by Maya Daniels
“The book is not safe if it’s out of our sight.” His arms tighten across his chest, muscles bulging from the effort. “They’ll have to pry it from my dead arms if they want to take it again.”
“You walk around with that damn thing in your hands?” Nothing could hide the incredulity in my voice. “Are you nuts?”
“Ghouls are known to be in prime form for four to five days with no sleep or food, Ms. Drake.” He informs me formally as if he’s holding a lecture. “At which point I will have my nephew take over so I can rest before resuming my duty. He is here at the Academy and I vouch for his loyalty.”
Soren ends up sitting next to me after switching a few chairs, as if the next one will be different under his royal ass or something. They are all wooden and uncomfortable, but what do I know about how it feels to him. His biceps strain while he struggles to tie his long hair, strands escaping his fingers enough times to piss me off. Huffing, I swat his hands away and gather his hair in mine, tying it at the back of his neck.
He even hands me an elastic band he must’ve snatched from someone at some point.
Fenrir will be my guess.
“And who will vouch for you, Azgor?” I blurt out without thinking.
Leo and Zoltan groan at the same time.
Astara slaps a hand across her forehead.
I’m just confused.
“What-but-but …” Azgor stutters, his face reddening to alarming levels. “I assure you I have been loyal to Sienna my entire life.”
This time I groan as well.
Great. I insulted him.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way.” My apology goes unheard.
“My father was—”
“We know, Azgor,” Zoltan cuts him off, and that shuts the ghoul’s mouth. “Francesca did not mean to question your loyalty. We all just want to make sure the book stays here and out of Roberti’s hands.”
I regret giving Zoltan a grateful look. He is not looking at Azgor at all, his full attention focused on my hands in Soren’s hair. Soren, who is grinning like a fool at the vampire to get him to react.
I smack the back of the Fae’s head and yank on his hair.
You can hear a pin drop.
“You really are an asshole.” Ignoring everyone, I drop in my chair. “Would you stop provoking him for a second? We have stuff that’s more important than you pissing Zoltan off.”
It doesn’t wipe the satisfied smile off his face, but I give him credit. He tries—and miserably fails—to look chastened. Damn Fae and their tricks. Like mischievous younglings, all they want is to cause trouble. And to prove my point, Zoltan walks behind my chair placing a possessive hand over my shoulder. Hiding my face in my hands, I’m debating if I should laugh or scream.
“Go ahead, Astara.” Voice muffled through my hands, I sigh. “Tell them.”
The longer she talks the thicker the tension is in the room. Leo keeps stealing glances my way, his gaze flicking between my face and my stomach. I squirm on the chair, uncomfortable with this whole bloodline continuation. Not that I can hold it against the Alpha. Shifters are notorious when it comes to protecting their family, especially the younglings. I couldn’t go anywhere without one of them popping out of the shadows. If what Soren claims is true, I dread the day I get pregnant.
Pregnant.
The word sends a mixture of emotions battering through me, and I realize I’m panting for breath when Zoltan tightens his hold on my shoulder in comfort. That’s when Astara gets to our fear of why Roberti came up with the idea of creating his creatures. Even Soren looks disturbed by that thought, which is saying a lot. The insufferable male can’t be fazed with anything unless it personally involves him.
“To what end?” Leo is clutching the back of the chair in a white-knuckled grip. “He was hell bent on releasing a Titan in the hopes that it will help him destroy the portals, and us with it. Why does he need half bloods apart from the obvious? Humans are much easier to manipulate to become hunters than playing a god and mixing species. It doesn’t make sense.”
“I actually have a theory about that, too.” Astara pushes off her chair and starts pacing.
Now that I see her properly in the light of the flames, I can tell she is much better. Her hair moves around her shoulders with each step and some color has returned to her face. The circles are still lingering like smudges under her eyes, but I’m no longer scared that she will drop on the ground at any second. Her clothing is loose on her frame, the fabric that normally hugs her curves bunching up in too many places for me not to notice.
