“So we really are sort of connected?”
He began to stroke again. “Mm. And hopefully other parts are engaged, too, aye?”
I swallowed hard. Stay on topic. “Do the other vampires know you can do this?”
He pulled his hand away. “There is no doing of anything. I merely have insights others lack, and that only sometimes.” With a tired exhale, he reclined, resting his head in his hands. “But aye, the vampires have their suspicions. I believe it’s why the Spaniard keeps me around.”
“So, Master Alcántara doesn’t like you, but he’s too worried he might need you, so has kept you around just in case.”
“He’s not your master,” Carden snapped, pinning his eyes on me.
“Hey, I don’t trust him, either.”
He softened his words, pulling a hand from behind his head to stroke my lower back. “These things I tell you…it’s important you not discuss it with others.”
I trusted Carden, and hearing his words made it clear how much he trusted me, too. “He suspects you of the murders, you know.”
His laugh was jaded. “Suspects me, or merely wishes to conveniently pin them on me?” His hand stroked up to my shoulder, and he eased onto his elbow to pull me down beside him. “Fret not, petal. He cannot touch me.”
I rolled onto my side to face him, the move natural, me drawn to him. My whole body throbbed, aware of him lying so close. I’d never been with a guy before. It was all so new, so overwhelming. How was I supposed to act? I rested my hand on his hard chest and longed to stroke up and down, to explore every inch of him, but was feeling oddly shy.
This close to him, my thirst nearly overpowered me. But something else overcame me, too—it was the urge to make him smile. I told him, “I can hang with dove, but you cannot call me petal.”
He laughed, and the faint moonlight picked out the white of his eyes and teeth. “But it got your mind off Hugo; did it not?”
I tried my best glare, even though it was probably wasted in the shadows. “It did not.”
“I’m flattered by your concern, but truly, Alcántara and I were sparring for centuries before you were born.”
Sparring. The notion gave me a chill. I’d seen how Alcántara dealt with his enemies. I couldn’t bear to see Carden hurt. I wouldn’t see him hurt. “You’re obviously not the killer,” I said, growing serious. “We need to find out who is. I’m investigating.”
“The killings?” Carden cupped my cheek, his tone suddenly intense. “You’ll do no such thing.”
“I have to prove your innocence.”
“I’m flattered, Annelise.” He swept his thumb along my lower lip. “You do me an honor even to think it. But I cannot allow you to put yourself at risk.”
“Look,” I continued quickly before his touch could distract me, “I’ll be careful.” I could make headway, especially now that I had Mei-Ling helping me. And I knew exactly where I’d look next—at the cliff where Acari Kate had fallen. She’d seen something before she died; I couldn’t get that scream out of my head. “I’ll go in daylight. I’ll bring friends. There’s strength in numbers.”
“You’ll get hurt.”
“Alcántara told me that the punishment is death. If he pins this on you, and you get killed, how hurt do you think I’ll be then?”
“Dearest one,” he said, his voice gone hoarse. He twined his hand through the hair at the base of my neck, sending a delicious shiver up my body. “Pray it doesn’t come to that.”
I furrowed my brows, trying to keep focused. “It won’t. Not if I find the killer.”
“I’ll find the killer,” he said definitively. He was stroking my neck now, and his touch seared me like a brand. “You need only do two things.”
I resisted the urge to rub against his hand like a cat begging to be pet. “What things?”
“You must swear you’ll keep yourself safe.”
“I swear I’ll be careful,” I told him, and it felt like I was mentally crossing my fingers behind my back. Because swearing to be careful and swearing to not investigate were two different things.
He studied me, looking for the truth, and I met his gaze unabashedly. After all, I hadn’t lied, not really.
Satisfied, he began to massage the base of my neck. His fingers were deft, and the pressure finally, blissfully, began to ease the pounding in my skull that’d plagued me for days.
I sighed with pleasure. “And what else do I need to do?”
“You must kiss me.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
I didn’t take more urging than that. My eyes fluttered shut. I wet my lips. I waited, desperate to feel his mouth touch mine.
