by Ginna Moran
Heaving a few deep breaths, Everett relaxes under my touch and drops the guy to the ground. The guy hits his knees and shouts but not in pain. His crazed laughter turns into something that sounds straight out of a back-world horror movie, igniting my fear instincts not unlike when being stalked by a predator.
“You bitch,” the Blood Match guy mutters. “We’re supposed to have each other’s backs.”
I narrow my eyes from over Everett’s shoulder. Everett hugs me, still trying to calm his racing heart. “What you’re doing is stupid. My contract can’t even be broken. I’m a criminal. I was convicted of being a Blood Rebel.” I regret my admission immediately.
A dozen thoughts flash through the guy’s eyes, his body turning rigid. “You could still help me.”
I shake my head, tugging Everett back with me. He doesn’t look at the guy, but I know he’s aware of the guy’s every move. “No. Even if I could, I wouldn’t. You chose to Blood Match. You gave in to the offering of Donor Life Corp.”
The guy flies to his feet to rush us. It’s taking everything in Everett not to attack the guy. If I wasn’t digging my fingers into Everett’s sides, he would. Instead, he just keeps with my movements, acting as my shield. He could snatch me away and relocate me, but he must suspect that I don’t want that. I’m pissed at this guy, and he’s going to get a piece of my damn mind.
“I did what I had to,” the guy says, swinging his fist. Everett pushes him, and the guy punches the wall. He howls and shakes out his hand. “My family needed me. My sister got pregnant with her fourth child and wouldn’t have been able to give enough to satisfy the donation laws. The father just up and disappeared. Donor Life Corp would’ve taken my nephew.”
I blink a few times, trying not to let his words get to me. I knew there were some fucked up laws in regards to blood donations and procreating. Donor Life Corp focuses a lot on population control—the more gen. pop. donors, the more power a region has—but they also have limitations to prevent one region from overpowering all the others. Laredo explained it as a way the board keeps the peace. I never really asked my guys about the details. My love for them allowed me to grow distant.
I don’t respond to the guy and tug back to look at Everett. “Maybe you should help him. You can say he attacked me. Just don’t kill him.”
“Gwen, he’s lying to you. The Royale Region raised the number of people one donor could provide for to four children due to the lack of growth. We’re a new region. The only restrictions lie within vampire households. The gen. pop. are rewarded for having children.” Everett holds my gaze, his blue eyes assuring me that he speaks the truth.
The guy groans in frustration. “You’re going to believe a blood sucker over your own kind?”
I ease from Everett’s arms so that I can face the guy. “Yes, actually.”
“You fucking idiot.” The guy swings out at me, but I block his punch.
Snatching Everett’s shirt, I stop him from going after the guy. “Don’t. He’s baiting you. I can handle him.”
“You’re sick, Gwen. I’m not jeopardizing your health to prove a point. Let me take you to our room. You’ve given this asshole enough of your time,” Everett says, keeping his voice low.
“Just another minute,” I say. “I don’t want him purposely provoking someone else. He’ll get himself killed.”
The guy tips his head back and releases another peel of laughter. “That’s cute. I’m a dead man, anyway. My mister plans to give me my final donation so that he can reapply to Blood Match. I guess I wasn’t good enough for him.”
I frown. “They can do that?”
“Vampires do whatever the hell they want,” he snaps. “For being a supposed Blood Rebel, you’re delusional to think anything different.”
“I’m not.”
“You are, blondie. I bet this asshole manipulated the crap out of your head to make you think it. I bet all you ever do is feed and fuck him, right? The perfect little Blood Match.”
“Shut up.”
He gives me a smug as hell look. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
Anger pours over me, and I clench my fingers into my palms. The guy’s cocky expression suddenly shifts to confusion and then to fear. He takes an automatic step away from me. Bending down, he swipes a chunk of glass from the floor at holds it up. I don’t have to see myself to know that he poked my nature enough that my dhampir side peeked out.
“What the fuck?” he asks, his hands trembling.
