“You’re lucky none of them struck your black heart.” Daedalus settled the vampire next to Sugar and exposed his wrist.
“What are you doing?” The alarm in Pallas’s voice surprised Daedalus.
He gave Pallas a sharp look. “I’m saving her. Something you should have done.” Using his fangs, Daedalus sliced across the vampire’s wrist and allowed the blood to drip into Sugar’s mouth.
Only a few minutes had passed since Sugar’s heart had stopped. It shouldn’t be too late.
“She’ll never forgive you.” Pallas grunted between words while he struggled with the splinter buried through his shoulder into the floor under him.
“I’ll have eternity to make it up to her.” He milked the vampire’s wrist, filling Sugar’s mouth, then massaged her throat to assist the flow into her body. “Come on.” He couldn’t remember the last time he’d made a vampire. He never had the patience to care for fledglings and passed those he’d made to other caretakers.
Sugar would be different. She was the only thing that mattered. Pal Robi Inc. could rot, and the council could go to hell.
He glared at Pallas. “What am I doing wrong?”
“Do you want my list in alphabetical order or in order of priority?” Pallas panted as he twisted the splinter loose in his shoulder.
Jumping to his feet, Daedalus stomped to his brother and made short work of yanking the remaining splinters from his body before gripping his throat. “Help me, or I’ll hang you from this roof by your intestines to watch the sunrise.” Daedalus’s fangs elongated and pierced his lip.
Pallas rested his hands on the one around his throat. “You’re doing it right. Just need to wait for it to work.” His eyes moved to something behind his shoulder. “And not allow the vampire you’re using for this to escape.”
Daedalus dropped his brother and spun.
The little traitor was crawling to the door on his stomach. This was not happening.
“Get back here.” The snap of his voice sent the vampire into convulsions of cowering. “You’ve a blood price to pay for your bad behavior.” Daedalus punched him unconscious once more and dragged his body back to Sugar.
Exposing the other wrist for a fresh cut, he hesitated. Something appeared different. He stared at Sugar.
Her chest rose.
“Yes.” He couldn’t stop the grin spreading across his face. It was working. Slicing the vampire’s wrist, he repeated the process. “Drink, baby.”
She swallowed, and her eyelashes fluttered open. Dazed, she drank as if in a trance.
“That’s it.” Unable to resist touching her, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You’re doing great.” He had almost lost her forever. The ache in his chest eased while the anxiety of her reaction grew. How would he explain?
Footfalls filled his empty house.
He twisted to face the Vasi invading his library.
Sam led the group in shifter form. His gaze moved from him to Sugar feeding from the dying vampire. He shifted to his human form.
“No.” His shout sounded like a howl while his body finished the change.
Chapter Twelve
A howl drove into Sugar’s mind and shattered the daze she’d been caught in. Reflexively, she swallowed a mouthful of warm, salty liquid. She focused on Daedalus's face while he knelt by her head, then onto the Vasi standing in the doorway as if in shock. She dropped the flesh in her mouth and wiped her chin. A hot blush burned across her cheeks.
What had they caught them doing? She couldn't recall anything. Running her hands over her torso, she almost fainted in relief to feel clothes. She sat up, leaning on her elbows. “Hey.”
The anguish in Sam’s face sent a wave of concern over her.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” She searched the room and startled at the sight of Pallas. His shirt was covered in tears and blood.
He gave her a small smile. “I’ll be fine. If you’re done with that, I’d like some.”
She followed where he pointed and gasped. A corpse lay next to her. “What…?”
Strong hands gripped her shoulders. “It’s all right. The worst is over.” Daedalus kicked the body toward Pallas.
While the body rolled over the floor, she glimpsed fangs. “That’s a vampire. Were we attacked?” Things seemed fuzzy, like she’d tossed back a few too many wine coolers. “Wait, what are you doing here? Weren’t you supposed to be killing someone?” She rubbed her temples—
With both hands.
