Burn for Me (Edanholme Book 1)

by Catherine Fitzpatrick

a blood red sun, that held none of the warmth of an earth he had left behind. Dropping his

  snout to the gritty soil he inhaled the dusty texture of death. Nothing lived in this dimension

  except the creatures who fed on the blood of others. His soul mate had been condemned

  to a living death, for flaunting her mates under the nose of an embittered Queen.

  Drusal’s heart sank. If she was lost, he would take down these desiccated ghouls before

  death took him. With the use of glamour he enlarged the size of the wolf, increasing the

  density of skin and muscle. A titan with fangs as long as Cat’s forearm unleashed hell on

  the denizens of a dead world, a marauding leviathan tossed aside the mangled bodies of a

  vampire plague. With a single-minded purpose Drusal smashed his way towards the strong

  hold of the Dark King. Immense chest heaving with each laboured breath, he growled long

  and low at the approach of two cloaked figures, haunches tensed, ready to spring forward

  to despatch the vampires who had the temerity to walk freely on the dust of his true mate’s

  malevolent demise.

  “I sincerely suggest you uncover your face and calm the beast, before both our heads roll.”

  Phillipe flinched at the rumbling growl unleashed from a blood soaked monster.

  “I mean that literally Cat, neither of us would survive decapitation.”

  Exhausted mentally and physically, Cat threw back the hood of the cloak revealing to Drusal

  her human shaped face.

  “Give me your cloak Phillipe, once he changes back, Drusal will be stark naked. I don’t want

  you fainting at the sight of all his glory.” She managed a tiny laugh, from a throat tight with

  fear that her mate was lost to reason. Sending out a mental blast of command, Cat used her

  will to dominate the mind of a wild animal. Drusal was in no fit state to be mollified by soft

  words of love.

  Hey Fur ball, stop chewing on the vampires. I am in no mood to nurse you through a long

  night of indigestion.

  Striding forward she planted her feet firmly in the dust, eyes flaring emerald, blue tongues

  of flame caressed the tangled strands of hair framing a tired face.

  Fierce amber eyes glared down at the familiar female, a thread of query seeped into Cat’s

  mind. You live…?

  A mighty sigh from the jaws of the statuesque wolf threatened to bowl her over. Reaching

  out to steady herself, she caught onto the fur at his neck with grasping hands.

  “That’s debatable right now...” She hiccupped on a quiet sob.

  Amber eyes flicked to the vampire at her back in dire warning.

  “Leave Phillipe alone, he’s with me.” The fur on Drusal’s back lifted as he recognised the

  creature who had abused the body of his female. Grabbing at his jaw Cat swung the huge

  head towards her, locking them eye to eye.

  “I’m safe… Please shift, I need your help to go home.” The pathetic wail registered on a

  consciousness as wild as the animal it inhabited. Drusal shifted instantly, hugging Cat in

  arms that threatened to snuff out what little strength she had left. Sniffing at her hair and

  face, the amber glow receded from opalescent eyes.

  “Yeah, I love you too…” Cat laughed, slipping Phillipe’s cloak across a back streaked with

  blood, she felt the sub vocal snarl of warning directed over her shoulder.

  “Relax, there’s no-one left to dismember. You’ve terrorised the remaining vampires into

  headlong flight. Give credit where it’s due, Phillipe helped me to come to you.” Leaning

  her head on a wide shoulder, she shuddered. “It’s over. The king is gone…”

  Tears slid down her face in remorse that she had been the instrument used to destroy a

  once Noble Sidhe Lord. “Take me home.”

  Settling into the curve of Drusal’s waist, she hung onto the solid form of her lover.

  “Iscatya, what of your subjects…?” Phillipe interrupted her plea to be removed from the

  blood-soaked soil of the Dark dimension.

  “I make you regent until I know what the hell I supposed to do with you.” She snapped back,

  unwilling to relinquish what little freedom was left to her in a world gone crazy.

