MASON

Bruises marred her cheekbones. Bite marks created tiny tracks all the way down her arms, scattering across her fingers like tiny little freckles.

The purplish tone to them told me they were healing. At least they wouldn’t scar.

She was too pretty to scar.

Or at least from what I could see.

She needed to shower.

Blood still caked part of her face, and her hair was matted behind her head into a knotted ponytail that had seen better days. Nobody had been brave enough to ask her to wash herself.

The room stunk like death.

And at the same time, the sweet smell of roasted vanilla was finally starting to break through, the blood making my mouth water, and my eyes rolled to the back of my head.

It smelled like my dreams.

It felt like a nightmare.

“Bathe!” I barked in her general direction, stomping over to the adjoining bathroom and turning on the shower. I returned with a towel and chucked it on the bed then crossed my arms.

She stared at the towel and then at me. “Will you be in here the whole time?”

Her knees moved beneath the covers as she tucked them under her chin and wrapped her arms around her small body, exposing more bites. Bites that made my stomach sick.

What sort of vampire fed off its own kind?

What sort of female vampire didn’t sense danger and flee?

It was a mystery. One I had no business solving. “Look, female, the sooner you bathe, the sooner you feel better and heal, the sooner you can leave.”

She visibly swallowed before giving me a small nod. “Okay.”

I exhaled in relief as my muscles tensed and then relaxed only to repeat the process as she slowly stood to wobbly legs and then glared at me over her shoulder. “And my name isn’t female. It’s Serenity.”

“Of course it is… female.”

Hurt flashed across her face before she jerked her head back toward the bathroom and slowly made her way across the floor.

One foot slid. The other followed.

She paused. Took a breath.

Then winced in pain as she took another step forward and stumbled.

I caught her before her face hit the ground and righted her on her feet as her arms wrapped around my neck.

With a frown, I leaned forward of my own free will, ducking my nose near her neck as I inhaled my fill.

She let out a small gasp, jerking me out of my sudden mating dance.

The hell?

I would have dropped her, but she was leaning so heavily on me it would only injure her further, and as much as I wanted her gone, I wasn’t a complete monster.

Carefully, I pulled her into my arms and carried her into the bathroom. I set her on the closed toilet as I plugged the drain, changing the shower to a bath.

“You will not speak.” My voice sounded like nails; it was rusty, cold, angry. “You will not touch me.” I filled the tub. “You will stay as still as physically possible. I will help you bathe. You will return to your bed. You will sleep.”

“Please.” She piped up.

I snapped my head in her direction, tilting it left then right in a predatory way. “Please?”

“You forgot please.”

“I did not forget. I merely decided not to use it.”

“Well…” She licked her lips. “…now’s your chance, Wolf.”

I smirked at that. “Well-played, female. You will do all of the above… please.”

She nodded. Her smile returned.

I looked away. I had no room for her smiles in my life.

The tub was filled. Now the difficult part.

A naked vampire.

I pulled on every ounce of strength I had as I very slowly peeled the shirt from her body and then tugged the soft cotton leggings from her legs.

She had no other clothing.

She was bare to me.

And I was salivating as my fangs tried to press through my gums with such agonizing want that I had to bite down on my lip to keep from biting, to keep from sniffing — everywhere.

She covered her breasts.

It made me angry. I had no idea why.

I simply knew that the lust was replaced with anger at her shame, when the human body was meant to be worshipped by wolf — sniffed, licked, satisfied beyond all measure.

My thoughts jerked me back to my mate.

Guilt intensified, stabbing me in the heart, the muscle in my chest I rarely had use for anymore.

“Get in!” It came out as demand, a bark, as anger toward her, when it was more toward myself, my own lack of control. I gulped. “Please.”

Serenity stood on shaky legs, and I knew the process would repeat. She’d faceplant into the water, drown, and it would be on me.

With a calm I didn’t know I possessed, I plucked her off her feet and set her gently into the water, laying her on her back as I slowly dipped her head back and ran my rough hands through her matted hair.

She closed her eyes. Her lips trembled as I tugged the knots loose and massaged shampoo into her scalp. I held her head with one hand and washed with the other. When I finished, I could actually see the true color of her hair, not pitch-black, but an autumn-brown with pieces of gold highlights that fell only near her face and at the tips. I added some conditioner Alex used for his ridiculous hair and called it good. I grabbed some soap and handed it to her.

“Do you need me to wash your soiled body as well?” I asked in a gruff voice.

Serenity looked away as her skin turned an attractive pink color. “No, but I’ll need your help getting out.”

I nodded and stood. “I’ll stand outside the door. Just let me know when you finish.”

The water was murky covering her sex.

I shouldn’t have stared.

I shouldn’t have searched.

I was more animal than man. I blamed my wolf side — the need to mate, to make her mine, to lick her into submission and suck her dry.

It was my wolf. He was all predator.

And she… she was prey.

It was only natural.

My thoughts must have betrayed my face. She blushed further and hurriedly started washing her body with the soap.

I quickly turned and marched out of the room and leaned my body against the closed door, finally able to breathe without tasting her scent in the air. Finally able to focus without wondering what it would be like to touch her lips, to bring her into the throes of ecstasy, to show her things only a man who contained a beast within could show her.

I gave my head a shake. Ridiculous lust-riddled thoughts driven forward by Cassius’ stupid rule that each of the immortal council members had to mate for strength.

Everyone but Timber, the crazed elf-demon, and myself remained.

It needed to stay that way.

I was strong enough on my own.

Women. Love. They did not create strength; they took it like thieves and left you weak.

And I swore I would never be weak again.