Though shed never seen him like this before. Eyebrows an angry downward slash, fangs so big they were almost animal-like, hair wildly disheveled, shoulders bunched and arms at the ready. He shook his head and mumbled unintelligibly like he was arguing with himself.
The other men slowly climbed to their feet.
Kairas eyes made a sweep around the room. She thought back to the blood on her thumb, how hed barely been able to resist it. Her blood flowed openly now, yet none of the others seemed to share his struggle. Was this part of whatever was wrong with him? She didnt know, but she did know if she didnt help calm him, the other four vampires were going jump him again. Their bracing muscles, readied stances and silent communications made that perfectly clear.
Before fear got the better of her, she pushed off the wall and stepped toward him. Henrik?
His gaze flashed to her and tracked her progress. A rumble rolled through his chest.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught movement. Keeping her voice light, she said, If one of you makes a move for him, I will kill you. Not that she could. She knew it. They knew it. But she was satisfied to see theyd listened. Henrik spun at them and growled. Hey, now, Henrik. Look at me. Its okay.
As if in slow motion, he obeyed. She took another step. Dont, he growled.
Its okay. Come back to me now, you hear? She forced the knot of fear down her throat with a hard swallow. If she could just get to him, she believed she could get through to him, too. But as she took another step, his muscles jerked and his hands fisted, all around offering a pretty good impression of a trapped, cornered animal.
Kaira, dont, Jakob said in a low voice.
She waved him off. Why was she doing this? Why was she taking this chance with her life? In truth, she didnt know the answer, she simply felt she had to, that it was what she was supposed to do...because she was the only one who could. Suddenly, she knew that was the truth. Hed even said as muchwithout her, he had no chance at survival.
Determined, she grappled for something to say that might connect to the real him, the him shed talked to earlier. A thought came to mind. Hey, did you know that many people believe you shouldnt wave or sing or whistle at the northern lights? Something flickered behind his eyes. Its supposed to attract spirits to come down from the sky and take you away. She took another step. One more and shed be able to reach out and touch him. They say you can fend off the spirits by clapping your hands.
A single tight nod. She wouldve sworn it.
Holding her breath, her final step closed the distance between them and she curled her free hand around his rocklike fist. The men behind him tensed, but she threw a glance to Jakob, begging him to stay back.
Hey. She smiled. Its Kaira.
Hurt you, he said, glaring at the hand still pressed to her face.
Thats what he was so wound up about? Her getting hit? Her heart swelled in her chest. Just a bump. It was my fault. I guess you shouldnt come up behind a group of fighting vampires. Lesson learned. She stroked her thumb over his knuckles.
His hand flinched, then slowly relaxed. He slipped his fingers between hers and gripped almost painfully hard. Like he was scared to let her go. Surely her chest couldnt contain a heart as big as hers felt just then.
Come sit with me, she said, tugging him toward the bed. Lets just relax for a minute.
He sat heavily, all the fight just draining into the floor beneath him. Kaira took a step around him to sit, but he tugged her until she stood between his knees.
His forehead slumped against her breastbone and his shoulders sagged. He released a long, shuddering breath.
Tears pricked the backs of Kairas eyes. Defeat rolled off him. If this whole episode really was part of whatever ailed him, she could totally relatehow many times had she felt so sick that she gave into a moment of despair. Though she worked hard to remain positive, sometimes the unfairness of it was more than a person could bear. Maybe it was like that for him, too. She stroked her free hand over his hair. Oh, so soft! She wouldnt have guessed it, but it was like dragging her fingers through thick strands of pure silk.
Minutes passed before his breathing returned to normal. Occasionally, his big body trembled against hers.
She glanced up...to find four huge vampires absolutely gawking at her.
Red-hot shame and a profound sadness rooted Henrik in place, head against Kairas breast. The beat of her heart in his ear was the sweetest music. He concentrated on the sound, because he wouldnt be hearing it for much longer.
Without question, her blood attracted him, satisfied him, and was almost indisputably what hed been needing all these long years. Even now, her sweet crimson coated the inside of his mouth and fueled his body with a small dose of vitality he hadnt felt in so long.
But he was a complete and utter train wreck.
How could he possibly saddle her with a male so despicably weakassuming she would ever want him? He couldnt. Not when he didnt know for sure that her blood would cure him, if the cure would be temporary or lasting, or if it would take days or decades to return him to the male hed once beena male deserving of a creature like her.