She stopped and dropped them in her lap, staring at her fingers, then wiggled all ten. How was this possible? Blood stained her palms, and there was a metallic taste in her mouth. Oh no, he didn’t. With her tongue, she traced her teeth and felt the beginning points of fangs. “No.”
A tortured whine masked what she’d said. It came from the vampire Pallas fed upon.
“I didn’t know you could feed upon your own kind.” Her mouth went dry.
Daedalus knelt in front of her, blocking her view. “Those like Clementine can’t. My clan is different. Vampire blood doesn’t contain many nutrients unless they’ve just fed—” He choked on the last word and shot a glare over his shoulder at Pallas.
She touched her neck where a lingering ache faded and found nothing. “We’re in the library.” Memories tumbled open from where they’d been dormant. “We were attacked.” She blinked. “Where’s Stephen?”
The Vasi shifted to human form and gathered close together like pack did when distraught.
Without her cane, she rose to her feet. Standing. Assessing her legs, she took a few unsteady steps past Daedalus. “That vampire bit me.”
Forlorn, he watched her.
She spun and confronted him. Betrayal tore at her dead heart. “You shouldn’t have.” She couldn’t breathe, but then again, she didn’t have to.
“Sugar.” Robert’s voice was rough with emotion.
“How could you let him do this to me?” She twisted from them, back to her lover. “You all knew my wishes.” Her legs moved of their own accord toward him. She was whole. No limp or paralyzed arm.
“It’s not their fault, babe.” Daedalus spoke, but she couldn’t accept this change. If she did, it meant this was all real and not some nightmare. “They came afterwards. I—I…” He cleared his throat. “You had just died when I entered the room. I only had minutes to think.”
“Think?” She halted inches from him. “Think? I don’t see any evidence of thinking here.” Her voice grew louder with each word. “Take it back.” With two fists, she pounded on his chest. “Take it back!” Her cry held an edge of crazy to it, but she’d earned the right.
Daedalus clutched her against him.
She struggled against his iron hold, then sensed a gentle caress inside her head and his whispered command. “Sleep.”
***
Sugar relaxed in Daedalus’s arms, and he cradled her against his chest, carrying her.
“Why?” Sam approached them, his stare riveted on Sugar’s peaceful face.
“What would you have me do? Let her die on my library floor? What’s done is done.” He shouldered the shifter out of his way and spotted Stephen creeping from under the table where he’d lain unconscious. “Need help?”
He rubbed his head. “I don’t think so. I hit my head.” His gaze fell on Sugar. “Is she hurt?”
Daedalus flinched. “She’ll be fine now.” Part of him wanted to shout with joy that she’d live forever. The other cringed that she might refuse to stay at his side after his betrayal.
Pallas let the vampire he was feeding from fall from his lap. “I could use more.” Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth. “I wouldn’t leave me alone with any of them.” He pointedly stared at the shifters.
Lust for blood could seize even the oldest of them, especially when injured. Pallas could do a lot of damage after being used as a pincushion. Torn between duty and desire, he held his place between brother and pack.
Stephen rose onto his feet and held out his
arms. “I’m in no shape to feed Pallas. I’ll take Sugar to her bedroom.”
Sam’s expression darkened, and he took a step toward Stephen, but Robert’s hand stayed him. “This isn’t the time or place to lose your temper. We still have the empty house to deal with and finding that last traitor.”
“No.” Daedalus corrected Robert and settled Sugar in Stephen’s arms. After plucking a wooden shard off the floor, he stabbed it through the heart of the vampire he’d used to change Sugar.
The vampire’s skin turned gray. Cracks formed over his flesh before it started crumbling. Too drained of blood, the creature faded to ash quickly.
Numb, Daedalus straightened and faced the shifters. “He’s the one who should have been at the last house. I killed any of his nest who stood between me and the library. I doubt any escaped.” Daedalus’s voice sounded dead to his own ears.
Robert stood next to him and stared at the pile of ash at their feet. He rested his hand on Daedalus’s shoulder. “I’ve been where you are.” His gaze traveled to Esther, the mate he’d accidentally infected with the shifter virus. “We’ll work this out.”
