She saw Alex standing at the edge of her grave, holding his hand out to her. His image split and became two. Closing her eyes, she reopened them and only one stared down at her with concern.
“Kai, what’s wrong?”
Mentally giving herself a shake, she took his hand with her right. When he pulled, she cried out as pain shot up her arm and into her shoulder. Crap, she hadn’t healed!
He jumped into the grave and lifted her into his arms. “Hey, what the—” She gasped as her throbbing shoulder hit his.
Setting her down on the ground, he pulled down the collar or her shirt, his face hardened as he lifted the back of her shirt, the material stiff. Returning to face her, she drew back warily. Wow did he look pissed!
“Kai, why didn’t you tell me your wound hadn’t fully healed?”
“I didn’t know it hadn’t until you tried to help me out. How bad is it?”
“Fortunately, the wound did not reopen.” He stared at the grave, his expression hardening. “There’s blood where you slept. How long did you bleed while we were walking?”
“Couple of hours, maybe.” His anger swiftly shifted to hurt. “Alex, I didn’t want you to worry.”
“Didn’t want me to worry?” he repeated, staring at her as if she had lost her mind. “You are my responsibility! If you died, I could never forgive myself, nor would your mother!”
“I’m sorry. I won’t hold back next time. I promise!” She bit her lip, pleading with him to not be mad at her.
Silent, he stood and walked a few feet away before putting his hands on his hips and stared out into the woods. Sighing, she knew she’d messed up with him … again.
Flashes of the white wolf, the townspeople, Lisle Breber brought back her dream. Aldric. Alex had a brother. His twin brother! What happened to Aldric? Had she actually gone inside Alex’s mind? Or was it the other way around? Had he entered hers? Either way, he was reliving his time at Magdeburg.
The children!
Was an actual wolf stealing them or a man dressed in wolf skins taking the children? Why had Aldric disappeared? Why did he hide from Alex? Her questions had to wait as hunger for blood rose sharp and merciless, making her sick, wanting to dry heave. To her relief, Alex returned to her.
“You need blood.” Taking a seat on the ground beside her, he offered her his wrist.
“No,” she shook her head wearily, “I can’t drain you, too.”
“Kai, you must take my blood or you will die.”
She saw he was scared and felt terrible about how she had treated him in London. Here he was, still protecting her, taking care of her. “Alex, I … I’m sorry.”
“For what?” he asked, bemused.
“For being weak and such a rotten burden on you when you are hurt yourself.” Miserable, dirty, and starving, she wanted to bawl.
“No, you are not weak, nor have you ever been a burden to me. Feed. Take what you need. I will be fine.”
There was no use in denying her hunger. She felt her fangs drop as she took his hand in hers. Long, lean fingers, strong and powerful, yet he always handled her gently. Kai desperately wanted to know what his hands felt like gripping her, his fingers playing along her skin. Being so close to him, feeling his body’s heat, breathe in the masculine scent emanating from Alex wreaked havoc on her worn out senses.
A small, wicked smile escaped her and she shifted closer to him, sliding her hand up his chest, feeling the muscles beneath the thin material of his shirt, along his neck to cup his strong jawline. Alex stared at her, his eyes half-closed as she sat on her knees, leaned into him as she placed her other hand on his shoulder and drew him to her.
Alex jerked back, shaking his head. “No. I told you, I’m not what you want.”
“You want me to feed or not?” His eyes narrowed suspiciously as he slowly nodded. “Then I choose where I want to feed. And I want to feed from here.” She caressed his neck with her fingertips, the pulse below his ear jumping at her light touch.
“Dammit, Kai, you play with fire,” he warned huskily.
Leaning closer till they touched, her breasts pressing his chest, she nuzzled his throat. Scraping her teeth against his skin, enjoying the tensing of his powerful muscles, Kai slid her fingers through the thick, silky strands of his hair, pulling him closer to her. Her body throbbed, need twisted inside her. She desperately wanted to kiss him, the knowledge she’d never felt his lips against hers made her bold. Her mouth hovered close to his, their breath exchanging so close they were. She searched his eyes, seeing his desire match hers. Leaning closer she almost kissed him when Alex jerked back, breaking the spell.
