Sable was insane.I would never share my blood with a vampire. I couldn’t see that the prophecy would expect me to. As far as my powers went, no one would give me enough information.The thought that Talon was gravely injured and wouldn’t drink human blood bothered me. The thought of him hurt and alone tonight completely dissolved my anger. I would explain to Talon that my temper passed quickly. I would also tell him to drink human blood.“I need to spar,” I told Sable.“I thought you would never ask.” His smile was less than friendly.He’d brought the blunted swords and he went harder on me than he had before, but it also helped cool his ire. It felt good, though the strikes that landed would leave bruises.***I was sore the next morning but it was a bearable pain. Ode brought my food and was turning to leave when I spoke.“Please inform Talon that I would like to join him for dinner this evening if he is available.”Ode grunted.“Also explain that my disposition has improved.”He l
Kenner was next to her, vampires gripping their arms. I jumped from my seat and all but vaulted over the low table. They were released and Mira threw her arms around me as soon as I reached her.“You’re okay,” she said and kissed me on both cheeks when I pulled back slightly. “They said you were but we didn’t believe them.”I looked at Kenner. He was angry but relieved. I stepped away from Mira and wrapped my arms around him.“They came for us last night and we’ve been kept in a room until now,” he whispered into my hair.I turned and glared at Talon who had approached us.“I told Sable to keep them in comfort,” he said. “Turn your angry eyes on him.”“What about the animals?” I turned back to my friends.“They brought two humans to take care of them. They said they would sleep in the barn until we returned.”“Where’s your sword?” I asked Kenner. I’d never known him to be without it.“The vampire.” He glared at Sable. “He took it from me when I tried to decapitate him.”I looked at Sa
“Kenner has mentioned changes, but he avoids the vampires’ territory and works strictly for humans,” Mira said.“How long has it been this way?”“I think it started slowly after the war ended,” she said. “Your father refused to interact with the vampires or werewolves. That’s where Kenner got his stubbornness. He admired your father greatly. It bothered me to think of vampires feeding off humans, but I’ve watched them tonight and it’s not how I thought it was.”“I’ve watched them too. This wasn’t what I was led to believe even in the military. Things would have been better if humans had simply accepted instead of destroying.”“That is a guaranteed affirmative,” she answered. “I’m unsure how the smaller communities work outside the city but the only problems we have are the human gangs.”“You’ve had no run-ins with the wolves?”“Not that Kenner has talked about. They keep to themselves. I’ve heard they’re extremely violent, but I heard the same about the vampires.”“I met Sable at the
A scorching burn traveled through my upper body, originating where the teeth clamped on my shoulder. The pain intensified and cut off my scream. Its eyes, inches from mine, held death.The wolf was torn off me. I thought it was Sable or Talon but I was wrong. Conner, the man from my dreams, stood over me. Like Vilkas had done, he turned and attacked the wolf who bit me. Talon lifted me in his arms while Sable guarded us.“You will kill her,” Talon snarled after Conner had beheaded the other wolf with his bare hands. “This stops now. You will only cause more damage. Return to your territory or I will kill you.”The look on Conner’s face was ferocious. His eyes turned downward and met mine. His expression held something I hadn’t expected.Possessiveness.“Mine,” he said in a gruff voice that sounded more animal than human.I blacked out. When I opened my eyes, the Humvee was traveling at breakneck speed. My head was on Talon’s lap.“Hold still,” he said. “The wound is deep and the wolf’
I had just been through the bite of a werewolf. This burn was completely different. It wasn’t pleasant but I wouldn’t call it painful. I sucked in a sharp breath and tried to stand. My legs wabbled, gave out, and my butt hit the cushion.Strangely enough, the feeling was mixed with desire. My breasts earned for touch. Between my thighs I felt a burning need. I wanted Talon here. I wanted him feeding these feelings with his hands and his body. I wanted!Had his blood done this to me?The room glowed around me and I glanced at my arms. The bright yellow and gold was coming from my skin. It reminded me of the fire in Talon’s eyes. This fire was everywhere, eating me from the inside out, making me want the vampire I’d dreamed about for so long.The plants attacked me. This time their hold wasn’t loose; they were tight to the point of cutting off my circulation. The need for Talon died and a craving for sunlight replaced it. The vines took me to the floor. I tried to disentangle myself but
When the unknown guttybrew finished their ceremony, they left the room with lingering glances. Ode remained with Sable and Talon.Before I could ask a question, Gaston walked in. He gave Talon a look I didn’t understand but Talon seemed to.“I will be back shortly,” Talon said.He pulled his arms away from me and stood. The energy inside me swelled. Was he stabilizing the power? Whatever he did was also working on my sexual needs because without him, it came roaring back. I moaned.Talon looked at me over his shoulder and the flames in his eyes visually sparked.“How do you feel?” the doctor asked.“Strange,” I replied truthfully. I wasn’t telling anyone about my need to tear Talon’s clothes off and throw myself at him.“The guttybrew know more about what you’ve been through and how your magic works. Trust Ode,” Gaston said.Trust Ode. I saw a new light in Ode’s eyes that hadn’t been there before. He looked at me differently. I’d always felt his resentment but it was gone now. I looke
“Leave us,” Talon told Sable.“I would have left ten minutes ago if I could have,” the vampire grumbled.The vines fell away from Sable but I didn’t command them. When Sable was gone, Talon stared at my nakedness. Flames roared in his eyes. For a moment, I was frightened.“You are The Promised and yes, I dreamed of you as you dreamed of me.” He sounded angry and my fear was replaced with irritation.He didn’t mention my dreams of the werewolf and I’d be damned if I would.Talon walked closer and his hand reached out. His fingers brushed along my throat to the top of my breast. My heart rate accelerated and now it was desire replacing irritation.“I want you too,” he said. “Your call is so strong it’s impossible to resist.”“Then why resist?” I asked huskily. The anger was completely gone at his words. I wanted him and I was past embarrassment.“You need a day,” he said like it was a forgone conclusion that I would sleep with him. And dammit, he was right. “Your power is stabilizing an
Chosen mate. The words hung in the air.I knew what the word mate meant to humans, but what did it mean to vampires? Was he ordered to marry me? Was it against his will? He’d all but told me it was. I shook off his hands, not wanting him touching me for the rest of this conversation.“Do you want me as your mate?” I asked carefully.His eyes closed again and when they opened, I wasn’t sure how he felt.“Our joining is foretold. We can’t fight it.”He hadn’t answered the question which I guessed, in its own way, was an answer.“If I choose to leave here, will you allow it now that I have my power?”“I ask that you give us both time. I’ve been resentful for years and fought the prophecy. I no longer what to fight it, but I want to explore this as equals.”“How can we be equals if I am your prisoner?”“The werewolves want you. You need my protection.” He hesitated. “I will make a pact with you. If you swear on your honor that you will remain for three months, I will not hold you prisoner