Each pull he took of her blood sent the craving for him to a feverish pitch. She swayed toward him.
Only to have the smell of his blood dull the haze he cast over her with his wicked touch.
Brought her back to painful reason.
He’d had enough blood. Time for the next stage. She let loose her magic, and gave herself something else to focus on instead of finding a way into his pants.
The magic followed her blood trail without prompting. The power instantly sucker punched her, like someone was pressing on her chest. She had five minutes, ten tops, before she lost consciousness.
The magic-infused blood spilled through his body, hit the lining of his stomach and splashed into veins and organs in search for the damage.
The neck was the worst, so she centered her attention there, rebuilding tissue, taking special care of the nerve endings, pushing for his flesh to knit together.
But the blood burned out as fast as she used it.
It wasn’t enough.
He needed more.
A growl rumbled up Merrick’s throat, and she grabbed his wrist, mimicking his hold on her. “You need to take more.”
The words felt stilted, her lips stiff. What she was doing to him had to hurt, the burn of magic was crippling to those who didn’t know how to channel the pain, but he did as told all the while studying her every expression.
Only when the blood escaping his wound finally slowed and stopped did she release her hold on her magic. The backlash hit her like a fist. Her vision dimmed. Sounds went next.
Scent and touch were all that remained, sharpening almost painfully. Her grip tightened on Merrick, his skin so warm against her much colder hands that it burned. Musk tempted her closer. Only when she heard his steady heartbeat beneath her head did she allow herself permission to collapse.
* * *
Trina woke to motion, reluctant to open her eyes and lose the delicious sensations of peace surrounding her. And they would vanish, a fairy tale she couldn’t allow herself to believe or her heart would break when she opened her eyes.
Reality intruded at the steady beat of Merrick’s heart next to her ear. Although it was very caveman of him, part of her enjoyed the attention, enjoyed the feeling that someone cared even if it was only an illusion. He was only fulfilling his end of the bargain to protect her.
Whatever fast healing she normally had vanished, burned away when she used her magic on Merrick. Even though every brush of air on her skin hurt, she didn’t regret her choice.
She kept her eyes closed and took stock of her injuries, noting that they were mostly bruises. Nothing broken. No cuts. All her limbs seemed to be in working order. Not bad, when she expected to be dead.
The bite!
She twisted her wrist then shuddered, sucking in a sharp breath at the rush of sensations. It wasn’t pain or anything that easy. She gingerly probed the abused area, remembering what it felt like to have Merrick’s fangs pierce her flesh. When her finger brushed over one of the sensitive scabs, pure lust shot to her core.
No foreplay.
Her body craved sex, demanded to feel him pressed against her more intimately.
She quickly jerked her hand away from temptation…er, danger.
Horror hollowed out her chest. What had her magic done to them?
Merrick was so going to kill her.
“Are you sure you should be carrying me? It seems to be becoming a habit of yours.” For which she was grateful since she wasn’t sure her legs would hold her. She wanted to put it all down to blood loss, but knew that wasn’t the whole truth. It was him, too. He affected her more than any man had a right.
Absolute silence filled the air, and she wasn’t even sure his chest moved. She opened her eyes. Then wished she hadn’t when the meager light felt like railroad spikes being rammed into her eye sockets.
“You said you wouldn’t be hurt.”
Trina winced at his tone. She would take his growl over that rough, accusing voice. “Well, not really. I said I wouldn’t be in any danger. There is a difference.”
A snarl rumbled in his throat. She was so close to him she could feel the vibrations throughout her body.
She froze.
That was not a friendly sound. Sure, she didn’t think he’d hurt her, but why make a target of yourself. Sometimes, with men, it was better to keep silent and let them assume they’d won the argument.
She half-expected him to change into his beast. She could almost feel the lion beneath the surface and placed her hand on Merrick’s chest where she sensed him waiting, absently brushing her fingers against him to soothe them both.
When they came to a stop, she risked opening her eyes…to see they stood outside their bedroom.
That made her sit up straighter.
No way could she be alone with him, not with the heat from earlier still thrumming through her body. “Put me down.”
Trina was surprised when he obeyed. He lowered her slowly, brushing her body down the length of his until all she wanted was to crawl back up in his arms.
Which only served to annoy her more.
Distance.
That’s what she needed.
Time enough to give whatever her magic had done to fade. She found her hands pressed against his chest, her nails slightly digging into him, wanting more than anything to touch him skin to skin and brush herself against him as if she were some damn cat in heat.
His hands slid down her back, brushed her butt then moved around to her hips. His fingers tightened for a second, lingering, before reluctantly releasing her.
She was relieved when he pulled away as she wouldn’t have had the strength to do it herself, not with him pressed up against her, his body hard and ready to take her.
But as the distance between them grew, disappointment struck so hard that she couldn’t look him in the face. She whipped her hands behind her and scooted away from him. When her back came to rest against their bedroom door, she leapt away as if it had reached out and pinched her on the ass.
She grabbed the first desperate idea that popped into her head. “We need to do the track and trace.”