“Take my blood before I change my mind,” he snapped, anger pulsing from his rigid body in punishing waves.
Disappointed, Kai sank her teeth in the soft tissue at the curve of his throat, her lips closing over the wound. Taking only enough to get some fresh blood in her, she released him and sat back, frustrated. The man was such a stubborn pain in the ass!
Would he never give in to his desire for her?
Alex jumped to his feet and fetched her backpack. Dropping it beside her, he headed down the trail. She slowly climbed to her feet, wincing as she placed her hand on the ground to push herself up. Exhausted already, she wearily followed him.
How had she connected with him while they slept?
Last night, in his arms, she felt as if they were back in 1819. She desperately wanted to ask him what happened to Aldric — the children, if Alex suspected she had been inside his head he’d shut her out permanently and she couldn’t have that. She had to find out who was taking the children and why!
Was Aldric killing them? Had he transformed into a wolf and taken them while their parents slept? He did not appear to be turning, but Aldric was definitely hiding something, something he did not want his twin knowing about.
Then there was Lisle Breber.
Jealous of how beautiful, dainty, and petite Lisle Breber was — everything she wasn’t, Kai wondered why Alex hadn’t seen how malicious and petty the woman was before he started an affair with her. Had sex been the only thing on his mind? Watching him as he walked, she conceded it was a pretty good motive in overlooking insufferable traits in the one you had the hots for … like Alex’s stubbornness for example. Lisle was a dangerous woman, one who could influence others to her whim and she wanted Alex to pay for dumping her, even if it meant innocent people were being arrested. What happened that left Alex emotionally scarred and guarded? The only way to find out was to wait for Alex to let down his guard and show her what transpired. Hating being unable to solve the mystery, she hitched her backpack and trudged after him.
The silence began to bug the hell out of her. She tried to reach out to Mina and found only the awful darkness. She tried to speak to her mom next and experienced the same thing. Rubbing her arms, cold despite the humid heat, she glared at the trees, wanting to be out of the wilderness and back with her family. And blood! Lots and lots of hot blood to drink until she was full and no longer hurt. Shoving back her self-pity and ignoring her shoulder, she kept walking.
Hours passed and she continued to weaken, barely able to put one foot in front of the other, praying they would exit the woods soon. Exhaustion drew Alex’s handsome features into a gaunt mask. He was in bad shape, too.
An hour before dawn, Alex declared, “I’m flying us out of here.” Taking her into his arms, they barely left the ground when his strength failed and they dropped.
“Argh!” Kai hit her bad shoulder and rolled to sit. She dumped her backpack and cradled her arm.
“I’m sorry, Kai, I shouldn’t have tried to fly. Did I injury you further?” Alex’s skin had lost its color and there were dark hollows under his dull green eyes.
“Alex, I’ve got nothing left. I just want to go to ground and sleep.”
“Yes, let’s go to ground. Tomorrow, we should encounter a farmhouse or town.”
Expecting him to share a grave with her, he disappointed her by making tw
o. Without a word, she crawled into hers and swept the dirt over her. Hoping to find out who the killer was,, she shut down.
No such luck. No dreams. Irritated, she pushed back the dirt and crawled out of her grave.
Not a single glimpse into Alexander Wulf’s past. Hungry and exhausted, she watched Alex as he struggled out of his grave. Dropping her head in defeat, she wanted to cry, unable to as the moisture in her body was gone, the blood in her veins nearly gone. Soon, her body would shut down, unable to sustain life. He was suffering, too.
They were dying.
✝✝✝
“Let’s get to walking,” Alex said as he wearily pulled himself to his feet.
Helping her to hers, fear clawed at his gut. He kept close eye on her, afraid as the pale wraith of the once vibrant woman stumbled after him, the fire gone from her eyes. If they could just keeping going, there should be a house or farm close by, with people to feed on.
Ah, who was he kidding? There hadn’t been any sign of humans since the one who shot Kai. The vampire hunters had pulled a disappearing act. If blood wasn’t found soon, and they went to ground, there was a good chance they wouldn’t be able to rise from the earth. A vampire had to feed on humans. If not, their blood cells dried, internal organs withered, the heart stopped beating. Alive and dead, until the end came to take them to Heaven or Hell in his case.