I’d waited so long, agonizing over just this, wondering about the bond, what it meant. All those questions seemed so useless now, faced with the total rightness of this moment.
There was more to our connection than just some chemical reaction. I trusted Carden. I wanted him. I wanted to spend time with him. And I wanted the bond, too. I wanted this feeling I got when he was near…this feeling that I wasn’t in it alone.
This feeling that somebody cared and was brave enough to do something about it.
Carden was Vampire, which meant he was unfathomably powerful. He could be cold and callous. He seemed weary of vampire politics and gamesmanship, bored of the banal and brutish slog of humankind.
But he was also honorable. Wise. Strong in heart and body. I’d sensed it in his reassuring touches—in the brush of a finger, a grazing hand. Touches that were small enough to seem like afterthoughts, but potent enough, with intent enough, to shore me up and make me feel like I wasn’t forgotten. Those had been the moments when I’d felt like he’d not just looked at me, but had looked for me. Seen me.
“This is it,” he whispered, and I felt the brush of his lips against mine. “This will sustain the bond. Are you certain it’s what you want?”
I’d never before experienced a perfect moment, but this came close. The sound of the waves reverberated through our cave, and the crashing echoed my heartbeat. It was dim and cool, the air briny and fresh. It invigorated me, renewed me.
“I’m sure,” I told him. His fingers scraped lightly along my scalp, raking through my hair, and my body shivered with pleasure at the sensation. The muscles in my neck slackened as I let his hand take the weight of my head.
But still the kiss didn’t come. His lips were a whisper away from mine, and I longed to feel the pressure of his mouth on mine. Longed to give myself to him.
He’d been more forthcoming than anyone on this island. I could tell he had a history with Alcántara and probably with others of the Directorate, too. Was he fighting a secret battle with them? Did he court me as an ally or as a woman?
It might have been a little of both, but right here, right now in this cave, I felt all woman in his arms. I waited for the kiss to come, but he teased me, nuzzling my cheek and brushing his nose against mine.
“You can kiss me,” I whispered. Then I said it again, my voice louder, more demanding. “Kiss me, Carden.”
That was all he needed. His tongue swept along my lower lip, and oh God, it felt so good. He was so good. My lips parted on a moan, quickly taken by his kiss.
Fire crackled along my veins, burned through me until I was alive with only one sensation—his touch on my body. The crashing waves, the drip-drip of water in the depths of the cavern, the cold sand beneath me—all these things fell away. All I knew was his mouth on mine.
I couldn’t get close enough and pulled him closer. Then I pulled him closer still, and when I did, I felt his low laugh vibrate through my body.
He parted from me. “Such passion,” he whispered, kissing along my cheek. “I knew,” he said, his breath hot in my ear. “I knew you were a dove with wings of fire.” He kissed his way down to my neck, and I felt the scrape of his fangs.
We flinched apart at the same time.
I’d mocked the girls who were so beholden to these immortals. I had detested the feeders and d
isdained the vampires, and yet here I was, with a vampire—there was no more vivid a reminder than the brush of those fangs on my neck.
“I’m sorry,” I said, “I—It’s just—”
“Hush.” He placed a gentle finger on my lips. “In time, sweet. When you’re ready.” He kissed me again, more gently this time.
But this long and tender kiss drove me wilder than I could’ve imagined. I began to writhe with frustration, wanting a kiss like we’d shared before. Stronger, firmer. “Please.” I cupped his cheeks and pressed my mouth to his. “Really kiss me.”
“I dare not.” His voice was ragged with a desire that amplified mine.
I longed to be a part of him. We would remain bonded—it was all I wanted now. I turned my head slightly, exposing my neck. I’d made my decision. I was ready. “It’s okay.”
“I mustn’t leave a mark.” He nibbled me, but didn’t break the skin. “They mustn’t see.”
