7. Instinct
INSTINCT
Irene
Was I happy that Alex could finally hold me and touch me? Yes, but I trusted Darius in matters of magic. And I didn’t trust Cara. Of course, her spell was a trick, and soon Alex would pay the consequences.
Horrible thoughts filled my mind—Alex dying of a heart attack; his turning into a toad; his falling in love with someone else. The price could be our love.
Instead, he hadn’t stopped smiling from the moment he’d barged into my bedroom.
He was smiling now as I tried to get dressed in my bedroom, swapping the emergency gown—a gown I used when I had to dress quickly—for a proper one. The argument with Darius hadn’t worried him at all, and he kept staring at me with unmistakable hunger.
“You worry too much.” He stepped closer and kissed my hand. “May I touch you? I’m dying to touch you and kiss you. Right now, nothing has happened as of yet. Can’t we enjoy this moment?”
He sounded so happy that I got excited too.
I kissed his lips. “You may.”
He unbuttoned my shirt, standing behind me.
I had to admit his touch was gentle and careful, and he hadn’t been the only one craving to be together.
He slipped his hands underneath the shirt and unhooked my corset. His breath tickled my skin, and the hard wall of his chest pressed against my back.
I hadn’t realised how muscled and strong he was.
Touching him was a new kind of discovery.
But he was also infinitely gentle. His touch was almost shy and delicate.
His lips on my neck weren’t demanding my submission, but he wanted to please me.
His arm around me was there to protect me, not to cage me.
“This is so wonderful.” I moaned louder.
The more he touched me, the less I remembered why I was upset.
The corset sagged to my waist after he undid the first few hooks. He cupped my breasts. A deep groan rumbled in his chest.
The bond behaved strangely, remaining dull and muted. Its vibration stuttered, struggling.
“Doesn’t the bond concern you?” I asked, stroking his hand.
“Maybe it works like magic and needs time to adjust. I’m sure everything will be all right.”
His behaviour wasn’t normal. He was excited and relieved to be free of his curse, but he’d always listened to Darius and me. Shouldn’t he be concerned?
My spine wilted as he rubbed my nipples with gentle circles, pinching them now and then.
My doubts wavered. I reclined my head against his chest. His touch became more impatient, and his muscles swelled.
I stared at his reflection in the mirror.
He’d unleashed his power, and his eyes were fully obsidian.
He opened his mouth, showing his lengthening fangs. Anticipation made me tremble. My skin tingled as he brushed the tips of his fangs along my neck.
Something shifted in the bond. It became tauter and vibrated in an odd way.
“You drive me mad.” His cavernous voice reverberated from his chest.
That deep voice usually made me sigh, but now there was a dangerous note I couldn’t ignore. Or maybe I was too on edge.
“Your scent, your skin, your voice,” he said. “Everything about you is perfect. Makes me want to touch you and kiss you all the time.”
He steely arms were around me gently, but he was strong, and my wili power worked only on living men. If I needed to push him away, my power would be useless.
Another shiver pebbled my skin, but not out of anticipation.
The bond strained and tugged hard, and I had no idea why. It was as if the bond were trying to warn me.
Panic rose, a primordial instinct I couldn’t control. It was the same fear I’d experienced the first time I’d seen a vampire. Instinct ordered me to run from the predator.
“Alex, stop!”
He released me immediately, a hurt expression on his face. “What is it? Did I hurt you?”
I was breathless, and my pulse hammered against my temples.
“The bond is odd.” I hooked up the corset and tucked the shirt under my belt.
My fingers trembled, and I wondered if I was overreacting. Or maybe I’d always been afraid of him, but my fear had manifested now because he’d hugged me properly.
“I barely noticed the bond. Why are you so frightened?” His fangs were still unsheathed. “Am I scaring you?”
“You aren’t yourself.”
“I’m happy I can touch you. That’s all. I’m eager, yes, but this is me. I’m the same man as always.”
I hadn’t realised I’d been stepping back from him until I hit the bedpost with my back. “You’ve always listened to me, and now you don’t.”
He beat a fist on his chest. “I did this for you.” His voice turned even more cavernous.
“It was your choice. I told you not to trust Cara. Don’t blame me.”
As he came closer, he stepped into the sunlight and hissed, rushing backwards.
He stared at his hands. The skin was red. He’d always been sensitive to sunlight, but not like that.
“What’s happening?” I didn’t move from my sunny corner.
Shock flashed across his face as he stared at his hands. He opened his mouth when Darius’s voice came from the other side of the door.
“Alex?” Hard knocks sounded. “Alex? Are you there? Irene?”
I swallowed, my mouth dry. “Come in. Alex is here.”
He entered, waving a copy of The Times. “Have you read the news?”
Alex clenched his jaw and said nothing. The bond slackened a bit, but was a far cry from returning to normal.
Darius dropped the newspaper on my escritoire. I sneaked past Alex to read.
Three men had been found dead in Whitechapel. But that wasn’t the shocking part. People often died in the rookeries when rival gangs fought each other, and Knight had his hands too full with his werewolves to intervene in human matters.
