“Look, no touch,” Molly said. “You can go home and paw your big, bad tiger.”
“Ooh, I will,” David said, giving Suzanne a wink as the group headed for the door.
Suzanne smiled as she watched her colleagues saunter off to lunch, laughing and joking as they walked down the street. Maybe she would take them all to Broomstick Hall for lunch tomorrow. Broomstick Hall was the little restaurant nestled within Broomstick Inn. The restaurant catered to the guests at the inn, but was open to the public as well. Alisa was the chef there, and in Suzanne's opinion, no one could cook better than her lovely sister-in-law.
With a happy smile on her face, Suzanne logged off her computer and left the office.
She was about to cross the road when she saw a man standing under a tree. When he pushed the brim of his hat up, she saw his face.
Suzanne made a strangled sound and stumbled back.
It was a face she'd hoped never to see again.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Suzanne stared into those blood-red, slitted eyes. He was wearing a wide-brim hat but she saw his face clearly.
Balestair.
The vampire smiled as he stepped into a spot of dappled sunlight on the sidewalk. He was taunting her, showing her that he could walk in the sun now. All thanks to her.
Before Suzanne could scream, Balestair faded into a column of mist and flew towards her.
The mist wrapped tightly around Suzanne, cloaking and choking her.
She couldn't see anything and the sounds around her became muffled and distorted. She could feel herself moving even though her legs were frozen. She felt disorientated and nauseated, like the world had turned upside down and was spinning the wrong way round.
Finally, the mist churned away from her and she stumbled and fell to the ground.
Suzanne put a hand to her head and blinked, trying to get the ground to stop tilting and moving.
Finally, she managed to push herself up shakily. Where had Balestair misted her to?
She stared wildly around her. She was in a small, secluded alleyway, and she was walled in on both sides. It was a dead end behind her and in front of her...was Balestair.
The vampire had removed his big, wide hat and was advancing silently towards her.
“Hello, Suzanne, we meet again,” Balestair said, smiling thinly. “I didn't think we would. I thought the fire would have wiped everything out. I never expected you to survive. Too bad, for you I mean.”
“W-what do you want?” she stuttered, backing away.
Balestair raised a brow in mock surprise. “I want your blood, of course.”
“You already drank my blood. All of it. You drank me dry and left me to die!”
“But you didn't. Die that is.” Balestair's smile widened. “Your fae blood is powerful indeed. It gave me the ability to walk in the sun, and it kept you alive. Even a few drops of it was enough to tether you to life. Amazing.”
Suzanne's hands flew to her neck. “You're not having any of my blood.” Mason's blood.
“I wouldn't bother coming for you if I didn't need your blood. I need to recharge, Suzanne,” Balestair said smoothly. “The power of your fae blood is wearing off. I can feel myself growing more and more sensitive to the sun's rays. Hence, the ridiculous, floppy hat. The effect is not permanent. Regrettably, I need to drink from you again, Suzanne. And I need to drink all your blood to last me as long as possible.”
“No...”
“Yes, Suzanne. I'll make sure I take every drop this time. So I'll just bid you goodbye now. It is goodbye for real. No one can revive you if you're completely drained.” His fangs descended, long and deadly like daggers.
Suzanne opened her mouth to scream but a hand covered her mouth as her body bucked from the excruciating pain. Balestair's fangs tore into her artery, and she could feel her blood spurting out of her body into his mouth. With every beat of her heart, more blood pumped out.
Balestair made satisfied, slurping sounds as he drank. Suzanne struggled but he was too strong. His arm was like a steel bar across her chest, and his long, pointed nails pushed into her cheek, raking dangerously close to her eyes.
She was about to black out from the agony, but she refused to let herself go limp.
She was a fire fae and the mate of a powerful bear shifter.
There was power in her blood. She had fae blood and shifter blood in her.
Mason had given his blood to her so she could live.
She wasn't going to die. Not like this.