“You need to rest. You passed out not ten minutes ago.” Merrick stepped toward her than halted when she took a hasty step back.
“We need to find out how a vampire entered the Den full of soldiers without being caught.”
Merrick opened his mouth to argue with her when Victor spoke. “She’s right.”
“I won’t allow it.” The man before her bulked up, whirling on his second-in-command. Trina quickly stepped between them, her heart pounding, but not from excitement or fear.
No, it pounded with the realization that she would have to leave. The thought of leaving them, leaving Merrick, shot her stomach up into her throat until breathing grew difficult.
“Leo.” The use of his title caught his attention. She’d never expected to say the full two weeks. Wished, wanted, but never expected.
So why did the thought of leaving devastate her?
She swallowed twice before she could speak. “You’re trying to protect me, but in doing so, you’re putting everyone else in danger.”
Trina took a deep breath, forcing her lungs to work despite the weight pressing down on them. “I’ll leave. I’m giving you notice as you requested in our agreement.”
Merrick’s eyes narrowed on her. She recognized that look. It was the look of someone who was going to do something bad for your own good. “It doesn’t matter if you leave or not, the war began when we killed a vampire on shifter land. His twin has probably already reported the news back to the King. Things have gone too far. You were just the catalyst.”
She wished it were that easy, but revealing the whole truth would only put them in more danger. She cared too much to do that to them. They protected the borders and Oz. They would soon become the first defense in the war that she’d brought to their doorstep.
Her being there only complicated things.
The least
she could do was live up to her bargain with him before she vanished, which meant finding the one who’d betrayed them. “Then Victor should fetch the boy so we can get started. Weston can collect the amulet. Merrick and I will clean up and meet you in the library in five minutes.”
Without giving them a chance to protest, Trina whirled and entered the bedroom. She was conscious of Merrick following closely behind by the way her body lit on fire at his nearness.
The door shut with a near-silent snick.
Her palms itched to be alone with Merrick, take the time to say good-bye and maybe create a few memories to take with her to cherish and get her through the coming hell.
She took another step forward to put actions to words then halted. “What’s all this?”
Dozens of boxes covered the bed and a deep unease spread in her gut.
“You needed clothes.” Merrick shrugged as if his words were answer enough. He gazed at her, and she swore he looked disappointed in her reaction.
His explanation made sense, but her unease only increased. Thoughts of taking advantage of Merrick morphed into thoughts of protecting him.
They were not alone.
When Merrick reached her side, she held up her hand. She didn’t feel the bitter cold she associated with danger, another sign her power wasn’t to be trusted anymore. Merrick inhaled deeply, and she knew he picked up on what she’d noticed when they entered.
Someone else was in the room with them.
She wouldn’t have suspected anything if it wasn’t for the subtle flavor of foreign magic on the air. It was barely there, almost like the perfume that clung to a wizard if they didn’t block it from others.
Or maybe she noticed it because she was just plain suspicious and had been on the run so long that she automatically checked each room she enter.
Trina relaxed and touched Merrick’s arm.
“You can come out now.”
Nothing happened for a brief second. Then the wizard boy she’d met from the kitchen wiggled out from under the bed. The pale expression belied the way he straightened and stood before them.
Almost as if he expected them to execute him on the spot.
Merrick tensed under her hands, and she was able to all but touch his outrage at having his room invaded.
“Explain yourself.”
Drew flinched at Merrick’s harsh tone. The boy’s gaze flicked to hers then resolutely stared at the door behind them without speaking.
“Merrick, you’re scaring him.”
The corner of his eye ticked at her words. When she would’ve taken a step forward, he put his clawed hand on her arm.
“Don’t touch her, you bastard.” Drew launched himself forward, a blade clenched in his fist.
Merrick caught the bony body hurtling toward him with little effort, knocking the knife to the floor in the process. The boy kicked and punched, but his arms never reached his target.
“Be still.” Merrick shook the teenager to emphasize his point, making the kid more desperate to escape. Not above using the stink of fear on the kid, Merrick hefted him higher and bared his fangs, a displeased rumbled rising at the back of his throat.
Like he flipped a switch, the kid stilled, his face even paler if possible.
“Merrick, let the poor boy down.”
He almost did. He would do anything for her.
Anything that didn’t put her in danger.
“Please.” He saw the pleading in her eyes and pulled the boy closer as if afraid she’d come between them. “He’s a spy. He placed you in danger.”
“What danger?” Exasperated, Trina spread her arms. His gaze automatically swept her form, noting her subtle curves, but also seeing the exhaustion and bruises. His blood was dried and flaked on her skin.
He stepped on the knife. Metal gave and the blade crunched almost like the bones he wanted to smash if he didn’t think she’d be horrified.
“We need him for the T & T.” The hint of desperation in her voice struck a chord with him. He didn’t like that he caused her discomfort, but discomfort was better than a possible injury to her.
“No.”
She rubbed her brow, and he could almost see her mind work. Then she stilled, triumph blazing in her eyes. “He jumped on a vampire’s back to save me.”
