Crimson Born

by Amy Patrick

  It’s working. I think.

  Was this the time to turn around and kiss him? I had zero experience, but it seemed like all the signs were there.

  Moving very slowly, I shifted to face Reece. His eyes met mine then dropped to my lips. There was definitely heat in them that had nothing to do with the nearby fireplace. His breaths fell on my lips too, teasing them to part.

  Charged with a peculiar sort of energy I’d never felt before, I looked up at him and willed him to dip his head and press his mouth to mine. My heart hammered as his face lowered toward me.

  And then he was gone.

  He stood on the other side of the room near the door, breathing hard. His eyes blazed with a look that was halfway between danger and desire. His hands clenched, and his fangs were fully extended.

  “No more backrubs,” he said in a voice that sounded like it was on the verge of pain.

  I took a step toward him. “But why? Reece, it’s okay. You’re not—”

  “I’m sorry, Abbi. I don’t... feel that way about you.”

  He spun and left the room, closing the door firmly behind him.

  All the pent-up energy left my body, and I sagged in sudden exhaustion.

  27

  The Maze

  Over the next few days, Reece kept his distance, claiming his final few Bloodbound trials would require all his time and attention.

  I don’t feel that way about you.

  The words lived in my head, playing in an endless loop whenever I wasn’t actively engaged in conversation with someone. Every time I relived his rejection, it released a fresh flow of pain.

  What kind of fool kept pursuing a guy who wasn’t interested in her?

  I almost went to Kannon and asked him to assign me a new bodyguard, but then I saw the Bloodbound at another of Imogen’s full-community gatherings in the Grand Dome.

  No one was executed this time—thank God—but it was still a nerve-wracking experience.

  My gaze went to Reece again and again. And every time it did, he was watching me.

  After the event, as I was chatting with Nolan, one of the newer vampires who’d been in my self-defense class, Reece appeared at my side.

  “Princess,” he said with a curt nod. “My testing is complete, and I’m available to escort you on your nightly walk now.”

  “Oh really?” I said, shocked. “I wasn’t planning to take a walk this evening.”

  There were only two more nights until the Inception Ceremony. Tomorrow night, on the ceremony’s eve, there would be a ball in celebration. I’d been planning to spend tonight being fitted for a gown.

  But something in Reece’s eyes made me reconsider. It was a sense of... what? Urgency?

  Desperation?

  Was there still a chance for us? A chance I could convince him not to take the Bloodbound vows?

  Was he finally ready to level with me and tell me what he was thinking and feeling?

  “I have some things to take care of, but I have been wanting to explore the garden maze.” I smiled at my companion and then at Reece. “I’ll meet you at the cavern entrance in an hour.”

  I rushed through the fitting, no doubt annoying the seamstress, and growing more hopeful by the minute.

  But as Reece and I left the cavern together and walked toward the tall, green walls of the natural botanical maze, he was as stoic as ever.

  “How did the trials go?” I asked to get some conversation started.

  “Fine. They’re over,” he grunted. “I passed.”

  His stubborn expression was so fierce it was almost comical. But we had no more time for fun and games. If I was going to persuade him to leave, I had to do it—tonight.

  We walked the perimeter of the maze, searching for its entrance, and I searched for an opening of my own, a way to get him talking about a subject he’d already declared closed.

  “You don’t seem very excited,” I said.

  He lifted his hands and wiggled his fingers. “Yay.”

  “Oh wow. The enthusiasm is overwhelming.”

  He lifted his shoulders and let them fall. “It doesn’t matter whether I’m excited or not—it’s how things are.”

  “So... you’re still determined to go through with it then?”

  “Of course.”

  “And you have no qualms at all about taking the vows.”

  A beat passed before he answered—a bit too forcefully. “None.”

  “Well I can’t imagine staying here my entire life. There are too many things I want to see and do.”

  Reaching the maze entrance, the two of us turned left and started walking the pebbled path, which was lined on both sides by twenty-foot evergreen hedges.

  “Like what?” Reece asked eventually.

  “What?” I looked at him quizzically.

  He spun one hand in front of his body. “What is it you want to see and do? So much that you can’t imagine staying at the Bastion.”

  “Lots of things... the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Canyon. Italy. The Greek islands. Of course, it wouldn’t be any fun visiting all those places alone.”

  “Your friends Kelly and Heather seem like they’re up for anything. You three planning a girls’ trip?”

  Yes. We certainly were—two days from now—but not the kind he was thinking of. The reminder of that deadline ratcheted up my sense of desperation.

  “Those are all romantic destinations,” I said. “I was thinking more along the lines of a male travel companion.”

  Reece’s mouth stayed set in a firm line, but one of his eyebrows twitched. “Sounds great. Who’d you have in mind?”

  Dang it. He wasn’t biting. He was determined to keep up the I don’t feel that way about you front.

  If it was a front.

  “I’m not sure yet. You know the males around here better than I do. Who do you think would be a good candidate?”

  He appeared to consider it. “I think you should take Lars. He’s lived all over the world. He’d be a great guide.”

  “He’s sixty,” I argued. “And gay.”

  “What does that matter?”