“Shit.” Everett rushes the guy and lifts him off his feet again. “Don’t move. Don’t speak.”
A low growl sounds from behind me. I don’t get a chance to react as a man grabs me by the waist and yanks me into his hard chest. I tense at the sound of his fangs extending.
“Let go of my Vic,” the vampire says, his low, throaty voice sending fear through me as he speaks to Everett.
Everett ignores him. “You will forget what you saw.”
The vampire roars in my ear, and my body automatically reacts. I elbow the vampire hard enough that he releases me, thrown off by my strength. I spin and face him, shadows edging my vision. The strange vampire startles at the sight of me. Without thinking, I launch at him. Pain erupts in my hand before warm blood and other vampire guts swallow my fingers. I punch the wall behind the guy, the weight of his body just hanging on my arm, dragging me to the floor.
“Oh, fuck,” I whisper. “What have I done?”
“Damn it, dandelion,” Bronx says, appearing in the hallway.
Mikkalo and Jameson rush to grab the dead vampire from the floor. They vanish without a word, taking the body with them. My body trembles, my breath quickening. Everett drops the Blood Match guy—Vic—and rushes to me.
“You okay?” Everett asks, searching my face.
“What have I done?” I repeat, swallowing the burning in my throat.
“You just gave that man exemption,” Bronx says, his deep voice remaining even.
“I what?” I stare at the blood staining my dress instead of meeting Bronx’s gaze.
Bronx squats down next to me and holds out his com device for me to look at. “He Blood Matched just before Donor Life Corp added stipulations. There won’t be a bid within his match’s coven to see if someone wants to fulfill his contract. The man gets exemption.”
“Oh.”
“Everett, take him back to the party and alert the Dukes. Tell them that Ontario tried to use his Blood Match to get to Gwen and decided to fight me instead of surrender to an investigation.” Bronx lifts me into his arms, not giving me a choice. “I’ll take Gwen.”
I open my mouth to argue that I don’t want him to take me, but the world blurs. Bronx sets me on my feet in the bathroom and turns on the shower for me. He doesn’t say anything, just giving me a long once-over.
My emotions run rampant, and I know if I try to say anything, my voice might catch. Anger no longer grips my chest, though sadness remains clinging to me.
So I turn my back and tug down the side zipper on my dress without a word. The bloody gown drops to the floor along with my bra and thong, and I step into the shower without inviting Bronx to join me.
I close my eyes, letting the hot water cascade over me. Bronx remains in the bathroom like he doesn’t trust something not to happen to me if he leaves me alone for a few minutes, even if he stands on the other side of the door.
Something snaps inside me as I replay everything over and over again in my mind. I can’t stop the tears from bursting from my eyes to join the steady stream of shower water. I try my best to suppress my sobs, but it’s too much. I feel more overwhelmed than ever. And I hate it. I hate feeling like this.
I sink down to the floor and curl my knees to my chest and cover my face with my arms. “Why didn’t you tell me you were going to make the coven union official?” I ask, tilting my head to look at Bronx through the foggy glass.
Bronx doesn’t respond to me.
“You know how much I hate Corona. You promised that this
alliance was only temporary and to appease the other city heads,” I continue. “But making it official like that? That’s not temporary. You lied to me.”
The shower door cracks open and Bronx reaches in and shuts off the water. He quietly helps me to my feet and wraps me in a towel without a word. His silence digs deeply into me, leaving what feels like a Bronx-sized hole inside of my heart.
“We’re supposed to be a team.” I hug the towel around me and stand in front of Bronx. His dark eyes flash silver at me, and he tightens his jaw, still not saying anything. And it drives me crazy. So I push him, even though he doesn’t budge. “Say something, Bronx.”
“No. Not without my brothers.” His soft voice rips me open, and instead of getting mad, I start crying again.
“This isn’t even about them.”
I push past him and head back to the room. Bronx remains in the doorway to the bathroom, watching as I dress in the cotton panties and nightie he must have picked out earlier for me to wear after the party.
