A Vampire's Thirst

by Bella Roccaforte

  Gosta stepped forward. “She’s already lost a lot of blood. You need to make a decision fast.”

  Hunter wrestled with the thought of turning her, putting her through the pain of being a vampling. He remembered his own agony, how he was unable to be with her after Calder turned him. “I was already dead to her,” his voice whispered.

  He turned to Camille. “What do I do?”

  She pinned him with a serious look. “I can’t make that decision for you.”

  He wrestled with the thought of being without her now, he already felt like an empty husk. He turned to Gosta and ordered, “Pull the sword out on my word.”

  He ran his wrist along the blade and gently pulled her chin down to open her mouth. “Please forgive me.”

  Chapter 28

  Hunter laid nervously against the headboard cradling Rook’s body. His eyes were heavy with grief. He prayed to see her chest rise and fall with signs of life. Her body had gone cold, her skin washed out of color.

  Gosta opened the door and whispered, “Anything?”

  Hunter shook his head.

  Gosta pulled a chair closer to the bedside. “She should’ve awoken by now, it’s been nearly a day.”

  Hunter suppressed his anger at Gosta’s doubt. “She’s going to come through.”

  Gosta pressed his lips into a tight line and folded his hands together in front of him. “We contacted Henry as you requested. He said he would try to come.”

  “Try?” Hunter balled his fists. “Get on with The Directive, I don’t give a shit if you have to tell that bastard Magnus to get his ass up here, you do it. They’re always up your ass until you need them.”

  “Now, now, Bjorn, it’s been centuries since I’ve insisted on an anal probe.” Delia’s voice filled the room before she did. She straightened her black suit jacket, then rested her hand on her hip.

  “Delia.” Hunter wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or concerned. “You have to help me.”

  “I’m not here to help you, I’m here to observe, record and report.” Delia reached into her black leather briefcase and pulled out a laptop.

  “I thought you knew something about this bloodmate phenomenon?” he questioned.

  “I will tell you what I know pertinent to your situation.” She opened the laptop and eyed Rook on the bed. “She’s dead.”

  “I’ve turned her,” Hunter insisted.

  “She looks dead to me.” Delia quirked her brow.

  “She’s going to be okay.” Hunter’s tone was desperate, he looked for any grain of hope to latch onto.

  “I think we should discuss what you should expect in the coming days.” Delia never took her eyes off the screen. “You are also going to die. It will be slow and painful. First your spirit, then your body.”

  “Wow, Delia.” Henry entered the room. “We need to work on your bedside manner.”

  “I’m not a doctor.” Delia flashed him a deadly look.

  “Hunter, what happened?” Henry asked.

  “I had to turn her, she was dying,” he answered, stroking her hair. “Is she going to make the turn?”

  Gosta got up from the chair to make room for Henry. “I’ll be downstairs.”

  Henry sat and held his hands above her with his eyes closed. “I don’t know, there’s no record of a rook ever being turned.”

  “You struck the lottery in rare, Bjorn,” Delia said, closing her laptop and standing from the chair. “If you need me, I’ll be downstairs.”

  Henry watched as she closed the door, he shook his head. “She means well.”

  “No, she doesn’t, it’s okay. I’ve known her for a long time, I’m certain her heart didn’t pump an empathetic beat even before she was a vampire.” Hunter made light of the situation, regardless of his respect for Delia.

  Henry watched Rook again. “I don’t know what to say or do. Being a rook means vampires don’t want to mingle blood, the ones that know what happens anyway.”

  “But is there any reason you can think of that she wouldn’t be able to be turned?” Hunter asked.

  “None,” he said. “But I’m going to be honest, it’s not looking good. It’s been far too long.”

  Hunter pushed the words past the lump in his throat, “I’m not giving up.”

  “I wouldn’t expect you to, but there is going to come a point when you have to. I’ll be here for you,” he offered.

