Honoria Ravena (19 page)

“Back then Zarek killed when he hunted. It turned her stomach, she couldn’t do it, but Zarek believed it was the only way to survive. Only recently have vampires discovered that they don’t have to kill to live. One day she ran off. He found her days later. He believes she stopped feeding, and when she couldn’t take the hunger anymore, she shoved a knife through her heart. He found a note on her, apologizing. Saying that she still loved him, but just couldn’t take it anymore.”

I swiped at the tears that were leaking from the corners of my eyes. Poor Zarek. His poor wife.

“And I imagine that’s why he worries when you leave. Why he wants to keep you with him. He worries about his fledglings enough when he isn’t madly in love with them. Also keep in mind that Dorian kidnapped his sister when he was very young. I’m sure it’s scarred him.”

“I’m not like his wife. And I know you don’t have to kill to live as a vampire.”

“Yes, but he also knows you were a vampire hunter and that becoming a vampire is the worst thing that can happen to them. Worse than death even. Just try not to get too upset when he gets overprotective and acts like an ass.”

I laughed, but it was short-lived. “I’ll try, but I really hate this shit.” I sat up and slid off the bed.

“Where are you going?”

“To shower and then I’m going to bed.”

He wiggled his eyebrows. “Can I join you?”

I rolled my eyes. “Nope, not unless you want Zarek to skin you. Besides, you need to clean your room.”

“Pfft, yeah, Mom, like I’m going to do that.”

I grinned at him before I walked back to the door. I slipped through and shut it behind me.

I strode back to Zarek’s room. At this rate, Zarek would never let me out of his sight, even if Macon gave the okay. Surely he realized I wasn’t his wife. I wasn’t some innocent wallflower. Hell, I killed vampires for a living. And I didn’t have to kill humans to survive as a vampire.

I stepped into his room and closed the door behind me. I stripped as I headed for the bathroom, leaving articles of clothing in my wake.

I had to find a way to convince Zarek I wasn’t going to hurt myself if I was away from him. He’d still never let me go, but he might loosen the leash a little.

I turned on the shower and waited for the water to heat. I stepped in and wet my hair, then grabbed the shampoo and started to bathe. Hearing the bedroom door open and close, I poked my head out of the shower door and shouted, “Zarek, is that you?”

He appeared in the bathroom doorway, his muscular arms crossed over his chest. I crooked my finger at him. He frowned but came to me anyway.

Sex wasn’t the way to convince him. I’d have to talk to him for that. But I wanted to comfort him after the story I’d heard, even if he had no idea why.

I wrapped my hand around the back of his neck and pulled him to me. I thrust my tongue into his mouth. He moaned and stepped into the shower. I slid my free hand to his fly and undid his jeans, freeing his erection.

I slipped my hands under the wet material on either side of his lean waist. I broke the kiss as I slid down his body. I ran my tongue over his beautiful abs while I slid my hands down his powerful thighs.

He stepped out of his pants and kicked them away. I stared up at him as I wrapped my hands around his cock. I gave the head a teasing lick before I took him into my mouth.

His fingers tunneled through my hair as he began fucking my mouth in short, delicate digs. I sucked hard enough to hollow my cheeks. I gently massaged his balls, and he gasped, his dick jerking. My mouth flooded with semen, and I swallowed. He leaned against the wall of the shower, gasping.

“You’re really good at that.”

I smiled and kissed his trembling thigh before I stood. “Thank you.”

He pushed himself off the wall and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Want to know what I’m good at?”

I laughed. “I think I’ve got a good idea.”

He pushed me against the shower wall. “I’d love to demonstrate.”

And he’d have no problem demonstrating. His cock was already hardening.

He dipped his head to my breasts and raked his fangs lightly across one nipple. He swirled his tongue across it before sucking it between his fangs while massaging my other breast with his hand.

I groaned and threaded my fingers through his hair. He switched breasts. He skimmed his hand over my stomach. His hand slipped between my thighs and stroked my clit. I gasped and covered his hand with mine. I bucked against his probing fingers shamelessly.

He groaned and traced the shell of my ear with his tongue. “God, you’re already wet, ready for me. I love that about you.”

He pumped two fingers into me and strummed my clit with his thumb. I came on his hand, screaming my release. He grasped my thighs and lifted me. I wrapped my thighs around his hips, and he drove into me before I had recovered from my orgasm. I shouted his name, digging my heels into his ass as he pounded into me.

