Joseph’s POVIt took over an hour to get to the part of the forest, in the Northern Region, where I saw the new vampire awakening. I parked my car in a nearby lot and walked through the forest, finding the exact spot he was lying in.I could still smell his potent scent, so I knew he wasn’t far from this area. I also knew he was still alive. My body would have told me if he was dead. It’s part of my ability so I don’t waste my time searching for a deceased vampire.I sniffed the air. The scent grew stronger going into the forest. It was dark out now, so other creatures would be lurking around. Thankfully, I was trained to deal with the worst creatures, and I did not doubt that I could kill anything that came at me.My weapons were made of silver and laced in wolf’s bane, just in case I needed something that could take down a beast.My nose scrunched at the very thought of a werewolf. Those retched creatures: or mutts how I like to refer to them.I continued to wander the forest ground
Tessa’s POVI was going to have a panic attack. I had to step away from Fae.I knew we were outside, but I needed to get air and that meant I needed to get away. I couldn’t count how many times I called Joseph.But I needed to know about these Blood Slaves. Is what Fae was saying true?I needed to know for sure.“Tessa?” I heard Carter saying from behind me. I stood just outside the battleground, and I was about to have a panic attack.I turned around to face him, tears clear in my eyes, and he looked extremely confused.“What’s wrong?” He asked, furrowing his brows together. “Are you okay?”“I need Joseph,” I gasped, trying to maintain my breath.“He’s working. He won’t be back for another couple of hours,” he said, and I could hear the worry in his voice. “What’s going on?”Should I ask him? Would he tell me?I didn’t want him to think I was squeamish and think less of me.“I’m okay,” I said to him, handing him the cup. “Thank you for caring.”“Are you sure?” He asked, furrowing his
Joseph’s POVShe wasn’t answering her phone. I called her about 5 times, and she hasn’t answered any of them. What could possibly be wrong? I knew she’d been with Carter all day.I decided to call Carter instead.“Hey, man,” he said breathlessly into the phone.I knew he was in the middle of training. I could hear the other warriors in the background.“Is Tessa with you?” I asked.He was hesitant for a moment.“No. She went with Fae to the hot springs,” Carter answered.My heart dropped into my stomach.Fae was a human. Actually, she was Ryan’s human.“And Ryan was okay with that?” I asked.“No, but he didn’t have a choice. I approved it,” Carter answered.Ryan was going to be furious with Fae for going anywhere without him. The thought of her with Tessa made my stomach hurt. I wasn’t anticipating them to talk and hit it off. Fae wasn’t someone Tessa would typically befriend. At least, I didn’t think so.“How long ago was that?” I asked, stepping on the gas even harder.“Maybe 30 minu
Tessa’s POVI was completely numb. I knew Joseph was here and he was talking to Ryan, but I had no idea what they were saying. My main focus was on the fact that Fae had completely passed out. One minute we were talking and laughing, and the next she was complexly unconscious in the arms of Ryan because he drank so much of her blood, her body couldn’t handle it.I stared at her pale face, and she looked back at me with horror in her eyes. Then, she closed her eyes, and her entire body went limp and it should be the mesmerizing effect kicking in. I was shivering at the very sight of it. She told me that it typically happens when the vampire drinks a lot of human blood. But being a blood slave, she will recover within the day.But Ryan will keep doing it. Fae will never have a break.I didn’t even realize when Fae and Ryan left. I’m assuming Ryan lifted her out of the hot spring and carried her away. But I had no idea what kind of things he was saying to Joseph or what Joseph was saying
Tessa’s POV“She has the mark…” I whispered as the front door shut.Joseph glanced at me with a frown.“What mark?” He asked, furrowing his brows together.“The mark on her shoulder blade,” I said, looking up at him. “She has the mark of the blood slave.”His face showed something of anguish, and I knew I wasn’t just seeing things. She really did have the mark of the blood slave. But that didn’t make sense to me. She wasn’t a blood slave. She couldn’t have been. She was working as a nurse in the hospital. They said nothing about her being a blood slave.“I think this is a story she should tell you,” Joseph said slowly.I stared at him in disbelief.“So, it’s true?” I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. “Anna was a blood slave?”He nodded, meeting my eyes.“Let’s get dressed and we can talk to her on our way to the city,” he said.I sighed and went back toward his bedroom so I could grab a clean pair of clothing, completely forgetting I was still in my bathing suit.I grabbed a pair o
Tessa’s POVI stared at Anna blankly, not expecting such a question from her. I must admit that I really liked it here. Despite the blood of slaves and the hostile vampires and humans that kept watching me, I felt oddly safe being around them.The Elders made me feel very welcome and very safe, especially Anna. But I hadn’t thought about staying here forever. I mean, I suppose the point of me being here was to see if I could handle this type of lifestyle and I think I’m handling it well. But I’m not sure how I would be able to live amongst them and not be immortal.Would Joseph make me a blood slave? Is that something I would want?Or would he make me into a vampire? I could die if he did that and I’m also not sure if that’s something I would want.But every day I’m with Joseph, I fall for him a little bit more. I wanted to be with him for as long as I could, and I didn’t want to lose him after this semester. The end of the semester was approaching quickly. It was already spring, and
Tessa’s POV“Drink from me…” I said again in a raspy whisper.Joseph’s entire demeanor changed in an instant. He froze and I felt his hesitation. My heart was pounding at a rapid speed against my chest, and I wanted more than anything for him to be satisfied. I wanted him to feed from me. I wanted him to turn me into one of those blood slaves so I could be bound to him and become immortal, that way I could be with him for the rest of eternity.But when he pulled away and looked at me with uncertainty in his eyes, I felt my heart nearly shattering. I suddenly felt cold, and I could feel his withdrawal.“This had gone too far,” he said in a hoarse whisper. “I can’t drink from you.”“Why not?” I pleaded to him, hearing and hating the desperation in my own voice. “I want you to…”I reached out to run my fingers down the side of his face, but he backed away from me, standing to his feet and leaving me alone on the bed. A small whimper escaped my lips and I had to bite my bottom lip to keep
Tessa’s POVThe watering can fell to the ground and water oozed out into the soil around me. I heard the screams get fainter, but it alarmed the birds that lurked in the trees, and I watched as they flew off in the direction of the wind.My heart sank deep into my stomach as panic consumed me.The screams grew fainter, and they turned into a light sob. The world around me began to grow dreary.I met the eyes of Anna who stood nearby, and she was also staring at the sky with sorrow written all over her face. Her brows were creased, and her lips formed a thin line. The others were also mimicking her face just before looking at one another with disheartened looks.“What’s going on?” I asked as I walked toward them.“A bond was broken…” Anna said in a tone so quiet I had to strain to hear her.“What?” I gasped. “Like a blood slave bond?”She nodded her head once.“Yes,” she answered. “I need to go to her. She shouldn’t be alone.”“I’ll go with you,” I said quickly. I was trying hard not t