Shed never feared Aden before, and really, she didnt fear him now. It was just, he was so different, she didnt know what to expect from him. At least shed been smart enough to choose a winter robe to somewhat fight the early morning chill. Something shed never had to do before. In fact, shed had to borrow the stupid, constrictive thing from a human blood-slave.
Weather had never before mattered to her. Temperature had never before mattered. Now, she was freakishly cold. All. The. Time. Shed tossed and turned all night, shivering, her teeth chattering.
I like it out here, Aden said.
Casual conversation. Fabulous. Im surprised. The trees were sparse, their limbs gnarled, offering very little shade overhead. Not that Victoria needed much shade. Her now vulnerable skin loved the sun, soaking in every ray, though still not warming her.
Yeah. No prying eyes, nowhere for anyone to hide.
Anyonelike her? Should I be scared?
I dont know.
His honesty relaxed her enough to leave her smiling. Just warn me if you decide to attack.
All right. A moment passed. Heres your warning. Im hungry.
Goodbye relaxation. Tensing, she waited for him to pounce. When he didnt, she cleared her throat and asked, Hungry for human food or for blood?
Blood. The word was as slurred as before, when hed been staring at her pulse.
If that was the only reason hed asked her to walk with him, shedshe didnt know what shed do. What she did knowthe thought hurt with the same jolting force as a car slamming into her and angered with a flash of fire usually found only in hearths. To calm herself, she breathed in and out, distantly heard the rattle of locusts and the call of the birds.
Before you drink from anyone else, I need to teach you how to eat. Good. No hurt, no anger.
I think I know how to drink, he said dryly.
Properly? Because what theyd done in the cave didnt count.
Meaning?
Veins and arteries taste different. Arteries are sweeter, but theyre deeper and harder for humans to heal, so you go for them only if you want to kill. And each vein tastes different, too. The ones in the neck are deoxygenated, so they have a little bit of adeliciousfizz to them, but if you dont know what youre doing youll, what? Kill.
I knew that, he said, then thought for a moment. He nodded. Yes, I knew that.
She didnt ask whether hed learned from her memories, as she had learned a few things from his, or if hed learned on his own, like, say, sometime during the night, while theyd been apart and shed had no idea what he was doing. Some things you were better off not knowing.
Well, either way, you cant drink from me. So there!
The frown Aden leveled on her was all about intimidation. I know I shouldnt drink from you, but why are you so against it?
Because he would find out how vulnerable she was. Because his still-human teeth would cut through her skin without any problem and probably damage her. Because she might like it more than he did.
Because she might now become addicted to his bite.
The way that blood-slave had reacted to him, all pleasure and delight and eagerness, meant that even without fangs, he now produced the chemical needed to intoxicate.
Victoria?
Oh, yeah. She hadnt yet answered. What should she say? I just dont want you to, she finally lied. Time to change the subject. Sodid you drink from anyone last night or this morning?
The moment she asked, and so snappily, too, she wished she hadnt. Finally she understood what he had gone through every time hed thought of her mouth pressed into someone else, their blood filling her up. How hed hated it but had had to accept it, because shed needed to drink from others to survive.
She despised the thought of him drinking from someone else. Despised the thought of his teeth inside some other girls vein. And yes, she wanted to kill the stupid girl!
Stupidbecause anyone who messed with Victorias boyfriend deserved what she got.
Who are you?
And was he still her boyfriend?
I havent drunk from anyone. Yet. Ill find someone, he replied, completely unawareor unconcernedwith her rising anger. When Im ready. He flicked her a glance, his gaze dropping straight to her neck, tracking her pulse like the predator hed become.
Perhaps she was the stupid one, because she tossed her hair over one shoulder, offering him an irresistible view. Trying to tempt him, Vic?
No. Never.
Really?
Fine. Yes. I am trying to tempt him. Hes mine!
And now she was talking to herself. The day improved by the minute. Have you fed today? he asked in that casual tone.
Disappointment crashed through her. So much for tempting him. Yes. Of course, I have.