  “You are Queen, we need guidance and leadership.” Phillipe wasn’t backing off.

  “I know that… Right now I couldn’t rule a kindergarten.” Cat snarled at him.

  Drusal tensed, catching drift of a conversation that had eluded the wolf in his head.

  “Teyrnon made sure you were strengthened by my blood. That’s all I’m prepared to offer

  right now. I give my word, I will return to lay down the law, as I see fit.” Resentment made

  her voice harsh. The strength of her will beat at Phillipe’s mind in a tirade of warning

  worthy of Istirina.

  “As you wish my Queen…” Phillipe bowed to his Sovereign, handsome face wreathed

  with doubt at a promised return to a dimension that had caused Cat so much pain.

  “I am honour-bound to take up the reins of leadership, but I have other concerns that have to

  be addressed first.” Cat quailed at the thought of having to return to a loathsome place

  with no redeeming features. Teyrnon had given her no choice, he had entrusted her with

  the welfare of his children, she couldn’t deny that trust.

  “The Sovereign Court….?” Phillipe lifted his eyebrows in disbelief.

  “Bingo… Got it in one Prince regent… Istirina broke her word in handing me over to

  Teyrnon. I gave her fair warning, if she pissed me off I promised to storm her palace.”

  How she was going to achieve the miracle of wandering into Withins Underhill to free a

  collection of mate marked warriors was beyond her scope at the moment, a dream out

  of reach, disappearing over the horizon, spinning out of the galaxy. The state she was in,

  Cat hadn’t a hope of fighting her way out of a paper bag.

  The ice cold sting of her words finally broke Phillipe’s insistence that Cat remain where

  she had been robbed of precious life force in a feeding frenzy.

  Drusal had kept silent, absorbing the confusing content of the argument. His head was

  clearing from the mind numbing destruction he had inflicted on countless vampires.

  A backlash of the pain Cat had endured, in a sustained leeching of her Sidhe essence to

  secure her tenure to the Dark Court, forced a growl from his throat.

  Cat’s aura was diminished. The fragile figure in his arms lacked the strength to stand alone.

  Gathering her close, Drusal lifted his mate easily to lie against his chest. Her heartbeat was

  slow, the touch of pale skin cold and clammy as her arms slid around his neck.

  “Your Mistress has spoken Vampire.” Placing a soft kiss on the wild tangle of hair hiding the

  soft contours of a delicate face, a sense of imminent doom gripped at his soul.

  “If my mate fails to recover… I will come for you.” Drusal’s whisper held the threat of

  endless torment in the jaws of a vindictive wolf.

  Get me home… Cat pleaded with the Dark Hound, her mind awash with the burden of guilt.

  It was a complex emotional roller coaster. Her blood was an instrument of destruction…

  She could have destroyed the Dark King, but not her Grandfather. That he had planned to

  take the fire in her blood to release his soul didn’t absolve the guilt, or ease the pain.

  Drusal transported them safely across dimensions straight to her bathroom. Holding Cat

  upright he set the bath running before willing on the lights. Hi
s breath exploded out, in a

  hissing rush. “What have they done to you…?”

  Releasing the cloak from his mate’s neck, he examined the fang marks that coloured pale

  skin in blue and black puncture wounds.

  Leaning her forehead into his chest Cat sobbed aloud. The pent up grief at the loss of a

  Grandfather she never had the chance to know, was expelled in a flow of tears that sapped

  the remainder of her strength.

  Sitting on the rolled lip of the bath tub, Drusal cradled her in his arms until the sobs became

  stifled hiccups into his shoulder. “Do you feel better now…?”

  An anxious whisper caressed her ear.

  “No… I feel like shit.” Wiping her face with one hand, Cat lifted tear drenched eyes to his

  face. The fear that he had felt at her capture still marked a broad forehead with deep lines

  of concern.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound so bitchy. I ache everywhere.” Catching sight of the Dark

  marks running up her arm, she succumbed to fear for the first time since awakening in the

  vampire dimension.

