Chapter 3 Hot Showers
Hot Showers
The next time I woke, I was in a bed with the covers pulled up to my chin. The fabric was silky soft, like Evrin’s bedding. It must be his or another vampire’s, because no donor was given such niceties. They were reserved for vampires and their turned mates.
My fingers spread at my sides, feeling more of the luxurious sheets. Evrin never let me sleep in his room. I’d never even been under the covers, just twisted them in my hands when he drank from me.
Something was very wrong. It smelled… weird.
My eyes stayed tightly shut, although it wasn’t as painfully bright as before.
Silently, I breathed in air so tasteless, it smelled cold and sort of fatty. Like clean linens without the flowery detergent scent. But there was no trace of dust, sweat, bodies, and most notably, blood. I couldn’t remember what air untainted by the metallic odor was like. It had been a lifetime.
A familiar hum of distant voices reached me, along with the rustle of clothing. Someone was in the room with me, and they weren’t the only people in the building.
Tensing, I finally opened my eyes.
Shockingly bright light poured in. I was indoors, but it was enough that I expected to be outside. It poured in through a window, tempered by the tint of the glass, thankfully.
The massive window confirmed one fact. I was not with the vampires any longer. No vampire would risk exposure to light in their home. They built compounds without windows, typically underground like Evrin’s nest.
Evrin.
He would be looking for me. I needed to get back to him. He would be angry if I didn’t return soon and he had to drink from another.
Besides, we had to prepare for my birthday and the blood moon. It was the most important event of my life when he would turn me into his immortal mate.
An ache rolled through my forehead and down my neck, forcing my eyes closed once more.
“I saw you,” a smooth voice said. His clothing swished as he stepped nearer. “Why did you close your eyes again?”
My pulse raced at his possible proximity. I couldn’t tell how near he was to the bed.
“It’s too bright,” I mumbled.
“Oh,” he said simply. A few seconds later, the light dimmed to a manageable level. “How’s that?”
Sucking in a breath, I steadied myself and lifted my eyelids. Green curtains covered the windows, and diluted light filtered through the fabric, brightening the room in a comfortable glow.
“Yes, thank you,” I whispered.
“Summer,” he said.
My throat worked. Slowly, cautiously, I dragged my gaze from the curtains to the man at the foot of the bed.
Messy, black hair fell in waves and curls around a tanned face. Thick eyebrows arched over icy blue eyes.
Not a vampire.
His full lips parted, and a lip ring glinted, but there was no hint of vampire needle-like fangs, just straight, white teeth. Strange.
Detailed black tattoos covered his neck and edged his sharp jaw. My attention caught on the artwork covering his throat.
Evrin didn’t have tattoos. In fact, I’d never seen such intricate tattoos like these on anyone.
He tilted his head, and a glossy curl fell over his forehead. He was so pretty, it hurt, which was unfortunate.
It was logical to conclude this man had taken me from Evrin’s nest. He was my kidnapper and my enemy.
But he was stunningly beautiful, and I couldn’t seem to muster up any animosity for him, just an odd, stomach clenching curiosity.
I was more frightened of the sunlight and the comfortable bed than this stranger.
“Hey. I’m Luca.”
He smiled, and I stared at a single set of lengthened canines, too blunt to be a vampire’s. No second set of needle teeth. No venom.
“I’m sure this is overwhelming,” he said softly. “But you’ve been rescued from the vampires, and you’re safe now.”
“No,” I said, struggling with ordering my words. “I’m supposed to be there. You shouldn’t have. You didn’t have permission to take me. Evrin needs me.”
Eyes like my memories of the sky watched me curiously.
“Who is Evrin to you?”
“My patron. He’s the queen’s son,” I explained, hoping he would understand. Maybe he would escort me back now that he knew I was meant to be with the vampires.
His brow arched, and he lowered to sit near my toes.
I flinched and drew my legs up, scooting backwards until I leaned against the headboard.
“You were being held as a blood slave,” he said. I flinched at the term. “And he was feeding on you when I arrived.”
“I was a donor,” I argued.
“You have been with them since childhood,” he continued. “I think they were somehow brainwashing you. It’s not okay to hold people prisoner and feed off of them.”
Slowly, I pushed the air from my lungs and drew in a fresh breath. I was okay. Everything would be okay. Panicking wouldn’t help me. Don’t think about what just happened. Focus on the positive.
“I wasn’t a prisoner. Evrin was making me his mate,” I clarified, trying to hold onto hope. “I wanted to be there.”
