by Sarra Cannon
“A mistake I won’t make again!” She shouted furiously.
Wesley appeared, frowning and panting lightly. “Are you trying to bring every goddamn leech within ten miles down on our heads?”
Abigail, her pale skin flushed, threw him a furious look. “Let them come.”
“Alright, calm down, Abby.” Wesley reached out to touch her, glanced at Val, and dropped his hands. “Come back to the camp. You need to eat and get some sleep. You hardly slept at all last night.”
“I’m fine.” She muttered. She glared at Val who set the buckets of water down on the ground before returning her glare.
“You will stay at the camp until I return.” He disappeared into the trees.
Abby screamed with frustration and then shouted, “Kiss my ass, you stupid leech!”
Wesley gave her a look of astonishment and then giggled. The almost girlish giggle coming from such a large man never failed to make her laugh, and she started laughing with him.
“Only you would tell a vampire to kiss your ass.” Wesley grinned at her as they each picked up a bucket and started back toward the camp.
— —
Val watched with disgust as the old man, he thought his name was Bill, nodded off once more. This time when his chin hit his chest it stayed there, and large snores emanated from his mouth. It was his turn for watch and it hadn’t been two hours before the old man had started to doze off.
Val jumped down from the branch of the large tree, landing with a soft thud on the ground, and moved silently into the camp. It would be dawn in a few hours. He had thought he would go hunting and had, in fact, stalked a mountain cat for an hour or so. In the end, he hadn’t done it. He had gone back to the camp and made himself comfortable in one of the trees overlooking the camp. He had watched as the humans ate a cold dinner and talked quietly.
He had bared his fangs on more than one occasion when Wesley had sat too close or touched her for no reason, but he reminded himself that Abby would never forgive him if he killed the human. She was obviously very fond of him. Jealousy sang in his veins and he knew that he was hiding himself in the tree because he wanted to know if Abby was fucking the human. He had tensed when they had settled to bed for the night but Wesley had not gone near her.
He could feel the thirst but he didn’t bother to go hunting again. It was Abigail’s blood that he wanted and, as he walked past the sleeping Bill, he realized he would rather starve than drink another drop of animal blood.
Abigail was sleeping on the ground, curled up under a light blanket, and he looked around almost guiltily before lifting the blanket and sliding in behind her. She was a deep sleeper, and he hoped that hadn’t changed.
She didn’t move and he carefully molded his body to hers. She was dressed in her pants and shirt and although she had removed her sword, the dagger was still around her thigh and the silver gleamed softly around her throat and wrists.
He rested his face against the back of her skull and took a deep breath. God, she smelled good. He wanted to bury his face in her neck but the silver did an effective job at keeping him away. Instead, he brushed her braid aside and kissed the soft skin just below her ear. She sighed and he froze as she shifted under the blanket and pressed her ass against his cock. Already semi-erect, it stiffened completely and he stifled a groan when she rubbed her ass against him.
She made another soft sigh and he slipped his hand inside her shirt and cupped her breast through the soft, tight undershirt she was wearing. Her nipple hardened against his palm and he plucked lightly at it. She arched her back in response, and his pulse thudded heavily when she moaned in her sleep.
He could smell her blood and he licked his lips as his fangs lengthened. He stared at the vein just below her ear and made his own soft groan of need. He was desperate for just a taste of her, and his entire body shivered as he fought the urge to sink his fangs into her skin.
He opened his eyes, they glowed softly in the darkness, and stared straight into the tiny face of Violet. He jerked wildly, his hand squeezing Abby’s breast tightly, and she frowned in her sleep.
“Gentle, Val.” She sighed.
He released his grip, more relieved than he was willing to admit that it was his name she sighed. He stroked her breast lightly as the little pixie gave him a look of disappointment.
“I wasn’t going to bite her.” He whispered defensively.
She arched her eyebrows at him and he felt another wave of uncharacteristic shame sweep through him.
“I wasn’t.” He insisted. “I just – I miss her.”
