by Eden (lit)
“Bad,” she answered weakly. “Gonna pass out.”
“No,” he pleaded. “I can’t take you for help like this. Catrina, please stay with me. Is there any place close by? Anywhere at all?”
“Ravensdale Manor,” she whispered. “That way.”
Catrina had only enough strength left to point. She floated in and out of consciousness as Alexander lifted her gently from the ground. He cradled her small body against him with a tenderness she would not have expected from a werewolf. She could tell that they were moving, but he did his best to hold her head still.
“I’m so sorry,” he said. “I should have gotten there sooner. Hold on, Catrina. I’ll get you some help.”
She took comfort in the feel of his soft fur against her face. Even though they were both soaked through from the rain, his fur reminded her of Hank, her teddy bear. Then she thought about how she was marring his blond fur with her blood and immediately thought of Viktor. He was able to heal her injuries before with his blood.
She tried to communicate this to Alexander, but all that came out was, “Viktor.”
Alexander’s heart ached to hear her calling the vampire’s name while she lay close to death in his arMs.
“I’ll make sure someone calls him,” he assured her.
“No,” she moaned. “Get him. He can help.”
Then it dawned on him what she had been trying to say. Alexander also knew of the healing properties of vampire blood, and Viktor would loan them his if he had to bleed him himself.
Alexander continued to cradle her head against him as he crashed through bushes and tore across the countryside. He normally didn’t come this far west of the city. His pack gathered on the full moon in some woods to the east. Too late he had learned of Allen’s plans to harm her and he was afraid that Catrina might pay for his mistake with her life.
When he reached the next hilltop he saw Ravensdale Manor looming in the distance. It was huge. He wondered how it was that he’d never heard of it before. Whoever owned the place was obviously a relative of Catrina’s because they had the same last name and it wasn’t common. When he drew closer to the front door, he slowed his pace so as not to alert anyone to his presence.
He had only a moment to form a plan and pray to God that it worked. Alexander bent down and rested Catrina on the doorstep as gently as if he were laying a baby in a crib. Then he rang the doorbell and leapt into the bushes.
Less than a minute later a man with dark hair and skin opened the door and gasped when he saw Catrina.
“Catrina,” he said, kneeling beside her.
Alexander summoned his most composed “professor” voice and called out, “Please, we need your help.”
The man looked up and said, “Who are you?”
“A friend. She was attacked in a clearing a few miles back and asked me to bring her here.”
“Who did this?” the man asked, his Spanish accent becoming thicker as he spoke. “I will see them dead for this.”
“They already are,” the werewolf growled.
“Show yourself,” the man demanded.
Chapter Seventeen
Alexander stepped out of the shadows and the man’s eyes grew wide as he crossed himself and muttered something in Spanish.
“My name is Alexander Anderson and I will do whatever it takes to save this woman,” he said. “Will you help me?”
The man seemed to regain some of his composure as he said quickly, “My name is Antonio. Bring her in and follow me.”
The werewolf lifted her gently once again and held her against him. Catrina came to and rubbed one hand through the fur on his chest.
“Don’t leave me,” she whispered. “Whatever happens, don’t leave. I’m afraid.”
She reached beneath the fur until she found his skin. He was feverish to the touch, in spite of the cold rain. His warmth seemed to creep into her and with the realization that she was pressed against Alexander’s chest, her heart beat faster. Unfortunately, this only made her head hurt worse and she groaned.
“In here,” Antonio said as he led them into the first bedroom up the stairs.
“Antonio?” she asked.
“Hush,” he replied gently. “We will take care of you. You’re going to be alright.”
Alexander laid her gently on the bed as Antonio rushed back out of the room. He returned within a few minutes with a first aid kit.
“Call The Palace,” the werewolf said. “Ask for Viktor Van Helsing.”
“Van Helsing?” Antonio asked incredulously.
“Just do it. Tell him that Catrina has been hurt and that we need his help. Tell him to come at once.” When Antonio still hesitated he added, “I’m afraid that only he can save her.”
When Catrina was next aware of anything, she saw Antonio sitting beside her on the bed. He was checking her pulse. Despite the circumstances, it was good to see him. His dark shoulder length hair was pulled back neatly into a pony tail and he was dressed to the nines as usual. He was six years older than her and they had been close when she was growing up. They had grown apart over the years and as she looked at him she thought that was a damn shame.
He removed a syringe from the first aid kit and placed it against her arm as he told her, “For the pain, mi amor.” She made a face when he stuck her with the needle and Antonio whispered, “Soon, you won’t feel a thing.”
Antonio stood up, but she couldn’t follow him with her eyes, the movement made her dizzy. A few moments later, Viktor came crashing through the door.
“What have you done?” he said fiercely.
Catrina forced herself to turn her head enough to look at him. Viktor looked great. He was wearing a turquoise shirt which hung open to reveal much of his chest. Tight black pants clung to his long legs and his knee high boots glinted in the light. His hair was wet and it clung to his body along with the shirt. She could see Antonio behind him in the hallway.
Alexander was sitting in the corner and rose to his full height at the vampire’s words.