His eyes narrowed, creating tiny slits where each individual lash was visible and his violet eyes were able to laser down at her. Violet eyes? Again? On who? he demanded.
On what was a more fitting question. For the first time in ever, shed eaten food. Real food, with weird textures and flavors shed before tasted only in liquid nutrient form. As of last night, her need for blood had begun to dwindle. Oh, she still craved it (kind of), still needed it (sort of), but she also needed something else. Something solid.
Shed had to sneak down to the slave quarters and raid their fridge. She could have gone to the wolf quarters, but they would have scented her out and known shed been there, and shed rather avoid a conversation about her new eating habits.
She hadnt known what to pick, so shed hidden two balls of cheese in her robeher breasts had looked so perky and large!snuck back to her room, and nibbled on them, surprised by how much she enjoyed the rich, smoky flavor.
Maybe her declining interest in blood was the reason Chompers wouldnt shut up. He was the reason she still needed to drink, after all, and since she hadnt fed him breakfast, he was probably starving. Poor guy.
Poor guy?
Her wards were in place, so that wasnt the issue. Before, with her vampire skin, those wards had lasted a few weeks, no longer, and shed had to re-ink them. Shed had these new ones for four days and they hadnt even begun to fade.
Victoria. I asked you a question.
Right. She had to stop retreating into her own head. Uh, you dont know him. Truth. Cheese came from cows, and there was no way Aden had met this particular cow.
Tell me his name anyway.
So you can kill him? she asked hopefully. Soliciting a massacre wasnt her objective, but a jealous Aden was a caring Aden.
Never mind. He waved away her reply. It doesnt matter.
Hopes dashed again.
Something vibrated against her side, and she yelped. Aden glanced down at her, confused and maybe just a little concerned. Hopes reignited.
A yo-yo, thats what she was.
Are you okay? he asked.
I think Another vibration, another yelp. What theher phone, she realized with relief. Only her phone. Yes, Im fine.
She stuffed her free hand into the robes only pocket and withdrew the small, plastic devise. Shed started to carry one after meeting Aden, so that he could call if he needed her. So far, he hadnt called, but Riley was certainly taking advantage. His number was different every time, the little thief, but his message was always the same. How many This is bullshit! texts could she get from him?
A message from Riley, she said. Give me a sec. I have to reply.
This is bullshit! she read. Got MA 2 safety & T is about 2 ruin it.
T. Tucker. Victoria hated Tucker. After releasing Adens handwhich she hated to doshe typed, Kill him. Make it hurt. In her haste, she typed hart but didnt realize until too late.
How is he? Aden asked. He wound his arm around her waist, guiding her out of the way of trees as her attention wavered between her phone and what was ahead of her. Well, well. While the hand-holding had been as delightful as finding a rainbow, this was like finding the pot of gold at the end of it. She absorbed his heat, felt her cells waking up, responding to him.
Good. Another vibration and she read, Hart? Ha! CID. Soon. SOBs helping 2. Another vibration, a new text. Hows BK doing?
BK. Boy King. Riley had started calling Aden by the stupid nickname in earlier texts and hadnt stopped. On mend.
Ask him if the name Tyson means anything.
Does the name Tyson mean anything to you?
Tyson? Aden asked. Mmm-hmm.
A moment passed. No. Should it?
Dont know. She asked Riley.
Well talk about it later. Call if u need me.
K.
Ill call when Tuck has bled out.
Her lips twitched as she returned the phone to her pocket.
Aden didnt ask what theyd discussed. He just changed the subject, saying, Elijah says Im now like you. My personality, I mean.
Of course Elijah is blaming me for the change. He doesnt like me. None of them do, she said, then his words sank in, and she gasped. Wait, what? Her step faltered, tripping her, dislodging Adens hold. When she straightened, she glared at his still moving form. Never mind that shed had the same thought yesterday. Shed been more inclined to blame her father. Aden!
He turned back to face her, frowned at the distance between them and approached. Again she absorbed his heat. Now that her cells were fully awake, they practically quivered in rapture, being this close to him.