Violet’s face softened and she flew forward and brushed her tiny hand across his cheek. His fangs were retreating and the urge to taste Abigail’s blood had subsided to a dull roar. Violet petted his face again and he cleared his throat softly.
“Tell anyone I said that and I’ll squash you under my thumb.” He threatened without malice.
She rolled her eyes and pointed to her throat before smacking him lightly on the chin.
“I’m well aware you’re mute,” he muttered, “but I’ve no doubt you’d find a way to tell her if you were determined enough.”
She shook her head and kissed Abigail’s cheek lightly. Val looked around the camp. Faren was still not back and he rested his head behind hers on the jacket she was using as a pillow. He cupped her breast and pulled her tightly against his body, as Violet landed gently on his neck and lay across it. He could feel the pixie’s wings vibrating lightly against his skin, and he stared up at the dark sky as Abigail breathed deeply and rhythmically against him.
Chapter 5
Val stared at the ceiling of the carriage and waited impatiently. It had bumped to a stop less than ten minutes ago and he could hear the sounds of the humans setting up camp. Although the thick shutters on the carriage prevented any light from entering, he could sense the fading light of the sun. It would be at least another five minutes before he could leave the carriage. He glanced to his left. Faren was a sleeping lump on the seat across from his.
He closed his eyes and listened carefully. Faintly, he could hear the soft murmuring of Abigail’s voice and he relaxed against the seat. By this time tomorrow they would be at Darius’ estate. Apprehension slipped down his spine. He had a very bad feeling that Abigail would die at the hands of this Darius, and he was constantly fighting his urge to simply heave her over his shoulder and carry her away from this madness.
Faren stirred and sat up, rubbing his hand through his blond hair. He yawned and sat back against the seat, scratching absentmindedly at his crotch as Val sat up and pulled his boots on.
“What do you think the chances are those idiot humans will have stopped close to a town. God, even a small village would do. I’m tired of deer.” Faren asked grumpily.
Val rolled his eyes. “You’ve drank deer two nights in a row, Faren. It’s not going to kill you.”
“Did you feed last night?” Faren asked.
Val shook his head and Faren frowned at him. “Why are you doing this? Seduce the woman and feed from her.”
“I told her I wouldn’t.”
“So? Are you a vampire or not? Since when do we need a human’s permission to feed from them?”
“Not all of us feel the need to treat the humans like pets, Faren.”
Faren shrugged. “If you seduce her first, it won’t matter. She’ll beg you to feed from her. Hell, you can’t tell me she didn’t beg you to feed when you fucked her.”
“She didn’t.”
He stared at Val for a moment. “Huh. That’s pretty impressive for a human. If you won’t seduce and feed from her, perhaps I should. I’m curious to see if she can resist me the way she so easily resists you. I am known for - “
His voice cut out and he made a quiet choking noise. Val had moved across the carriage and was squeezing his throat with an iron-clad grip.
“I told you before, Faren. If you go anywhere near her, or near her friends, I will tear your head from your body. Do you believe that
I am lying?”
Faren, his face red and his hands clamped uselessly around Val’s hand, make a gurgling whisper.
“Do you?” Val shook him roughly and Faren shook his head weakly.
“Good.” Val released him and stood in the middle of the carriage as Faren coughed and wheezed.
“Fuck, Val! I thought we were friends.” He choked out.
“We are.” Val answered. “As long as you remember the woman belongs to me.”
When Faren only stared at him, Val leaned forward, his eyes glowing softly. “I was not lying when I told the dark human I killed the last man who touched her. We’re friends, Faren, but I won’t hesitate to kill you if you go anywhere near her. Do you—”
There was a loud thump as something hit the top of the carriage and the entire thing rocked wildly. Faren was thrown from the seat and Val fell backwards, smashing the back of his head against the rough, thick wood of the shutters.
“What the hell was that?” Faren rose gracefully to his feet and frowned at Val.
“I don’t—”
There was a loud shrieking cry of pain and Val’s entire body tensed before he leaped for the door of the carriage. Faren threw his arms around him and dragged him back.