  “I was thinking of someone more along the lines of Gio.”

  Gio was a tall, muscle-bound Italian vampire from New Jersey who’d once been a professional bodybuilder. I didn’t find him attractive at all—not my type—but many among the Bastion’s female population did.

  Reece’s instant glare forced me to bite my lip to keep from smiling.

  “Gio is a complete idiot. He fell through the Bloodbound training, you know. He didn’t last two days. He may look like a gorilla but he’s weak.”

  “Maybe he failed it on purpose,” I suggested playfully. “Maybe he wanted the opportunity to mate. And from what I hear, he’s pretty good at it.”

  The glare deepened.

  “But you’re right, he is a little dense. Hmmm... what about Sam? He’s very smart,” I said.

  Now Sam was more my type, lanky and tall like Reece, and he was famous among the girls for his headful of shiny auburn curls.

  “He looks like a scarecrow. With a pumpkin head.”

  “His head’s not that big,” I argued.

  I pretended to give it some thought. “Maybe you’re right, and I’ve never been particularly fond of pumpkin. Oh I know... what about Kannon? He’s smart and handsome... and he’s definitely not weak. Did you know he played college football?”

  “He’s Bloodbound,” Reece said in a voice that sounded like tumbled gravel. Kannon had become one of his closest friends at the Bastion, and I knew Reece admired him greatly.

  “True,” I admitted. “Which means he wouldn’t do as a permanent mate. But Imogen did say I could choose anyone I want—as many as I want—to practice with.”

  Reece’s fangs slid from beneath his top lip. He turned his head away abruptly, presumably to hide the tell-tale involuntary reaction from me.

  Aha. So he did feel “that way” about me after all. Why did he keep fighting the attraction between us? And ly
ing about it? Why couldn’t he just admit it?

  “We should get back,” he said. “Didn’t you say you had some things to take care of tonight?”

  “A few. But I’m not done exploring the maze yet.” I picked up my pace and walked ahead of him, turning a corner so I was no longer within his range of vision.

  “Slow down. You don’t want to get lost.”

  Thanks to the thick foliage, his voice sounded farther away than it probably was.

  “Yes, I do,” I shouted back to him, darting farther ahead and ducking into one of the structure’s many choices of side paths. “That’s part of the fun.”

  Laughing, I continued to run, choosing a random path through the twisting, turning hedges.

  “Abbi. Abbi come back right now.”

  Reece’s harsh yells sounded very far away now. They were underpinned by the pounding of his boots as he chased me.

  It really was fun to run free under the starry sky, surrounded by the lush smells of green, growing things and crisp mountain air. I hadn’t been chased since I was about twelve years old, but that was fun too—the subtle sense of danger while at the same time knowing I was perfectly safe, that it was just a game.

  I laughed again and again as I ran, stretching my legs and enjoying their new strength. Suddenly, I was in a clearing.

  It was square and anchored by a shallow reflecting pool. I’d reached the center of the maze.

  Taking a moment to rest, I listened to the sounds of Reece running, breathing, and calling after me. He was getting closer. I turned my head left and right then spun around, searching for a new path, planning to keep the game going.

  Reece burst into the clearing. “I’ve got you now, you little sneak.”

  “Not yet, you don’t,” I shrieked and dove into the opening of the nearest tunnel.

  Before I could take another step, Reece was upon me.

  “Oh yes, I do.” He hauled me back against his body and lifted me off my feet.

  “Gotcha.”

  No amount of squirming and kicking would free me from his iron hold. But I tried.

  “Stop fighting, Abbi,” he ordered. “The game’s over.”

  28

  What You’ll Be Missing

  Reece’s heart pounded hard against my back, and his hot breath in my ear awoke a new kind of excitement within me.

  He felt unbelievably big and strong, and suddenly I didn’t mind being overpowered.

  Ceasing my struggle, I melted back against his body. But Reece didn’t immediately release me. We stayed in place, his arms wrapped around me, both breathing hard now.

  “I should... let you go,” he said in a guttural voice on the edge of pain.

  I nodded, but I didn’t step forward out of his grasp. Instead, I turned in his arms. Or maybe he turned me? I wasn’t sure, but it didn’t really matter. The end result was the same—we were face to face, our bodies pressed together.

  The strain I’d detected in Reece’s voice was on his face as well. His hands slid down my back and settled on my waist, but instead of pushing me away he pulled me tighter.

  Our faces were so close together I couldn’t see him clearly—but I could feel him. I was aware of every part of him, and that awareness filled me with a sense of longing so powerful it felt like I literally could not survive if he didn’t kiss me.

  “Abbi,” he groaned through clenched teeth. His eyes squeezed shut as if he was searching inside himself for strength. “We’ve got to stop. I can’t do this. I’m Bloodbound.”

  “Not yet,” I whispered, going up on tiptoe to accommodate our height difference and get closer to his lips.

  My next words were whispered against them. “But you will be in two days. And then you’ll be bound to your vows forever. Don’t you want to know what you’ll be missing?”

  His eyelids opened and flared, and then his mouth was on mine. The pleasure of it was almost paralyzing. Almost.

