by J. N. Colon
Awe. Isn’t that sweet?
A hand twisted in my hair and yanked my head aside for a clean shot of my neck. A whimper escaped my mouth as I struggled, but his grasp was like icy iron. Another hand was at my torso, claws digging in and suddenly swiping across.
I screamed as hot pain sliced through my abdomen. If it wasn’t for this thick hoodie—that was now ruined—my intestines would be spilling out.
The scent of fresh blood pleased the one armed vampire, a twisted smile curling around his gory, crimson stained teeth.
I braced myself for the impending agony. I knew, deep in my soul, this was going to be a hundred times worse than Brant’s bite.
But that pain never came. Something hit us from behind and I stumbled to the ground. When I peeked between my dark strands of hair my heart soared at the sight.
Messy midnight hair, pale skin, gunmetal eyes, and a mouth I loved to kiss twisting into a vicious snarl.
Mac!
I’ve never been happier to see him—until I realized these things could easily kill him. Panic overwhelmed me, shaking my body with pure terror.
“Mac!” My voice cracked as pain seared through my torso and I hunched over.
His silver eyes widened, staring at the hand clutching my stomach where blood seeped between my fingers. Red, hot fury swept over him with a force I’ve never witnessed. He pivoted on the black haired vampire responsible for my injuries and swung at his face so hard bone crunched sickeningly and his head snapped to the side. And it didn’t snap back.
A blur of motioned raced behind Mac and knocked the one armed vampire down. A sleek black panther stood on his chest, sparing me a look with burning violet eyes.
Demy!
A mixture of relief and fear surged through my veins. Mac had help, but the thought of either of them hurt tore my heart to pieces.
Demy lunged for the undead vampire’s throat without giving it a chance to claw him.
My breath was ragged and pulse quivering. I pried my eyes from the fight and saw Vera now lying in her human form trembling. I crawled toward her, ignoring the pain in my stomach.
“Vera,” I whispered, touching her face.
Her dark eyes met mine. “I’m okay.” Her voice shook with pain. “Just some cracked ribs. I’ll heal.” She turned her head toward the fight. “I wish I could help.”
I watched Mac pummel the thing relentlessly, but he wouldn’t stay down. He continued to roll up and come after Mac.
Another blur shot through the woods and Rufus appeared, slamming his foot against the undead vampire’s ribcage, delivering a blow so hard it cracked and concaved. But he kept fighting.
Something silver flashed and Rufus slashed a knife through the air, cutting off the thing’s head in one swift motion. It rolled toward us, his crimson eyes vacantly staring at me.
I dry heaved, making pain explode through my torso.
Rufus shot toward the other vampire Demy was fighting, but he snarled when the guard attempted to decapitate it. Rufus slowly backed away, his silver eyes glittering with understanding. This was Demy’s kill.
After a few more chomps on his throat Demy finally managed to sever his head with a revolting snap.
Sickness rose up my throat and I gagged again. This was the first time I was thankful for an empty stomach.
“Rubi!” Mac’s hands were suddenly clutching my face, his eyes filled with terror. “Oh god I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m fine.”
His hand lifted my Lone Star Burger Shack hoodie and gasped at the red, bleeding gouges across the left side of my torso.
“Shit!” Demy was beside us in human form, blood smeared around his mouth and inky black hair sticking every which way. “That looks like it hurts.”
I shrugged as a cold numbness descending through me.
He crossed over to Vera and stroked her cheek gently with the pad of his thumb. “You okay?”
She nodded. “I’ll heal soon. I just need to rest.”
The numbness brought heaviness and my eyes fluttered.
“We need to get her out of here right away.” Even through Rufus’s calm English accent I could detect the hint of trepidation lacing his tenor. “She’s losing blood fast.”
“Rubi.” Mac shook me. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”
In my hazy brain I vaguely wondered if he meant my heart, because that’s the only pain I can remember feeling all day. “Are you still mad at me?” My voice was slurred.
