Ivormantis (5 page)

“Natasha is with her; she’s perfectly fine,” Blain stated, as he easily picked up on what was running through Dominic’s mind. “Though I’m sure Ivormantis is bellowing about how no one can comfort and love her like the two of you.”

‘Damn straight!’
Ivormantis boomed.

Dominic snorted and shook his head. How much more of this could he handle right now? Normally, with a situation like this, he would say to bring it on, that he would handle any and all the burden, but his back was killing him more with every ounce of stress he felt. Worrying about Meldamiriel, what she had gone through, was running from, and the state she was in was doing nothing but intensifying his amount of pain, causing his pain medicine to hardly even touch his agony.

He turned too quickly, his body seeming to have a mind of its own as it jerked upright when he heard the doors open. Natasha and then little Meldamiriel appeared through them. The sudden spike in his pain levels was too much for him to handle at the moment and he couldn’t hold in the roar of excruciating torment.

Meldamiriel ran across the room, quickly bypassing Blain and leaving Natasha to stand in her dust. She caught Dominic just as his knees buckled and he started to sink down toward the floor. She staggered a few times trying to find her balance under his massive weight. His breath was quick and ragged as he braced himself with one hand on the table before his other wrapped around her shoulders.

“I…I…can’t…breathe…” he choked out, sounding as if someone was strangling him, when really it was all centered around the immense pain he was in that was causing his chest to tighten, making it feel like his lungs were shutting down.

“Calm, just close your eyes and breathe,” Meldamiriel spoke softly from beneath him.

Carefully placing her hand atop his broad chest, she splayed her fingers out wide and closed her eyes. She inhaled deeply and then exhaled before lightly whispering an elfish chant. She had a sweet singsong voice, and though he could not understand the language, it sounded like a lullaby love song to his ears.

Though he would have much preferred to keep his eyes open and watch his little mate, his eyes seemed to be drifting closed on their own accord. He did as he was told and worked to try to even out his breathing, savoring in Meldamiriel’s sweet and delicate scent. To his surprise, it was suddenly starting to become easier to take a deep breath and his mind-numbing pain was receding to the point where it was tolerable. He looked down at Meldamiriel to thank her, but quickly froze upon noticing her brows knitting together and her forehead wrinkling with affliction as she finished her chant. What was she doing to herself in order to relieve his pain?

She took in a shaky breath before opening her eyes and turning her bright, crystal blue gaze up to him. She suddenly looked a lot less refreshed, like she had been drained of half her energy. What was wrong? What had just transpired between them? Did she put herself through suffering in order to help him?

‘Help her, she is weakened!’
Ivormantis ordered.

Dominic caught Meldamiriel just as she started to sway. Natasha and Blain quickly rushed over to their side as they saw the small elf’s knees buckle.

“Melda!” Natasha exclaimed.

“I...I’m fine,” Meldamiriel said breathlessly as she held onto Dominic’s arms while he held her up.

“No you’re not, what’s wrong?” Natasha questioned, and then turned her dark and narrowed gaze up to Dominic. “What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything!” he snapped at her. How dare she even think he might do something to harm his beautiful mate? And she knew Meldie was his mate, she understood a dragon would never lay a hand on their mate.

“Natasha, really, I’m fine. I’m just tired from everything that’s been going on, and I put a bit more force behind the healing chant than what was necessary. Everything’s alright. I just need to sit down, that’s all,” Meldamiriel tried to explain, in hopes of diverting some of the attention that was being bestowed on her.

After a long moment of silence, Natasha finally nodded in agreement and took a step back, allowing Dominic space to tend and care for his mate. Making quick work, Dominic ushered Meldamiriel into the nearest chair and then settled himself right next to her.

“I do believe some breakfast is in order,” Blain stated, notifying one of his workers to bring in the dining trays.