“Franky is defying any facts we’ve gathered about half bloods.” Giving me an apologetic look, she lifts her gaze to her brother standing behind my chair. “When you allowed him to take you, I’m pretty sure he took enough blood for his little projects. We were all aware that hurting you or luring Franky to come get you out was not all there was to it.”
Tenebris apparently is done with lurking around, so he butts Soren’s chair away from mine and squeezes his large body between us. Soren doesn’t bat an eye, his entire focus on Astara. Grateful I don’t have to argue with the ancient Fae, I glide my hand over the panther’s head as he sits next to my legs and presses a giant paw over my foot.
“You think he is trying to create a creature from our mixed blood?” I feel lightheaded just thinking about it. “Why? What will he gain? All his creations that we’ve seen are like zombies for fuck’s sake. He is playing Frankenstein.”
“Who?” Soren sounds way too interested in the name, which makes my stomach churn fast enough that I’m scared I’ll empty its contents all over the place.
“Never mind, it’s a human thing.” He doesn’t look like he believes me, but I ignore him.
“Fenrir said Myst has a human associate that will help us destroy all the compounds we have a record off.”
“We should keep that female away from here,” Azgor murmurs, speaking for the first time since his lecture about the book. The mention of Myst has him wide eyed, and I’m surprised he isn’t crossing himself and spitting over his shoulder. Not that I blame him. The female is really unhinged. Good thing she’s on our side.
I snicker, which earns me a scowl from the ghoul.
“I think he is trying to create something resembling a youngling from the two of you without you actually breeding.” No amount of apologies or sad looks can save Astara from my anger.
“I will kill them all if something like that has happened.” Nostrils flaring, I can’t keep myself from growling at her or from baring my fangs. “I’ll destroy the human world along with him if what you say is true.”
“Calm down, young dragon. That’s your dragon blood talking and not you.” Soren reaches for me but snatches his hand back when I hiss at him.
Throwing caution to the wind and hoping I won’t hyperventilate again, I ask them what I didn’t when we spoke in Zoltan’s room. “Did you see him the same way I did through the portal?”
“Roberti?” Leo frowns, clenching his jaw. “I had to take Daren to the infirmary, so I didn’t see any of it.”
“What did you see?” Soren twists in his chair so he can face me.
“You didn’t see Roberti staring at us?” Needing to hear them say it, I repeat myself.
“No,” Soren answers simply and without inflection.
Craning my neck, I look behind me at Zoltan, but he only shakes his head. “But you talked to me when I saw him. You said he would have to go through you to hurt me.”
“That is true, although I thought you were reflecting on the battle. I only saw the closed portal.” Tucking loose hair behind my ear, he cups my face in his large palm. “What did you see, love? Is that why you panicked earlier? Talk to me, Francesca.”
“Roberti was standing across the portal.” Swallowing the bile and terror, I keep my gaze on his to stay grounded. “The shadows that were killing through Sienna were attached to him. Like him and them were one and the same. They were wreathing and bellowing behind hi
m like a sentient cloak.” Through numb lips, I pushed the last part out. “He saw me, too, Zoltan.”
“Fascinating.” We all look at Soren like he’s lost his mind. “Females of my kind are known to have many special powers others do not. They guarded them with their lives, and I thought it was just a myth.” His glowing lock on mine. “You are a rare gem indeed, young dragon.”
“Keep your creepy self away from me, dumbass, or I swear I’ll fry your ass.” Blurting the first thing that comes to mind, I scoot the chair away from him. “You’ve been awake for too long. I think you’re going coocoo. Go get some rest.”
“I’ve slept for a long time.” Narrowing his gaze, he smiles eerily at me. “Maybe a little too long.”
“Zoltan?” Jerking my eyes away from the old fart, I stare at the vampire while stabbing a finger at Soren’s face. “Here is your chance to shine. Do your caveman shit. Beat him with a club across the head if you want to because I’m seriously freaked out right now.”