“I brought her to safety,” he growled. “She was attacked by three werewolves in a clearing a few miles from here. I was on my way to stop them, but I arrived too late. She had already killed two of them and I took care of the last one myself.”
“Then why have you called me?” Viktor asked.
“I can’t save her,” Alexander said and his voice was choked with tears, “but you can.”
It was then that Viktor turned toward the bed and got a good look at Catrina. Instantly he was by her side. The vampire looked stricken as he placed a hand against her forehead, examining the wound. Alexander could tell that Viktor loved Catrina by the way he looked at her, because his expression reflected everything the werewolf felt.
“Catrina,” he said softly. “Can you hear me?”
“Yes.” Her voice was barely audible and it took her a few seconds to focus on Viktor’s face.
“Were you bitten or scratched?”
“I don’t think so. Not sure.”
“Damn it, we need some wolfsbane potion,” he said.
“Sir, we have some,” Antonio said, stepping forward. “Down in the kitchen.”
“Well, go get it,” Viktor demanded. “We’ve no time to waste.”
Catrina must have passed out again, because the next thing she knew, Alexander was lifting her gently while Viktor pressed the phial to her lips. She grimaced as she swallowed the potion and started to cough.
“I know it’s foul,” Viktor said consolingly. “Abraham and I used to drink it too. The formula probably hasn’t improved much over the years.”
He took her completely in his arms then as he said softly, “You must listen to me, Catrina. I know it’s difficult, but I need you to understand what I’m about to do. My blood can heal you, but you need to drink it this time.” She looked alarmed and he explained, “It won’t turn you, but it will bring you closer to me. It will bring you one step closer to truly becoming my human servant.”
“What
would it mean if I was?” she murmured.
“Then you would share my lifetime,” he whispered.
And as she looked up into his silvery gray eyes, that didn’t sound like such a bad idea.
“Alright,” she said.
Viktor slipped out of his shirt with Antonio’s help. He held her against him as he ran one hand across his chest, just above the heart. His fingernail made a small cut and a slow trickle of blood became visible against his pale skin.
“Drink,” he whispered. He lifted Catrina enough to press her lips against the wound. She found it surprisingly easy to do as he asked. Viktor tasted like candy and his blood was just as sweet. As she began to drink he whispered, “Blood of my blood.” He pulled back and pressed a kiss against her lips as he said, “Flesh of my flesh.”
With the touch of his lips Catrina felt a fire flow through her veins. It wound itself through her like a snake and wrapped itself around her like a blanket.
“Sleep,” he said, resting her back against the pillows. “And dream of me.”
He went to rise from the bed and she held onto his hand.
“I cannot stay, my darling. The council members have sent their representatives to check that all is in order. They wait for me now. I have to go. I don’t want to leave you this way, but I don’t believe the werewolf would harm you.”
She let go of him this time and as he walked around the bed Alexander growled, “You’ve bound her to you. Those are the words spoken over a vampire when he takes a new master, when he takes his blood. You’ve made her your servant!”
Viktor slid back into his shirt as he replied, “And you witnessed her agree to it.”
“She was injured and dying, of course she would agree.”
Viktor rounded on him then and his ferocity made the werewolf take a step back. “What did you think I came here to do? Her injuries were too severe to just dabble a bit of blood over them. She would have died otherwise. There was no choice. Guard her tonight. I don’t care what bad blood there is between us, you are my animal to call. Never forget that.”
He looked to the Antonio then while he buttoned his shirt and asked, “What sort of place has wolfsbane potion on hand?”
“My master, he was like her,” Antonio replied.
“You mean they were relatives?” Viktor asked.
“Yes, they were. But what I meant was, he was a monster hunter also.”
Catrina didn’t have time to absorb the meaning of his words before she lost consciousness again.
* * * *
The next thing she was aware of was a cold draft. Her feet were freezing. Catrina opened her eyes to find Antonio unzipping her jeans and her shoes resting beside him.
“What are you doing?” she mumbled. “I’ll freeze.”
“You’ll freeze anyway if I don’t get you out of these wet clothes,” he said softly. Catrina looked as if she was going to protest and he said, “With respect, querida it’s nothing I haven’t seen before.”
His expression made her smile and she groaned, “Oh, my face hurts.” He slid her pants down as gently as possible so as not to shake her more than was necessary. “How does it look?” she asked.
He made a gesture with his hand as if to say it wasn’t so bad. “I have seen worse,” he admitted. “But you shouldn’t enter any beauty pageants for the next few days.”
“Don’t make me laugh,” she said. “I can’t imagine how bad that would hurt.”
“I suppose I should give you something stronger,” Antonio said as he began to slide her arms out of the leather jacket.
She heard Alexander leave the room, but she couldn’t turn her head enough to see where he was going. Catrina was suddenly glad that her bra and panties matched.
“I feel so dizzy,” she said.
“You’ll probably keep passing out. Viktor said that was normal after what has happened to you and that’s not even considering your head wound. Once I get you undressed, I’ll need to change the sheets. Everything is soaking wet. It’s either that or move you to another room.”
“No,” she said quickly. “I like this room.”
It was the one she used to stay in when she visited her uncle.