  “Just be ready to dance at my wedding.” Hunter smiled optimistically.

  “I’m not much of a dancer, but I’ll give it a shot.” He laughed. “I’m going to leave you alone and see if I can find anything that will help.”

  He paused at the door. “Oh, do you have enough blood on hand for if she wakes up? I know vampires are very hungry when they first make the turn.”

  “We do for when she wakes. Camille was kind enough to fly to the mainland and bring back a healthy supply.” Hunter gazed down at her. “She loved to eat.”

  “Holler if you need anything.” Henry left the room.

  Hunter stroked her hair and ran his finger down her cheek. “Come back to me, my love. I can’t lose you again. You’ve reminded me what it was like to draw a purposeful breath, and if you’re not with me I don’t want to continue one more moment without you.”

  Rook’s eyes fluttered open in a direct answer to his prayer. She inhaled a sharp breath, gazing into Hunter’s eyes. “My Hunter.”

  Hunter’s being was filled with elation, every hair stood on end applauding his joy. “Rook.” He took her face in his hands.

  Camille, Delia and Gosta were in the room instantly, Henry was a few moments behind. “She’s awake!”

  Henry approached the bed.

  “Whoa.” Hunter held up his hand, cautioning Henry. “She’s newly turned and hasn’t fed yet.”

  Camille rushed to the bedside with a large goblet. “Welcome back. You’re going to need this.”

  Rook pushed it away. “I’m not . . . hungry?” She said it as a question, she didn’t know what she was feeling. “What do you mean by ‘newly turned’?”

  “I had no choice, you were dying, and it was turn you or lose you,” Hunter’s apologized.

  “So, like, I’m a vampire?” she asked with a raspy voice.

  “Yes,” he said with a nod.

  “I should want blood, right?” She eyed Henry.

  Henry took a step back behind Gosta, he tried to be discreet but failed.

  Rook laughed. “I’m not going to eat you, I’m not even hungry.”

  Henry put his finger to his chin in thought, “That actually makes sense.”

  Delia agreed, “It does. If you turned her with your blood, being her bloodmate, she will not require to ever feed again.”

  “I can’t eat?” she said, sitting up on her elbows.

  Hunter winced at the thought of all the things she would lament having to give up as a vampire. “No, I’m sorry, you can’t.”

  Rook saw Hunter’s reaction and turned toward him. She placed her hand on his cheek. “It’s okay, I’d rather give up all of the things I loved as a human to spend eternity with you.”

  “I really did try to consider how you would feel, not being able to see your parents, not feeling the sunlight on your face for a very long time, not having children . . .”

  “Actually,” Henry interjected, “that’s not entirely correct.”

  “What do you mean?” Hunter asked.

  “There are known instances of bloodmates being able to have children.” Henry lifted his brow optimistically.

  Camille smiled. “And if you aren’t blood-crazed as new vamplings typically are, you might be able to see your parents.”

  Delia chimed in, “But you’ll need to keep a close eye on her.” She waggled her finger at Hunter in warning. “We don’t need any vamplings causing trouble.”

  “Okay.” Rook nodded slowly. “It’s okay, I don’t mind as long as I’m with you.”

  “You have had my heart for thousands of years and I want to give
it to you for thousands more.” Hunter leaned down, pressing his lips against hers.

  Rook leaned into him and felt his erection against her leg. “There’s something else I’d like to have right now.”

  “And on that note.” Delia waved everyone out of the room.

  Rook and Hunter didn’t notice the room had emptied and don’t seem to care either way.

  He slid her nightgown down past her shoulder, kissing along her collarbone. Rook’s eyes closed to take in the pleasure. “Hunter, everything is . . .” she gasped.

  Hunter quirked his brow. “Enhanced.”

  “Yes.” Chill bumps erupted along her skin, all her senses were on fire with his touch.

  He pulled her around and tugged her onto his lap.

  Rook pulled his shirt off over his head and slid her fingers up his chest. “My God, you’re amazing.”