Daedalus shook his head. “No, you have to leave. It’s for your own safety.”
“Are you crazy?” Sam held Clementine tight in his arms. The Sigma’s suffering was palpable. He was Sugar’s personal guard by both pack decree and friendship. “Spice will skin us alive if we return without Sugar.”
Groaning, Daedalus rested his head in his hands at the reminder of Sugar’s twin sister. “She's wanted Sugar to cross over so she can be whole. You'll have to return to Chicago and explain. Keep them away, especially Spice.”
“Daedalus is right.” Clementine stroked her mate’s hair. “Young vampires have poor control over their hunger. She might kill one of you.”
The tightness within his chest loosened, and he gave Clementine a small nod. He needed the support. The Vasi didn’t have to add to his problems. He carried enough guilt. “Can you imagine if she did? She'd never forgive herself. She'll have a lot to deal with, and I need to focus on her. No distractions. Maybe with a little divine intervention I can get her to forgive me.”
“You can’t take care of Sugar and regain control of Pal Robi Inc. by yourself.” Esther knelt next to Pallas with a stake in her hand and met his glare. She offered him her wrist. “You’ll stay and help him?”
His gaze darted to the stake. “Or?”
“It’s not a threat. The stake is in case you try to drain me dry. We’ll heal you.”
“And in return I stay with Daedalus?” He kissed the inside of her wrist. “I always admired warrior women.” Then he sank his fangs into her flesh.
“I’ll stay as well.” Clementine pressed her hand over Sam’s open mouth to stop his flood of denials. “Sugar needs guidance. I too was turned against my will.” Clementine gave Daedalus an apologetic smile. “She might not want anything to do with you, so I’ll stay to make sure she has a mentor.”
The bottom dropped out of his stomach. Sugar had to forgive him. Maybe not today or next decade, but eventually he’d find a way to make this up to her. Even if it took a thousand years.
Chapter Thirteen
Suitcases lined the wall to the front entrance. Daedalus wished this trip had turned out differently for the shifters, but deep inside he would never regret what he’d done to Sugar. He’d show her that being a vampire wasn’t all bad.
Sam sat in a foyer chair, his head hanging, while Robert and Esther went over their list of equipment. Clementine still slept since it was late afternoon.
The Vasi and Daedalus had taken a nap after caring for Pallas, who rested in the basement.
“Sir, I’d rather not go.” Stephen set his backpack next to the luggage. He kept his distance from the other shifters, a frown on his face. “I can stay in a motel close by if you really don’t want me on the grounds.”
Robert gave Daedalus a look over the younger shifter’s head. He was beta in the Vasi pack, which meant second-in-command. Omega shifters held a soft spot in his heart, and he collected them like trinkets. Except Stephen wasn’t an omega, he was a stray. They could be dangerous and unpredictable. One day Daedalus would earn enough of Stephen’s trust and hear his story. Until then the stray had a home with Daedalus’s nest. Maybe he should listen to Stephen and let him stay in the area, but the look Robert tossed him said he would fight him on this.
With a small gesture, he drew Stephen closer and whispered, “Stay close to them. I’m not sure how the pack will react when they find out what I’ve done to Sugar. I could use your help.” Three birds, one stone. Stephen would be safe, he’d have objective ears in Chicago, and with a little luck Stephen might like the Vasi.
Who was he kidding? It would take a lot of luck.
The young shifter glared at the others. “Fine.”
Daedalus had found Stephen half-starved and partially wild a year before he met Sugar. The young shifter had been his groundskeeper since then. Daedalus had no doubt where his loyalty lay.
Robert shook his hand. “Take care. Call or we’ll have to come back uninvited.” He gathered his and Esther’s bags.
She gave Daedalus a fierce hug. “Don’t lose her.”
He didn’t plan to, but every great general lost a battle at some point.
Sam came last. He couldn’t look Daedalus in the eye. “I know why you did this, but she won’t be happy. Don’t let her do anything stupid.” Sam’s attachment to Sugar had always rubbed Daedalus raw. Friendship between opposite sexes wasn’t tolerated until modern time. It was difficult to teach old vampires new tricks.