  Though it was my first kiss and I had no idea what I was doing, my lips were having no trouble figuring things out.

  They moved with Reece’s, slowly at first but growing steadily in intensity. I pushed even more tightly against him, bringing my hands up to bracket his face.

  I wanted to hold him there forever, to never leave this secluded spot, never stop what we were doing.

  This. This was the thing I’d longed for without ever realizing what was missing in my former life. Apparently Reece felt something similar because he kissed me like he was starving.

  Possessive hands roamed up and down my back, shoulders, neck, and face. He pushed his fingers into my hair, delving beneath it to clasp the back of my head and caress the nape of my neck.

  It felt so good I would have happily stayed there all night touching him, molding my mouth to his. But Reece broke the kiss abruptly.

  With a curse, he pushed me away, moving toward the hedge and turning his back to me. His shoulders heaved with his heavy breaths as he seemed to struggle to master himself.

  Moving toward him, I touched his shoulder, and he leapt away as if my touch burned him. Glaring at me now, his face was a harsh mask.

  “That can’t happen again.”

  He sounded so angry. Did he blame me for what had just happened? I was no expert but there was no doubt in my mind—he had wanted that kiss just as much as I had.

  “Why not? There’s obviously something between us. It’s been there since the night we met. Why should we ignore it?”

  “I’m not ignoring it,” he barked. Then more quietly, he said, “There’s nothing to ignore. As I’ve already told you, I simply... don’t feel that way about you.”

  I gave an incredulous laugh. “Well I’d love to see how you’d act with a girl you were actually attracted to.”

  His complexion darkened. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to hurt your feelings. But that... I haven’t been with anyone in a long time. Too long.”

  The words were like a hard slap, stinging my eyes and nose. Instead of making me cry, though, his denial made me angry. Furious, actually.

  “So that was just a physical reflex then? It had nothing to do with me?” Not believing it for a minute, I stepped close again and reached for him.

  He jerked back. “Don’t touch me. I...” He drew a long breath before continuing. “We should get back. It’s nearly dawn.”

  “Fine.” I stomped out of the maze and back to the cavern. I would love to have left him behind, but he kept pace with me and made it look maddeningly easy.

  At the entrance, I turned to him.

  “I just want you to know that you don’t have to worry. I won’t be bothering you anymore with my annoying infatuation. I’m sorry I embarrassed us both by chasing you when you had no interest in me. I get it now though. And I’m done. If I don’t see you before the ceremony—or afterward—let me be the first to congratulate you on taking your vows.”

  His face contracted in confusion. “What do you mean ‘if you don’t see me’? You’re going to the ball tomorrow night, aren’t you?”

  “Of course. Attendance is mandatory.”

  “Well, I’ll see you then. I’m still your bodyguard.”

  “I won’t be needing a bodyguard tomorrow night. It’s an event inside the Bastion with the entire Bloodbound regiment present. I can’t imagine a safer situation. Goodnight Reece. And best wishes on your new life. May it bring you much happiness.”

  29

  The Ball

  One of our history classes at the Bastion had covered the history of the caverns, back when they were the domain of humans and used as show caves.

  We’d learned about an annual ball that was held here in the caverns during the early 1800s, and our instructor had even passed around some old black and white photographs.

  Tonight’s event was a modern reflection of that one, only with far more beautiful attendees. I doubted if a royal gathering in the human world could be any more elegant.

  Hundreds of fashionably dressed vampires mingled and danced together
in the ballroom, their shadows cavorting on the high stone walls.

  This room featured abundant flowstone draperies, hanging alabaster stone structures so intricate and beautiful it was hard to believe they formed naturally.

  The ceiling was covered in anthodites, calcium carbonite crystals that resembled flowers—they were known as the orchids of the mineral kingdom, and they really did look like they were blooming above us.

  Below on the dance floor, the men wore black tuxedoes or gothic style long coats, some with fancy stitches or floral patterns, and the women were attired in a rainbow assortment of floor-length gowns.

  Imogen had departed from her usual black attire and stood on a rock precipice overseeing the festivities in a strapless white ballgown embroidered with intricate black beadwork flowers.

  My own dress was shocking red. The sheer tulle was embellished all over with silk organza red rose appliqués, making it appear the roses were all I was wearing.

  Even with the truncated fitting session, the seamstress had done an incredible job. The dress fit tightly in the bodice and flowed freely below the waist, sweeping the floor as I walked.

  The seamstress had cautioned me to lift the hem when walking over some of the bastion’s rougher stone flooring on the way to the ballroom.

  “That’s a Marchesa, you know,” she’d said.

  I’d nodded obediently, though I’d had no idea who or what a Marchesa was.

  The Bastion itself looked more magical than I’d ever seen it. An orchestra to one side of the ballroom filled the air with exquisite music, making me feel like I’d stepped out of the real world and into a movie—or a dream.

  Imogen had obviously kept her worker bees very busy hanging new lanterns and lighting candles throughout the cavern.

  It had probably never been so brightly lit, but some dark corners and alcoves remained. That was, no doubt, by design. Quite a few couples were taking advantage of those spaces for private conversations—and private liaisons—hidden for the most part from the crowd.