep and then shallow, fast and slow, until she was mumbling incoherently. When her sheath grew hotter and her inner muscles tightened and rippled he knew she was on the edge.
Vlad applied more pressure to her engorged pearl and flickered his tongue rapidly over her sensitive bundle of nerves. Her lower body bowed up and she froze, and then she was writhing and screaming as she flew into a climax. Honey poured from her pussy, and he lapped around his fingers, not wanting to waste a drop of her cum.
Strong aftershocks wracked her body until finally she slumped back down onto the bed, breathing heavily, her eyes closed, her face flushed with passion. Vlad reached down and tugged at his balls. Pre-cum was leaking from his dick, and his balls were so hot and hard he was worried he was going to shoot off before he even got inside of her.
She opened her eyes and, without saying anything, placed her hands on his shoulders and tugged him closer. Her lips smashed into his and she kissed him wildly, hungrily, and passionately, and then she placed her hand on his cock.
His cock jerked and he met her gaze as she opened her eyes. “I need you, Vlad. Inside me, right now.�
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She didn’t need to tell him twice. He was so damn horny for her he was shaking, and even though his muscles were pumped he felt weak.
Vlad covered her body with his, nudged her thighs farther apart, and sank his dick into her with one slow, strong push. She moaned and he groaned. Her wet heat enveloped him and his heart stuttered, his breath catching in his throat because he didn’t know if he could go slow for her. He wanted her fast, hard, and deep, giving herself over to him and his dominance.
“I wanted to go slow with you, baby, and make this good for you, but I don’t think I can,” Vlad rasped.
“Slow is overrated,” Callie panted.
Vlad was ecstatic that she was on board with him, needed him as much as he needed her.
She palmed his face between his hands and stared into his eyes. “Give me all of you, Vlad.”
The roaring in Vlad’s ears got louder, and although he wanted to savor her, he was too damned famished. He didn’t start off slow. He withdrew his cock to the tip and slammed back into her. She cried out, and his eyes snapped open to see her face and make sure he wasn’t hurting her.
“More! Fuck me, Vlad.”
He shifted to his knees wrapped his arms around her legs, lifted them and spread her wide and gave her what she wanted, what they both wanted. He surged strong and deep, again and again and again. His cock sliding and gliding in and out of her hot, tight, wet cunt. She mewled and whimpered with each press forward, and then she started raising and lowering her hips in time to his rhythm. She gave as good as she got, and he didn’t know how much longer he’d be able to hold out. Tingles began in his toes, spreading along his feet, up his lower legs, and into his thighs. Warmth gathered at the base of his spine, and his balls felt like they were boiling with cum.
Over and over he pounded in and out of her and she met him halfway. Her soft, feminine hands skimmed down his back to his ass and then she grabbed hold as she wrapped her legs around his waist. The ripples in her internal walls got stronger and her hot cream coated his dick. She was about to go over and he wanted to go with her.