How she would have loved it if hed deigned to return her glare, but no. His expression remained blank. He says you left pieces of your character inside me. Like when I gave you the souls, and you gave me Chompers. His head tilted to the side, his gaze moving past her, past the forest, as if he were listening to someone else. He probably was. Then he nodded and said, And when we drank from each other.
She ran her tongue over her teeth. Her sharp, useless teeth. Youre saying this uncaring, very nearly unlikable act is because of me? You thought the same thing, she reminded herself. How can you be mad at him?
She didnt know, but she was. Very mad.
Yes. Thats what Im saying. Offered with no hesitation.
That was how people saw her? Cold, distant? Oh, shed known they considered her too serious, but this Ugh, ugh, ugh. Why arent I acting like you, then?
Maybe you are.
What does that mean?
I dont know. You tell me.
Her chin lifted. You mean Im acting confused, tuning in and out of our conversations, distracted all the time, and throwing jealous fits? Wait. She was. Her eyes widened as realization struck. She really was.
Was that how you saw me? he asked, parroting her thoughts. He took a menacing step toward her, then another.
She backed away slowly, trying not to be obvious in her cowardiceand her desire. Her quivering became outright shaking, her need to be touched by him overshadowing everything else, making her ache.
He didnt stop coming, and she didnt stop retreating until her back pressed into a thick tree trunk. She might crave him, but she didnt know this Aden, didnt know how hed react to the things she did and said.
Although, if Elijah was correct, she could guess. If Aden was acting like her, he would try and resist her, but he would fail. Just as shed always failed to resist him. He would try and dislike her, try to detach himself from her, but again, he would fail.
Finally, a blessing amidst a curse.
When shed first met him, she had been following orders from her father. Find him, interrogate him, and kill him. Shed found him all right. Shed interrogated himkind of. While her father had expected screams of pain to spring from the question-and-answer session, shed ended up swimming with Aden, playing with him. Kissing him.
Shed told herself she didntcouldntlike him. He was food, nothing more. Shed told herself to remain disconnected from the situation, to do what needed to be done. Aden had summoned her kind to Oklahoma, he hummed with a kind of power none of them understood but were drawn to, a power the beasts inside them yearned for and basically worshipped, and he could do serious damage to their race. Killing him would have been a mercy to her people.
Killing him, though, had never been an option for Victoria. She had been intrigued by him, had identified with him. He was an outsider to his own kind; he was misunderstood, unwanted. She wasnt an outsider, but as a princess she was set apart. And it hadnt helped that shed always been a disappointment to her father. She wasnt a warrior like her sister Lauren, and she wasnt a volatile force of nature like Stephanie.
She was justherself.
Aden flattened his hands at her temples, his lower body brushing against hers and pulling a delighted gasp right out of her. Hed caged her in, surrounded her, becoming all that she saw. All she wanted to see. You are tuning in and out of our conversations, he said. There was no heat to his tone, but maybemaybe there were threads of amusement?
That doesnt prove anything, she said, just to provoke him. What would he do? How far would he take this?
Lets test the theory, then.
How?
His nose brushed against hers, his breath fanning over her cheeks, warm and minty. How would you like to test it?
Was he going to kiss her? Her heart sped into hyperdrive, her veins expanding to accommodate the increase of blood flow. She ran her tongue over her lips, her gaze melting into his. II dont know.
I do, he said darkly, huskily. First, do I have all your attention?
Yes.
Good. Thats step one. Now for step two.
Without any more explanation, he settled his mouth over hers, soft, exploring. Her breath hitched as she tasted him. Then, he pressed harder, opened up, and licked at her. She opened up, too, welcoming him inside, and their tongues rolled together. Her hands slid up his chest, around his neck and tangled in his hair.
I like step two, she rasped, so happy this was happening, she could have burst. But it doesnt prove anything.
Kiss. Well, well worry about that later. Kiss.
She chuckled, loving this teasing side of him. A side shed missed terribly.