“I thought you might say that,” he said, smiling. “Oh, just so you don’t worry, Viktor wanted me to assure you that you aren’t going to die.” He laughed softly. “How did you ever get mixed up with the master of the city anyway?”
“It’s a long story.”
Antonio reached underneath her shoulders, scooping her up so that he could finish removing her sweater. The sweater made a squishing noise as he tossed it on top of the jacket on the floor.
“You’ve got someplace else to be?” he teased.
“I want to know about Harry,” she said, suddenly remembering what he had said earlier. “You said my uncle was a monster hunter. Are you sure?”
Antonio rose from the bed and gathered her clothes into a bundle.
“I was his butler for thirteen years. One tends to notice things such as this.” He winked as he said, “I’ll take these to the laundry and explain when I get back. Besides, your friend probably needs some help in the kitchen.”
Her brain didn’t quite grasp what he’d said. “My friend?”
He paused in the doorway. “Are you telling me the massive werewolf I have let into the estate is not your friend?” He laughed. “Obviously, he isn’t Viktor’s friend.”
The thought of Alexander being her friend seemed strange, but she couldn’t think of another way to categorize him. “Yes,” she answered thoughtfully. “I suppose he is my friend.” Antonio turned to leave again. “Wait, you said he’s in the kitchen, right? Why don’t I hear Richard screaming?”
“Because he and Angela finally tied the knot. They are on honeymoon for the next month.”
“What about Jacque?”
“The gardener is also taking a vacation. I’m afraid you have only myself at your beck and call,” he teased.
Her grin was wicked as she replied, “Well, we’ll just have to make do.”
She managed to stay awake this time until Antonio returned, mostly because she couldn’t stop shaking. The sheets were wet and cold and so was she. The butler had left Catrina’s underwear on to spare her dignity, but since they were soaking wet, it didn’t exactly help. He returned with a wash basin and fresh towels. As he began to clean her forehead more thoroughly he asked, “Have you ever heard of The Raven?”
She stared up at him blankly for a moment. “Are you telling me that my uncle Harry was The Raven?”
The Raven was a monster hunter of international renown. However, unlike Catrina his work consisted of mostly assassinations.
“Yes,” he replied softly. When she continued to stare at him in surprise Antonio explained, “He wanted to tell you. He was so proud to hear that you were continuing what he called the family business.”
“But we were close,” she protested. “At least I thought we were. Why didn’t he ever say anything?”
He shrugged. “Your uncle was never sure how to approach the topic. Besides, he wore a mask and a hood. He was afraid that the resemblance would be too similar to your sister’s attacker. He didn’t want to bring up painful memories.”
The towel Antonio was using to clean her head was now covered with blood. When Catrina saw it she nearly retched all over the bed. It wasn’t the sight of blood that bothered her, it was the sight of her own blood.
“I’m gonna be sick,” she panted.
She tried to sit up and didn’t have the strength. Antonio helped her to rise and half carried her into the bathroom. She barely made it to the toilet. Throwing up made her head feel like it was going to split in two.
Antonio knelt beside her and pressed a fresh washcloth against her face.
“Are you sure I’m not going to die?” she asked weakly.
“Yes. The vampire’s blood has assured that.”
She rested back in his arms and asked, “But didn’t I just throw it up?”<
br />
He smiled. “There is magic in vampire blood. It has been in your system for over an hour now. Most of your injuries will be healed by morning.”
“It’s been that long since Viktor left?”
“Yes.” His smile was kind as he told her, “You’ve been hit hard and lost a good amount of blood. No offense, but don’t try to think too hard about anything right now. You are safe and you will be well again.”
“Thank you,” she whispered as Antonio lifted her in his arms and headed back toward the bedroom.
“Tony?”
“Yes?”
“Take off my underwear. They’re soggy.”
* * * *
She was warm. Comfortable for the first time in what seemed like ages. Catrina sighed and snuggled more deeply into the fur against her face. It was sweet of them to get Hank for her. Then she took a deep breath and recognized Alexander’s scent. Okay, maybe this wasn’t her teddy bear. She wiggled her butt and brushed against more fur. She remembered asking Antonio to take off her underwear and her eyes flew open.
Alexander was standing beside the bed, holding her while Antonio changed the sheets. A blanket had been draped across her, but it was awkward for the werewolf’s large claws to hold without pinching her. Her bare right side was pressed against him, including her right butt cheek and her breast.
Alexander felt her move, sensed her muscles tensing at his nearness. When she snuggled back against his fur with a sigh he was surprised.
“You’re not afraid?” he asked.
“Of course not. It’s still you.”
Chapter Eighteen
Once Antonio was finished with the sheets he turned back the covers and said, “I’ll leave you to rest. We can talk more about your uncle tomorrow if you like. Can I get you anything before I go? Are you thirsty?”
“No. But how about a blow dryer?”
Catrina was still dizzy, but she was starting to feel better. The improvement wasn’t dramatic, but noticeable.
“I’ll help you to the bed,” Alexander offered. “Can you stand or would you like me to lay you down?”
His words made her tremble with unspoken possibilities. Despite her injuries, she was still very much aware that she was a female and he was a male and technically they were both naked.