  “Oh God… I will have to go back. I’m going to become a blood sucking monster.”

  Desperate to get away from Drusal before she bit his neck, Cat scrambled from his lap to

  fall in a heap on the floor. Eyes wide in a face as pale as newly fallen snow, she curled in on

  herself pushing his hands from her body. “Don’t touch me, I’m dirty…”

  Her heart splintered at the impact of Teyrnon’s revenge on the mate who had betrayed him.

  He had created a being strong enough to take down the Queen, in doing so he had placed

  Cat firmly out of reach of the one male she loved. Drusal could not mate with a vampire.

  She cared for him too much to make of him a creature of darkness and death, a vampire

  consort.

  A tentative smile touched the firm contours of Drusal’s lips, a soft sigh bathed her face with

  vanilla scents as he knelt to unfasten her dress.

  “I can see you are dirty my mate, why do you think I filled the bath?” Slipping the remains

  of a much admired garment from her shoulders he growled at the wounds crowding the

  slim column of neck and throat. With tender care he slid her into the soothing balm of

  warm water. The smell of tea tree oil tickled her nose with its familiar perfume.

  Holding Cat’s head above water Drusal shrugged off the borrowed robe, to sink into the

  bath beside her. Wrapping his arms around her waist he lifted Cat to lie along his chest.

  “I promised you, we would shower together…” With gentle fingers he began to wash her

  hair, untangling the long strands with endless patience.

  “Not a chance Fur ball, I’d fall over…” Her laugh was half-hearted. The screaming fear in

  her mind that she could turn into a ravening monster held her still at the silky touch of

  warm palms washing the blood from her wounds.

  “Drusal…?” Her murmur preceded a question she didn’t want to voice.

  “Will I turn into a vampire?” Cat stiffened, waiting for confirmation of damnation.

  “I know not… I do know you are strong enough to overcome the contamination of the

  Dark Court.” His voice was firm in its conviction.

  “Is that a hope or a prayer?” Cat dare not turn to face any doubt in his eyes.

  “You live Iscatya, my prayer was answered.” Satisfaction reverberated in each word.

  “That doesn’t answer my prayer.” Disappointment filled her mind with negativity. She’d

  lost the fight to save the males. The love of her life would be more than repulsed by a

  vampire mate, he would be forced to destroy her.

  Sliding to one side to look directly into her eyes, Drusal lifted her arm to kiss each mark.

  “See how swiftly thy body heals.” Holding an arm up to the light Cat watched as the

  puncture wounds visibly closed. She had to admit the ache in her limbs was easing.

  “Do you hunger? Is your body craving for a taste of the blood in my veins?” The deep

  bass of a teasing voice touched a chord in her heart. An upsurge of hope lifted a waning

  spirit. “Do you wish me to hunt for you?” Dark copper swirled into a corolla of amber

  flares around the inky black pupils of Drusal’s eyes, indicating the wolf was ready to be

  unleashed. Cat had to laugh at his willingness to bring her raw meat.

  “Nope… No bunnies for me. A bacon sandwich sounds good though…” Lifting a hand to

  touch the fullness of his lips Cat relaxed into waiting arms at last.

  “I would gladly prepare one for you, if I knew how.” The release of tension made Drusal

  smile, teeth nipping at her fingers.

  “One day I’ll domesticate you…” Biting at her lip, Cat wondered if she would ever see that

  day. Sod it… Why borrow trouble, if the worst happened, she would deal with it.

  “I haven’t thanked you for coming to look for me.” A smile as radiant as the sun, was

  echoed in the sparkle of emerald green eyes. “Forgive me?”

  “There is nothing to thank me for, or ask forgiveness for...” Running a hand up one arm

  to clasp the nape of her neck he placed a kiss on inviting lips.

  “My mate has done more to save me than I could ever return.” Forehead bowed to hers,

  a mist of love wreathed her mind.