Astara busts out laughing, but I find nothing funny about this.
“You believe me bad?” Soren snickers, and I don’t like what I see in his eyes. “Did you ask your mate why he is called the Blood King?”
I do remember asking Zoltan but he kinda dodged my question and I left it at that. Too many things happening at once makes me forget the little things. The important one obviously, at least if I’m judging by how excited the Fae is.
“That’s not who he is now.” Astara jumps to her brother’s defense, but I keep my gaze glued on Zoltan.
“You truly are trouble, Soren,” Leo mumbles on a sigh.
“Before the Purge I was not the same male.” Tilting his chin up, the vampire stares me down as if daring me to judge him. “Times were different; it was every male to his own. Only the strongest survived, so I made sure I was stronger than all of them. I drank the blood of those standing in my way to the last drop and left their bodies for everyone to see, which earned me the name Blood King. I am the oldest living vampire, so King is a title that came from my bloodline, not by my actions.”
A shiver runs down my spine. Then I see a flicker of something in Zoltan’s gaze that snaps me out of the stupid thoughts trying to make me fear him or look at him differently. Whoever he was centuries ago is not the Zoltan I know now. The one ready to sacrifice himself to protect others. No wonder he gave up his true form in his oath. Even now I can see the guilt eating at him inside. Others may not notice, but I’ve watched him when he has his guard down enough to know the male better than anyone.
“Where do you think we should leave Soren’s body after we drain him dry?” Zoltan’s eyes widen comically at my comment. “And then you’ll have to share Blood King. Plus, the more Soren talks, the better the idea sounds, don’t you think?”
“The Fates always choose well.” Soren shakes his head chuckling.
“We can entertain you later, Soren,” Astara snaps at him, still angry for his assholish behavior. “What are we doing about Roberti?”
“Can the three of you leave through the portal and fight?” Even Leo perks at my question, his typical grin bringing back a small part of the friend I’m used to seeing.
“I’m not sure, but I’m willing to try,” Astara says too eagerly.
“If we can remove all the excess magic coursing through us, it might help us gain control too.” Rolling his shoulders, Leo looks at Soren for confirmation.
“I do not see the harm in that.” Unfolding gracefully from the chair, he looks down at me. “What do you have in mind, young dragon?”
“A field trip.” My grin stretches my lips. “I hope you can glamour humans to not be able see us. I’m not wearing another pink shirt with a glittering unicorn.”
Leo’s laughter is music to my ears.
Chapter Fifteen
“You really don’t need to bring all those weapons.” Arms folded over my chest, I lean on the closed door watching Zoltan move around the weapon’s room.
The black shirt stretches tight across his shoulders and back giving me the perfect view of every muscle bunching as he picks up swords, crossbow, and daggers, stashing them in the many pockets of his pants. The crossbow gets hooked on his belt, hanging down almost to his knee. Now that I’ve seen him walk the daylight, I can’t help but admire the edge given to him by the bright silver moonlight and flickering orange glow of the dancing flames. They form shadows on his handsome features, making his cheekbones look sharper and his square jaw more defined.
It still bothers me that he knew things about our bond and kept them from me, but looking at the bigger picture, I can’t say I blame him. I do have a penchant to react first then think later. Would it have mattered if he said something? I’m not sure, and with everything still tense and fucked up, I realize I don’t even care at this point. Rubbing my fist between my breasts hoping to elevate the pressure I feel there, I see him turn to look at me over his shoulder, a line forming between his brows when he notices what I’m doing.
“I don’t need them, but they might come in handy.”
Tucking one last dagger on his thigh, he prowls closer to me, each step measured and with purpose. My heartbeat picks up from the intensity in his blue gaze, which glides over my body from head to toes and back. Mouth drying up the closer he gets, my tongue pokes out to wet my perched lips.
It doesn’t go unnoticed.
The right corner of his mouth twitches slightly and his eyes narrow at the pulse in my neck.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were nervous, love.”