Christ, when he thought back to what shed done. Fought for him against his warriors, put herself in harms way, single-handedly pulled him back from the brink... After all the ways hed wronged her, why had she done any of it? And just to sink the dagger a little further into the heart of him, shed gotten hurt for her efforts.
His fingers landed on the outsides of her thighs, clutching her just a little tighter. He breathed deeply, taking some of her incredible sweet scent into his lungs and, hopefully, his memory, too.
Before he lost the will, he gently pushed her back and rose from the bed. He cupped her uninjured cheek in his hand and kissed her forehead, his mouth filling with saliva at the luscious scent of her blood. You are free to go, he rasped. Upon the nightfall, Jakob will return you to your hotel. He made for the door.
What? Henrik, I thought
The closing door cut off the rest of her words. A thousand pins and needles erupted against the palm of his right hand. He fisted it, refusing to linger on what that sensation might mean.
That, if he took her, they might blood match.
That, if they matched, she might become his mate.
That, if she were his mate, he might actually be able to live again.
But why in the name of all that was right and holy would she want him? And how could he possibly ask her to?
He wasnt sure where he was going. He just needed motion, the distraction of putting one foot in front of the other. After a while, he ended up in his office on the opposite end of the compound from the infirmary.
Sitting heavily in the big leather chair behind his desk, his gaze fell on a folder lying dead center. Hadnt been there before. Idly, he flipped it open.
SUBJECT: Kaira Sorensen
LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: Røsågade 7, 3. Floor, Copenhagen, Denmark
Faen i helvete, he muttered. Bloody hell. The dossier hed asked for.
Even though he knew he shouldnthe really fucking shouldntread another word, his eyes refused to heed his brain and continued to skim over the page.
He flew forward in his seat. Nei. This cant be. He slammed his fist against the surface.
Jakob leaned in the open doorway and rapped twice against the jamb. Problem?
Henrik chuffed out a humorless laugh. Yeah. I apparently pissed off the wrong person in a former life. He tossed the file to the corner of the desk. Jakob could read it for himself. Or not. He was beyond caring.
Eyeing him warily, his brother retrieved and opened the folder. Son of aHer father was a member of The Electorate Council? Jesus, Henrik, that probably means she wouldve
I know. He held up a hand. He didnt need the male to finish the sentence, to tell him that, had her father lived, Kaira very likely wouldve been trained among the ranks of the Proffered, as so many of the daughters of The Electorate were.
The Council was comprised of influential human allies who assisted in the prosecution of their war against the Soul Eaters. In exchange for the humans silence on the vampires existence, their assistance in conducting the war when necessary, and their providing of the Proffered, the vampires gave them protection and blood, which cured many diseases and extended their lives.
Henriks debate about offering Kaira his blood roared back to life in his mind. Could his blood cure her leukemia?
Does she know this? Jakob asked.
He blinked away his thoughts. What? Oh. I think not. She was genuine in her surprise about our existence. Only eight when her parents had died in a car accident, no doubt she hadnt yet been made privy to that part of her fathers business. And apparently neither had the mothers sister who raised her.
Brother, this changes things. Jakob tossed the folder to the desk.
Weary and heartsick, Henrik reclined into the chair and propped his feet on the corner of the desk. His boots thumped against the wood. He crossed his ankles and got comfortable. It changes nothing. Pour the akevitt, will you?
Jakob crossed the room to the small bar in the corner. Norwegians reputed the grain alcohol to be the water of life. If only.
Bring the bottle, Henrik said.
His brother settled the bottle and two shot glasses in front of him. The warm scent of the spiced spirit reached his nose as the golden liquor filled the little glass. They clinked and tossed the alcohol back. Heat ripped down his throat and pooled in his gut.
But it still was not enough.
He placed the glass next to the bottle and didnt have to tell Jakob what he wanted. He poured and they drank again.
What happened in there? Jakob asked, falling into the seat in front of his desk.
Just lost control. Henrik topped off another shot glass.
Bullshit. That was the most controlled I have ever seen you in the middle of one of your rages. Hands down.
The king shrugged and downed the akevitt. Heat snaked outward from his belly. Perfect.
You like her.
He threw the glare before hed thought better of it. Hed all but agreed.
She obviously likes you, too.
Nei, she pities me. He spun the glass in his hand.
Thats not what I saw. Not even a little. She stood up to four warriors for you.