Flopping on the bed, I pull the blankets around me and hide under the pillows. My mind whirls, and I try my best to relax. A heavy pit grows in my belly like my heart dropped from my chest, weighed down with my hurt.
I toss and turn for a few minutes, knowing that there is no way I will fall asleep. Sitting up, I twist the blanket in my hand and turn my gaze to Bronx. His expression gives nothing away. I wish it did. I wish I could know what he’s thinking.
The thought nags me so much that I decide to flat-out ask him. “Tell me what’s on your mind. I want to know what the hell you’re thinking.”
Bronx tightens his jaw and swallows. “About how I wish you wouldn’t be such a pain in my nuts.”
“Are you kidding me?” My voice rises. “You’re responsible for your own damn pain or annoyance or whatever. Don’t you dare put that on me.”
Groaning, he crosses the room and sits on the far corner of the giant bed, keeping as much space as he can between us. “You’re right. I am. You’re just not making it easy.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I inch closer because he doesn’t look at me.
“Gwen, I’m doing the best I can.” Leaning his elbows on his knees, he bows forward. His shoulders slump as he finally gives me a reaction that isn’t sharp and steely, making me feel like I’m the only one feeling anything at all. “You have to understand. I might’ve been first in line, but I was not prepared to be our coven leader, let alone the leader of an entire region. I wasn’t prepared to have you drop into my life either.”
I scoot the rest of the distance to him and hang my legs off the bed. “I know that. I know you’re doing what you can, but you’ve forgotten that you don’t have to do this all yourself. I’m here too and you purposely chose not to include me. You know how much I hate Corona.”
He closes his eyes. “I know.”
“I’m not cool with any of this. Do you know what it would mean for me if you blend bloodlines?” My hands tremble at the thought.
“I’d never allow him to stake a claim on you. We will transfer your contract before we go through with the union.” Bronx sits up to meet my gaze.
My forehead wrinkles with my frown. “You’re actually going to do that?” The thought tightens my chest. We discussed this when I allowed the four of them to claim me that we wouldn’t put any of their names on my Blood Match contract.
Bronx sucks his top lip into his mouth and nods his head. “I know it’s not ideal, but it’s the best way to assure your safety.”
I want so badly to argue, but he’s completely right. It helps that I feel more confident in our relationship that I don’t think a measly signature will change anything. But the thought still bothers me. “Who?” I manage to ask.
“Do you want to pick?” He swivels his body so that we face each other.
“Hell no.” The response escapes my mouth without me even thinking about it. Because really...that can’t end well. I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings by offering my contract over, even if it means nothing to all of us.
“I guess we’ll have to work it out then. Obviously, we all want it,” Bronx murmurs, slowly moving more as he blends our personal spaces together.
“If you guys think you’re going to fight over it—”
Bronx shakes his head. “We won’t.”
“Then how will you pick?” I ask.
“Possibly a competition.”
Oh, boy. I can only imagine how fiercely competitive the four of them will be. I’m almost afraid of the idea.
“I’m on board with that.” Everett’s voice trickles through the room as he cracks the door open. Mikkalo and Jameson follow behind him. “Maybe we can time to see who gets Gwen to orgasm the fastest.”
My mouth falls open.
Jameson licks his lips. “It’s on.”
The four of them grin at each other before turning all their attention on me. And damn them. I love and hate being under all their hot intensity. I squirm, my heart picking up pace. Just the thought turns me on, even though it’s the most ridiculous suggestion for a competition I’ve ever heard.
I scramble back, diving onto the bed to cocoon myself in the blankets. “Stop right there, Jamie.”
He glares at me. “It’s the fairest way, Gigi. We all know each other’s strengths and weaknesses when it comes to stuff like combat, strategy, mind manipulation, blood drinking, and even driving. But making you cum? That’s unpredictable and totally how I want to spend the day.”
My cheeks flush. “Still have to say no. I’m not in the mood for that kind of marathon. I kind of feel like going to sleep.”
“Damn,” Jameson says.