What seemed like hours of walking, he found it harder and harder to keep on going. Kai collapsed, face first in the loamy soil, unmoving. Dropping to his knees, he gently rolled her onto her back, brushing the dirt off her face. Her cheeks had sunk in and her beautiful face appeared skull-like. Thick, black eyelashes fluttered as she struggled to open her eyes, exposing their bloodshot state. Pale, creamy skin went grayish-white. Rubbing a shaky hand over his face, he realized his skin was cold and clammy to the touch. Placing his hand on Kai’s forehead, she was, too. He noticed how white the skin on the back of his hand was, how the veins contrasted blue against pale. He couldn’t give her any blood. There was barely any left in his veins to sustain him.
“Alex, I need to sleep,” she whispered as she closed her eyes.
Panicking, he grabbed her, shaking her awake. “Don’t you dare leave me!” he shouted hoarsely at her, bringing her up onto his lap. “Sweetheart, please, you must hang on.”
Her eyes fluttered open. A small smile curved her dry, cracked lips. Kai whispered, “Sweetheart, huh? I like ‘babe’ better.”
A wracking laugh escaped him. “I order you not to leave me and what do you latch on to? An endearment.”
Smiling sadly, she reached up to cradle the palm of her hand against his stubble-shrouded cheek. “Stupid man. Why would I leave you?”
Staring at her dumbly, it took him a full minute for him to process what Kai meant. He had tried to convince himself she had left him when she’d only gone and made a life for herself after he had rejected her advances. Putting his arm around her slumped shoulders, he pulled her closer to him. Weak, she laid her head against his chest. Kai, who was always vivacious, warm as the sun and twice as spirited, was dying. Her life was in his hands and he had failed her. Resolve surged to give him the strength to fight. They weren’t dead yet!
“Kai, you need to be on your feet.” Climbing to his, he dragged her with him. He glanced down into her face, alarmed to see her eyes roll back and only the whites were left.
Panicking, he stumbled forward, dragging her with him. Twenty yards, he tripped, catching his balance on the tree next to him. Staring down at his feet, Alex realized the game trail had met an old cart path. The hard dirt of the road and lack of grass evidence it was still used. Holding Kai, he stood there, undecided which direction to take. Past and present assaulted him. Images of summer and winter collided in kaleidoscope, confusing him.
“Dammit, Kai—” the words stuck, his tongue swollen with thirst. His vision narrowed and he fell to his knees. She landed beside him, still out cold.
Fighting to stay conscious, he wrestled the cloying web of utter despair, betrayed by his own body. So tired! He hadn’t the strength to open the soil and make a grave, to protect Kai and himself from the vampire hunters. Crawling over to Kai, he pulled and yanked at her rucksack to bring her against him. Drawing the gun she’d given him, he leaned against the tree, holding her close to him. The sensation of the rough bark couldn’t penetrate the numbness engulfing him. At least he could kill a few of the hunters if they found them.
Chirping of birds in the predawn hour mingled with the jingling of bells and the plodding tread of several horses jolted Alex back to the world of the living. A green and yellow gypsy wagon came into view. Lanterns made of brass and colored glass swayed with the lazy gait of the docile horses. The driver was a man in sixties, tall and lean, wearing a red cap perched on top his head, his long, white hair flowed down his broad shoulders. Black pants and a brightly-embroidered white shirt completed his outfit. Four men on foot followed the wagon. They were similarly dressed to the driver and were holding long rifles ready to fire. The driver called out to his horses and stopped beside where he sat.
Starving, Alex saw them not as men but vessels holding the precious substance he and Kai needed to live. He felt his fangs drop, his mouth watering in his thirst for hot blood. For a moment, he could actually see the blood running through the men’s veins. Deafened by the thunderous beating of their hearts, he realized the humans were aiming their rifles at him and Kai. A low growl issued deep in his throat as he struggled to lift his gun and point it at them.
The white-haired man called out in German, “Ich sehe dich, Freunde. Dawn nähert. Beantragen sollten nicht Sie Ihre Erholung in den Armen der Mutter?”
“I see you, friends. Dawn approaches. Shouldn’t you be seeking your rest in the Mother’s Arms?”
