by Julia Laque
As a newborn vampire, she'd be hungry often, and unfortunately for him she could only get so much nourishment from his blood. Her real source of sustenance would have to be human or animal.
He cursed in his head. The thought of her replenishing her body with the wolf’s blood bugged the fuck out of him. Irritated that the mutt kept slipping into his head, he repositioned them. Moving carefully as to not disturb her work, he rolled her onto her back. Her movements down there were driving him insane and he needed to put a little space between them.
Cyrus remembered how he’d felt drinking his maker’s blood.
Vertigo hit him hard and reluctantly he pulled back, trying futilely to disengage her fangs from his throat. Evangeline held onto him, refusing to let go. “Evangeline, you’ll suck me dry.” Fuck! Ok…wrong choice of words. His hard on twitched between them and this time he was right between her legs. Her robe had crumpled higher around her waist and despite her new blood type, she was warm down there, warm and wet. She must have realized their precarious position because she froze on his neck, pulling away slowly.
Evangeline leaned her head back on the comforter and stared avidly at him in extreme befuddlement.
He gazed back at her, his tongue suddenly leaden. The urge to soothe and explain to her what was going on in her new form just floated out of his head.
There was a tightening in his chest. A balloon the size of Texas was about to burst inside him. This must be like what a mother felt the first time she laid eyes on her child, only it was different, very different. This child was not one he had fathered with another. She was his alone, a product of his love and desire for her. She was a part of him now, in every sense.
Cyrus had ignored his true feelings for her before and for good reason, but now, it was inevitable he face it.
He loved her.
In every way possible, he loved her. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for this woman. She was his ward and underling. For all intents and purposes, she was his to command, but Evangeline had him wrapped around her finger.
The amount of blood she’d obtained was enough to sate five vampires, but her eyes were still shining bright. Her body was trembling beneath him and she rubbed his arms hard, begging for something. The need in her expression was heartbreaking. She was overcome with an intense desire, one no human or vampire could ignore.
It was his blood coursing under her skin, yearning for the most ultimate of sensations.
Closing his eyes in defeat, he thought, Why fight it? Her nails were digging into his back and she was breathing hard.
Cyrus opened his eyes to take a mental photo of the look on her face. She did not know what she craved, but he did.
“Bloody hell,” he whispered, his face tight, and began to move. His hips drove forward between her thighs in slow rhythmic movements. Cyrus kept his pants securely fastened. He wasn’t suicidal after all. His ward was aching and it was his duty to take care of her.
He didn’t know whose need was greater, his or hers, but it didn’t matter. They both had to find release. The aching expression on her face was a clear indicator she was in pain.
The feel of her sex against him made his head reel. Her lips were parted as she gazed at him, and it took every ounce of restraint not to taste them.
Thrusting harder against her, he felt her go rigid, her expression confused as she stared at him with wide hungry eyes. There was little time left. She was coming slowly to her senses, but her body still necessitated the release it shuddered for.
“Stop!” she said, in an agonized whisper, pushing against his chest.
Cyrus pulled back instantly, unable to control his release. Violent tremors rocked through him making him go dizzy.
When he could, he opened his eyes to look at her. Evangeline was in shock. She was gasping, her chest heaving rapidly, but of course her odd heartbeat was now gone. Her vampire venom now circulated her blood.
“Are you sure?” Cyrus gazed at her in concern, amazed she was able to control herself. “You’re in pain. Let me—”
“No.” Her body trembled beneath him. “I’m fine.” She shifted under him, trying to avoid any further contact. “Please…”
“Damn it!” Cyrus rolled off her to lie on his back and stared up at the moldy plywood. He spoke without looking at her. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself.” His voice was clip and stern. “And for a moment there neither could you.”
From the corner of his eye he could still see her puffing away with her hand on her chest as if waiting to feel a pulse. She lay there staring straight ahead for a long while. He wondered if she’d lost her ability to speak in the process of the transformation.