Agony flashed across his face. “No. I was never mad at you. I was just scared.” His forehead rested on mine. “I’m so sorry Rubi. I never should have walked away like that.” His voice cracked. “Please forgive me. I’ll never, never do it again. I swear.”
“Okay.” Like I could be mad at him.
Mac cradled me against his chest and I nuzzled his neck, breathing in his heady, woodsy scent.
Blackness engulfed me, washing away the blood and gore of the night—for a little while at least.
Chapter 24
I woke up in a warm bed swathed in blankets and a familiar, comforting scent. A body lay next to me and the tingling down my spine told it was Mac. I shifted my gaze to see him on his side on top of the covers, steadily watching me.
A sleepy smile curled my lips. “Hi.”
“Hi.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes.
My brows knit in confusion and I tried to turn toward him, but pain shot through the left side of my torso and I sucked air. Memories flooded me, churning my stomach. The discovery of Professor Forsyth’s and Allan’s bloody, shredded bodies flickered through my mind. Then I saw James getting his heart ripped out. My own body trembled as I remembered those horrifying, cold-blooded vampire creatures.
I didn’t realize I was crying until a sob escaped my mouth.
“Rubi, shush.” Mac’s hand was in my hair, massaging my scalp soothingly. “It’s okay. You’re safe now.”
“What were those things!” I choked.
Mac shook his head. “I don’t know. No one does. Yet.” He kissed my forehead and smoothed his thumb across my cheek. “My father and some of the others are looking into it now.” He didn’t expand.
I relaxed next to him, trying to push the horrifying images from my head. Now my nightmares had fresh material to borrow.
Great.
I pressed my face into his neck, inhaling a deep breath against his skin. More images flashed, one of Vera lying on the ground hurt. “Is Vera okay?”
“She’s fine.”
A sigh of relief exited my chest—until I thought about what happened this morning and the heavy weight settled again. I hated being separated from Mac, physically or emotionally. This was the worst fight we’d been in and I never wanted it to happen again.
I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “Did you and Demy talk…?” My voice was barely audible.
He grimaced. “Yeah. I’m so sorry I gave you the cold shoulder. I saw you with him and got so jealous.”
I tsked. “I don’t feel that way about Demy.” Sure he was hot, but Mac is the one who makes my heart flutter with one simple look. He’s the one who owns my heart.
He bit his lip reluctantly, his gaze tormented. “I freaked out and thought maybe you’d rather be with him and not be turned.”
“Mac.” I shot him an incredulous expression. “You are my life, my future. I made my choice.” I fisted his shirt in my hand to bring him closer. “I don’t want anyone else. Ever.” I pressed my lips to his.
When Mac pulled away his eyes danced with silver and he sighed in relief, spilling his warm breath over my face. “I love you more every day.” His forehead rested against mine. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You’ll never have to find out.”
He kissed my dimple and ran his fingers through my hair. “Don’t ever scare me like that again. Promise me.”
“I promise.” I cleared my throat again, reluctant to breech this topic. “Last night Demy told me what
happened between you two, why you aren’t friends anymore.”
A grimace darkened his suddenly sullen face. “Yeah I know. He told me.” He rolled over on his back, staring up at the ceiling pensively. “We were thirteen. I was in a bad place after my mom died and my father was pushing me to make all these decisions.” He gritted his teeth and raked his fingers through his hair. “I didn’t know what I was doing. Everything happened so fast and then Demy and I just couldn’t let the past go.”
“Hey.” I reached up and grabbed his hand, pulling it down until it rested on his chest with mine. “Both of you made some bad choices, but there are more important things than your stubbornness or your pride.”
The corners of his lips twitched as he looked at me. “We know.” He squeezed my hand. “We sort of came to an understanding.”
My brow arched suspiciously. “What’s that?”
“He understands if he tries to kiss you I will punch him unconscious.”
“Mac,” I groaned.
“I’m kidding—sort of.” His face grew serious. “I know he’s your friend. Demy has a way of getting under people’s skin permanently.”