The scrawny kid shivered when Merrick looked at him then smirked as if he knew Merrick had been caught.
“We need him.” She placed a hand on his arm and like any self-respecting man faced with a choice from his woman, he countered her offer with one of his own before he caved.
“I’ll spare his life, for you, but I want something in return.”
“Don’t do it.” The kid’s words ended in a squeak when Merrick tightened his grip. He didn’t bother to glance at the wizard, but her glaze flicked to Drew when she should’ve been worried about his demand.
“I’m listening.”
Not quelled by her reproachful tone, Merrick resisted flashing a triumphant grin until the deal was done.
He wanted to demand that she submit, order her to stay with him.
He could do neither.
But he would protect her by finding out the truth. “Why is everyone searching for you?”
Trina met his gaze with no hint of deception in hers when she opened her mouth and flat out lied. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Bugger it. He hefted the kid higher, and the wizard whimpered, though he’d give him points for not soiling himself like the last one.
His action had the desired effect. Trina gazed at Drew with a shattered expression, and he knew he’d won. His triumph lasted only a split second before it faded, and he felt like shit. He wondered if he’d misjudged her, pushed her too far. His beast urged him to kill the kid, but he couldn’t hurt her anymore than he already had.
Merrick dropped the boy on his ass, clenching his teeth to refrain from retracting his demand. She had to at least meet him half way.
“My name is Trina Weyebridge.”
“Holy shit.” The boy froze in his mad half-crawl to escape.
Merrick didn’t understand, but in that instant, the boy appeared more afraid of her than he was of him. There was also a heavy dose of curiosity as well. Deep foreboding shot through him, and he knew he didn’t want to hear more.
Nothing that could ultimately take her away from him.
The door burst open and Victor charged in. “The boy’s gone.” He pulled up short to find Drew half sprawled on the floor. Victor’s face hardened when he realized where the kid must have been all along.
Weston sauntered in the room, revealing nothing of his thoughts, carrying her bag and weapons and placing them on the couch. “What did I miss?”
Merrick kept his gaze on hers. “Trina was just about to tell us her role in this mess.”
“I’m the scepter.”
Merrick quickly made the connections. “Those muggers in the alley were there for you.”
She nodded, her expression remote, so unlike the Trina he knew. He was losing her. She was slipping away while he was standing right before her.
“But you’re a witch, same as them. Why were they searching for you? Why did they threaten you?”
“They wanted to trade me to the vampires in exchange for my sister or kill me outright. It depends who gets their hands on me first.”
“And why do the vampires want you so badly?” He forced himself to ask, though he’d already heard enough.
They couldn’t have her.
She was already his.
Trina snorted, sounding more than a little cynical. “Do you know what the scepter is?”
Drew nodded. “The witches said if I found the scepter, they would teach me. They’re desperate to get their hands on you. I didn’t know you were a person.” Drew rose to his feet, speaking as if quoting a long-forgotten line. “Whoever wields the scepter holds the key to the future.”
Chapter Twenty-two
Trina noticed in a distracted way the blood smeared aroun
d Merrick’s neck. Or more importantly, the smooth, unblemished skin underneath. No ragged edges. A throat she wanted to keep in one piece and that wouldn’t happen if he decided to go up against the vampires for her.
Admitting defeat, Trina wandered to the bathroom and grabbed the medical supplies. It was easier to speak when she didn’t have to face Merrick and see the truth when he realized it for himself.
“When I was a kid, I was the worst witch. I couldn’t work even the easiest spells. I still can’t cast worth a damn. I almost didn’t pass the entrance exam. I studied harder and longer, but I never did get any better.
“What I didn’t know was not all witches are the same. Not all are born. Some grow into their power.” Trina took stock of the supplies and deftly washed her hands, watching Merrick’s blood disappear down the drain with a little shiver at how close she came to losing him.
“My parents were attacked when I was ten. I walked in on the aftermath.” She still saw images of all that blood. She could never rid herself of it. She snatched up the washcloth and scrubbed her skin.
“Vampires had literally torn them apart as if searching for something. I don’t think I was expected. My mother told me to run, even as they ripped out her throat.
“But they didn’t go down without a fight. Few vampires were left standing.” More out of the need to keep busy than bind her superficial wound, Trina retrieved a roll of bandages and focused on her wrist.
“That one downstairs was there.” She shrugged. “I tried to run from them, but you know how well that goes. As they stalked me, I called up all magic I could wrestle from the earth. Their leader laughed at my feeble attempt.” Trina snorted. “I couldn’t even bless a sneeze properly.”
Trina methodically wound the pristine bandage around her wrist, sucking in a sharp breath at the dual pleasure/pain at the slightest touch. “It was only when he bit me, took my blood, that my body reacted and my dormant powers flared to life.
“The blood he stole ripped him apart from the inside out. Then, as fast as it came, the power deserted me.
“I watched the few remaining vampires carry him away. I would’ve gone after them, but he tore a chunk out of me, not to mention that I had no idea how to do it again.” As if mentioning her wound woke it, her shoulder throbbed. She fumbled with the bandage, but quickly recovered.
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