“You don’t mean that.”
“I only speak the truth,” he assured her.
“But you’ve fed from others.”
He held her gaze for long seconds. “I did it so as not to burden you more than you already are.”
Even as the words came out, he knew they sounded like an excuse, as though he was putting the blame on her. That wasn’t the case.
Acadia’s perfectly arched brows lowered. “You vowed not to feed from another.”
True. He had. And he’d gone back on his word. He lived with that regret every moment of every day. Yet her happiness, her health, her very safety were what mattered most to him.
“I did,” he confirmed. “And it pains me more than you know.”
Another tear trickled from her lower lashes. This time he leaned forward, brushing his lips against her cheek to stop its descent.
He cupped the back of her head and held her to his chest. “You are my nehadon. Nothing will change that. My love will forever be pledged to you and only you. But I won’t force this mating, balisra. You deserve more than that.”
Kaj wasn’t sure what he expected in response, but for Acadia to place her small hands upon his chest wasn’t on the list. Her touch was soothing, familiar. It woke parts of him that had been dormant for weeks now.
He released her as he took a step back, lowering his arms and opening himself up to her. He was hers in every way. Whatever she needed, he would provide. It mattered not what she was willing to give in return. For the rest of his days, he would ensure she never went without even if that meant he had to. But he knew words meant so very little. Actions spoke louder and he’d betrayed them both as of late.
They remained like that for the longest time, her palms flat on his chest, their eyes locked together. Kaj could hardly breathe for wanting her, but he would refrain because no matter how long it took, Acadia would be the one to decide when they moved forward. If they moved forward.
No, he decided. He’d had it right the first time. When, not if, because once again, he was an eternal optimist. More importantly, he couldn’t think of a life without her in it, and he refused to consider the remainder of his immortal life spent without her.
There was a slight flare in her gaze a second before he felt the pull that shocked his muscles, had him locking his knees. His cock thickened the instant she began feeding from him, the energy she drew flowing through him like an erotic wave before its exit. He dropped his head back, closed his eyes, and opened himself to her completely, giving her full access to every ounce of his being.
Her sudden inhale told him she hadn’t expected that. Then again, Kaj had yet to let her see his true power, the strength that he had as the most powerful vampire in existence. After all, being the Alpha wasn’t merely a title bestowed upon him.
His cock throbbed behind his zipper, the damn thing begging for release. Ignoring it was impossible, so he squeezed his eyes closed as the sensation tore through him. His body shook, his muscles clenching to fight off the tremor. On the brink of a mind-blowing climax, he held off for as long as he could. And when it was all but inevitable, Kaj placed his hands over Acadia’s, holding them tight to his chest as he growled, the sound emerging from his chest and escaping on a rush of air. His cock kicked hard, still confined within the denim.
Acadia’s sharp cry was what had him looking down. He watched as she trembled, as though his release ignited her own. Instinct had his fangs dropping, his eyes darting to her neck, to the pulse he could see beating there.
“Kaj!” Acadia jerked her hands from beneath his before throwing herself at him.
He caught her weight with ease as she cupped his neck and pulled his head toward her.
“I need this, Kaj. I need … I need the connection. Please.”
Fuck.
A second felt like an eternity, but Kaj didn’t fight her. His upper lip pulled back from his fangs and then he was piercing her vein, sinking into her as he wrapped one arm behind her back to hold her to him. Her body trembled. His chest pressed to her breasts as she curled her hands around his neck, feeding from his energy as he drank from her. Another release threatened as her blood disappeared down his throat in big gulps. He was desperate for her, always would be. Nothing could be done about that.
His free hand slid into her hair, tugging her head back so he could sink his fangs in deeper, his lips fusing to her skin. As he breathed her in, he came again. He couldn’t stop it; the release barreled through him. The euphoria continued for an eternity as they fed from one another. It was a connection unlike any other. Another surge slammed into him, his release exploding from the head of his cock, this one stealing his breath and likely a large majority of his common sense.
