“You wanted wine?”
“I’m fine. We should get back. Sun rises in a few hours.” He turned on his side and gazed at her. His fingers traced a heated path down her belly. “I love your brown skin and don’t want to see it burned.” His eyes followed his hand but he seemed distracted.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Viv.” He pulled his hand back. “Let’s get out of here.”
Dressed instantly, they left the room and walked through the bar. She peered around for the manager, who was nowhere in sight. Good.
Stepping into the cool desert night, Alek stopped. “Wait here, I’ll be right back.”
Jealousy flared in her chest and she worked hard to tamp it down. Nothing she could do if he wanted to see the manager. Deep in thought, she ignored the sound of the door opening.
Viv leaned against the wall, unable to do anything other than wait. Of course, she could walk back to the mansion.
“Need to get somewhere?”
Goddamn it. Usually vigilant, she had allowed the creature to sneak up on her. Not good. She sniffed and tried to search his mind to no avail. Viv did get one thing—the rank odor of transgressor, one who had recently slipped over the edge. Pumped up on human blood, he held his vampyre form well.
The Kind species had their own rogues and somehow this one had slipped unnoticed into the club. Alek, in his preoccupation with whatever he had to do, had missed the vile scent of the gaunt being. Any strong warrior would have picked up on it immediately.
“Fresh blood.” His smile twisted into a grimace. “Always makes us stronger.”
Transgressors were dangerous, unpredictable street vermin who roamed at night. Known to drain man or beast of blood, they would assume their beastly form and gorge on the flesh. The more blood and flesh they consumed, the more uncontrollable they became, and eventually they lost their ability to change from their beast. Pursued endlessly by Reign warriors, the creatures died painfully in the form of whatever animal they were.
Handsome as hell, the diseased cat would be a formidable opponent. The hair coloring told her cheetah or jaguar. Making note of the thin, whipcord-hard body beneath a cotton t-shirt, Viv confirmed cheetah. As cat or a man they were wiry and fast as hell. This one possessed strong vampyre abilities. She’d failed to keep her shields in place and he’d read her mind.
Standing straight, she faced him. If all her abilities had been present she would have had the choice of vanishing. Not tonight.
Viv decided she could handle this, no need to bother Alek. “I’m good.”
“Bet you are.” Fangs lengthened and the man’s eyes swirled red.
She’d have to fight because he wasn’t going anywhere. He’d already transgressed and his sick mind wouldn’t allow him to walk away from what he saw as his next meal. Had he been weaker there would have been a chance Viv could mentally send him on his way.
“You sure you want to do this?”
“I’d love to dance with you before I suck you dry. Bet you’re a tasty bitch.” Spittle wet his lips, glistened from his incisors.
“Let’s go.” Viv whipped out her knife and took a fighter’s stance, her knees flexed. On the balls of her feet, she was ready to move in any direction.
The creature lunged and she spun to the side, slashing him across the cheek.
“Whore! You’ll die for that.”
He feinted left, slid right and grasped her knife arm. Shit. Snatching her forward with inhuman strength, he twisted her body and yanked her arm behind her.
Pulling her close, he whispered, “You’ll taste good.”
She almost fainted when she felt his fangs rip her jugular and tear a piece of her shoulder away. When he let her slip to the ground, irrationally, her only thought was of killing the Siberian tiger who had stolen her powers and left her vulnerable. Before her body hit the pavement glass broke somewhere and a vicious growl split the night air.
Alek.
Viviana refused to pass out. Rolling to her back, she watched the fight ensue as blood streamed from her body.
She saw the diseased being lifted from its feet by the neck and the cracking sound when his head slammed to the pavement made her cringe.
“Change or I’ll rip your heart out as you lie and you will die in disgrace.”
“Screw you, warrior.” A spurt of blood from its torn throat landed on Alek’s hand.
Honorable Reign never killed a transgressor in disgrace. The unfortunate creatures had often fought bravely beside those who had to hunt them. They had once been warriors who protected Kind and humans alike.