“Have you gone mad?” He hissed. “The light has not yet faded! You’ll burn to a crisp, you fool!”
Val cursed loudly as there was another thin, wavering scream from outside the carriage. It was followed by a loud, inhuman roar and every hair on Val’s body stood on end.
“Abigail!” He shouted before tearing free from Faren’s grip. He ran to the door and held the handle tightly. Wesley bellowed noisily, an inarticulate sound of pain, and Val snarled and pounded on the door in rage.
“Wesley, move!” He heard Abigail shout as the last of the light faded from the sky.
He tore the door open and leaped from the carriage. He stumbled to a stop, staring in disbelief at the scene in front of him.
“Shifters!” Faren hissed beside him.
Val sucked in his breath. Shifters were half-human, half-beast. They were laughably stupid but incredibly dangerous. There were many types. Feline, wolf, and hyena were the most common but bigger, more threatening ones lurked deep within the woods. The shifters who had attacked the camp were bear shifters and some of the largest he’d ever encountered.
As he watched, the largest shifter lumbered its way to where the old man, Bill, was crawling across the grass. The man’s leg had been torn into and was hanging by only a few shreds of flesh. Blood flowed steadily from the wound, and Bill made a high-pitched keening noise as the shifter fell on him.
It roared with hunger before swiping its massive paw at Bill. The old man screamed again as the claws sunk deep into the back of his neck. He was turned as easily as a rag doll, and the shifter snarled and buried it’s large, hairy head into the old man’s neck.
“Bill!” Abigail screamed piercingly as the bear bit through the man’s neck, decapitating him. The shifter growled in obvious delight and tore a huge chunk of flesh from the man’s upper body.
Val shook off the paralysis that had come over him as Abigail ran toward the now-dead Bill and the shifter feeding from his body. Her sword was drawn and she leaped nimbly over a fallen log as Val raced towards them.
“Abigail, no!” He shouted.
Behind him, he could hear Faren hissing and growling as he leaped on a shifter that was attacking Evan. There was a loud growl of rage from one of the shifters, and Wesley screamed in triumph as he thrust his sword deep into the shifter’s fur-covered belly.
Before Val could reach Abigail, a shifter attacked him from behind. He felt its claws sink into his back and with a snarl of rage he threw himself backward. The claws sunk deeper into his back but he ignored the pain and slammed his body against the shifter, knocking it to the ground.
He turned nimbly, the shifter’s claws tearing from his body, and pinned the animal to the ground. It snapped its teeth at him and Val hissed as he raised his hand. His fingernails had lengthened and sharpened and he dragged them across the beast’s throat. They sunk easily into its thick pelt and sliced open the flesh and the large pulsing vein beneath it. Blood sprayed from the neck, and the shifter made a soft whimper before shifting to its human form.
Val pushed away from the dying beast, looking frantically for Abigail. His mouth dropped open in disbelief. Abigail, her cheeks flushed and her eyes lit with a wild fierce light, was battling the largest shifter. He watched as she moved around the hulking beast with the easy, limber grace of a dancer. Her sword flashed in the dim light of the moon as she thrust and jabbed. Each swing of her sword took a piece of the shifter. It roared and screamed with rage as chunks of bloody fur and flesh dropped to the ground.
He realized with a dim kind of amazement that she was actually toying with the beast. It swung one meaty paw at her head and she dodged it easily before jabbing her sword into its thigh. It roared again and dropped to all fours.
Before it could stand up, Abigail raised her sword and thrust it deep into the top of its head. It dropped like a stone to the ground and Abigail gave a thin shriek of victory before bracing her foot on the shifter’s shoulder and yanking the sword from its skull. Panting, her body and face splattered with the beast’s blood, she jerked and raised her sword as Val grabbed her arm.
“Abigail, it’s me.” He said soothingly as she stared wildly at him.
After a moment, she nodded and lowered her sword. She glanced over at Bill, and a soft moan escaped her lips.