Long minutes passed, but he came down from that mind-blowing high, retracting his fangs from Acadia’s neck and sealing the wounds. Neither of them made a move to pull back, though, holding one another tightly. Acadia was kneeling on the bed, Kaj standing beside it, and though they had clothing between them, he was fairly certain this was the most intimate moment they’d ever shared.
Kaj pressed his lips to her neck, breathed in her sweet cherry-blossom scent, content to remain just like that for the rest of eternity.
Unfortunately, Acadia was the one to pull back, albeit gently and only enough to meet his gaze.
“Only from me,” she whispered softly. “I only want you to feed from me, Kaj.”
Although his response was easily the affirmative, Kaj knew he had to take the opportunity to make the same request. If they were to move forward, this was something they had to get straight between them. Too much had happened of late. Too much was about to take place in the future. It was imperative the two of them get on the same page or their fight to survive would be moot. Without her in his life, Kaj knew nothing else would truly matter.
“Provided you vow to do the same, balisra.” Before she could form a rebuttal, he shook his head. “They can and will be fine without you. I need this as much as you do. All of you in return for all of me.”
Tears formed in her eyes. “You know I can’t do that. If I don’t fulfill my duties—”
“Trust me, balisra. That’s all I ask is that you trust me. I’ll talk to Obsidian, ensure he understands.”
“No,” she said quickly, hands falling away as she scrubbed the tears from her face. “I will speak with him. I must be the one to speak with him.”
“Okay. And you’ll tell me what he says?”
Her nod was subtle.
Forcing himself to release her, Kaj grabbed his T-shirt, pulled it back on over his head.
“I’ll be coming to you more often,” he told her. “To feed. And what I need will make it impossible for you to feed others, Acadia. It’s the way it’s meant to be.”
Another nod. Whether it was agreement or simply an acknowledgment of fact, he wasn’t sure. However, it was more than he’d had an hour ago, so Kaj would have to be content with it.
For now.
Chapter Three
Friday, December 1, 2017
“So, tell me something,” Kaj prompted the moment Acadia stepped into his room.
“Well, good evening to you as well,” she teased in response.
A smile pulled at his lips. “Good evening, Acadia. Tell me something.”
She laughed, couldn’t help it. “Whatever shall you like to know?”
While he formulated his question, Acadia set the tray down on the bedside table, uncovering the eggs and toast she’d had prepared for him. It wasn’t a steak dinner, but considering he was still on the mend—slow going, at that—she figured bland and light were the key. She was happy to see he had lost the gray pallor he’d been wearing for the past two weeks, ever since he awoke from his deep sleep. It had taken effort, but she’d managed to keep him in the bed for the majority of the time, save for his daily baths, which she had tended to in the bathtub at his request.
“Where’s your family? Mother? Father? Are you close with them?”
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Acadia ducked her head, pretended to position the toast. “My mother and father are long since passed. I was orphaned. Now sit up so I can set your tray in your lap.”
Kaj grimaced as he followed her instructions, positioning himself against a pillow, smoothing the blankets over his legs.
“Orphaned?”
She nodded. It was a tragic story, though she wasn’t eager to go into the logistics. Being that the Fae had been found guilty of defying the Lord before her mother had conceived her, the pregnancy had been deemed illegal. Her father had managed to hide her mother until she’d given birth. Upon the delivery, they’d been betrayed, her parents murdered. She wasn’t sure who her saving grace had been, but some kind soul had taken her and delivered her unto the orphanage that cared for abandoned children of the Fae.
“And you?” she asked, wanting to redirect the subject to him. “Your mother and father?”
Kaj relaxed into the pillow as she set his tray over his muscled thighs. “My mother was murdered by a demon who’d been sent to destroy my father, the Alpha. He was able to get me out. He’s still alive, living with his new mate and their two infant males.”
“Vampires mate more than once?”