Those transgressors who succumbed to their bloodlust were given the opportunity to die as the animal they were before being cursed. It was no different than her own species, who were given the opportunity to walk into the light rather than be killed by another vampyre.
“As you wish.”
The creature had a change of mind, wishing to fight and die with honor as a cheetah. Spotted fur sprouted on its heaving chest, covering the torso and running over the limbs. Red tears stained the beautiful thick fur as they coursed down the beast’s face. The cheetah wheezed, unable to move.
Air hissed through Viv’s lips as Alek’s clothes disappeared and faintly striped tan fur raced up his arms, down his legs and across his torso. The largest cat she’d ever seen smashed down on all fours, causing the ground to tremble. Holy Christ!
What stood there wasn’t lion or tiger but a strange variation of both. The tiger’s lines were faint on the fawn-colored lion’s fur. Muscles rippled down his side and his flank quivered before he reared up and roared.
The solemn sound echoed off the side of the building.
Large paws landed on either side of the tiny spotted cat. Lowering his head, Alek opened his mouth and, baring huge fangs, bit into the belly of the transgressor. Yanking back, he disemboweled the animal.
Alek had honored the cat by allowing him to die as the creature he’d been born.
The foul odor that filled the night air made her retch.
Weak and in extreme pain, Viv attempted to sit up. Blood continued to pour from the gaping wound in her shoulder and she had no strength to start the healing process. The pure scent of lion drifted over her. No, it was vampyre. Damn, the injury had destroyed her senses, trapped her even more.
Put her at Alek’s mercy.
“Oh God, honey, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you alone.”
The smell of vampyre grew stronger and she heard Case say, “Go, I’ll clean this up. Feed her quickly and I’ll get there as fast as I can.”
“Alek, I’ve lost too much blood to heal.” Tears glistened in his eyes. She murmured, “Blood, strong blood.”
“Mine is strong.”
“Vampyre blood,” she whispered. “Don’t let me die.”
“Never.” He swept her up and moved into the fading black sky.
Her mind grew weaker as they headed toward the horizon, where dark was turning pink with light. Twirling with her in his arms, he vanished into a tornadolike vortex to protect her from the early sun’s rays.
He settled her in the dark room beneath the mansion’s main floor and Case soon joined them, carrying a bottle. “This will replace the champagne you dropped.”
Why did Alec want champagne? Confused and too weak to enter his mind, she listened to him talk quietly with Case, who suggested Alek feed her before he dematerialized.
“Viv, can you hear me?”
“No…cat…blood. Vampyre.”
“You’ll die if we wait. You’re already weak from the sun’s rising.”
Dried tears stained his cheeks red. He’d give his life for her simply because they were mates. Alek was stronger than many of the Kind she’d met. He had the same vampyre abilities the royal brothers had. But he wasn’t royalty.
“Alek, don’t change me, I can’t be what you are,” she whispered. “Vampyre, or at least royal blood. Law or Dace, they can sustain me until I heal.”
An
ger reddened his face. “Mine is as royal as you’re gonna get.” He slid into the bed and lifted her effortlessly onto his lap.
She struggled to hold her eyes open. His blood would take too long to heal her, she’d die anyway, or he’d have to change her. Not an option. Viv was undead, not a cat, and she needed stronger sustenance than his blood.
Did Alek plan to make her his mate against her will? Why would he lie to her?
“I’ve fed from the prince for many years.” Pain, anger, infused his words. “I will not make you what you don’t want to be.”
Don’t…trust you.
His eyes became hooded and she winced at the anguish her words had caused as they raged through his mind.
He lowered his head, opened his wrist and pushed it against her lips.
Unable to move her head, Viviana had no choice as Alek’s blood poured freely from the punctures. His life force filled her mouth and she swallowed.
Something else happened—the dark place in his mind opened.