I chuck a pillow at him. “Damn straight. You can’t just come in here and think you can get away with distracting me, especially with—”
Bronx lunges toward me and covers my mouth with his hand, stopping me from talking. I nip his palm, but he doesn’t pull his hand away. Everyone stiffens. A few seconds later, I hear the soft muffle of voices coming down the hall.
A tap on the door soon follows. “Brothers, may I have a moment of your time?”
I shake my head, pelting Bronx with strands of my hair. “Tell him no,” I mumble into his hand.
“It’ll only take a second. It’s about the coven union arrangements,” Corona says, cracking open the door without permission.
Bronx sinks onto me, pushing me deeper into the bed to restrain me. “Close the door and give us a minute. Gwen is sick.”
“Sick? That’s impossible. Dhampirs don’t get ill,” Corona says.
I bite Bronx’s fingers hard enough that he jerks his hand away. “Like you would fucking know!” I can’t help myself.
“I know more than you think, Gwen.” Corona pushes the door open completely, narrowing his gaze at me. “You’d be surprised what kind of information you can find out if you’re powerful enough to manipulate a dhampir gene carrier’s mind.”
I tighten my jaw. “Kyler knew nothing.” This fucking asshole.
He gives me a cocky grin, getting under my skin in the worst way possible. “That you know of. I happened to realize he had a block on his mind, and I broke it.”
Anger rushes through me. “Get out!”
“I will when I’m through discussing our coven arrangements.” Corona turns his attention to Bronx. “So, may I please have a minute?”
I expect Bronx to deny him. To yell at him. To do something to get him away from me. But he doesn’t. All he does is shift off me and get to his feet. He doesn’t even glance at me as he closes the distance to Corona.
“Make it fast,” Bronx says, clenching his hands. “We’ve had a long day and need rest for our trip back to Crimson Vista.”
“I just wanted to inform you that I went ahead and filed the paperwork for our union with Donor Life Corp,” he says, smiling.
“You did what?” Bronx asks. “I haven’t even informed the board of Zaire’s death.”
“But I thought since you announce
d it—”
No one has a chance to react as I fly from the bed. I land on top of Corona, pinning him by smashing my hand into his cheek.
I prepare to take his heart.
Chapter 15
Warning Bite
CORONA JERKS HIS HEAD AND sinks his fangs into my hand. I scream, punching out my fist. But I don’t hit him. Bronx hauls me off Corona. The two of them growl at each other. Mikkalo, Jameson, and Everett close the space around us.
I smile through my watery eyes, clutching my hand. This was the moment I’ve been waiting for. My guys will tear him to pieces. They’ll surely let me take his heart now. They never let anyone get away with hurting me.
“Leave us,” Bronx snarls, his voice reverberating through my bones.
“What?” I ask, surprise stealing the warmth from inside me.
Corona exits the room and slams the door shut. No one goes after him. No one says a word. Bronx sets me on my feet and turns his back away from me. Everett closes the space and grabs my hand, inspecting the two puncture wounds.
“It’s not deep,” Everett says, touching my aching skin. “Just a warning bite.”
“Just a warning bite? Are you fucking kidding me?” Jameson releases a scary-ass growl, looking ready to chase down Corona.
“It hurts like hell,” I say, pulling away from Everett. I turn to Jameson and show him. “Look what he did. You can’t let him get away with this.”
Bronx reaches inside his jacket and unsheathes a dagger, but Mikkalo shocks the hell out of me and blocks the door. Everett joins him, the two of them standing off against Jameson and Bronx.
“Mikkalo? Everett? What are you doing?” I ask. “Let them through. You can’t let him get away with this. He hurt me.”
Mikkalo jerks his attention to me, his eyes flashing silver. “Gwen, I love you, but shut up.”
Whoa.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I yell, anger rushing over me. “You’re supposed to be on my side. I’m supposed to be your girl yet you’re letting that monster get away with everything, including biting me.”
“Gwen, stop. I know what you’re doing.” Mikkalo risks inching away from the door while Everett stands firm. “And I know why. I get it. I want to go after him as much as everyone, but it will destroy everything we put into place.”