Kaj nodded. “We do not have predestined mates, and should a male not find his nehadon, he doesn’t possess the instinct to devote himself only to one female.”
Interesting. Why she’d thought vampires were like angels in that regard, she wasn’t sure. She understood, of course, because Fae didn’t have destinies at all.
“Do you see him often? Your father?”
“I work for him. I’m sure he believes I’m dead at this point.”
“You should contact him,” she urged.
Kaj shook his head. “Not until I can leave here. My mere existence puts all of you in danger. I’d prefer to keep that from knocking on your door.”
Being that he was the son of the vampire Alpha, she understood his reasoning. While Acadia wasn’t versed in vampire history, she was aware of the fact the race was ruled by a single male.
“How long have you known Obsidian?” he asked.
Acadia smiled. “Many lifetimes.”
“How did you meet?”
“Michael came to the orphanage where we were being kept. I was but a teenager, as the humans say. Still young, uncertain of my future. Or whether I even had one. He made a proposition, one designed so that we could not refuse.”
Kaj frowned, prompting her to explain.
“My ancestors defied God and were therefore banished from Heaven, punished upon Earth. Michael offered us the opportunity to atone for their sins by serving the needs of his warriors. At the time, he had yet to send Obsidian here to Earth, needing to ensure that they would be properly nourished. Evidently he made a deal with God in that we would supply their blood, which both gave them strength and allowed the Almighty to monitor their whereabouts.”
At times she wondered whether Michael had done so as a means of saving her race. Then he would do or say something to remind her she was here for one reason: to provide a direct line from Heaven to Earth, a means of tracking the warriors and providing them with life.
“Is he good to you? Obsidian?”
Acadia nodded, settling into the chair she’d pulled over. “So very much. He has never treated us as his servants, never taken advantage. Nor have his brothers. As far as he’s concerned, we’re a part of his family, even if we have no freedom outside of these walls.”
She wasn’t aware of how sad she sounded. Not until she felt a warm hand brushing her cheek. She peered up to see Kaj watching her intently, his fingers gentle as they swept over her skin. It was all she could do to keep her breaths even. His simple touch was more powerful than she expected. Acadia figured it had more to do with the concern she detected than the actual brush of his skin to hers. She wasn’t sure she’d ever seen that look on anyone’s face before. Certainly not for her.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, pulling away from his touch. “I mean not to bring down your mood.”
“You could never,” he replied, his arm retracting to the bed. “So if you feed him, I assume you feed from him as well?”
Acadia shook her head. “Fae are fueled by energy produced by the soul. Hence the reason we provide ourselves in a sexual manner to the males. The sexual energy sustains us for much longer, though it’s possible for us to maintain our strength without the heightened emotions.”
“Have you provided these … services to Obsidian?”
She studied his face for a moment, curious as to where this line of questioning was going. If she didn’t know better, Acadia would’ve sworn she sensed something possessive in his tone.
Of course, that was ridiculous.
“No,” she told him. “He does not take from us in that way. He uses us solely for a blood source.”
Obsidian was a noble male, one who seemed to understand the predicament they’d found themselves in. Being that he’d been created for a purpose, to be used as a weapon in the war against Lucifer, he knew what it meant to serve for someone else’s betterment.
“Why do you stay with me?”
Acadia detected the insecurity in his tone, as though Kaj could not understand why someone would want to care for him.
“If you’re asking whether it’s my duty, the answer is no.” She canted her head to the side. “I am not a servant to vampires. I am merely here because I choose to be. I happen to enjoy your company.”
The smile he offered was one she found herself looking forward to. They were rare, which was why she’d made it her mission to pull more of them from him.
She tried to tell herself it was for his benefit, but she knew the truth deep down.
Acadia simply liked to see him smile.
Kaj didn’t know what he’d done to deserve this.
