Chapter 4

 

 

Amelia turned to Brent, who took a step toward her. She got lost in the deep blue orbs that flickered and glowed with an inner fire she had only seen once before.

“You sure about this?” His voice trembled with power.

“I’m not turning back. We’re going to find who’s behind the abductions and put a stop to them.”

“I want you to delve into the memories. I need you to see what happened when I was a blood slave. What they meant to do. You need to understand, Amelia.”

“You can stop me from drinking too much if I can’t?” she whispered.

Nodding, he closed the distance. “If it comes to that, I will.”

“What about the bond?”

“Not until you understand. Not until you see my darkest secret. Then, we can talk about a blood bond.” He touched her face, running his thumb across her cheek. “It’s a step I won’t make lightly, Amelia. If you hate me after this, I won’t have you bound to me.”

Arguing would get her nowhere closer to what she wanted. And there were too many lives at stake to waste time. She leaned up and he guided her to his neck. She struck, her teeth piercing flesh.

His blood tasted of magic and chocolate, and something rich, savory. Images flickered through her mind.

He’d been so young, late teens. A thick iron collar chained him to the wall in a massive underground throne room.

Beautiful, pale creatures watched him with hunger. He stared at nothing, wishing he were anywhere else as one spirit whispered to him, telling him what was coming.

An ancient evil, worse than the oldest grand demon. The first vampire was created when the entity was summoned and his essence had entered his blood stream, tainting a druid, making him something else.

Time flipped by. Several years. Vampires would sip from him. Some went mad with power, slaying everything they could before they were slaughtered. Others lost their minds, muttering in the corner.

A man, not a vampire, but he was something different, almost ethereal, walked in and cut the chains holding Brent to the wall. “You’ll have to fight for your freedom. Without your hidden talents, we won’t make it out alive now. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it before sunset.”

“Food?” Brent asked, afraid to stand. He had been too long without food.

“Of course.” The man pulled a small loaf of bread from his pocket and a flask. “Please hurry. I should have started with that.”

Brent scarfed it down as another dark-haired man joined them. “We need to hurry. Sun is almost down.”

The first man nodded. “I’m Reance. This is Toryn. Your father came to me. He’s very worried about you.”

Brent couldn’t remember anything.

“Kalbrenthis, are you ready?” Reance asked.

Magic surged, power filling his limbs as the spirits sang. He sprang to his feet and walked through the cavern as vampires rose for the night.

He held out his hands, drawing on his saviors’ fire magic, pushing it through the room.

Wails rose as a dark shadow formed around Brent, an unearthly sound whispering through his voice as he screamed in an ancient language. The spirit who’d been feeding him information provided a boost to his magic, showing him how to use Reance and Toryn’s magic.

The vampire who brought Brent to the cavern walked toward him. Flames flickered up her robes, but she wouldn’t catch fire. Inuala smiled. “I’m one of the few who still have magic, and I’m immune to fire.”

“I’ll change that,” Reance shouted, stepping past the flames as he brought a golden sword down toward the woman with white hair and black eyes.

Brent held up his hand, and Reance froze as the spirits took hold of him. Brent took the blade and swept his focus to Inuala. She too, froze.

He pierced her heart before slicing off little pieces of her flesh, letting her blood flow freely. Her flesh may not burn, but her blood did. Finally, she died, screaming that Crom Cruach would have his revenge.

Crom was worshipped as a god, but was far worse. He was an ancient monstrosity who could make the vampires far deadlier than anything anyone had seen before. And he wanted to walk in the world.

On the way out of the castle, Brent slaughtered every vampire they encountered. He continued the practice for three years.

Coming back to herself, Amelia withdrew her fangs, pricked her tongue, and sealed the punctures. Then she stumbled back.

Brent guided her into a seat before backing away. “I slaughtered all of them. Then for years, every single vampire I came across died by my hands.”

