Rune
Sunlight presses against my eyelids as I inhale storm clouds.
Warmth surrounds me. Fills me.
Bliss.
Waking up on top of Vameer, with birdsong in the air…
I yawn. And the movement pulls my fangs out of… skin.
I pause as I swallow the taste of honey.
Did I bite Vameer in my sleep?
The arms around my back tighten. “Mon Coeur.”
I feel his voice as much as I hear it.
And just like that, I remember.
My heart rate jumps. Once. Then Vameer locks it down.
The gunfire.
His hand strokes down my spine. “You’re safe.”
The vampires looking at me. Throwing their daggers.
His purr increases. “We are safe.”
The dagger thrown at Vameer’s back.
Anger blankets my fear, putting it out and replacing it with rage.
My hand curls into a fist on top of Vameer’s bare chest. “Who was the asshole who tried to kill you?”
His huff ruffles my hair. “His name is Tosa. And he is an asshole.”
I give my head a little shake, feeling like my hair is caught on something.
Vameer tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, then smooths his hand over the side of my head.
I hum, loving the feel of him touching me. Anywhere. Anytime.
But I still feel like my hair isn’t lying right.
I start to reach up, but then my fingers go to my neck instead.
It all happened so fast. Did I actually jump?
The skin under my fingertips feels smooth.
I don’t remember much after that moment. After the pain hit. But I remember the look of horror on Vameer’s face.
His hand moves to where mine is, tracing over the smooth skin with me. “What you did… It probably saved our lives. But…” His chest hitches beneath me. “Never again, Rune. You never sacrifice yourself for me again.”
I close my fingers around his, holding them at my throat. “I can’t promise that.”
“Sí. You can.”
I sigh. “No, I can’t. Vameer, you are my heart just as much as I am yours. And if I want to—”
His hand darts up past my vision and…
Confusion and pleasure rocket through my body as Vameer pulls my head back so we’re looking into each other’s eyes.
His are serious. Mine are filled with shock.
“You will never sacrifice yourself for me again,” Vameer says seriously.
But I’m not listening.
I reach up and grip his arm, gasping. “Vameer!”
My breath is coming out fast. Our hearts are beating freely. And the pressure of something tugging against my skull is making my blood sizzle and my core throb.
I slide my hand up his forearm to his hand.
To…
I stare into my mate’s eyes as my fingers touch something hard.
“Vameer,” I whisper this time.
“Prinsessa,” he whispers back.
Choking on an inhale, I scramble up and sit on Vameer’s chest so I can reach up with both hands.
“Holy shit.” I’m still whispering.
Vameer is smiling up at me. “Horns.”
I slide my hands up, feeling the pointy tips. “I have horns.”
Big hands grip my hips as his smile softens. “You have fully turned.”
Slowly, I slide my hands down to the base of my horns. The sensation sends a shiver down my spine. It’s nothing like when Vameer touched them. But they’re… sensitive.
I let go of my hold and run my fingers through my hair. Then I shake my head side to side.
They aren’t heavy, like I thought they would be. I can feel my hair settling around them, but without that, I don’t think I’d even realize they were there.
I slide my hands down my cheeks, feeling my fangs with my tongue.
Then down my chest and sides.
I feel the same.
My body feels the same.
My squishy parts are still squishy.
I have horns. I’m…
I blink as I soak in the fact that I am a vampire.
My hands drop to my lap. “Holy shit.”
A stifled snicker pulls my attention to the side.
Nix is sitting on the ground beside Volik, who looks to be asleep, flat on his back.
She grins and mouths Holy shit back to me.
Absorbing the moment, I look around at the green leaves overhead. The trees as far as I can see in every direction. The grassy forest floor.
It’s too warm to be Volik’s forest. And too green to be anywhere else up north.
“Where are we?”
“We’re in Dread’s forest,” Vameer replies. And sitting like this, on his chest, I feel the vibrations of his voice against my ass.
I wiggle. “Where’s that?”
Movement to the side has us both looking over.
Volik’s eyes are open, and his head is facing this way. “Yes, brother. Where is—”
A tree root pops out of the ground, moving like it’s going to cover Volik’s mouth.
I let out a squeak of surprise at the sudden, unexpected scene as Volik rolls away, his speed indicating the use of gravito.
He wraps his arms around Nix as he goes, bringing her with him.
The root sticking out of the ground sags, like it’s disappointed, then slowly disappears back into the earth.
My mouth is hanging open.
What in the hells…
A fingertip presses against my chin, closing my mouth.
I look down at Vameer. “Did you see that?” His unfazed expression annoys me, and I look over to where Nix is now sitting on Volik’s lap. “Did you see that?”
She has the appropriate look of surprise on her face. “Saw it. Have questions.”
Volik grumbles something about fucking bees, but I’m focused on the tree root.
“So… is the forest magic?” I feel dumb asking, but… what the hells just happened?
Vameer sits up without warning, but before I can even get another shocked sound out of my chest, he’s holding me bridal style against his. “All nature has tendrils of magic. But I think that was the druid.”
“So many questions.” Nix shakes her head.
Holding me in his arms, Vameer stands. And the new vantage point shows me his clothes strewn on the ground.
I look up at my handsome mate. “Why’d you take your clothes off?”
He glances down at his chest, then at the clothes. “I… don’t recall.”
“He was drunk.” Dread’s voice sounds as a portal flashes, and he steps through.
I lift my brows as I turn my gaze back up to Vameer’s. “I’m kinda sorry I missed that.”
Vameer flexes his arms around me. “We’ll come back and get drunk here again. Dread invited us.”
Dread sighs as he closes one portal and opens another. “Welp.” He sticks his head through the portal. Just his head. Then turns back to us. “It’s been fun. But…” He gestures to the portal.
Volik goes first. “Thanks for the rum, Druid.”
“Bye, Vampire.” Dread nods to Nix as she follows Volik.
Gravito lifts Vameer’s clothing and drops it onto my lap. Which is when I realize I’m dressed in something different from last night.
I hug the clothes to me as Vameer carries me toward the portal.
When I put my hand on his arm, he pauses.
I hold Dread’s golden gaze. “Thank you.” I can’t remember much, but my fingers reach up and brush along the front of my neck. “For whatever you did. Thank you.”
Dread dips his chin. Then he looks up at Vameer. “Don’t mention it.”
Vameer nods, then strides toward the portal. “Hey, Druid.” He turns back. “What do you think would happen if you put some bees in venom?”
Dread’s brows raise, and he takes a long second before answering. “Something very good or very bad.”
Vameer grins. “My thoughts exactly.”
Then he jumps backward. Straight through the portal.