They stayed like that, kissing and touching, for countless minutes, hours maybe, and finally, blessedly, her body began to warm. As delighted as she was about that, she wished Aden would pet her as hed used to do. She wanted his hands on her, all over her.
Soon she got her wish. Not skin-to-skin contact, but his hands began to roam, exploring her, molding her, shaping, driving her to kiss him harder, until little moans were escaping the back of her throat, until she was panting, biting at him.
To his credit, he didnt bite her back. His touch did strengthen, though, becoming rougher. And she liked it.
Aden, she said, not sure why she was saying his name.
A moment later, she felt as if she were fallingfallingbrittle leaves and cold dirt suddenly supporting her, Adens weight pinning her down. The kiss never slowed. They clutched at each other, rubbed at each other. Her body was sensitized, racing towardsomething with every move she made.
He did finally pull away to cup her jaw. He, too, was panting. Little beads of sweat popped up on his brow.
Have you been with anybody? he asked. There was a gruff quality to his voice. A quality she loved.
You mean sex?
He nodded, his gaze straying to her neck. A second later, he was kissing her there, licking, sucking but still not biting. And, oh, the sensations he evoked. She was being devoured by them, every inch of her ablaze.
Rather than answer, she said shakily, Have you?
No.
Butbuthe was so beautiful. Even if human girls considered him crazy, they should have been all over him. Actually, they should have been all over him because they considered him crazy. Werent bad boys attractive to one and all? Someone to be tamed or something?
Her betrothed, Dmitri, had been a bad boy among the vampires, and the females had flocked to him.
Why not? Her hands began an exploration of their own, sliding down the strength of his chest, tugging at the softness of his shirt, then slipping under it. Finally. Hot-as-a-furnace skin.
Never trusted anyone enough.
Did he trust her enough? Or at all? She hoped so, because she would never betray him. Ever.
What about you? he asked, planting kisses along her jaw.
Her nails curled into him. She didnt want to answer. Not after hearing his reply. Well
He lifted his head, and she moaned in frustration. His eyes glowed a brilliant amber-brown now, tiny flecks of violet and green swirling in the background. Such gorgeous, mesmerizing eyes.
Yes, she admitted softly. I have.
His hold tightened on her. With who?
Would he think badly of her now? She didnt want to tell him, so she said, I was curious. I was betrothed to Dmitri, as you know, and as you also know, I hated him and, well
Dmitri? You slept with Dmitri? Whom you hated? There was a faint trace of outrage in his tone.
Even that minute amount angered her, cooling the hottest of the flames licking over her. No. Not Dmitri. But what if it was him? What would you do? What would you say?
I dont know, he answered honestly.
A few more flames crackled and hissed their way to extinction. Anyway. I didnt want him to be my first because, as you said, I hated him. Shed debated keeping herself pure for him, even though that wasnt a vampire tradition or requirement. Shed debated simply because Dmitri had been a jealous, possessive sort, and he would have hurt whoever shed picked.
Finally, a few months before traveling to Oklahoma, shed decided to go for it, just get it over with and pick someone who could hold his own against her fiancé. A mistake that she regretted, but one she couldnt change.
And for your information, she went on, we dont have as staunch a view about sex as you humans do. My father had about a thousand wives, you know.
Frost glazed his eyes. So who were you with?
Like shed go there with him. It doesnt matter.
Hes still alive and here, then. And that means I can Suddenly silent, Aden stiffened against her, his gaze jolting up and narrowing. Someones coming. He sniffed. Female. Familiar.
Her ears perked, but she didnt hear anything.
He lifted from her and stood, and though shed been on a downward spiral and had despised the direction of their conversation, she already mourned the separation, resented the interruption.
Without a word, he reached down and helped her do the same. Her knees almost buckled as she brushed the debris from her robe, her attention never leaving him. His skin was flushed, tension vibrating from him. While he didnt have fangs, his teeth were bared in a fearsome scowl. His lips were swollenperhaps shed bitten too hardand his hair nearly stood on end.
Crunching leaves, snapping twigs.
Someone was coming. How had Aden heard before she had? Again? She swung around and saw Maddie the Lovely rushing toward them, long blond hair flying behind her.