“You were a slave for years, Brent. You were used. You have every right to hate vampires.” She swallowed hard. “How can you stand to be around me?”

“You haven’t changed all that much, Amelia. Some of the vampires I slayed deserved worse. Some did not. Many of the vampires weren’t part of the coven by choice.” He sank to his knees before her. “I’ve killed for no reason other than a vengeance I had already taken.”

“Brent, I saw through your eyes. I get it. And that was two centuries ago. You understand we aren’t all like those particular vampires.”

“What if my blood drives you crazy?” he whispered.

“Do you believe it will?” she asked, taking his hands.

He scooted closer, looking into her eyes, and shook his head. “No. But there are still dangers to face with my blood. You will lose yourself to the rage and magic at some point.”

“Rage and magic?” she whispered.

He blinked, his eyes shining. “My blood acts like a gateway for some vampires. Spirits can sweep in, not permanently. If you react too strongly after drinking from me, my blood can enhance your emotions, your strength. I’ve only seen snippets of you destroying your enemies.”

“The future?”

He nodded, his eyes boring into her. “Forgive me.”

“Don’t need to. You’ve done what we needed to ensure we finish this case. If you’ll have my blood, I want you to drink.”

“You don’t understand. I think this is a new version of that same cult. I don’t ever want to hurt you.”

“You won’t. Now drink.”

“Amelia—”

She caught his face and forced his gaze to hers. Maybe it was underhanded, but he said he wanted her, but he kept holding her away, so she’d play dirty. “Brent, I still feel your magic inside me. It’s like adrenaline on steroids and meth. I feel like I could do anything. And if Robert believes you can hide your power, I’m going to screw that up the second I drink from you in public if I react this way every time.” And she did feel his magic rushing through every cell. It wasn’t hard to imagine her using his power to destroy her enemies. Still, she kept it bottled up, holding onto it, forcing it down.

“Amelia, do you understand what happens when a vampire bonds to someone?”

“Yes. It’s not all that different than werewolves and their mates. I’ve been around that all my life. My parents, remember?”

“True.”

“And Consuela and Declan. I lived with them for a while. I got to know Victoria and Lincoln. I get it, Brent. I know what I want, and I want you.”

“Why me?” he whispered.

“I’ve been drawn to you from the very moment I saw you. You say you were waiting for me. Well, here I am, ready to have you. I’m tired of chasing, tired of being pushed away. If you want me, take me, all of me.”

He shook his head. “How can you want me with what you just learned?”

Is he dense? Or is the problem what I am? “Is it me? Do you not want to be bound to me? A vampire?”

 

* * * *

 

Brent wanted to be bound in every way to Amelia. And she had a point. Being bound was the best way for her to find balance. But all those visions of their end still plagued him. How was he supposed to tell her he dreamed of one or both of them dying after falling in love?

“There’s no going back from this. You aren’t thinking this through.”

Her eyes filled with tears and she blinked fast. “Fine.” She stood and stepped past him.

He shot to his feet and pulled her against him. “I do want you, the bond, everything. I’m only afraid of what you’ll think of me before this is over.” Or worse, losing her before it was all over.

“Then drink,” she whispered, lifting her wrist to her mouth and piercing her flesh before pressing the wound to his mouth.

His eyes locked on hers as he fell into her thoughts, dreams, and desires. Her essence filled him. The bond twisted them together as shadows rose around them and whispers from the nearby spirits joined the breeze in the room.

“Brent,” Amelia murmured, pressing tighter.

He took one last taste before releasing her arm and swallowing. Then her mouth crashed over his, her tongue sweeping in.

Every last ounce of resistance broke as he lifted her and placed her on the desk before sliding his hands up her thighs, under her skirt.

Breaking the kiss, he caught her gaze. “Tell me you need me, Amelia.” He needed to hear it from her lips.

“Yes, so bad.” She trailed her fingers down his chest and abs, to open his pants. “Please, Brent.”