I squirmed, anxious for him to do it. “Who cares wh—”
In an instant, his mouth was back on mine, silencing my protests, and this kiss was different. It seared through me, my yearning of moments ago drowned by something more acute. The flames had become wildfire, consuming me. I craved him, desperate now for Carden to mark me, for his teeth to score my skin.
I tangled my hands in his hair and pushed his face away from mine. “You can bite. I want you to. I don’t care who sees.”
“Soon, love.” He kissed me again, ducking his mouth to mine over and over, murmuring, “Soon” and “Someday.” Then he growled, “But first…” He took me in a deep kiss, his tongue sliding against mine. He took the kiss deeper still, until I felt the nick of his fang.
I drew in a sharp breath, exhaled in a slow shudder. I tasted him on my tongue. Felt my breath go into his lungs.
He chuckled again, and the deep, masculine sound made my heart soar. In that instant, I could imagine nothing more gratifying than being the one who made Carden smile.
“We must get back,” he told me some time later.
I was finally, finally sated, and it was better than I’d imagined it could be. Far better than the last time. Last time, when we’d first kissed, we’d been strangers. Now I knew Carden. We had a bond that was emotional as well as chemical. The aching had disappeared so completely it was as though I’d never even been in pain. I’d tasted him again and was at peace.
“Must we?” I held his cheeks in my hands, wishing it weren’t so dark. I wished I could see those honey eyes and that they might tell me some truth about what was between us. “Why did you go with me that day in the dungeons? When I first got there, it seemed you’d rather die than return with Alcántara.”
“You were too much for my defenses.” He swept a finger down my cheek. “You are too bright a light. How could I help but bask in you? Even if it did mean going back to Hugo.” He cupped a warm hand over mine, pressing it to his cheek. “We could run away now. I could take you from here. Something is happening on this island, but I could take you to safety.”
Yes, I wanted to shout, but I thought of all the people I cared about. I couldn’t leave Emma, or Ronan, either, I realized. And then there was Mei-Ling—she wouldn’t survive without me. She’d last a week, maybe more, but she’d eventually get eaten alive. In my heart I said yes, but the word I spoke was “No.”
He gazed deep into my eyes, a quiet smile on his face. “Then perhaps someday we will. But first there are larger battles to fight.”
“And let me guess. A McCloud doesn’t run from a battle?”
He swooped in, landing a grinning kiss on my cheek. “Precisely, love. And now we really must go. It will be light soon.”
I peered hard, trying to read those eyes in the shadows. “Can you see in the dark?”
“Aye, well enough.”
“How is it you can see in the daylight?” I wanted to know more, to know everything. About vampires, but especially about Carden.
He laughed. “You put off the inevitable. Come.” He stood and held out his hand to help me up. “We will talk as we walk. If anyone sees us, you may tell them that we were out performing terribly onerous, dangerous maneuvers along the cliffs.”
“Our maneuvers, huh?” I caught his eye with a sparkle in mine. “That was far from onerous. As for dangerous…that remains to be seen.”
His laugh was genuine but low, and I realized I needed to lower my voice as well. The sky had faded from black to a deep gunmetal gray. We were cutting it close—we had only about an hour to get back before the campus began to rouse for the day.
“You still didn’t answer me,” I whispered, wanting to get every last bit out of our time together.
“About how vampires can see in daylight?”
“About how you can see in daylight. It seems like it’s harder for Alcántara than it is for you.”
“He’s older than I, for one. But I’ve spent much time outdoors. I’ve become acclimated, of necessity.”
“Outdoors. Are you from here?”
“Near enough. I’ve been here for many years. But I was born on the Isle of Skye, long ago.”
I heard such sadness in his voice. How many generations of McClouds had lived and died while he still walked. I asked quietly, “Is Skye a lot like this?”
“Greener. It’s spectacular. It’s rocky and cold and beautiful.”
I reached out and slipped my hand in his, needing to touch him, to take away that melancholy. “Is that where you learned to climb?”
“Aye, I learned on the Black Cuillin, climbing cliffs when I was just a lad.”