She wasn't a prey, a victim. She wouldn't allow herself to be anyone's midday snack!
Suzanne clenched her fists and tried to focus despite the paralyzing pain. She could feel the fire burning in her veins even as her blood drained from her body.
Fire.
She had fire in her blood.
With every last ounce of will and strength, Suzanne called up the fae power in her. It was sheer grit and instinct.
It was a survival instinct, a blood instinct. A single drop of her fae blood could keep her alive. She still had many drops left in her body.
When she was alone in that mystical, fae forest, before she walked through the mirror to Mason, she had heard a voice. Maybe it was her father's voice. Or just the voice of her subconscious. But it told her what to do and how to use the power in her blood.
She wasn't weak and defenseless. She could protect herself and destroy her enemy. For good.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Mason laughed as one of his work mates launched into another joke. The crew of Gray's Domain worked hard and they always completed a construction project on time. They were a jovial bunch, and they liked to sing and joke as they worked.
Mason finished laying another row of bricks and straightened up. That's when he felt the scorching pain. His head, his heart, his entire body was burning, screaming in terrible agony.
He knew immediately that Suzanne was in trouble. She was his true mate, his blood mate. He could feel her terror and anguish, and her fierce resolve to fight back and survive.
“Suzanne!” he roared and bolted from the construction site.
Some of his work crew ran after him. He heard Tristan and Jackson calling him but he didn't stop. He couldn't stop. Suzanne was fighting alone against a cold, ruthless enemy.
Mason ran hard, his claws already out. The streets and the people he passed were just a blur to him. Suzanne's beautiful face flashed in front of his eyes, and an icy fist squeezed his heart. He couldn't lose her.
Mason pounded past the office of Jones & Co. He saw one of her bosses opening the door, and he could even scent his mate's distinct, unique scent wafting out through the office door. Suzanne had gone back to work today, and she had been so happy and excited.
She was moving forward, carrying on with her life after she had lost everything. She had lost her house, all her belongings, even the few precious photographs that she had of her mother and aunt.
But she was building a new life for herself. A life with him.
Mason kept running, knowing exactly where to go.
The blood bond led him unfailingly to her. Mason pounded down a side lane and into a shadowy, narrow alley.
Mason charged into the alley, shifting into bear form instantaneously. The scent of his mate's blood maddened his bear, and Mason didn't hold back. He let his beast out, letting the predatory and killer instinct take over. He was going to kill that vampire!
Suzanne was gurgling and struggling weakly in Balestair's grip. The dirty blood-sucker still had his fangs in her neck, and Mason aimed a massive paw at the vampire's head.
Balestair jerked back, and released Suzanne. She let out a cry and stumbled away.
Mason slashed down with his claws, trying to tear Balestair's leering face into shreds. Blood was dripping down the vampire's chin and he laughed right in Mason's face.
“You can't touch me,” Balestair sneered. “I have her blood. And yours. Fae and
shifter blood, a potent, powerful cocktail. I have double your speed and strength, and my vampiric powers are enhanced.” Balestair chuckled and misted to Mason's side just as Mason smashed his paw into the wall.
Mason whirled round and attacked again, but Balestair was too fast. In a blink, he was behind Mason, and when Mason spun round to snap his jaws around the vampire's outstretched arm, Balestair was gone again. The mist flew around Mason, and Balestair's cold laughter echoed through the alley.
Balestair materialized at the mouth of the alley and bowed low.
“It's a pity I didn't have time to finish my drink,” he said, throwing a sidelong glance at Suzanne. “Some other time then. Thank you for your blood. Both of you.” He laughed as Mason snarled at him.
Mason was about to lunge at him when he felt Suzanne's hand on his shoulder.
“Don't,” she whispered. “He can't escape.”
He stared at her. What was she talking about?
Balestair was smirking at them, waving jauntily as he backed out of the alley. He was walking away, and in another second, he would change into mist and be gone.