Memories, pained and raw, assaulted her thoughts. A kaleidoscope of pictures with him and Nikolaus flashed before her like a movie. His love, his guilt at loving a man, dripped into her heart. His need, his desire and lust for the prince boiled through her veins.
Her eyes closed as she let it wash over her. All his years of fighting feelings for his best friend streamed alongside his new and wondrous need for her. His vampyre side understood and could accept loving a man, the cat never would. Tigers were solitary creatures, searching out females only when the need arose. Male lions had a pride of lionesses, another male would not be accepted.
Alek pulled his arm away, her head lolled back against his shoulder. Still too weak to think or utter a single word, she opened her eyes and gazed at him.
“Now do you believe me? Do you understand why I can never have a mate?”
He lifted her gently into the bed and, using her ancestors’ magic, he removed her blood-soaked clothes and cleansed her body.
“Rest. I’ll return at dusk to feed you again.”
She watched weakly as he walked to the door. Turning, he leveled cold red eyes on her. “Do you trust me now?”
Love she had felt all along lanced through Viv. The words lodged in her throat, producing only a whimper. Alek didn’t vanish but before she could force the words out he had opened the door and walked out. When it clicked shut, the syllables slipped from her mouth.
“Draga moja.” she whispered.
Alek was gone and he’d locked her from his mind.
Chapter Five
Alek had pulled his wrist from her before she took too much. He’d given her just enough to start her healing. Nowhere near the amount she’d need to become what he was.
“I’ve never seen you accept defeat so easily. Where’s that Big-Man-On-Compound attitude?”
Sitting just inside the doorway leading to the balcony, distracted by sunrise and the variety of sounds that accompanied daylight, he hadn’t heard or felt Case’s approach. Alek whipped around. “Not right now, man.”
“I remembered uttering those same words not long ago. Didn’t stop you.”
“Go to hell, Case. Where’s Tres?” He stood and walked out on the balcony.
“The Looking Glass, catching up with Holly. What’s up with the lady below?” Case came out and stood beside him.
“She’ll live. If Phoenix hadn’t been pissed at her and zapped her ability to vanish I wouldn’t be stuck with the fallout.”
“A man doesn’t buy the vintage champagne you did to share with someone he considers fallout.”
“What can I say, weak moment.”
“Let me see. A few things come to mind. Hanging out the out-of-business sign is one. The great, the mighty BMOC has gone down. Shit like that.”
“Screw you.”
“Yeah I think I used those words too.” Shrugging, Case said, “It’s not bad, you know. I like having a mate.”
They stood in silence looking over the arena.
Alek turned and rested his hip against the railing. “Don’t think she’s keen on having me as a mate. Her exact words to me were—’I’m not cut out to run on all fours’.”
“Convince her otherwise. Show her the joy and freedom of being both. Took us a while to get there ourselves so give her some time.”
“Why do the Fates fuck with us? We didn’t ask for this.”
“No one asks for trouble, man, but it comes sometimes. Meet it head-on.”
Walking back inside, Alek fell heavily into the overstuffed chair by the desk.
“Case, she knows about Nikol. I can’t be with her because Viv deserves a whole man, not the half-assed man I’ve become.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She needed strong blood to start the healing process. Royal blood. I gave it to her and it sort of aired my dirty laundry. She knows how I feel about him.” Leaning back in the chair, he rubbed his hands over his face.
“Alek, she’s a goddamn vampyre. Hell, she’s not going to give a crap about who you screwed, male or female.” Case chuckled. “If she’s your draga, and she is because her smell is seeping from your pores, I’d only worry about the next female or male you touch.”
“Her name’s Viviana.” Alek glared up at his longtime friend. “Talk about her like that again, I’ll rip your guts out.”
“Good. I made my point. Look, I have to go. Why don’t you bring her to the club tonight, have dinner with me and Tres?”
“No way, you’re not getting me to perform for you so you can get your jollies with your old lady.”