“Oh, Bill.” She whispered. Tears were starting to slip down her face and her entire body slumped as she dropped her sword to the ground.
“I’m sorry, little dove.” Val put his hand on her shoulder and she turned and wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest.
He hugged her tightly and rubbed her back soothingly. Violet, her small face pinched with fear, buzzed up to them and landed on his shoulder.
She rubbed his cheek and he murmured, “She’s okay, bug.”
Violet squirmed between them and kissed Abigail’s neck repeatedly. Abby lifted her head from Val’s chest and gave the pixie a wavering smile. “I’m alright, little one.”
She stared up at Val and he wiped at the blood that was on her face with the ball of his thumb. She caught her breath and his eyes dropped to her mouth. He dipped his head and her lips parted in anticipation of his kiss.
Before he could press his mouth against hers, Wesley called her name. She jerked in his arms and pulled away from him, and Val hissed at the dark-skinned man.
“Stop it.” She admonished gently as Violet clung to her neck. She looked at her hands, they were covered in fresh blood, and she gave him a wide-eyed look of fear.
“You’re bleeding!”
She yanked on his arm and made him turn around so she could examine his back. She made a low moan of dismay at the blood that was seeping through his shirt and tugged at the hem of it.
“Raise your arms, Val.” She demanded.
He lifted his arms obediently and she pulled his shirt over his head as Faren joined them. He peered with interest at the deep punctures in Val’s back.
“Not bad.” He grinned.
Abigail glared at him. “Make yourself useful and get me some bandages.”
Faren rolled his eyes. “I’m not your servant, human.”
He walked away, humming softly under his breath, before crouching and prodding at the closest dead shifter. “I have not seen bear shifters in many years. I thought their kind died out long ago.”
Abigail traced the wounds on Val’s back and frowned when he shuddered. “I’m sorry, did that hurt?”
He shook his head and took a few deep breaths. The wounds were already healing, he could feel the flesh starting to knit back together, and he was uncomfortably aware of the softness of Abigail’s hands on his back. It was all he could do to stop himself from turning and kissing her.
“Oh my God.” Abby whispered weakly. Sh
e watched as Val’s skin closed over the puncture wounds. She rubbed away the streaks of blood and shook her head in amazement at the smoothness of his back.
“That’s so cool.” She muttered absently and he grinned before turning around to face her.
“Are you sure you’re not hurt, little dove?”
She nodded. “I’m fine.”
Wesley and Evan were crouching over Bill’s dead body and she sighed softly and joined them. Val watched as she rubbed first Evan’s back and then Wesley’s. His hands clenched into fists when Wesley hugged her tightly, his large body shuddering against hers.
“I’m so sorry, Wesley.” She whispered.
He nodded and she kissed his cheek lightly. “Let me see your side.”
Blood was seeping through his shirt and he lifted it gingerly. Abby bent and frowned at the slashes on his side. “Oh, Wesley.”
“It’s not as bad as it looks.” He gritted out when she probed gently at the torn skin.
“They’ll need to be sewn up.” She gave him a rueful look as he dropped his shirt.
She turned to the young redhead. “Evan? Are you hurt?”
The redhead, his freckles standing out from his pale skin, shook his head. “No. The leech saved me.”
Faren grinned and gave him a small salute. “You’re welcome, human.”
The three of them stood and Abigail slipped her arms around Wesley’s and Evan’s waists and squeezed briefly, being careful not to touch Wesley’s wounds. “We need to bury him.”
“We should go.” Val said. “There may be more.”
“We bury him!” Wesley snapped at him and Abigail rubbed his back soothingly.
“We will, Wesley.”
Val opened his mouth to argue and she gave him a hard look and shook her head. He sighed harshly and walked away.
— —
“You should go and feed, Val.” Abby said quietly.
She was kneeling on the ground next to a stretched-out Wesley. Evan was hovering over them, holding a lantern as close to the big man’s side as he could, while Abigail carefully sewed the man’s torn skin.