Balestair was getting away! They were making his escape too easy!
“No,” Suzanne whispered urgently when Mason lurched forward. “Please, Mason. Stay with me. Don't go near him.”
Mason heard the warning note in her voice and snarled.
Why didn't she want him to go near Balestair? Balestair was powerful, but he wasn't invincible. He could still take him down.
Suzanne shook her head subtly. She was warning him off. From what?
Mason crouched, lowering his body to the ground to assure and appease his mate while preparing to pounce in a heartbeat.
Suzanne turned to face Balestair, her lips curving ever so slowly. There was a dangerous, fiery light in her eyes that Mason had never seen before.
“You have taken what doesn't belong to you, Balestair. You drank my blood, but you can't take my power,” she said quietly.
Balestair opened his mouth, but the only sound that escaped was a blood-curdling scream.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Mason watched in horrified fascination as Balestair collapsed and rolled on the ground in agony.
There was smoke issuing from his pores, and his skin was bubbling and blistering. He screamed as he burst into flames. The vampire's entire body was set alight. Flames and smoke erupted from every crevice and pore as he flailed helplessly on the ground.
Balestair tried to beat at the flames with his hands but it was a desperate, futile action. There was no way to put out the fire. The fire wasn't external.
He was burning from the inside out.
Mason understood what it is.
This was the fire in a fire fae's blood.
Balestair twisted round to roar at Suzanne, “You...you will pay! I will kill you!”
“You did,” Suzanne said. Her voice was strong, clear and calm. “You did kill me. You killed the old me, the insecure, meek me. But I'm no longer the girl you met on that disastrous first date, the one who felt unloved and unsure of herself. That's what you saw, and you thought that I was an easy victim. I couldn't stand up for myself, and you thought that no one would stand up for me either. You would get away scot-free.”
Suzanne's eyes gleamed as she said, “I am a fire fae, Balestair. You sought to steal the power in my blood. But the power doesn't belong to you. The power is mine, always was, always will be. I called upon the fire in my blood as you drank from me, Balestair.”
She stood her ground even as the vampire lurched towards her. Mason moved to shield her, but she put her hand on his shoulder.
“There's nothing he can do,” she said. “There's nothing anyone can do for him now.”
Balestair shrieked and clawed at himself, trying to put out the fire that was consuming him alive.
The fae blood inside him continued to burn, reducing him to ashes. He had so viciously tried to destroy Suzanne by burning her house to the ground. He wanted her blood, and he was willing to kill her for it. His actions had come full circle.
“If you play with fire...” Suzanne muttered.
Finally, the vampire's terrible screams died.
There was nothing left of Balestair but a pile of ashes.
The wind blew the ashes out of the alley and into the street. The ashes swirled in the air and scattered far and wide.
Mason turned to Suzanne and nudged her gently with his shoulder. She stared at the rays of golden sunlight streaming into the alley and shook her head sadly.
Leaning heavily against him, Suzanne whispered, “The power was never his. The moment he walked in the sun, he should have burned to ashes.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Suzanne was dining with her bosses and colleagues at Broomstick Hall when Jackson came running breathlessly into the restaurant.
“Suzanne,” Jackson said, skidding up to her table. “Come with me! Quickly!”
“What's going on, Jackson?” Suzanne asked. Her eyes widened in fear as she jumped up. “Is it Mason? Is he hurt? Was there an accident at the construction site?
“Yes, no and no.”
“What is it? Yes or no?” Suzanne gasped. Mr and Mrs Jones stood up and offered to drive her to the site immediately.
Jackson held up a hand and answered, “Yes, it's Mason. No, he's not hurt. And no, there's no accident. Mason sent me to fetch you. He wants you to see it now!”
“See what now?”
“Just come with me, please,” Jackson pleaded.
Gramma and Ne-ma were bustling around the restaurant, serving the customers and refilling their coffee cups. They turned to give Jackson a conspiratorial wink and chuckled.