“Say something,” he demanded, still not facing her.
Her voice, always beautiful, was now an octave higher. Her singsong tone resonated in his bones. “Will it always be like that between us?” she asked anxiously.
His jaw flexed. “No.” Evangeline was worried she had no control over her body. “I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you. Your reaction to me was based on the transformation. Your human blood runs through me and my vampire blood runs through you. The initial bond between a creator and his newborn is quite powerful.” She was nodding her head, remembering the affects from all her studies. He turned to look at her and she met his stare. Her eyes were back to their lovely green and he smiled possessively. “Your senses are heightened now. They were particularly heightened when you woke up. It’s only natural for you to become aroused when you feed, especially when you feed from your maker.”
Her face was grave. “We can never do that again.”
“I’m sorry,” he said again, but was he? It’s not like they had really fucked. His damn pants were zipped and buttoned. Still, he could understand she’d feel guilty for what they’d done, but he sure as hell wouldn’t.
He sighed heavily, irritated. Her love for the Blacktail ran deep. Otherwise she would have never been able to stop herself as she did. Cyrus had been right. She had profound strength and a small part of him, a very tiny fraction, was actually proud of her. Her other supernatural side must of had a hand in too, giving her the power to control her urges. His ward was going to handle her transition just fine.
Evangeline turned to stare up again at the floorboards, an apprehensive look on her perfect skin.
“You look amazing. How do you feel?”
Pondering for a moment, she said, “Physically, I feel like a million bucks, a little hungry, but fine. It’s just…” She searched for words. Her hesitation told him she was fretting over seeing her wolf again. “I have to see him.”
“Whenever you’re ready,” he said immediately, but cringed inwardly. He did not want to part from her. Jealousy over Adam was tenfold what it was before. How the hell was he going to let her go to him? How the hell could he walk away from her again? He hadn’t really thought that far ahead, too caught up in the moment.
“I’m ready now. Is it safe to go up?” She fixed her robe around her.
He nodded mutely, but thought not likely. “I’ll go first.” He cleared his throat. “Calm yourself. Your emotions are still a bit…telling.”
Her hands covered her face in real mortification.
Cyrus sighed and popped the loose floorboards to climb up into the basement. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
*****
The voices in his head wouldn’t shut the fuck up. The room spun around him and the floor tilted like he was standing on the deck of a ship.
Adam leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands, relishing and hating the effects of the pills and alcohol his pack had given him.
They had run all night together, trying futilely to take his mind off of what was happening at home. At daybreak they had practically dragged him to Ramo’s place and tossed back at least five bottles of tequila. Ramo had given him some pills too and he’d taken them without question, but since then he’d been hallucinating and hearing disturbing voices in his hea
d. He heard Evangeline’s cries as she’d given birth, his pack’s howls, Cyrus’ yells as he’d slammed the door to their bedroom on his face and his father’s antagonizing put downs at his willingness to turn Evangeline into their greatest enemy.
It felt like years had passed since he’d left last night. When the hell would they come up?
Jason had reluctantly dropped him off a few minutes ago and Adam had stumbled in and plopped into the armchair in the living room where he sat now. He had insisted on going home to see her when she woke up. He knew his beta waited outside to make sure for himself Evangeline was okay.
Adam mulled over the past few days and again he came to the awful truth he’d fought against all last night. This was his fault. If he’d never taken Evangeline she would be alive and well now. She would have married that freak, but at least she would have been healthy. Cyrus couldn’t get her pregnant so she would have been able to stay human.
His father suddenly reared his ugly face in his mind, scoffing at him. Adam rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands, attempting to clear them. His mind jumped from turmoil to turmoil and his stomach rolled with anticipation. He was anxious to see her. He needed her, needed to see she was alive and going to be okay. Somewhere in the far reaches of his befuddled mind he knew she was okay. He’d have felt it if she weren’t.