Nothing else was said while the food was being served, Meldamiriel kept her hands folded in her lap and her eyes cast down; she could feel Dominic’s gaze burn into her as he continued to stare at her. What was there to see? She didn’t know why he found the need to stay glued to her side. And yet he did. He wouldn’t even allow his attention to slip from her once they were all served. No, not until she finally took the first bite from her plate did he halfway turn his eyes away from her and to his own meal. She shot a look over to Natasha to see if she might be of some help, but her friend only shrugged her shoulders and allowed a sly smile to curve the corners of her mouth.
Great, no help there
. Couldn’t the big guy just ignore her for five minutes? It wasn’t like she had only performed some kind of miracle.

Meldamiriel nearly jumped across the table when one of Blain’s guards came bursting into the room, throwing the doors back so hard they slammed into the walls, causing the room to shake.

“Sir!” the man exclaimed as he rushed over to Blain’s side. “We’ve caught them,” he said a bit breathlessly as if he had been running hard and long.

Blain and Natasha looked toward Dominic and Meldamiriel. Not understanding what was happening, she turned her big blue eyes up to Dominic in hopes of discovering just what was going on. Instead, she found him sitting on edge like he was ready to leap at some kind of prey. Who had they caught? Why had they caught them?

“Let’s go,” Blain stated in a gruff and barking tone.

Meldamiriel tried not to jump in fear of his biting order.

“All is well, love. Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon,” Dominic whispered softly into her ear, placing a gentle kiss to the side of her head before following Blain as he left the room.

She looked over to Natasha for answers.

“Maybe it would be best if after breakfast we took a tour about the castle and have a nice chat.”

She smiled, Natasha always did know what she needed and when. She was the best friend anyone could ever ask for.

Chapter Two

The guards that Blain had sent out the night before in pursuit of the vampires that seemed hell-bent on chasing little Meldamiriel down had returned with three angry Russian vamps. And yes, these three were beyond pissed. Dominic leaned casually against the dungeon walls as he watched the three bloodsuckers struggle with the reinforced steal chains that were holding them captive. The bigger vamp—the leader Dominic guessed—snarled and growled as Blain slowly paced back and forth before him, holding a taunting goblet of O Positive and whiskey mix in his hand.

“Now, I know you’re only a simple
delivery
boy, so to speak,” Blain began. “So, I really have no need in torturing or killing you today. But you have to willingly and truthfully answer a few questions.”

The vampire growled.

“Okay, let’s start with you telling me your name.”

“That means nothing to you,” the vamp snarled.

Blain shrugged. “Maybe not, but just in case I change my mind, I would like to know the name of the idiot I kill this afternoon.”

“Alek, Alek Pachinko.” He snapped his fangs as if trying to scare the dragon before him.

“Okay, Alek, I know you were chasing after a young elf. It just so happens, she is my mate’s adopted sister, and that big guy over there,” he said, pointing over to Dominic, “well, he’s the little elf’s mate. And just a bit of advice that I’ll be nice and share with you. I really wouldn’t go pissing him off, especially when it comes to his newly found mate.”

Alek shrugged. “The twit means nothing to me.”

Blain nodded, walking around a bit. “You’re right, maybe not to you, but to Bullock, yes.” It wasn’t a question.

Dominic honestly didn’t think it was possible for an already pale white creature such as a vampire to lose any coloring; apparently, he was completely wrong.

“Ahh, yes. I do believe we just staked the heart, so to speak of course,” Blain stated.

Dominic smirked; Blain was having entirely too much fun with all of this. If it weren’t for his messed up back, he would beat the bloody hell out of each of these pathetic leeches in honor of his beloved. But sadly, in order to keep his health, and so he could be by Meldamiriel’s side, he was having to force himself to take a step back and stay cool headed through all of this and let Blain handle it all himself. That was fine; he knew there would be more where these three low lives came from. He would be ready and waiting for the rest of them.

“Alek, humor me on this. Though I believe I already know why Bullock sent you after the elf, tell me why he wants her so badly?”

Dominic held his breath while waiting for the vampire to speak his answer.