His warm breath caressed my throat before his fangs sank in. Pleasure boiled up my spine, and I shouted his name.

He broke away from my throat, his back arching as he spent himself before sinking to the ground with me in his arms and lying back under the shower spray. He licked the wounds on my throat lazily as the water beat on us.

I ran my hands through his hair and hummed contentedly. “Babe, the water’s cold.”

The shower immediately turned off.

“You and your creepy Jedi mind powers.”

He lifted his head and frowned at me. “What?”

“You’ve never seen
Star Wars
? Surely you’ve heard it referenced at least.”

“I haven’t seen a movie since the 1940s.”

I gaped at him. “But…how? We watched all kinds of movies with Alaric. He said that movies and TV were invented for bored vampires.”

He snorted and sat up, shifting me off him. He stood and stepped out of the shower before helping me to my feet. “More like vampires without lives. I’m a busy man. I don’t have time for frivolous things.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m so getting movies from Alaric and we can lay in bed and watch them.”

He eyed me from head to toe. “If we’re laying in bed, I guarantee you I won’t pay attention to a movie for long.”

I smacked his arm lightly.

He grabbed me and tossed me over his shoulder. “Don’t hit me, wench.” He carried me to the bed and tossed me on before climbing in after me.

I yawned. “I really don’t think I have energy for more sex.”

His laugher rang in my ears. “I bet I could convince you otherwise. But we both need our rest. Who knows when that little puke, Navarro, will attack?”

As he draped me across his chest, he cleared his throat.

“So, I expected to get jumped when I came through the door, but not quite like that. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing better than a wet, willing woman waiting to blow you in the shower and then screw your brains out, but what’s made you so forgiving?”

I bit my lip and lifted my head off his chest to look at him. “Laedan told me about your wife.”

He thumped his head against the headboard. “I’m going to kill that asshole. He shouldn’t have told you.”

I caressed his bicep. “I think it’s good that he did. I was very pissed at you. I wouldn’t have forgiven you if I hadn’t known why you were so…” I searched for the right word. “Paranoid.”

“I don’t want to lose anything I love, ever again. I haven’t turned a woman since. I thought they were too weak for it. But then I met you. You’re as tough as most men I know. If anyone could survive the change, you would.” He sighed. “But I also know that becoming a vampire is the worst thing that can happen to you. I know you have the guts to commit suicide if you think it’s better than being one of us.”

“You don’t have to worry about me killing myself, Zarek. You forget a vampire raised me. I hunt strictly for profit, not because I believe all vampires are evil and must die. Yeah, I definitely don’t like what you’ve done to me, but suicide is the coward’s way out.”

“Other vampires might try to kill you if you aren’t near me. I don’t want you to die fighting them either.”

“I’ve been fighting vampires all my life.”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m aware.”

“Then can you relax?”

“Eventually.”

I sighed and laid my head on his chest. The urge to beat him almost overcame me. I tried to relax. He had his reasons. I had to remember that. When he felt comfortable, he would lighten up. I hoped…

Chapter Seventeen

The door slammed against the wall with a bang. Zarek shot out of the bed faster than I thought possible. He landed in a crouch in front of Laedan, two daggers in his palms. Where had those come from?

“Whoa!” Laedan fell back against the wall and held up his hands in surrender.

“Laedan! What the fuck are you doing? Are you trying to get killed? Stupid boy, I ought to—”

“Boss, we’ve got bad guys. We need you downstairs.”

I leaped out of bed and pulled on my clothes, which were still strewn on the floor from last night. There was no time to find clean ones.

The windows shattered, and I shrieked. Three vampires landed on the hardwood floor with a thud. They were dressed from head to toe in black. They released their ropes.

Laedan broke into a fit of giggles. He clapped me on the shoulder. “I don’t know what’s funnier, ninja vampires or that scream.”

I wanted to glare, but I wasn’t taking my eyes off the vamps in front of me. Two more men swung through the windows.

Zarek’s voice was harsh. “Laedan, poke fun later. Fight now.”

I caught the sword Zarek tossed me. I sensed movement behind me and spun just in time to block the blade that would have taken my head off. The clash of the metal jarred me to the bone.

I heard metal on metal and grunts of strain as Zarek and Laedan started to fight.

I thrust the sword at the vampire in front of me. He leaped back with a curse and swung at my head. I ducked and kicked him as hard as I could in the stomach. He grunted and crashed into the wall as Navarro came through the door.