Alex dropped his gun to his side, squinting to see the man was smiling at him. Working his mouth to speak, he whispered, “Please … save her.”
The Gypsy leapt off the wagon. He took the lantern hooked on the side and cautiously approached them. Alex found he could see the Gypsy’s swarthy face better. There was a familiarity about him, reminding him of someone he once knew long ago. The Gypsy motioned to the nervous men to come to him.
Strangely, he switched from German to English, his accent not course as he would have expected, “My sons, I need you to put Master and his woman in the wagon. Careful! Do not cut yourself or they’ll be on you with vicious intent. The poor creatures are starving to death.”
The tallest, oldest looking of the brothers glanced worriedly at Alex, who glared back at them. “Father, are you certain they are the ones we seek? Mary has been known to be wrong.”
“Your sister’s gift is like the surface of a pond. Ripples can cause her vision to change. Not this time. Mary knew exactly where we should look for the Master.” Patting his son’s powerful forearm, the man nodded confidently. “Besides, Michael, I would know Alexander Wulf anywhere. Remember this?” He showed his sons the tattoo of numbers forever marked into his skin. “Master saved me and our clan, risked his life so we could escape the Nazis. We owe him a blood debt. More importantly, we are honor-bound to serve his family, sworn by my grandfather, pledged in blood and love. Especially to him.” He pointed at Alex. “Let us be quick about putting them in the wagon, shall we?”
They slung their rifles over their shoulders and cautiously approached him as he held Kai closer. The one called Michael squatted down next to him. “By the color of your skin and the weakened state you exhibit, you need blood. We will get you what you require at the manor. The problem I have in helping you is that I will not have my brothers harmed trying to save you and the girl. Do I have your word you will not kill us?”
Focusing on the muscular Gypsy, he hoarsely swore, “My word as a Borne and a Slayer, you and your people are safe from me and my friend.” It took several tries but finally Alex managed to lift his hand out to the surprise and relief of the big Gypsy, who clasped it his strong grip.
“Come,
brothers. We must hurry. The hunters we encountered ten kilometers back will not dally as we have.”
Before Alex knew it, he and Kai were safe in the wagon. He heard the older man order, “Boys, keep a sharp eye out. Let’s go, yip-yip,” he clucked to the horses, who walked on. “Michael, call your mother and ask her to prepare for our arrival. By the looks of our guests, we will need several liters of blood to speed their recovery. The girl is in the shadowy Realm of Death. If we’d not found them today, the poor child would have passed on.”
“Ja, Papa,” Michael replied. “Mary? I need to speak with Mother. Yes, we have them. Papa wants Mother to.... Ja. Ja.” Laughing at whatever she said, Michael replied, “Don’t be cocky, little one. For our guests’ sake, I am glad your gift proved to be correct. Tell Mother that we will need lots of blood. The woman you saw with the master is dying.” He paused. “Ja, Papa says it is Alexander Wulf. What? Ja, we are on our way back to Wulf Manor.”
Wulf Manor?
Grief and rage welled up inside Alex. Still, it was not enough to keep him awake, and he slipped away into blessed darkness.
He was home.
✝✝✝
The sting of a needle inserted into the tender flesh of her arm made Kai jerk away, unable to escape. Fear made her whine like an animal caught in a trap, as she fought the unyielding arms holding her.
“No! No more dead blood. Please, no more,” she moaned. Tears leaked out the corners of her tightly squeezed eyelids as she waited for the dead blood to hit her vein. Why didn’t they just kill her already?
“Nein! Kämpfen Sie bitte nicht uns,” a girl spoke to her in what Kai thought was German.
Cautiously, she opened her eyes and saw a Gypsy girl, who had to be about fourteen or fifteen years old. The girl’s midnight-black eyes shimmered in the soft light of the table lamp.
“Nein, Miss, we mean you no harm. You have dislodged the needle. You must let us put it back in your arm, so we may give you blood. To heal, you need much, much more.”
Confused, she saw the worried faces of about a dozen women, ranging from teen to a very old, very round lady with intense black eyes standing around her. They watched their exchange nervously.
Wulf's Redemption (Borne Vampires Book 3) Page 6