A vision of Cyrus slamming his bedroom door in his face flashed before his eyes. Adam tried to center his attention on the big issue, which was Evangeline’s health, but he couldn’t control the perverse working of his brain. What was Cyrus doing with her right now? Did he have his arms around her? Jealousy stabbed through his wretched heart at the thought of him lying beside her.
As much as he’d asked his pack all morning none of them would tell him what a vampire transformation consisted of. Either they didn’t know or refused to enlighten him. He’d been too wasted to look online and he’d left his phone at home.
“You actually want to watch me get into bed with her and sink my teeth in her throat?” Cyrus’ words made his stomach jolt for the millionth time.
God, what was wrong with him? Cyrus was saving her, but leaving her alone with the bloodsucker was pure, unadulterated torture. He winced. Bloodsucker was a rude name to describe a vampire, a term he’d used for as long as he could remember. Adam couldn’t imagine referring to Evangeline as one and yet, that was what she’d become. Interestingly enough, it wasn’t Cyrus being a vampire, which bothered him so much anymore. It was the fact he was in love with his lady that pissed the fuck out of him. Knowing he was alone with her right now, doing God knows what to her.
So Evangeline was now a part of the supernatural. So what? He knew she’d probably find her new life fascinating when all this blew over. Adam just couldn’t shove the nagging feeling this would not be the end of the Adam/Evangeline/Cyrus triangle.
The sound of clapping wood made him jerk his head up. It came from downstairs. Jason had warned him not to go down there. His fucking second had actually threatened him. The movement from down there echoed in his head and it was though an invisible hand had materialized and slapped him into focus.
His heart was hammering in his ears, but he controlled the spasms running through him with the help of the drugs still in his blood. Instead of getting up to meet them at the back end of the house, he stayed where he was, glued to the chair. He sat back, a bit slouched with his head bowed, eyes on the open doorway of the living room. He tried to relax his composure, but the nagging feeling grew, turning his would-be calm position to a menacing crouch. He gripped and released the arms of the chair, counting every excruciating second.
Two pairs of footsteps hit the stairs.
His chest constricted and he squeezed his eyes shut at the sound of her dainty feet. An array of emotions swiveled inside him.
She was alive. Thank God, she was alive and walking to him right now. He couldn’t move though. The tension in his body only increased with every passing second. Something was wrong. He felt the nervous panic in the pit of his stomach.
A door creaked along with the footsteps now, and he heard the rustle of fabric. Adam pulled in an unsteady breath and froze.
It took Adam about half a second to register in his muddled brain the scent wafting toward him. The instant he realized what it was, Evangeline and Cyrus appeared in the doorway.
He took a cursory glance at Evangeline. Her eyes were wide with panic, but she looked amazing. He wanted to go to her and hold her in his arms and a small part of him actually hesitated to take in the realization she was going to be fine, but fury, hate and tequila won over. A burning, red haze filled his eyes.
“YOU MOTHERFUCKER!” Adam lunged across the room in one graceful leap, tackling Cyrus. They landed hard on the floor of the foyer, cracking the hardwood beneath them. Adam clasped his hands around his throat, choking the shit out of him. “I fucking trusted you!” His voice was sheer animal, a ferocious growl. Hauling back his fist, he landed a fierce blow to Cyrus’ head.
“Adam, please—”
He vaguely heard the angelic cry behind him. “She trusted you? How could you do it? I’ll fucking kill you!” He was spitting with rage as his fist met Cyrus’ face again.
The door slammed open and he felt more than saw Jason’s readiness to fight.
“No!” Evangeline screamed.
Adam’s grip slackened at her protest, giving Cyrus the chance to throw him off, landing a swift kick to his stomach, and tossing him into a wall.
They got to their feet at the same time, crouched and poised to pounce.
Before Adam could make his move, Evangeline jumped in between them. She faced Adam with her hands up, her back to Cyrus. She was the most frighteningly, beautiful thing in the world.