Yeah and I apparently fell for his stupid charm. I didn’t even realize it until he was at his darkest.
“He’s a good person once you look past all his bullshit,” Mac continued. “And we’re going to try and put the past behind us.”
“That’s good,” I yawned.
Mac pulled the blankets tighter around me and kissed my forehead. “Get some sleep Rubi.”
I nodded. I hope I could sleep considering most of the time I close my eyes horrifying images flash behind my lids. And that was before getting attacked by undead vampire creature things. I can only imagine what my nightmares will hold now.
My heels dug into the cool, damp sand as I frantically sprinted down the beach. My heart slammed into my ribcage as terror forced my legs to pump harder. Sweat trailed down my face, leaking onto my red shirt.
The stench of rotten flesh burned my nose and brought tears to my eyes. I glanced over my shoulder to see a mob of them gaining ground. Waxen gray flesh hung from bones while putrid liquid seeped out gaping wounds and blood stained their mouths scarlet. Claws rose by their sides, long, lethal, and itching to rip into my body.
I winced as pain sliced across my stomach. Blood dripped down.
The silvery moon suddenly faded and the stars winked out one by one, leaving darkness for miles.
Inhuman snarls echoed behind me, hemorrhaging panic through my veins. I gasped as claws snagged my hair.
The beach melted and I was standing in a grove of trees, fog swirling around their thick, gnarled bases. A woman materialized out of the gloom, beckoning me. She was ethereal and painfully beautiful. Her auburn hair blew in the cold breeze and jade eyes pleaded for me to hurry.
I ran to her with the sound of hungry growls nipping at my heels. I knew she’d save me. She’d do anything to save me.
Moments before my fingers touched hers the dream faded.
I woke up again to a darkened room with moonlight spilling through the windows. Mac was beside me under the covers. It took me only a moment to realize we were in his room. Alone.
Brant was probably with Aspen.
My eyes flickered toward his bedside table to see the picture of the ethereal woman from my dream, Miranda Davenport.
Why did I dream about Mac’s mom?
“What’s wrong?” Mac whispered, his body alerting him I was wake.
“Nothing.” I was reluctant to bring up his mother or the nightmare I had. I slowly rolled on my side, testing the wounds on my stomach. They felt tight, but less painful than earlier. It was probably Mac’s blood still working to heal me. I might only have a little in my system, but his blood was strong.
I nuzzled his neck, suddenly desperate to obliterate the separation that held us earlier today. I missed his touch fiercely. I opened my mouth and sucked on his neck, nipping at his soft, salty flesh.
A shiver traveled through his body in response, but he gently pulled away. “Rubi, you’re injured. You need to rest.”
My hands fisted in his white t-shirt. “No. I need you.” I pressed my lips against his. “I need you to kiss me, touch me, and make me feel hot and alive in your hands until I can’t see straight anymore.” My words danced across his mouth.
Mac’s breath caught and his eyes darkened with desire. “Shit Rubi. You can’t say things like that,” he growled.
“But I mean it.” My leg curled around his and I bit my lip with a tiny whimper of pleading.
That was all Mac needed to push him over the edge.
His mouth caught mine in a slow, deep, devastating kiss that sent my insides ablaze. His wild taste infected me, shooting straight to my head. I pulled him on top and he was careful to keep his weight on my right, uninjured side.
“Oh god I missed you Rubi.” His lips skimmed down my neck, leaving a hot trail behind. When I reached up and grabbed his shirt he tugged it over his head, knowing what I wanted. His back muscles rolled and flexed under my hands.
But it wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough.
Mac was thinking the same thing because suddenly my shirt came over my head and he tossed it on the floor with his. His expanse of pale, ripped flesh rested down on me, bringing forth a desperate moan.
His hands and mouth explored me and it was painfully slow, driving me insane. His pants came off, leaving him only in a pair of thin black boxer briefs and the friction between us shot sparks of fire through my entire body. I cried out. Several times. So did he.