  “My life is such a mess. The one good thing to emerge from all the chaos is you.” Laying her

  palm over the strong beat of his heart, Cat prayed to whatever entity was listening that she

  would not be the one to cause the beat to stop.

  “I am not good…” Drusal snorted in her ear.

  “Don’t you know it’s not wise to argue with a woman, especially one who is sitting on the

  edge of mind bending panic. I could be capable of ripping out your beating heart, just for

  the fun of it.” Cat cried aloud the fear that rocked her confidence in the abilities she had

  been gifted with from birth.

  “My heart is yours to do with as you wish.” A soft kiss caressed her temple.

  “Don’t make fun of my fears.” Tears crowding her eyes, a sob caught in her throat.

  “I am not making fun, I am stating the truth. I will always be at your side.” Complete and

  solid commitment sat front and centre in a deep whisper.

  Pushing back from his chest, tears falling unheeded, Cat searched his eyes for any sign

  of deceit. “King and Queen of the un-dead…? No way. I care too much for that to become

  your fate.” Anger at his selflessness made her voice hoarse. Surging to his feet Drusal

  pulled Cat with him in huge bear hug.

  “The warrior is back in your heart my mate.” He rejoiced at her anger. Wrapping a bath

  sheet around slim shoulders, lifting her easily Drusal carried his mate to bed.

  “You need to sleep now, for your body to recover its vital essence.”

  Lying with her head on his chest Cat listened to the slow beat of a trusting heart.

  “You know for a cold blooded hunter, offering up your life to me shows a distinct awareness

  of the devious nature of long suffering males of any species. Learning to push my

  buttons so early in a relationship, just goes to prove you are no different than a human

  partner.” Stroking her hair Drusal grunted his lack of understanding.

  “I fail to follow your reasoning. What is this phrase ‘pushing your buttons’?”

  Chuckling at the confusion in his voice Cat wriggled closer to his skin, their earth elements

  combining to shroud them in soft green luminescence.
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  “It means… Once you agreed so easily to become a part of the Dark Court, I would fight

  tooth and nail to make sure that never happens.” Cat yawned lazily.

  A hum of comprehension vibrated in his throat.

  “I begin to see why some males go into seclusion, rather than become mated.”

  A stinging slap on his chest brought a wicked grin to Drusal’s mouth.

  “It means…” Lifting Cat’s chin until their eyes locked he dropped a kiss on her mouth.

  “If I insist you are too tired to make love, you would seduce me to prove me wrong?”

  A rush of warm laughter answered him. “Good try Fur ball…”

  Sinking into the glow of pearlescent eyes, Cat’s heart skipped several beats.

  “Females are contrary creatures, but in this instance I’m really too tired to light any fires.”

  She regretted the denial of the blazing desire in his gaze. Her soul was too bruised by the

  loss of her Grandfather for Cat to do justice to their mating bond.

  Stroking her cheek with the pad of his thumb Drusal inclined his head in assent.

  “I was but teasing my mate.” Releasing her face, he nestled Cat’s head into the curve of

  his shoulder. “In offering to submit to a life as a blood drinker, I hoped to shock you from

  a mood of despondency. I did not realise my actions followed the path of predictable

  male deviousness.” Yawning widely Drusal rested his cheek upon soft hair, inhaling the

  scent of tea tree. “It is a lesson in the machinations of the female mind I will not forget.”

  I don’t doubt it for a minute… The tired rejoinder slipped into his head, Cat was on the

  verge of real sleep, relaxed in mind and body.

  Sleep well my mate. Drusal settled his arms around a body glowing with the slow return

  of Sidhe life force.

  I plan on sleeping for a week… The mental giggle petered off, solid barriers building

  around an unguarded mind in protective reflex.

  Holding the sleeping female close to his heart Drusal reflected on the torment she had

  suffered, to close her mind to a bonded mate. Becoming the pawn in an ongoing battle

  between Istirina and a spurned mate, had revealed the sordid depths Lord Teyrnon had