I shiver from the raspy tone of his deep voice, pressing my back to the unforgiving door behind me as if that will help me not to feel the heat of his body when he stops an inch from my toes. The arrogant smirk grows the longer my eyes stay glued to his lips until I forcefully jerk them up to his face.
“Keep dreaming, jackass.” Pretending I didn’t hear the squeak in my voice, I jut my chin out stubbornly. “Being pissed off and being nervous are two different things.”
“This”—Lifting his hand, he feathers the tip of his finger down the column of my throat—“tells me otherwise.”
“We are going to war.” Unwilling to admit that he still controls the reactions of my body more than I do, I scoff at him. “What do you want me to do? Dance the Macarena?”
“The what now?” Tucking his chin, Zoltan searches my face like he is judging my sanity.
It’s easy to forget how old he is by the way he talks and acts most of the time.
“Nothing you would understand, old man.” Grinning when he glowers, I try to slide away from him but his hand slaps the door next to my head stopping my escape.
“I don’t remember you saying I’m an old male last night.” Nudging the tip of his nose on mine, Zoltan’s lips graze mine and I choke on the moan that tries to escape.
“You are so humble it’s mindboggling.” My attempt to shove him away is useless. It only presses me closer to his chest, and he pins me to the door and slides his thigh between my legs.
“Tell me, Francesca.” My name rolls off his tongue in a purr that pebbles my skin. “Would you have given me a second glance if I was humble?”
Ducking his head, he glides his lips and tongue up my neck, stopping at my ear before nipping on it. There is no way he didn’t feel my body shudder against his. His low chuckle confirms my fear and heat pools in my lower belly.
“You don’t need humble, love.” Hot breath puffs the back of my ear and I close my eyes. “What you need is someone to take control while you fight him tooth and nail for it.”
My eyes snap open so I can glare at him. “Get off me.”
When he moves a step away to give me space it’s like a slap across my face, but I swallow my disappointment even though it’s not easy. My lips press in a thin line as I try to sidestep him so I’m not cornered, hoping the heat crawling up my neck is not noticeable to him. Tough chance that, but a girl can dream. The fact that his words hit too close to home is another matt
er I’m adamant to ignore.
If I wasn’t avoiding his gaze, I would’ve seen him move. One second I’m looking at the soft mats of the room, and the next second said room spins fast as my arm is yanked behind my back and I find my face pushed to the door with Zoltan’s weight on me. Short breaths laden with anticipation waft across the side of my face when he leans his chest harder on me.
“Are you trying to run, love?” There is no mistaking the predatory tone in his words. I fell for the oldest trick in the book.
A predator wanted to play, and I made the first move.
Heartbeat accelerating, wetness dampens my panties.
Zoltan takes a deep breath from behind me, a too-low growl vibrating his chest. “Tell me again how I’m wrong.”
“Fuck you, Zoltan.”
“That’s the plan, love.”
His hold tightens around my wrist and he pushes my arm closer to my back, while his other arm snakes around my waist tugging my ass against his groin. His hardness nestles between my ass cheeks weakening my knees. With barely-there contact, his hand slides underneath my shirt, his strong fingers splaying across my stomach. Out of my control, my back arches and rubs me against him.
“Stop fighting me on this, Francesca.” The tips of his fangs graze the hollow where my neck meets my shoulder, and nothing can stop my husky moan.
Zoltan chuckles.
The tips of his fingers dip in the waistband of my pants, deftly unbuttoning the buttons one after another, each tug of the fabric driving me insane. Zoltan is toying with me, taking his time as a way of punishment because I’ll never admit out loud how much I crave him. I was determined not to admit it anyway, but the second those same fingers push inside my panties and dive between my wet folds, I forget my own name and my stubbornness flies out the window.
“Look how much your body wants me,” he purrs in my ear, his fingers gliding to circle my button. “It tells me everything those pretty lips refuse to say.”