Thorn of Sorrow (Blood & Betrayal #2)

Prologue

Five years ago…

“Not good,”

I murmured. The bass pounded in my head, a relentless rhythm that made the room spin. Lights flashed, too bright and too fast, while bodies blurred together in a suffocating crush.

I tucked my hands against my chest, trying desperately to move through the crowd. If I could just get some fresh air…

“Wrong way.”

Hands gripped my upper arms, turning me in the opposite direction. This wasn’t right. Everything in me screamed to get away from the man guiding me toward the rear exit. I wasn’t sure how I knew, but my gut told me that if I left with him, my life would be over.

No.”

I shook my head even as he pushed me forward. “Let go.”

“But I promised you a night of fun, dear boy.”

His voice was a velvet caress against my senses, drawing me in even as I fought not to surrender. I licked my lips, dying for something to drink.

“Thirsty.”

I stumbled, but he kept me from falling. His low laugh sounded more sinister than sensual, causing me to fight harder against his hold. “Let go.”

“We’re almost to the door. Just hang on one more minute.”

His voice was at my ear, his breath sliding across my skin. Instead of it causing me to shudder, the breath felt like a warning for me to focus, to try harder to get away.

“I’m pretty sure he said to let him go.”

I blinked several times at the deep, unfamiliar voice, laced with just enough darkness to seep into my bones, leaving me breathless.

“I no wanna go.”

I ran a hand over my numb face, wondering what exactly was wrong with me. Drugs weren’t my thing, and I’d only had one drink. Yet, I could barely function.

“Then you’re not going.”

A shadow strode smoothly into view, just clear enough for me to notice his dark features. And the bluest eyes I’d ever seen. They gleamed like fractured sapphires, midnight and moonlight tangled in their depths, sharp enough to cut and deep enough to drown.

He moved like someone used to being obeyed, his confidence as solid as the hand gripping my arm. His head tilted slightly. “Either let him go or I ruin your night, demon.”

His voice carried a quiet power, one that didn’t need to shout to make itself known. It simply existed, undeniable and commanding. The word “demon”

caught in my mind, but I was too out of it to react. I squinted, my mind shouting for me to get out of there, but my legs wouldn’t move.

“You should mind your own business, bloodsucker,”

the demon countered with a guttural snarl that made the hair on my body stand on end.

I ran my tongue between my upper lip and gums, frowning when my tongue became stuck.

I wanted something to drink so badly. My mouth felt like every drop of moisture had been sucked out.

A hand slid over my back, pulling gently. “I’ll take it from here.”

Dark and Sexy paused. “Unless you want to test my patience.”

The hard grip on my upper arm eased, then the hand dropped away. “This isn’t over. No vampire is going to rob me of my toys.”

My heart beat faster, my mind refusing to focus, but the warm hand on my back had me leaning closer to danger.

“Come on, handsome.”

Dark and Sexy pulled me through the back door of the club. The night air was jarring, causing my head to spin wildly and the bile to rise. I pivoted, dropped to my knees, and vomited.

“Get it all out of your system.”

He rubbed my back, talking soothingly to me as I puked my guts out. “You’ve no idea how close you came to tragedy, human.”

With the back of my hand, I wiped my mouth, but I still felt groggy. “Who are you?”

“Giovanni. And you are?”

I swallowed a few deep breaths, grimacing when I inhaled not only the contents of my stomach but the foul odor of the alley. “Kyson. Can you help me up?”

Strong hands lifted me until I was finally upright. Tipsy, but on my feet. The world was a little more focused, though I still felt queasy. “I think that asshole put something in my drink.”

“That would be my guess.”

His hands lingered on my waist, bringing me comfort when the night felt like chaos.

“I don’t—”

The alley seemed like it stretched for miles, riddled with trash from an overfilled dumpster. I blinked repeatedly, wishing my head would clear. “I don’t know if I can make it home in this condition.”

Vampire . The word whispered through my mind but quickly faded into the dark recesses. Closing my eyes for a second, I swayed, but those firm hands kept me from teetering over.

When I cracked my eyes open, I was staring into fathomless blue depths that steadily watched me with interest, as if debating on helping me.

“Tell me where you live,”

Giovanni finally said.

Don’t give him anything that can identify you. Then how was I supposed to make it home? My apartment was ten blocks away. In my condition, I wouldn’t make it to the end of the alley before collapsing.

With no other choice, I rattled off my address, praying my stupidity didn’t get me killed.

Giovanni slid his arms around my waist, his solid body warm against mine. Whatever cologne he wore caused me to sink into him just so I could inhale deeper. “What’re you doing?”

“Getting you home, Kyson,”

he whispered into my ear, his voice curling around my senses. “Hold on tight.”

No sooner had my arms snaked around him than he took off at a speed that wasn’t humanly possible. Everything around me was a blur of streaking colors, the warm air pressing into my back with a pressure that startled me.

When he stopped, I felt like we were still going. My instability had me clinging harder to him as he climbed the steps inside my building. The familiar smells surrounded me, but Giovanni’s scent still lingered in my lungs.

“Keys,”

he said against the shell of my ear.

As hard as I tried, I couldn’t unwind my arms. “Front pocket.”

A groan slipped free when I felt his hand slide into my jeans. A soft chuckle tickled my ear. “You are one tempting human, Kyson.”

My breath caught. Human . Yet, for reasons that defied logic, I didn’t fear him. “Thanks…I think.”

He unlocked my door then walked inside, closing and locking it behind us. But Giovanni kept moving until he found my bedroom.

“Need you to let me go, handsome.”

His hands slid down my sides, causing me to arch into him.

A seductive laugh ghosted over my cheek, sending shivers racing through me. “You’re making it hard not to ruin you, Kyson.”

Somewhere deep inside of me, he was already ruining me in a way I knew I would never recover from. His touch was warm, steady, and far more comforting than it should have been. “You’re—”

I licked my lips, trying to focus. “You’re too close.”

“I am.”

His fingers brushed mine as he eased me back until the bed caught me behind the knees. “Sit.”

My legs folded, and I sank onto the edge of the mattress, my balance wavering. Giovanni crouched in front of me, his hands still holding my waist, grounding me. His blue eyes scanned my face like he was reading something written there, something I couldn’t even see.

“Better?”

His voice was softer now, that edge of command gone.

“Yeah.”

I swallowed thickly. “Thanks.”

But he didn’t move away. His gaze lingered, trailing down to where my hands fidgeted in my lap. My fingers twisted together, knuckles pale. His hand covered mine, stilling them with an ease that made my pulse race. Even though I knew he was dangerous, I never wanted so badly for someone to kiss me.

“You should lie down,”

he said, his voice rough, as if he wanted the same thing. “Get some rest.”

I nodded faintly, my body leaning forward instead of back. “Will you stay?”

His brows lifted slightly, surprise flickering over his features. Then he smiled, not the kind that bared teeth but something quieter, something…real. “For a little while.”

He helped me shift back onto the bed, pulling the blanket over me like I was something fragile. Maybe I was. His fingers brushed the side of my face as he stepped back, and I was too tired to question why the touch felt like a promise to keep me safe.