Your majesty, the girl called, grinding to a halt when she spotted him.
Aden stepped in front of Victoria. To shield her from a possible threat? Please, please, please. That would mean her Aden was returning, the parts of Victoria fading. Right?
Yes? Aden prompted.
You have visitors. Maddie focused on Victoria, worry in her eyes, before returning her attention to Aden. The councilmen suggested you hurry.
Dread slithered through Victoria, a snake determined to squeeze the life out of her. Visitors. Allies? Or enemies? Either way, Aden was hungry and hadnt yet fed. Until he did, everyone in the mansion would be in danger. Because the longer he went without blood, the more he would weaken, the more the hunger would strengthen, until he just sort of snapped, attacking everyone around him.
You need to feed first, she said to him. Though it pained her, she added, On Maddie. The sooner the better. Vampires could satisfactorily feed on other vampires. It wasnt ideal, not only because of the skin issue, but also because, when you drank from another vampire, you saw the world through their eyes. At least for a little while.
A distraction like that could cost Aden his life. But, he would have a few hours before his focus merged with Maddies. That should give him plenty of time to deal with the visitors. And later, Victoria could guard him in her bedroom.
No. No vampires, Aden said with a shake of his head. Victoria, teleport to the stronghold and bring me a blood-slave.
He wasnt fighting her on the issue, and she wasnt sure if that made her happy or sad. Or angry. Icant, she admitted quietly. Shed tried to teleport to him this morning, when Rileys brothers had informed her of his summons, and shed failed miserably.
Depression had nearly overwhelmed her. She wasnt normal anymore. She was a freak among her own kind. And honest to God, walking from one place to the other, without the option of simply appearing, sucked.
Sucked. Another human word. When would the madness end?
Why? Aden asked.
I just cant.
He remained quiet for a moment, absorbing her claim. Whether he deduced what it meant or not, when even she wasnt one hundred percent certain herself, he didnt say. He just nodded. All right, then. Well walk back to the stronghold together.
But you need to
Maddie, he said, cutting Victoria off. Lead the way.
The girl nodded and obeyed, and Aden followed after her. Victoria remained in place for several heartbeats of time. Neither Aden nor Maddie looked back at her. Or around for her. She wanted to do something to keep Aden from the house and whoever had come for him. She wanted to protect him. But how?
The farther away Aden got, the more the roaring in her head increased in volume, until she couldnt concentrate. Shut up, Chompers!
Another roar.
Fine. And wouldnt you know it? Now she was talking to the thing in her head like Aden often had. Gritting her teeth, she trudged after him.
ELEVEN
MARY ANN WANTED TO SCREAM. In the end, she allowed herself only to snap, Thats enough. Both of you.
Ignoring her, Tucker and Riley faced off. Again. After running all night, stealing a car, stealing bleach for her hairshe was still rebelling about that and hadnt used itstealing tattoo equipment, breaking into a motel room, commandeering it, she needed a freaking moment of peace before the three of them had to leave and steal another car.
I cant believe you want this piece of crap to live, Riley said.
Apparently she likes pieces of crap. Look who shes dating. Tucker snickered at him.
I do not like crap. Geez! They were like children. Feral, rabies-infected children who needed to be put down. And I was dating him. Was. Not anymore. Sadly.
Riley growled low in his throat, a definite war cry, looking from Tucker to her, her to Tucker, as if he didnt know who to be angrier at. Great. That was just great. If he turned that snarl on her, shed be the one to do a little murdering!
Just shut up, Tucker, before Riley stops listening to me and finally snacks on your bone marrow. Riley, I believe we have a few things to do before we head out.
He considered her, the menace draining from him.
Take off your shirt, he said, clearly deciding to play nice, and lie on the bed. And if you sneak a peek, T-man, I will break every bone in your body.
Oh, Ill sneak a peek. Ill sneak several. Tucker rubbed his hands together with glee. And guess what, R-man. There will be one more bone in my body for you to break.
Gross. Just gross.