Evangeline’s limbs were strong as ever. Every movement she made was executed with grace and care. Her body, always slender and lithe looked healthy and firmer. She faced him warily. Adam realized in his fury she was protecting him. Cyrus.
Seething, he spoke to her. “Tell me you’re not protecting him?”
Evangeline seemed to have noticed her posture and straightened up some. “Please, Adam, don’t. He saved me. Please don’t do this.”
He spoke through his teeth. “Move, Evangeline!”
Tears began to fall down her perfect cheekbones. “I c—can’t,” she stuttered.
Adam lifted his arm and punched through the glass window beside him. He shouted in agony. “He fucking raped you! MOVE!”
There was a loud growl, a shudder, and then several pops. Too caught up in their shit, he hadn’t noticed the bomb in the doorway.
Jason exploded. Shards of clothing ricocheted around the foyer. He crouched down, snarling, ready to kill.
Evangeline screamed. “NO! Jason, stop!”
Adam was thankful at least one of them could shift. He had to wait till all the pills he took were out of his system, which wouldn’t be too much longer.
Adam and Jason advanced carefully, waiting for Evangeline to get out of the way.
Stunned, Adam watched as she braced her arms outward, shielding Cyrus from them. Cyrus put a restraining hand on her arm as she backed them up against the far wall.
“What the hell are you doing?” Adam’s eyes were wide on hers.
She was crying hysterically now. “I can’t let you hurt him.”
Adam shifted his gaze to Cyrus. “Are you going to hide behind my mate like a coward or are you going to fight me like a man?”
Glowering, Cyrus said, “It’s useless, Adam. Even if I order her to move, she won’t.” His eyes turned grave. “She’ll die for me if she has to.”
All the breath in his body was cut off. He stood frozen, glaring at the scene before him. Evangeline was panting and shivering, protecting the monster behind her.
“I’m sorry, Adam, but I can’t let you hurt him. I’m trying to move, but my body won’t allow it.” Her face was a mixture of pain, confusion, and terror. “I want…but…I can’t… Oh, God!”
“What the hell is this?” Adam barked, his head throbbing.
Cyrus managed to move her to the side. “I’m her maker. In many ways our connection is more powerful than any father/daughter or husband/wife. She’ll obey my every command and protect me by any means possible.”
Adam’s head reeled. “Son of a bitch! You sure took advantage, you prick!” He stepped closer, but Evangeline moved in front of him again.
Cyrus’ jaw clenched, but he didn’t reply.
Evangeline said in a small voice. “Adam, he didn’t rape me.”
At her words, Adam stiffened, absolutely stupefied.
Her face was tormented. If Cyrus hadn’t taken advantage of her...
Had she consented?
He stared at her in shock. “No,” Adam whispered in betrayal, his bloodshot eyes piercing into hers. The tears continued to pour down her face and a tiny fraction of his soul was relieved she could still do this very human act. She stepped toward him, warily. Her sorrowful expression told him all he needed to know. He couldn’t speak, couldn’t think. There was no way she’d betray him. And yet, he honed in on her emotions.
There it was.
Evangeline was filled with guilt, shame and, to his horror, he felt the stunning urgency of her arousal. She was fighting it, but it engulfed her.
Jesus Christ! She didn’t! The room tilted beneath him.
“Careful, Evangeline,” Cyrus uttered behind her.
“He won’t hurt me,” she said.
“The way he is looking at you would suggest otherwise. Give him some space,” Cyrus warned her.
Adam didn’t hear a word of their exchange. He stared dumbfounded at the woman he loved as the truth of her words rang loud in his head.
He didn’t rape me.
“Adam, please let me explain. It’s not what you’re thinking.” Evangeline was about two feet from him.
There was a loud roaring in his ears. It’s not what I’m thinking? Shit, he couldn’t even think straight right now. He focused on the signs blaring at him in the face. The scent of the king’s release and her profound guilt was in the air. Evangeline sobbed and the prick behind her just stood there watching him. What the fuck am I supposed to think?