An inferno raged inside me and there was one thing—only one thing—it wanted. It was going to get it. Now.
“Mac,” I breathed, pulling his mouth back to mine. My tongue slipped across his teeth to find his canines. I stroked each one over and over until his fangs ripped through his gums.
“AH!” Mac’s strangled cry of shock and pleasure made my stomach flutter. “Rubi,” he growled, staring down at me while his wild hair teased my forehead. “What are you doing?”
I didn’t break eye contact. I didn’t blink. I wanted this as much as he did. Hell, I craved it.
Mac saw the resolve in my face and his eyes melted silver until there was only a thin ring of jade remaining. “If you turn…”
“If I turn—so what?”
It was frightening how much I meant that.
Mac’s body shivered against mine as his mouth slid agonizingly slow down my neck. He kissed my skin several times. “I love you Rubi.” And then his fangs sank into my flesh, delivering the explosion of pleasure I’ve been longing for.
I cried out his name. My fingers dove into his hair, holding his mouth against me while my legs wrapped around his waist, keeping his body from moving even an inch from mine. Fires ignited in my belly, aching and wonderful all at the same time.
“More. Take more,” I urged, breathing raggedly against his neck where his quivering pulse matched mine.
I could feel our souls connecting in a way that we’d only done once and it was so long ago. Too long.
A hot hand traveled down my body, caressing curves and flesh. When he reached my thigh his fingers dug into me, gripping my leg tighter against his hip. Sparks of electricity crackled where we met and my head tilted further back in response.
Mac pulled away and rested his forehead against mine, breathless. He knew we weren’t done yet. “Baby, are you sure you’re up for this?” His rough voice was laced with anticipation.
“Yes.”
A crooked smile split his lips where my blood stained them red. He rolled onto his back and riffled through his bedside table until he found a pocket knife. I slid on to him, resting my hands on his chest, eagerness glowing brightly inside me.
“Wait.” Mac brushed the hair away from my neck and gently directed me to his mouth. His hot tongue flicked out and licked the blood from his bite. “Mmm,” he mumbled against my skin. “You taste amazing, like nothing else.”
An electric shiver shot through me. The first time we shared blood we were so new and timid with each other. Not this time. This time we knew what we wanted.
I smiled down at him when he released me and slid the blade across the side of his neck, drawing blood. My mouth covered the wound and a moan slipped out as his taste burst across my tongue—hot, intoxicating, and powerful.
Mac’s hands gripped my hips as he groaned and moved under me. “Rubi,” he cried out. “Feels so good.”
Oh boy did it.
His hands felt like they were incased in electricity as they roamed and massaged down my back. He breathed unevenly beneath me and arched his neck, offering more. Mac completely surrendered to me and I had no doubt he’d give me anything I wanted.
All I wanted was him.
Pleasure, desire, and love unfurled in my stomach, sprawling out all the way from my fingertips to my toes. My head tingled and heart fluttered uncontrollably. I was home.
When I was done we lay against each other, electricity still sparking along our bodies.
“Are you okay?” Mac asked, his fingers gently skimming over the gauzy bandages on my stomach.
I nodded. “Better than okay.” I couldn’t feel the slightest pain from my injury. All I felt was Mac. “I love you,” I mumbled.
A sleepy smile split his lips and he pulled the covers around us, keeping in the heat we created. “Love you too, baby.” He gently kissed my forehead then my lips and then my dimple.
Without any more strength to keep my eyes open they fluttered closed and I knew—without a doubt—I wouldn’t have any more nightmares tonight.
Chapter 25
The following day we were called to the secret area beneath the school. I didn’t wake up a vampire oh but I was definitely feeling the effects. Everything was loud and bright. I only ate half my breakfast because it tasted weird and I was thirsty as hell. The bond between Mac and me had strengthened too. My skin zipped with electricity all over when he was near.
That was my favorite part.
Mac was also feeling some effects. His eyes were exceptionally bright and he couldn’t keep his hands off me—not that I minded.