Another growl erupted from Riley. He stepped closer to Tucker, only a whisper of air separating them.
Mary Ann jumped between them and shoved, keeping both of her arms extended. A puny effort, but they were kind enough to pretend she could do some damage of her own and remained apart.
Of course, that didnt stop the verbal sparring.
Jackass.
Pansy.
Pervert.
Asshole.
Silenceexcept for the harshness of Rileys breathing.
Very mature, she said on a sigh.
What are wards, anyway? Tucker asked, as if he hadnt just acted like a baby and Riley wasnt once again planning his murder.
Do you not care about the rabid dog about to chew off your face? she muttered. Before he could answer with something snide, she replied, Wards are protective spells. That way, the witches have less power over us. Now back off. Both of you.
No one can overpower me, Tucker said, ignoring her demand.
Underestimating them is a mistake, she said. They once cast a death curse over me, Riley and Victoria, and we barely survived.
Lets not forget the witches are viewing you through magic, Riley said. We need to get on with this.
Mary Ann watched Tucker raze a hand through his hair. I always knew there were otherthings out there, he said. Different, like me. I just didnt know itd be something lame like witches and wolves.
She arched a brow. Her arms were shakingnote to self: start working outbut she kept them extended. And demons are cool?
Hell, yeah. Just then, his tone was too cocky. And she knew.
He was lying. For sure. He hated himself. And having heard tidbits of gossip about his abusive father, she knew Tucker hated him, too. Anyway, she went on, once a spell is cast, not even the witches can stop it from being fulfilled. Whatever conditions they set have to be met. Like with the death curse, we had a week to make a meeting. If we failed to appear, or rather, if Aden did, we all died.
If Vlad had known you guys were cursed, he would have simply locked Aden away, allowing that week to tick by, rather than siccing me on him. The whole stabbing thing could have been avoided. So really, you guys carry the blame for the past. Had you told people
Riley, Victoria and me would have died.
Tucker shrugged. That wouldnt have been my problem.
And now? Riley demanded. Are you helping Vlad now?
He stopped summoning me after I stabbed Aden, so I took off. I didnt like helping him, you know. And for the record, I apologized to Aden. Before and after I sliced his heart in two. Cut me some slack.
Anger had Rileys eyes snapping with green fire. You apologized. Oh, well, then. That smoothes everything over.
Finally. Tucker raised his arms, the last sane man in the world. Someone understands.
Riley stepped around Mary Ann and shoved the guy. Hard. Im sorry. Shoved again. Oops. Sorry. My bad. All smoothed? Forgive me? Another shove.
Tucker took the abuse without striking back. Shocking.
Mary Ann maneuvered them back on track. Im not taking off my shirt. Okay? So just stand down, boys. And you can ward my arms, Riley. Thatll work just as well as my back and chest.
Fine. At least he stopped pushing.
Already she had tattoos on her back to protect her against mind manipulation and mortal wounds. Now he wanted to ensure she was protected against another death curse, as well as magical illusionshed learned his lesson with Tuckerand pain and panic and spying spells.
Wait, wait, wait. Back up. Riley shook his head, the tension draining from him as he faced her. Your dad will see your arms.
Yes, she knew that. And that would absolutely matter if she ever planned to see her dad again.
A wave of homesickness hit her, tears suddenly welling in her eyes. Shed been gone only two weeks, but she already missed her dad like crazy. But she had to stay away from him, too. She would not bring a supernatural war to his doorstep.
Rather than offering a reply, however, she sat at the edge of the bed and rolled up her shirtsleeves. Stop wasting time. Get to work.
You really dont plan on going back, do you? Tucker asked. For once, his tone was without sarcasm, flip pancy or pure meanness.
No, she said flatly. I dont. Riley. She stretched out on the creaking mattress, praying she didnt leave with bedbugs. Or worse. Begin. Or she might chicken out.
He looked her over before closing the distance, kneeling at her side and settling her arm in his lap. Contact. Sizzling, earth-shattering, necessary. Somehow, she maintained a blank expression.