“Just the slightest taste of her blood can strengthen a vampire, can you imagine the powers one vampire would have after draining her dry?” Alek questioned back, then he turned his eyes across to Dominic. “Besides, I’ve heard stories that she’s even more of a treasure behind closed doors.”

‘No one touches my Meldie!!!’
Ivormantis roared from deep within, rising up and pushing against Dominic’s barriers.

Suddenly, Blain was standing in front of him. “Dominic, Dominic! You must calm yourself. You can’t allow Ivormantis to get the better of you, not right now,” Blain stated softly, shaking his shoulders. “She needs you,” he whispered. “Concentrate on the fact she needs you, she needs you to survive. You have to be strong and be there for her.”

He could feel the change threatening to take over his body as Ivormantis fought to push his way to the surface. His hands were extending out into claws and his eyes were shifting over to their reptilian side. His spine was cracking and trying to twist as if to realign itself and make room for his wings to sprout out. The heat of his fire breath burned deep in the back of his throat. No, no, no, he couldn’t do this. He couldn’t allow himself to change over because his temper got the best of him. It would cause himself to become worthless and useless because he no longer had the use of his spine.
She needs me, she needs me, she needs…
He closed his eyes and pictured Meldamiriel standing before him, so small and fragile. Yes, she needed him and he’d be damned if he let her down.

Reopening his eyes, Dominic could finally breathe without smoke puffing out of his nose and Ivormantis was no longer forcing his way to the top to rein control. He looked to Blain, who was still watching him cautiously, then he glanced around him to the vampire whom had started this to begin with. The bastard had a shit-eating grin on his face and a wicked glint in his eyes. Looking back to Blain, he nodded to let him know he was alright and out of danger of shifting. Blain trusted his friend and took a step back, but Dominic didn’t give him the chance to go back to interrogating the bloodsucker.

Snatching the goblet of blood out of Blain’s hand, Dominic marched right up to the vamp and stabbed the glass through his chest, cupping his heart inside the goblet. He enjoyed it, probably a little too much, watching the pain write itself across the vampire’s face as the blood and whiskey seeped in around his heart and open wounds. With a nice quick jerk, Dominic twisted the goblet to the side, wrenching it in just a little farther. The vampire roared out in anguish.

Leaning in close, Dominic whispered in his ear, “Hell will be a welcoming home compared to what I would like to do to you right now. Say hello to the devil for me.” And with that, he yanked the large goblet out of his chest, pulling the heart out with it. He then turned back to face Blain, heart partially inside the goblet and lapping over. “What?” he questioned.

Blain stared at him, wide-eyed for a moment, not believing he just watched his lifelong friend rip someone’s heart out. He had known the man most of his life and had never seen this side of him, even when fighting their deadly enemy, the Raptorians.

“Nothing,” he quickly said, shaking his head and closing his mouth.

With a slight nod, Dominic then turned back to the other two vampires still chained to the back wall looking like complete ghosts; they had turned that white with fear. Their leader had just been killed right before their eyes, now there was no one to save their hides. They might be able to get Blain on their side, but that was most unlikely as long as the big, crazy one was still in the room.

“Now, who wants to go first?” Dominic questioned, holding the goblet with the still beating heart in it and looking between the two other vamps.

They turned and looked at one another with an unmistakable
“oh shit”
look on their faces.

Natasha and Meldamiriel silently climbed the stairs to the second floor of the castle. Natasha had just finished showing her the downstairs, where the kitchen, dining room, parlor, formal ballroom, and an up-to-date media room were located. She had explained that a large training room was down in the basement area, along with the interrogation room. Now they were on their way to finding Blain’s office, the library, the medical room, and all the guest rooms that were all located on the second floor. Natasha stated the third floor belonged to the guards and workers of the castle and there really was no need in going up there. It was such a large and beautiful place, though she couldn’t help wondering how no one got lost in there. She would need a map to memorize for weeks before she tried walking even the inside of this place by herself. She already felt lost, but trusted Natasha knew well where they were going and that she was completely safe with her.