“Go,” Ne-ma said to Suzanne over her shoulder. “Don't worry. We'll make sure your colleagues here are well fed. Dessert?” she offered.
“Yes please,” a few voices piped up eagerly.
“Go on.” Gramma waved her off. “The boys are so excited. They have been working on this in secret.”
“Secret?” Suzanne narrowed her eyes at Jackson. “So that's why you guys have been working late these couple of months. You guys told me it was a super secret project. I thought you were joking.”
Jackson beamed and bounced on the balls of his feet enthusiastically. “I'm sure you'll love it!”
“Love what?” Suzanne turned to Gramma and Ne-ma. “You're in on this. I know you are. What's this all about? Tell me, please.”
Gramma and Ne-ma grinned and made a zipping motion across their lips. “Not telling,” they said in unison.
“Hurry, Suzanne,” Molly and Evie urged. “We're ordering dessert now. We might leave some for you if you come back quickly and tell us all about this super secret project.”
Suzanne opened her mouth but Jackson grabbed her elbow and hustled her out of the restaurant. He bundled her into his car and hopped in. “Mason designed it himself you know,” Jackson jabbered as he sped down the road. “He chose the location, the view, everything!”
Suzanne didn't interrupt him. She simply let him prattle on excitedly and rather incoherently. She was sure that he wouldn't answer her question even if she asked him point blank what the hell he was talking about. This was a super secret project, remember?
She didn't say a word even when Jackson turned into the lane that led to their house. But he didn't stop. He drove past their double-story house, and continued driving. He passed Tristan and Alisa's cozy little house further down the road, and still he continued zooming down the road.
“Um, Jackson.” Suzanne turned to Jackson. Jackson's green eyes were shining with excitement and he looked like a kid on Christmas morning. “Are we there yet? Are you going to turn the car around?”
Jackson grinned and pulled the car to a sudden stop.
“Yes, Suzanne, we are here!” he announced with a flourish. He bounded out of the car and opened the car door for her. “Ta-da! Surprise!”
Suzann
e got out of the car and gawked at the beautiful single-story house at the corner of the street. Tristan and Mason stood in front of the house, grinning from ear to ear.
“This—is our new home,” Mason said proudly, gesturing towards the lovely little house. “Do you like it?”
“Our h-home?” she spluttered.
“Yes. My brothers helped me build it. Look!” Mason turned her shoulders. “You can see the woods from here. Our house is built on the top of an incline, so when you look out of our bedroom window, you can see the woods clearly. I know fae folk like to be near nature. It's in your blood. And I'd like to live near my brothers, so this spot is the perfect location!”
“Oh, it is! This...you guys...” Suzanne gasped and turned to Tristan and Jackson. “You guys did so much for me, for us...”
Tristan shrugged. “We're family. We build things for one another.”
Suzanne gazed at the house and laughed. “So this is the super secret project you guys have been busy with! Why didn't you tell me?”
“We wanted to surprise you. It was Mason's idea,” Jackson said. “It was a lot of fun. And we love a challenge!”
“Thank you!” Suzanne hugged Mason and his brothers tightly. “Thank you so much! I love it so much. But I love you guys more!”
She turned to stare at the beautiful house again. “Our home,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around Mason's waist.
“Yep. We can move in right away if you want.”
“We'll help you move,” Jackson quipped. “You're just down the road from our house and Tristan's house. I think we'll just take a couple of hours to move all your stuff here.”
Suzanne smiled happily and clapped. “We must have a big house-warming party. We'll invite your whole crew from Gray's Domain, as well as your firefighting buddies and I'll invite my bosses and colleagues. It'd be great!”
Mason laughed when she jumped up and down and kissed him resoundingly on both cheeks. “A party,” she repeated breathlessly.
Mating The Bear: BBW Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance (Gray Bears Book 3) Page 5