He slid down the wall. Blood from his head trailed after him. I frowned. He’d left a dent in the wall. There was definitely something to be said about having vampire strength.

I didn’t get a chance to attack Navarro before someone came up behind me. I spun, dropped to the floor, and kicked his legs out from under him. He crashed to the ground with a shocked gasp. I stood and brought my sword down. The vampire’s scream was cut short as I severed his head. Blood puddled on the floor.

I spun around. The vampire I’d slammed into a wall was on his feet.

He probed the back of his head gingerly. Rage flared in his eyes. “You little bitch.”

He picked up his sword and strode toward me. His first swing almost decapitated me. His sword sliced my cheek open. I hissed and clutched the cut. He spit blood on the ground. I must have kicked him hard enough to damage something. Yippee.

“Too bad that won’t scar that pretty face.”

He swung at my stomach, and I parried. I lunged forward. His sword slammed against mine and it spun away.

“Fuck!”

The only thing that saved my head from his next chop was the fact that I fell over the body behind me. The dead man’s sword was missing. I grabbed the dagger from his waist.

The vampire swung the sword at my neck. I rolled away from him and stumbled to my feet. I spun and kicked his sword hand. The blade went flying. I slashed at his throat, barely catching him under the jaw.

He stumbled back, and one hand went to his throat as the other reached for the dagger on his waist. He came at me so fast, I barely blocked the thrusts of his knife.

Pain ripped through my chest. I fell back on the floor, clutching the handle of the dagger that protruded from my sternum. Blood started to coat my tank top. My hands were covered in it. I couldn’t draw enough breath to scream. My vision swam. The air roared in my ears.

Zarek was shouting. “Regan!”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him go down under the three vampires he was fighting. Navarro passed me, heading for the heap of vampires trying to hold Zarek.

My vamp leaned over me, sword in hand. I realized I still had my knife in my hands. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t dropped it. My hand convulsed around it. I wouldn’t let this fucker kill me. I shoved my knife into his chest with all the strength I had left. It was enough.

He collapsed next to me, his sword clattering to the ground. He was dead before he hit the floor. Unlike him, I hadn’t missed the heart. I glanced around. Laedan was struggling to finish off his last vampire. Zarek had killed one of his attackers, but the other two were struggling to hold him to the floor.

As quickly, but steadily, as I could, I pulled the dagger from my chest. I shrieked and curled onto my side. Blood gushed between my hands as I tried to put pressure on the wound. Absently, I wondered if vampires could bleed out. I sure hoped not.

I seized my target’s sword and used it to help me to my feet. My head spun, and I wobbled dangerously. I managed to right myself.

Navarro unsheathed the sword at his hip. I stared at Zarek on the ground, Navarro looming over him. Oh God, I wasn’t going to make it! Terror froze me. He could die now. We were just starting to understand each other. I could barely stand, let alone make it to Zarek to help him.

I had to try, even if I had to crawl the distance. I took a shaky step toward them and almost fell on my face. Zarek locked eyes with me. He shoved his power into me with enough force to send me to my knees. I gasped for air as his power flooded my system. That “I’m invincible” high flashed through me as I shoved myself to my feet.

Navarro started to swing the sword.

“No!” I dashed forward and swung my blade at his neck with all my might. His head went flying. Blood splattered everywhere. I shoved the sword into the heart of the vampire holding Zarek down. Laedan slammed into the other. They crashed to the floor.

Zarek blinked up at me in shock.

I dropped to my knees next to him as the power he’d given me evaporated. I coughed, and blood splattered my hand. “Ow. That’s going to heal before I die, right?”

Zarek nodded. “We’re going to need to feed though.”

Laedan groaned from his spot on the floor. A headless vampire lay next to him. “Not from me, damn it. I think I’ve lost enough blood.”

“You’ll live too, right?”

He sat up and braced his hands on either side of his thigh. “Yeah, this broken femur hurts like hell though. It will heal. I just have to shift. It’s not going to be fun to do it either.”

He closed his eyes. Every hair on my body rose to full attention as magic filled the room. A shudder worked its way up his body. He tossed his head back and moaned. It was a pain-filled sound, and it made me want to go to him.

There was movement under his skin as bones and muscles reformed. Cloth ripped as his body changed. His face elongated. He fell back on the floor, and his back arched. He howled in pain. Fur started to flow down his body.

He collapsed back on the floor. I was about to crawl toward him when Zarek grabbed my wrist. “He just passed out. Leave him that way, it’s better for him.”