He nodded, unable to answer. If he could, he’d lock her in his bedroom for eternity, but that bordered on psychotic. They would have to find a balance. Giving the shifters his best false smile, he left the foyer before they opened the repaired front door. He didn’t need to add getting flash fried by the setting sun to his list of problems.
The bedroom where Sugar still slept loomed at the end of the hallway. Temptation to crawl into bed next to her warred with duty to guard everyone’s rest. Maybe he should have kept Stephen on the grounds after all. That would have been selfish, and he’d done his best to change that habit. Transforming Sugar was a slipup.
How convoluted his life had become since meeting her. Not a night passed where he regretted it though. That might change once she awoke.
A bang echoed in the house. The Vasi had left the building and closed the front door.
His gaze traveled to the armor decorating the walls, and his smile grew wider. He should prepare for her to regain consciousness.
***
As if an alarm clock had gone off in her head, Sugar jerked awake and blinked at her surroundings. She wasn’t in the library anymore. What the hell? The last thing she remembered was hitting Daedalus. The ass must have pulled a Jedi mind trick on her and put her to sleep.
Grinding her teeth, she kicked the blankets off. Her new fangs nicked her bottom lip, and she gasped at the sudden sting. She fingered the sore spot, and it came away with blood.
“They take some getting used to.” Daedalus sat across the room.
Lasering her gaze in his direction, she scowled. “You have some explaining to do. Can you manage it without placing me under a sleep spell?” She reached for her cane and jerked her hand back when it met air. It must still be in the library. Being able to move like normal again would take some getting used to.
She sat on the edge of the bed with ease and tugged her negligee over her thighs. He must have changed her clothes while she slept. A shiver shook her shoulders. The idea of being so vulnerable and easily manipulated didn’t sit well.
“Sugar—”
“Shut up.” The command popped out. Daedalus’s hurt expression still managed to bother her even after he’d betrayed her wishes. She bit back the apology on the tip of her tongue.
He rose from his seat wearing metal armor across his chest. A brightly colored shield rested against his chair as he set a helm
on his head.
Sugar crossed her arms. “Are you expecting trouble?” Damn him for looking so devastating in that stupid costume. All he needed was a sword to complete it. She assessed him further. He didn’t wear any weapons, only armor.
With a snort, he shook his head. “You.” He gave her a weary smile. “I thought you’d wake up ready to smite me.”
“The thought has crossed my mind.” She sighed. “Your outfit is overkill though. I can’t hurt you. You're too strong.”
“When you were human, yes. Only time will tell how strong you’ll become. I’ve no idea what clan you’re from.” He rubbed his chin. “I should have asked the vampire before killing him. It won’t be hard to find out.”
She gasped, and her stomach rolled at the memory of the blood in her mouth. “You mean you’re not the one who did it?”
Daedalus moved toward her, his face grave. “I’ve explained before, I can’t transform a human, only vampire males. I would have killed you.”
Something snapped inside her chest. “I’m already dead!”
He retreated as if her shout had physically pushed him.
She jumped to her feet and stalked after him. “You broke your promise.” Setting her hands on his metallic chest, she shoved. “You knew I didn’t want to cross over. What gives you the right?” She shoved him again.
Hot tears rolled down her cheeks. She wiped them away, and her hands came away blood-tinged. With a cry of frustration, she launched at him. Fists banged against cold metal and bare cheek. She didn’t care where her strikes landed.
An arm snaked around her waist and lifted her from Daedalus. “Easy, Prima. Daedalus only means well.” Pallas set her back on the bed. He twisted to confront the vampire who had betrayed her most principal wish. “Why are you dressed like a Roman? Don't tell me they're still around.”
Daedalus shrugged. “I hoped it would put a smile on her face. It worked for a second.” The despair in his eyes tugged at her heart. “If she tried to stake me, I don’t think I’d have the will to stop her.” He knocked on the chest plate.
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