He didn’t understand because he’d never been a donor, never experienced that relationship. If he would just listen, surely, he would see reason. He didn’t seem like an idiot.
“He was turning you?” Luca asked, his head tilting again. The movement sharpened his jaw and highlighted the hollow under his cheekbones. A layer of dark stubble shaded the area, like he had been too busy to shave while he was abducting blood donors from their home.
“He was going to. For my birthday in a few weeks.”
He leaned forward, one hand resting on the mattress beside my waist. This stranger was looming over me, and I had to tilt my face up to look into his eyes. My pulse picked up.
It was just fear, the way my heart sped.
But I had no desire to run from him.
From the way my skin heated, my body had gotten things very confused. Instead of shying away, I wanted to reach out and touch his man.
Nope!
I shouldn’t feel this way about anyone but Evrin.
It was ridiculous! This man wasn’t a vampire, but he was beautiful like one. My body saw pretty boy and shorted out.
He studied my face. “Did you drink any of his blood?”
Wrinkling my nose, I shook my head. “He wouldn’t do that until the mating ceremony when he turned me.”
It was Luca’s turn to flinch at my words.
He shook his head, dark waves ruffling with the movement. “Unbelievable.”
My jaw clenched, and I fought the urge to cross my arms and scowl petulantly. Instead, I drew my hands up the covers at my neck. Maybe hiding was my best option because I withered under this man’s intensity.
If he kept staring like that, I would melt into a puddle and soak into the mattress like a popsicle in the sun.
His lips flattened, pressing his lip piercing sideways, and dimples formed in his cheeks. My gaze snagged on them, and I couldn’t stop staring at the damn indentation in his cheeks.
“Look, we can talk about this later. Right now, you need a shower and a good meal. And clean clothes.” He stood, towering over me. Cool eyes flicked over my body, sending a thrill through me before he turned away.
Dammit!
He was so charming, twisting my emotions around and confusing me. None of this was right. Maybe I could go back to sleep and wake up and try this all again.
“I collected some clothes for you. They’re waiting in the bathroom. It’s right here.” He pointed out the door. “Across the hall.”
He chewed on his plump bottom lip, and I found myself distracted again. It popped from between his teeth before he spoke again.
“There’s soap and shampoo in the shower. Once you’re dressed, we can get you some dinner.”
As if on cue, my stomach rumbled. Meals were inconsistent in the den, and I was used to ignoring the gnawing feeling in my gut. But I would need my strength to get back to Evrin, so if he was offering food, I would take it.
That was a practical choice. Focus on getting out of here and back to my vampire prince. Forget this confusing, beautiful stranger.
“Why?” I found myself asking, my brain circling back around and getting stuck again.
Luca turned back, his brows furrowed. “Why what?”
“Why take me? How am I any of your business? Even if you don’t agree with the blood donor arrangement, I don’t see why you had any right.”
Tension rippled through his muscled frame, and his jaw ticked. For the first time, true fear bloomed in my chest. This man could hurt me if he wanted to, and seeing that flicker of anger chilled me. His throat worked as he picked his words.
“I guess we are having this discussion now,” he ground out.
My own irritation rose. He should own up what they did, stealing donors away from their home.
He crossed his arms, tattooed muscles bulging.
“They abduct children and use them as blood slaves.”
I opened my mouth to argue. That wasn’t how things were. But his hardened expression froze the words in my throat.
“I know you didn’t feel like a prisoner or a slave, but answer me this: were you free to leave? Did you ever leave those tunnels?”
It took a moment for my voice to work.
“It wasn’t safe. Evrin was protecting me.”
His disbelieving stare said everything.
So what if I couldn’t leave? Evrin was keeping me secure. Things were dangerous out there and he had my best interest at heart. I trusted him… right?
Quieter, he asked, “Do you remember when you first arrived there?”
Recoiling, I shook my head, trying to escape the memories he was dredging up. Months of fear, not knowing how I would survive. I’d done my best to block out that dark time.
“What was it like?” he pushed.
My heart rate sped up and my breathing grew shallow. I refused to fall apart in front of him. My hands clenched, nails digging into my palms.
White scars from dual sets of fangs brightened on my wrists. My stomach churned at the sight. Everything was backwards and not even the sight of my own body seemed the same.
Swallowing, I counted my exhale in my head, slowing my breath down and forcing my body to calm.
Luca waited patiently as I pulled myself together.