"One," I began to count but the three seemed to dig their heels in stubbornly and began to back away from me. The flames licked at my wrist and I realised that not once did they seem to burn me, even when they had gotten close to my skin. I watched the three carefully while keeping Rakesh in the corner of my eyes. I couldn't let him sneak up behind me and surprise me."Two," I continued to count. They were going to let me and Rakesh kill one another as they planned but I wasn't going to allow that to happen.I decided to risk sending Lee an order to his mind, 'Lee? Can you keep an eye on Rakesh for me? I can't let these bastards get away.'I sensed Lee agreeing to my request though he was nervous. I waited to see if anyone else had picked up on our little communication but it didn't seem as though these three had caught it. Lee hadn't been known to them and unlike me, they hadn't any way of passively hearing thoughts from everyone around them. Either that or Lee

The smell of my blood was enough to catch Rakesh's attention it seemed. He stopped chasing the group of people and turned his attention back on me. My scent had been intoxicating to him once before so I had a feeling that he would not be able to resist it this time either and thankfully, I was right.I moved slowly towards him, offering out my wrist. I could feel his wary emotions of dealing with me but the coppery scent was irresistible to him. As I neared Rakesh, he pounced and sunk his teeth into my wrist without care for how much he was tearing at the flesh. Searing pain shot through my whole arm but I didn't pull away from Rakesh, I wouldn't abandon him no matter what."That's right," I offered softly and pulled him closer to me, wrapping my other arm around Rakesh tightly to hold him in place within my arm. I shot a warning look to the others, my eyes flashing their violet hue as I said sharply, "I suggest if you want to live, you all get the fuck out of

I watched Tudyr intently as he moved over to where Rakesh was. He seemed to be checking on him, and although I couldn't quite read his thoughts or body language, I could tell he was not a threat. At least not right now. I furrowed my brows and looked down in thought.I was still trying to figure out just how he and I were related. He wasn't a direct relative, this much I knew and it was somewhere on my mother's side as my grandmother had apparently had the same eyes as me too but she had at least one human parent as she was a half-breed. Beyond this? I didn't have a clue. Was he her father? Or maybe further back than even that?I had so many questions but I just didn't know where to start. Then there was everything that had happened here in this very building and what had happened after I had passed out. Were the others safe somewhere else, or had the fighting continued? I couldn't sense anyone though I did hear thoughts here and

The beating of my heart was loud and swift in my chest as I felt Tudyr's fingers tickle my neck while he brushed my hair out of his way. My eyes closed and my head tilted slightly to the side as I anxiously anticipated him feasting on my blood. It wasn't a sexual experience like it had been with Rakesh, but it was still somehow exciting to me.We were already somewhat bonded due to the family blood we shared, but this was much more than just a vague feeling. It felt as though my whole body was aching for us to be fully bonded. I wondered if it was indeed just this reason why it felt so right? Or maybe it was more a servant and master connection? In the end, I guessed it didn't matter too much. I had agreed to share a bond with Tudyr.I let out a pleased sound from my throat as I felt his fangs pierce the skin of my neck. That familiar sound of two hearts joining and beating as one echoed through my ears and mind. The sound was lo

After giving Rakesh some time to take in all of the information I had tossed on top of him, we laid on his cot in near silence. He couldn't remember hurting anyone or feasting on flesh and part of him didn't want to remember it. There were so many thoughts running through his mind but he couldn't find the answers to any of them just yet."It'll be alright, probably," I offered as I felt his mind fretting again. "I mean, Tudyr isn't going to kill us, just bring us into his fold, so things could be a lot worse, right?" I gave Rakesh a small smile."Only because of dumb luck that you're of his blood. Though in truth, I am surprised he wants you, you not being fully blooded..." Rakesh trailed off. "Or are you now? Though now I wonder why did my blood not do that for you?"I looked up thoughtfully. Tudyr wasn't exactly invading my mind at all as he had wanted to give me and Rakesh space - but that didn't mean he had blocked himself out of my thoughts. I s