  He took her breasts into his hands, squeezing gently, working her nipples in his fingers.

  She peppered kisses along his neck and shoulders and breathed in his ear, “How about you take those pants off.”

  “Only if you lose the nightgown.” His gaze flashed with hunger.

  “Deal,” she said, shedding her nightgown, watching as he took off his pants. “Praise all of the gods that made you.”

  Rook took his steely length into her hands, stroking while licking her lips. She didn’t allow him back on the bed, she remained on her knees and licked the glistening liquid from the tip. She let out a long hum. “Thank God I can still taste.”

  Hunter worked to maintain his stance with the pleasure spiraling through him. “Don’t stop now.” He tangled his fingers in her hair and gently guided her mouth back onto his cock. He let out a growl as she took as much of him in as she could.

  She swirled her tongue around his tip, enjoying the flavor of him and his reaction to her swallowing as much of his length as she could.

  Hunter trailed his fingers along her back and around to her pussy, working circles around her clit, “You are so wet.”

  “For you, my love,” she said, taking a breath and plunging back down on him.

  He worked his fingers inside of her, finding the bundle of nerves. She bucked against the pleasure, unable to concentrate. She pulled away and rose up to kiss his lips. “That’s . . . um . . . wow.”

  Hunter sat on the bed and took her ass in his hands, putting her in his lap. She held her pussy just above his head. “You want in?” Her eyes danced with mischief.

  “You know I do,” he growled, grabbing her ass cheeks.

  Rook dragged her lips along his neck and jumped. “Oh.”

  “What is it?” he asked with concern.

  She leaned back with her mouth open, exposing her fangs, “I wasn’t expecting that.”

  “Be careful with those, they’re sharp.” He laughed. “You’ll learn to control them.”

  “Or I could drink from you.” She slid her pussy down on his cock, in complete control. Her walls strained to spread wide enough for his girth. She rode up and down on him in rhythm.

  “As you wish,” he said, exposing his fangs. “We can drink from each other.”

  She tilted her head back, rising and falling on his cock. Hunter sank his fangs into her throat, letting his mouth fill with her blood. His hands found her hips and moved her faster and harder on his cock, his motions were unmetered and wild.

  She could feel him pulsing and growing inside her, ready to explode against her own climax building in her belly.

  Heat and electricity ribboned through her and she lowered her fangs to his neck, plunging into his flesh with abandon.

  As her mouth filled with his essence of life, her pussy contracted hard around him, their bodies intertwined in the blood exchange ritual, sealing their ancient bond.

  Hunter swallowed and pressed his lips against her shoulder, letting out a long slow growl as he released inside her.

  Rook panted, unable to control her own movements as she collapsed against him. He slid down the bed holding her in place, savoring the feel of her skin on his.

  “That was . . .” Rook panted. “Vampire sex is the fucking bomb.”

  A laugh grumbled from deep in his belly. “We have an eternity to perfect it.”

  Her eyes were heavy with pleasure. “It already is.”

  He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tighter. She reveled in the warmth and happiness, trailing her fingers absently along his chest. She picked up the key attached to the leather cord. “You never did finish telling me about this.”

  He smiled and lifted the cord over his head. “This belonged to you.” He hung it around her neck. “I brought it to you from one of my journeys.”

  She lifted it up to examine it closer. “It’s beautiful but so simple.”

  “Back when I found it, it was one of the most ornate things I’d ever seen.”

  “Does it open anything?” she asked.

  He smiled. “Yes, there’s a small chest that it opens.”

  “What’s in it?” she asked, watching his strange reaction.

  He looked down. “My will.”

  Rook felt his hesitation. “What else?”

  A sad smile adorned his expression. “A lock of each of our children’s hair, along with one of yours.”

  “That’s so weird,” she said, squinting.

  “It’s all I could take to remember you.” His tone was defensive.