“They were found bloodless?” I tensed a little when Alex stood close to me.
Darius nodded. “And with wounds on their necks. The pathologists who examined the bodies claim there might be an influenza outbreak, a new type that causes intense blood loss.”
“Nonsense.” Alex picked up the newspaper, his features returning to normal. “This is a vampire.”
“We should take a look at the bodies.” Darius sounded as if he might feel sick. His aura became a little dull.
I winced, not eager at all to see corpses either. “Where are the bodies?”
“The mortuary. We’d better get ready.” Darius ran a glance over me and frowned. “Are you all right?”
“Yes.” I patted my chignon. “I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”
“We’ll wait for you in the entrance hall.” Darius beckoned Alex to follow him.
Alex paused before leaving. “We’ll talk later.”
The tone was gentle, apologetic even, but the bond kept vibrating in an unusual way, like the string of an out-of-tune violin.
My trust had been shaken. Either he was right and I was overreacting, or my instinct was warning me.
I released a long breath when he closed the door. After I collected myself, I went to Myrtha’s bedroom.
The door was ajar, and I entered the room. The display of flowers, candles, fashion magazines, and fine porcelain vases distracted me for a moment.
“Myrtha, I need to talk to you.”
She was staring out of the window, stiff and tense.
“Myrtha.” I touched her shoulder, and she was startled.
She placed a fluttering hand on her chest. “Oh, darling. I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Are you all right?”
Her aura was mostly indigo with a few dark blue tendrils. Sadness and sorrow radiated from it, scratching my chest.
“Just tired.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “What did you want to tell me? You’re all flushed, and your pupils are dilated.”
“Yes, well…” If I told the whole truth, that the connection with Alex had changed, she would confront him and make the situation more tense. “What defences do we have against rogue vampires?”
As supposed, her aura became a hot turmoil of steel-grey worry. “Did something happen? Is it Ravenhill? He lost control and bit you, didn’t he? Vampires can’t be trusted, but fear not. I’ll put him in his place.”
She brushed past me with determined strides.
“No, wait. It’s not him.” At least not for now. “Did you hear about those men found dead in Whitechapel? They were bloodless, and they had wounds on their necks. We believe there’s a rogue at large.”
“Exactly what we need.” She scrunched up her face. “Vampires are disgusting.”
“Darius wants—”
“Don’t mention that wizard.” She held up a hand, her tone sharp.
She’d always bickered with Darius, but the bitter tone was new.
“Is something the matter?”
Ash-grey spread through her aura—confusion. “I don’t know. It’s that…” She wrung her hands. “I’m growing weaker with each day that passes, and he’s so powerful. I can sense his energy on my skin.”
It was my turn to be confused. “Are you envious of Darius’s powers?”
“No, I’m not. It came out wrong.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Let’s talk about the more serious matter of the rogue. What were you saying?”
Her tone was commanding enough that I didn’t press the matter.
“Darius wants to see the bodies in Whitechapel. I’m worried about having to face a rogue. What can I do to protect myself?”
“Carry your gold cross, holy water, a blessed stake, and a silver dagger. Here. Have mine. It’s more powerful than yours.
” She handed me a shiny dagger; the silver blade had beautiful, swirling engravings on it.
“Rogues are faster, stronger, and more evil than regular vampires. Exactly what the world needs.” She huffed.
“They’re hard to kill. Putting down a rogue requires the effort of many supernatural beings. ”
I easily believed that. “What are these symbols?”
“Inscriptions in ancient Aramaic. The words form a protective spell. They mean ‘be gone, move away, the moonlight shines over me.’” She gave me the sheath as well. “You won’t believe it, but the Fair Duchess gave me this blade.”
“Esmeralda?” I couldn’t imagine the austere fairy giving a weapon to Myrtha.
“She found it after the Wraith Court was defeated and blessed it. She didn’t want a weapon, so she handed it to me.”
“Thank you.” I sheathed the blade. “Now. Tell me what troubles you.”
She flushed. “You would laugh.”
“I would not! Is it about your powers?”
“No. I mean, I’m worried, but what upsets me is something else.” She lowered her gaze, her aura dimming. “It’s…Graves.”
Her halo changed shape, and dark tendrils snaked out of it. She was lying, but I didn’t call her out.
“What about him?” I asked.
“When he left, still weak after Ravenhill had almost drained him of blood, he was desperate, broken. I’m worried he might do something reckless.”
“Like what?”
She shrugged. “He’s a werewolf without a pack. He would never ask Knight or even his sister for help. Stubborn, proud men are the worst. They always end up making a mess we have to sort out.”
That reminded me of Alex.
“You should visit Lucy, Graves’s sister. She isn’t too well. Alex thinks it’s starvation.”
Myrtha brightened. The prospect of helping a woman in need always made her determined. “I’ll do that. I’ll gladly take care of her.”
“Lucy is in good hands then.”
She squeezed my hand before I left. “Be careful.”
I truly hoped I was overreacting.