“Don’t call her old, I can still kick your ass. Though you do smell more and more like a… Wait, hold on.” Case leaned down and sniffed until Alek swatted him away. “Shit, man, you’re both cats now. I’ll be damned.”
“Something weird pulled it out of me yesterday morning. My life is a mess right now.”
“Smell better if you ask me.”
“Case, get out.” Alek sent a wave of energy that helped blast the other man into the atmosphere.
Son of a bitch. Now you think you’re the king of beasts.
Go to hell.
The warrior’s laughter lingered long after he disappeared.
Alek settled back in the chair. Could his friend be right? Vamps were different, a carnal group if ever there was one. Cats would do any female, hairy or not, but bloodsuckers would do anything, man or woman, when they were horny.
“Lord, maybe she’s been with other women.”
Blood heated and burned a path through his body. What would happen if he met one of her ex-lovers? If any bastard looked at her sideways he’d rip the heart right from his chest and shove it up his…
Oh hell, she was his draga. For sure.
He stood and paced, wearing a path across the floor.
Okay, how to convince her hairy was good? Think, Alek. How do you show her the beauty of being a cat?
The sun sat high in the sky and that meant she’d be dead to the world. Plus the injury weakened her. Being close, knowing Viv was okay, would help him think clearly.
He should check on her.
Alek dematerialized to where she rested. Slipping into bed beside her, he wondered if she’d feel his presence. He kept his t-shirt and slacks on just in case.
Lying on his side, he gently pushed the wild platinum hair from her face and enjoyed the silky feel of her cool brown skin. She’d been too weak to redo the plait she loved. He decided against using magic. He could do it. Shifting her slightly, he began to braid Viv’s hair. Done, it looked loose and crooked but at least she wouldn’t wake up with hair in her face.
He sat against the headboard and considered his predicament.
If she was what he was, she could be with him now, running in the sun, frolicking in the lake—
That’s it!
At some point in her life she’d been alive. Viv must miss the sun. He’d show her all the wonderful things she could do in daylight and still be a vampyre. S
eeing the sky light up in the morning, watching the sunset—it made up for the fear of transgressing.
Shit, as a vamp she could turn rogue. They both had their demons to fight, one no worse than the other, right? Wrong. For every rogue, ten transgressors roamed. The beasts hadn’t learned yet to fight the bloodlust as well as vamps had.
She wouldn’t have to fear the hunters like the cats did until they mastered behaving like men and could blend in. Vampyres already had that part down to a science.
Sure she wouldn’t wake up, he lifted her onto his lap. Drawing her tight in his arms, he sniffed at the sweet scent that was pure Viviana.
Closing his eyes, he dozed off holding her next to his heart.
Alek woke with his arm cramped around her. When she moved slightly he realized hours had passed. The sun would be sliding toward the western horizon.
He glanced down, waiting for her eyes to open, and for the first time he noticed the pink streaks dried on her cheeks. He’d cleansed every trace of blood after he fed her. She had cried before she fell asleep. Why? Did she dislike his species that much?
She moved again and murmured something. He lowered his ear to her mouth.
“Don’t go.”
She had not wanted his blood, didn’t want to be a cat—who the fuck was she thinking about? Alek’s thoughts crashed around his mind. He locked his shields tight, careful to keep her out. He’d find out sooner or later who she thought about. Better later.
“Wake up, Viv.” He eased from under her. “You need to feed.”
She stretched, flinching in pain when she raised the wounded shoulder. “Damn that hurt.”
“You’ll be fine.” He opened his wrist and placed it in front of her.
“I could have done it myself.” She moved her lips to cover the tiny holes and started to drink. This time he didn’t have to stop her, she had more strength and, taking only what she needed to heal, Viv stopped herself.
“I thought you’d trust me now.” He stood from the bed. “I have no designs on changing you to something you find objectionable.” Not wanting to remember where her mouth had been, Alek fabricated a long-sleeved shirt. His cock jerked against his pants at the idea of places he’d like to feel her lips. Get a grip.
Quench Page 5