He ran his thumb over her damp panties and nipped her bottom lip. “Don’t beg. I’ll give you what you need.” His mouth crashed over hers as his fingers slipped underneath the thin barrier.

Her wet heat was heaven. He found her clit, and she made a needy sound that made him harder, if that was possible.

“I’m ready.”

He slipped two fingers into her and pumped in and out.

Her head fell back with a moan. “I’ve waited too long,” she growled, opening his pants and sliding them down enough to pull his dick out. Her grip was firm as she stroked. “No waiting, Brent.”

“Then bite.” He pulled her mouth back to his neck. Her fangs pierced skin as he slid into her. Amelia was the first vampire he allowed to bite him since he’d been held captive. It was an act he’d hated, but loved when it was her teeth in his artery.

She gave him her desires, her wants, her need as her fingers tangled in his hair. His grip locked on her hip, holding her on the edge of the desk as he thrust into her. Her ankles hooked around his hips as she pulled him tighter.

He drove into her faster, needing her to come undone. Sliding his hand under her shirt, he gripped her breast, pinching her nipple. She sucked harder, and he thrust faster until the desk rocked, scooting with the power.

She let him in, all the way in, and opened her walls to him. Her emotions crashed over him. Love, so strong, so powerful, that he’d denied for too long. He gave her the same emotion back.

Her walls rippled, squeezing tighter, and she came with him. Amelia licked at the wounds, healing the punctures before sitting back to lock gazes with him.

There was a pop and his eyes closed as he leaned back.

Someone cleared their throat.

Amelia’s breath caught. She tucked him back into his pants and zipped.

“Sorry, we need to talk. I may have a lead,” Robert explained.

“We were forming the bond,” Amelia explained breathlessly.

“Sorry to interrupt. Are you two decent?”

Brent sighed, stepped back, and pulled her skirt down. “Yes. What’s going on?”

At least Robert had the decency to turn away and stare out the window.

Amelia moved beside Brent, her expression blank, but pale pink stained her cheeks. He hoped that had everything to do with the interruption, and not something Brent did.

Robert faced them, dipping his head while his eyes stayed on the ground. “There are unknown vampires at Dark Temptations. Victoria and Lincoln left so you two could go there, see what you can find. Are you going to feel comfortable in a sex club, Amelia?”

“Very,” she answered. “Won’t be the first time I’ve been there.”

That was news to Brent. He kept a straight face, though. “Then we’ll start there.”

Amelia in a sex club? He shouldn’t have been surprised. There were several visions of her in an outfit that belonged in such a place.

She turned to him. Her head cocked. “You’re shocked?”

“Surprised.” Brent lifted one shoulder. He wasn’t sure he could say pleasantly, but he wasn’t disappointed. “I’ll need to change.”

A smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. “Me too. We should hurry, though.”

Nodding, he had to agree. No matter how disappointed he was, they wouldn’t be able to finish what they’d started.

“I’ll leave you to it.” Robert disappeared.

Amelia walked out of the office, grabbed her purse, and turned back with a raised brow. “If you don’t mind, can you take me by my place?”

“You didn’t drive?”

Her face screwed up briefly. “I ran from home. I didn’t want to give Tyrone a way to follow me.”

“Tell me what happened with him.”

She closed her eyes and let out a sigh. When she met his gaze she said, “I woke up, and he wanted to make love while I drank from him. I couldn’t. I know what he feels, but I don’t.”

“And if he’s there, waiting for you?”

“Then I find a way to tell him it’s truly over.”

“I’m sorry.”

She shook her head. “You didn’t cause this. I did.” She nodded toward the front door. “Let’s get changed and go.”

“Would it help if you stay with me in the morning?”

“In your room?”

“Yes. And Jared has officially moved out, taking his things with him.”

“But you want me in your room?”

“Yes, nowhere else.”

“Then stop by my place first. He won’t come back until closer to dawn.”

“You’re sure about that?”

“Fairly.”

“Then let’s go.”