  “No, not that you kept it, but that I was someone else . . . someone different,” she said thoughtfully. “How different am I?”

  He huffed a laugh. “Runa was stubborn, difficult, tough as nails and her beauty was unmatched by any I had ever seen.” He paused in thought. “Until I met you. I’d say you’ve stayed true to form.”

  She swatted his chest. “I’m not difficult.”

  “No, my love, not difficult at all.” He pulled her head to his chest, so she couldn’t see him roll his eyes.

  “I love you, my Hunter,” she breathed, sinking into him.

  He released a sigh of all the troubles and anguish he’s felt living without her for so long. He stroked her hair, praising the gods for the incredible gift of a second chance they’d given him.

  Epilogue

  “Calm down, it’s going to be okay,” Rook said through a huge grin.

  “I’m fine.” The stiffness in his body carried through in his tone.

  “You’re going to break the steering wheel.” She widened her eyes. “Why are you so tense? Is it me? Are you afraid I’m going to vamp out or something?”

  Hunter released an exasperated breath. “No, that’s not it at all. You haven’t had any urges and it’s been months.”

  “Then what is it?”

  “I’ve never had to meet someone's parents before.” He hung his head. “I never thought it would be so terrifying.”

  “They’re going to love you.” Her enthusiasm did nothing to calm his nerves.

  Hunter remained silent, thinking of the all the wars he’d battled in over thousands of years and had never been as terrified as he was in this moment. He inhaled a breath to speak.

  Rook pointed to the right. “That’s it, turn there.”

  Hunter brought the car to a stop in front of the old-style farmhouse. “You grew up here?”

  “Yup! Welcome to Bum Fuck Idaho,” she said with a smile.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “I liked it here.” Her words were genuine.

  Hunter hesitated before getting out of the car. “I think I know why I’m so nervous.”

  “Oh, do tell.” Anticipation at hearing the great Viking tell his secret leaked out.

  “This is so important to you that I don’t want to disappoint you.”

  “You won’t. My parents are really cool, hippie types without the weed.” She put her hand on the door. “Ready?”

  Rook’s parents were already on the front porch, her mother coming down the stairs. “Oh, sweetheart, it’s so good to see you.” Her mother greeted her with a warm e
mbrace.

  Rook felt the love that only a mother could give. “I’ve missed you, too, Mom.”

  Hunter offered his hand and introduction to Rook’s father. “I’m Hunter.”

  Rook’s dad greeted him with a broad smile. “I’m Cal.”

  Rook stepped back from her mother. “Mom, I’d like you to meet Hunter. Hunter, this is my mom, Betty.”

  Hunter offered his hand, Betty walked past it and hugged him. “We’re a hugging family, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Hunter stiffened but leaned down to hug her.

  Betty stepped back, lifting her eyes up to Hunter’s. “You’re a tall one, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Hunter said.

  Rook hugged her dad. “Missed you, Daddy.”

  “Missed you, too, baby girl.” He held her tight.

  Betty rubbed her arms. “Let’s get inside, it cooled off quite a bit.”

  Rook took her place at Hunter’s side, beaming with joy. She wrapped her hand in his and leaned close to him. “I told you they’d love you.”

  “We’ll reserve judgment for when you tell them we’re getting married.” Hunter quirked his brow.

  “If I’m happy, they’ll be happy,” she said.

  Hunter stopped for a moment and turned to face her. “Are you happy?”

  Rook’s expression softened, she stood on her tip toes and threw her arms around his neck. “I never knew this kind of joy existed.” She captured his gaze.

  “Knowing how you make me feel, I would wait a thousand more years to be with you.” He leaned down, pressing a chaste kiss against her lips.

  * * *

  If you enjoyed Hunter I would be forever grateful if you left a review at your point of purchase!

  To continue the adventure in A Vampire’s Thirst, you can pick up A Vampire’s Thirst: Gunner by Elaine Barris!

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