63

As we lay quietly together, I straightened her clothes and drew her against me, content to simply hold her as I considered all of the things I needed to say. I wanted to turn her for all of the right reasons, but time and the prospect of Leia becoming a thrall was also an aspect I couldn’t ignore. I’d withheld myself from her recently, not wanting to hasten her descent, but also not knowing if limiting the blood I took from her would help in any way.

The limitation also served to reduce my power gains, but no one else would know about that effect. I would be stronger when we were truly together, but that was fast becoming a secondary reason for wanting her.

Hell, who was I kidding? It was already a secondary consideration and slipping in priority every day.

I stroked her hair and rubbed the ends between my fingertips as she used my upper arm as her pillow and rested against me, her soft breaths bringing me absolute calm.

A howl echoed through the air, then another, and Leia sat up, her eyes wide.

“What are they doing that for?”

But I was already on my feet, tugging her toward me. “It’s a warning. Something’s wrong. Come on, I need to get you back to the house.”

We dressed quickly then I half-carried, half-tugged her to the cabin, and once there, I pushed her gently toward Aimée. “Look after Leia. Don’t let anyone get close to her.”

“What’s going on out there?” Behind her, farther inside the cabin, a large black wolf prowled, and part of me wanted to snatch Leia back to me, even though this was exactly why we’d brought her here, for the wolves’ protection.

“Who’s that?” I nodded in the direction of the wolf.

“Ulva. You met her earlier.”

I nodded. The female who’d thrown Leia around with ease. Still, her ability to best a human was of no real importance. Her wolf jaws and claws and strength were a different matter, though.

Leia squealed a little as Aimée tugged her farther inside and stood between us. With Aimée in front of her and Ulva behind, I relaxed a little, some of the tension leaving my muscles.

“What are you going to do?” Aimée stepped closer to me and lowered her voice.

“I’ll find out what’s going on.” The urge to protect Leia and vanquish any threat rose fiercely within me. I was her mate. It was my duty.

Aimée lifted an eyebrow. “Well, don’t do anything stupid, my king.” Then, in case I’d misunderstood her emphasis on the last word, she added. “I don’t particularly want to be pledging my loyalty to Sebastian in the morning.”

“Just protect Leia.” I sought out my mate’s gaze over Aimée’s shoulder, and I met her eyes before nodding at her. “I’ll be back for you soon.”

Then, before I delayed any longer, I hurried away, already reaching into my back pocket for my phone.

I’d come alone, but this was a time for Sebastian, Jason, and Kyle to be here with me. Plus whatever guards Kyle could bring. But my pocket was empty.

“Fuck.” My harsh curse grated from my throat. The phone must have dropped out while I was with Leia earlier.

Another howl sounded through the night, and I sped up, racing toward the sound. Then I slowed down as the trees and shadows seemed to move around me, and a new scent reached my nose—one that wasn’t remotely canine. No, this one was death and decay and the grave dirt of the newly risen.

Not only newly risen—they were hungry. Their eerie groans echoed through me like a low-frequency hum as they sought the attentions of their sire to take care of them by providing their first meal.

An army.

Someone had brought a fucking army of newly sired vampires to the safe house where my true mate—still a human—was waiting for my return. I closed my eyes briefly as pain clamped my chest. I’d let her down again.

A ferocious roar and a snarl came from my left as a huge wolf took down three vampires, ripping their heads off, before it bounded further into the trees, where the ripping and slashing noises continued.

I shook my head to bring myself back to sense. I hadn’t let Leia down. I’d brought her to the most protected place, and I was about to protect her with my own body. Rage fueled me as I attacked the nearest vampire, the bloodlust of war swelling through me.

I’d win this battle for her.

I glanced in the direction of the cabin. I needed to buy them enough time for her to run if she needed to escape.

20

Leia

A

s soon as Nic disappeared, lost to the shadows surrounding the safe house, Aimée closed the door and bolted it with what looked like huge ancient bolts.

“Will this hold?” She looked at Ulva like she expected a reply.

The wolf tilted her head and even I could read the derision in her gaze. I guessed nothing could keep out a supernatural being that really wanted access.

“I need to go change my clothes.” I needed to do anything besides stand in a living room with a vampire and a wolf shifter.

It was a crazy juxtaposition of quaint country living and barely restrained ferocity as Ulva bared her teeth briefly, just the slightest curl of her lip like she was issuing a general warning that no one should try to fight with her.

“I’ll come with you.” Aimée sidled closer to me, but I held my hand out.

“No. I want to get cleaned up and changed. I don’t need both of us to do that. And I’d quite like some privacy.”