The care this female offered him was unlike anything he’d ever experienced before. Even as the son of the Alpha, Kaj had never received the regard of his father’s status. He was a lowly servant, the right hand to the leader of the race as well as the Alpha’s protector. Not since his mother had Kaj known the sort of kindness Acadia was showing him.
Sure, he sensed she was truly concerned with his well-being, her need to nurture fierce, her protective instincts honed. However, he got the feeling she did not provide this level of care to just anyone.
Or perhaps that was simply wishful thinking, because Heaven knew he’d caught a glimpse of that possessive spark that continued to flicker within him. Every time he heard one of her stories, he wanted to reach out, to hold her, protect her, ensure her everything would be all right. And when she spoke of another male, his inner beast began to pace, baring his fangs and eager to rip out the throat of any male who’d had the pleasure of her touch.
Of course, he sensed Acadia would not be keen on him doing either of those things, but that didn’t change his reactions.
Regardless, Kaj was growing fonder of her every moment he spent in her presence. Listening to her voice was now one of his favorite pastimes, something he looked forward to whenever his eyes opened.
It was almost a shame he would have to leave soon, but it was inevitable. As soon as he was at full strength, Kaj had to get back to Kardobahn. As it was, he was neglecting his duties to his father. The only reason he did not walk out of this mansion and make his way back to Seattle was because he knew the Zenith could handle things during his absence. Not to mention, he was no good to anyone in his current state. Despite the fact he’d been on the mend for weeks now, Kaj felt no stronger than he had when he’d been shot. Something did not feel right, but he figured that was due to the nature of the injuries. Like Acadia continued to remind him, it took time to heal from the devastation his body had suffered.
Kaj let his gaze slide over Acadia’s beautiful face. She was a small female and her delicate features gave her an almost frail appearance. Of course, that was merely a visage. She was no frailer than he, and perhaps that was what attracted him the mos
t. There was no denying her physical beauty captivated him. He’d never seen anyone more lovely. Her dark hair, her alabaster skin, and those lustrous amethyst eyes were quite the combination.
Not that he’d kept his perusal at neck level. Oh, no. The highly sexual beast within him was constantly admiring all the curves revealed by those formfitting gowns she preferred. Today’s preference had a bodice that cinched in her tiny waist and offered a delightful view of the swells of her breasts. The silk was purple and made her eyes darken, glittering in the simple light from the fire.
“Is something wrong?”
Kaj narrowed his focus to her face, realized she had caught him staring. “Just enjoying the view.”
The soft pink that infused her cheeks warmed him. Most of the females he spent time with weren’t quite so … what was the word? Feminine? Innocent? Yes, perhaps that was it.
“Is there anything I may get you?” she offered.
He shook his head, not looking away. In this moment, he had everything he could’ve ever wanted. Just being in her company was more than enough for him.
“Since you’re choosing not to eat, perhaps you should feed,” Acadia suggested.
Though he wanted to deny the offer, he knew he couldn’t. If he wished to regain his strength, it was a necessity. More so than the calories he’d yet to ingest.
Kaj nodded, watched as Acadia set her book on the bedside table before getting to her feet. His eyes tracked her as she stepped to the bed, then as she took the tray from his lap, setting it back on the bedside table. He stared unabashedly as she slid the silk sleeve back from her wrist, settled herself on the edge of the mattress. What he wanted to do was pull her over him, sink his fangs into her neck, hold her against him, feel the warmth of her skin against his own.
It wasn’t happening, he knew, but it was a fantasy he’d come to enjoy.
“Kaj?”
His eyes focused on her face once more. “Hmm?”
“My wrist.”
Right. Her wrist.
He hesitated before touching her, knowing the pleasure he would find simply by brushing his fingers on her skin. He’d learned to brace himself for impact, and he prayed she didn’t realize just touching her brought his cock to a fully rigid state. Warmth infused him as he wrapped his fingers around her wrist, the other at her elbow, bringing her to his lips. Her sweet scent intoxicated him, more so than even her blood.
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