We were cresting the top of the hillside, back to the point where the trail had dropped off so suddenly. He wrapped his hands about my waist, helping me up, making my ascent effortless.
His touch on my body made me breathless. I caught his gaze and held it, fantasizing that we weren’t returning to campus. That instead we were running away into the sunset. He could return home, and I would go with him.
His eyes narrowed on mine, focusing as though he’d guessed my thoughts. Carden leaned down to steal a breathtaking kiss, and when he pulled away, his voice was a raspy whisper. “Someday, mo chridhe.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
I rolled over, blinking sleep from my eyes. Faraway shouts had woken me. I eased up onto an elbow, trying to get my bearings.
Mei was wide-awake and sitting cross-legged on her bed. She held a book in her hands, but had a distant look in her eyes, listening.
“What’s going on?” I mumbled, tuning in to the distant hubbub.
She put her book down. “Good morning, Acari Drew.”
“I told you to—” I began to insist she call me Drew, but seeing the humorous light in her eye, I grinned right back. “Okay, okay. Good morning to you, too, Acari Ho.”
I swung my legs out of bed. The floor was frigid, but I didn’t care. I didn’t even feel it. I was bulletproof again. I’d fed from Carden. I wasn’t thirsty or jittery or achy. I was just happy. “God, I slept great.”
And I was in a brilliant mood. Not only was I physically sated, but I was nursing a big old crush. I smiled to myself as I dressed, thinking of Carden. Already I’d thought of more things I wanted to ask him. More I wanted to tell him.
He’d snuck me back in the dorm before dawn, where I’d grabbed what I estimated was a few solid hours of sleep. I’d woken up hungry, only this time it was for food, not blood. It felt fantastic.
I patted my belly, thinking of the omelet I’d have, and some warm, buttery toast to push it around. I’d maybe even add a glop of marmalade. I’d have a yogurt, too, with fruit if they had any, which they probably wouldn’t, but this morning I’d settle for the dried stuff, dates and tiny shriveled berries stirred in. “What time is it? I’m starved.”
“You slept through breakfast.”
“What?” I hunched, pouting. “Why’d you let me sleep?”
“Let you? I tried to wake you.” The shouting was getting closer. There were lots of voices now, call
ing out. Mei-Ling shoved aside her book and stood. “What do you think is happening?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll take it.” Something was definitely going on, and after days of lockdown, I welcomed the excitement. I finished pulling on my uniform as quickly as I could. Food would have to wait. “This is better than Christmas morning.”
It sounded like people were gathering in the common area, and Mei was halfway out the door when I told her, “Meet you there.”
By the time I ducked into the bathroom and jogged down the hall to join her, everyone had assembled.
“Come on, girls,” Kenzie said sharply. “Let’s get this show on the road. I know a bunch of teachers anxious to kick all your butts back into gear, so I’ll make this quick. Lockdown’s over.”
Chatter exploded in the small space. “It’s over?”
“If you shut up, I’ll tell you.” Kenzie glared at us, her arms clasped at her chest—ever the charmer. But it shut us up all right. “Listen up, because this affects some of you personally.” Her eyes landed on me and flitted away again. “There was another murder. Tracer Judge is dead. They found the killer. Master McCloud has been taken into custody. He’ll be staked. I don’t know when.”
There was another burst of questions as she strode to the front of the room. “You know everything I do,” she shouted over the din. “Get to class. I’ll keep you posted. I’m sure they’ll want us at the staking.”
That was it. She left.
I reeled.
All eyes landed on me. I didn’t care, though. They could stare all they wanted. Screw them. Screw this island. I was over it. Done.
Judge was dead. Nice, decent, smart Judge. And now Carden was going to be right behind him, accused of crimes he didn’t commit. Carden, whose eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled. Who called me ridiculous names. Who might have been an all-powerful vampire, but he talked to me, confided in me. Softened for me.
He’d be staked unless I did something about it.
Talk about a no-brainer—I would do something about it.
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