CHAPTER 7
Slade
Rue’s hair splays around her like a dark halo while she sleeps, and not for the first time, I find myself struck by her beauty. I stare in wonder, taking in every detail of her peaceful form from the tip of her nose to the small freckle near her ear, committing each detail to memory.
The scent of us coming together is still potent in the air, her sweet honey mingled with my dark cherries and almonds. I inhale deeply and my cock hardens painfully, wanting to sink into our mate and bring her over the edge again and again. Newly mated vampires are almost as insatiable as wolves, but she needs her rest while my blood does its job.
Instead, I bury my face in her neck, pressing a soft kiss against my mark. While the bite she sustained from the feral attack healed, it still left two little punctures. I can’t help the self-satisfied smirk as I gaze upon my bite having completely erased his.
She’s my mate, and she’ll bear no other mark but mine.
A small voice in the back of my mind whispers she’ll carry the wolves’ marks too, but I pointedly ignore it. In this moment, she’s all mine, and I’ll treasure every second I get of having her all to myself.
Rue lets out a soft sigh as I tenderly stroke a piece of hair out of her face and my heart gives a beat in sync to hers at the sight. Right now, the rhythm is calm and peaceful, which means she knows she’s safe. It appeals to the wild beast in me. But it does nothing to soothe the lust pounding in my veins.
Her thighs shift in her sleep like she’s seeking pressure and I almost crack, but it would be wrong of me without the proper consent. I may be a batard, but I’m not selfish enough to wake her when I know she needs the rest.
One day though, maybe I’ll sink my cock into her while she’s still asleep and give her the best wake up surprise.
The longer I gaze upon the witch snuggled in my arms, the deeper my obsession grows. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt there isn’t a single thing I wouldn’t do to keep her safe. From this moment on, she’s mine. Anyone that dares to touch her will lose their life.
Besides the unrelenting bloodlust that consumes a vampire if they don’t feed, the weakness in sunlight, and our sensitivity to iron, our cruelest curse is only having one true mate. Many of us spend lifetimes searching for our soulmatch, but in the end, we wind up alone.
Until I met Rue, I hadn’t realized exactly how lonely my existence has been.
The monster inside me peaks an eye open as if to agree with my statement. However, since Rue and I solidified the bond, he’s been oddly quiet. It’s the most subdued he’s ever been, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s because of her.
Leave it to the little witch to tame the beast.
As she sleeps so peacefully next to me, content in our newly formed bond, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of satisfaction and relief. After all these years of searching for my soulmatch, I’ve finally found her.
The power of our bond hums through my veins, radiating so strongly that I can’t resist pressing my lips against hers in a gentle kiss before silently getting out of bed. Despite that being the last thing I want to do, there are three wolves who need a stern scolding, who are also likely worried sick. And as much as I’d like to maim them for allowing Rue to be harmed, I can’t.
Any idiot could see she loves them. In the brief moment we connected, two souls as one, I even felt it, hence why I agreed so easily. I’d do anything, give anything to make her happy.
But she’s hiding hurt with them too. Which makes me positively murderous. I have no idea what happened between them, but I don’t need to. They failed to protect her, failed to keep her safe. She was kidnapped on their watch, and one of my own was involved.
The mere thought of it makes me seethe with anger. Abrutis de chiens de ruelle. As soon as I find out who’s behind this, that someone will pay with their worthless life. I’ll stop at nothing to ensure justice is served for harming my witch.
As I slip out of the room, uncaring of my nakedness, I take a deep breath and head for my office downstairs. It’s where I was earlier when Rue mentally connected with me to tell me she was in danger. Another tell she’s my soulmatch. It also happens to be where I dropped my cell phone. Hopefully, I didn’t break it in my rage and haste to get to her.
A thought strikes me as I make my way down the stairs. Normally, I’d be starving. By now I’d have downed a pint or two from my stash, especially with as little as I drank from Rue, but somehow, I’m still sated. There’s none of the usual hunger pangs. No cramps or burning in my throat, no thirst clawing at my insides. I’ve been a vampire for centuries and never felt… so satisfied. Like I could go days or more without another feeding.
Our bond must be having some kind of effect on me. It’s the only explanation I can come up with. Something else to add to the list that makes Rue different. A part of me wants to crack her open and see what makes her tick, but eventually, the truth will reveal itself. It always does.
I push it aside and focus on the issue at hand as I reach my office and find my phone lying on the floor, relatively unscathed. When I unlock it, I’m surprised to find there isn’t a notification from the wolves. My jaw clenches as my temper spikes.
“Those sacs à puces don’t even have the common decency to call me and tell me the witch is missing?” I mutter under my breath as I resist the urge to smash my phone against the wall, picturing their faces instead.
Nevermind the fact that I was the one who originally ordered her to be kidnapped.
I wanted her brought to me safe and sound—not a hair on her head harmed. Instead, that batard vampire was bought out by some unknown entity. That means I must figure out who that entity is so I can eradicate the threat completely.
Nothing happens within the vampire circles without my knowing. Nothing. I keep a tight leash on my affairs. Clearly Rue has been distracting me far more than I thought considering I didn’t have a clue this was going on right under my fangs.
I’ll admit I’ve visited her at the wolves’ cabin more times than I care to admit. If there wasn’t anything pressing requiring my attention, I’d stand out there and listen to her heartbeat for hours. It’s what led to one of the best memories I’ve ever experienced.
Fuck. My dick has greeted my hand over the sight of her in that bed more times than I can count. The way her fingers sank deep in her gorgeous pussy as she sought release, only to allow me to take over… It lives rent free in my thoughts. I didn’t wash my hands for days so I could keep her scent on me.
Yes, it’s apparent that a reminder of exactly who I am and what I’m capable of is warranted. Especially if there are more parties interested in my lovely soulmatch.
And make no mistake. I will keep her safe. I haven’t waited centuries for her just for petty peasants to steal her away now.
There’s so much about her I don’t know, but I’m certain there isn’t anything we can’t overcome together.
With her sweet face in the forefront of my mind to keep me grounded, I find Caylix’s number in my favorites and hit the icon to dial him. It rings, and rings, and rings, before going to voicemail.
“Hello, this is Caylix, alpha of the Cursed Moon pack—“ his voice drones on and on as I wait for the beep.
“Hello, wolf.” I pause and grit my teeth. Deep breaths, Slade. Rue says you can’t kill the wolves, no matter how much you want to. “The next time I hear your voice, you’d better have come up with a damn good reason for not protecting our witch or I—“ I sigh to cut off the rest of my murderous rant. “You allowed her to be taken, and I will not rest until we find out who hurt her and make them pay. Call me.” I punctuate the last sentence with a growl, my hands squeezing around the device. The phone clicks as I hang up, and I toss it on my desk.
The thump startles Sucette from her slumber and she chirps at me angrily a few times before launching off her perch. Her form is perfect as she lands on my shoulder and nibbles my earlobe.
While sugar gliders are creatures of the night, much like myself, Sucette is on a schedule entirely of her own. And she’s not afraid to vocalize her distaste when I interrupt her peace and quiet.
The tiny warrior is mighty ungrateful to her protector and savior, but regardless, I tend to her needs. The little fur ball is insufferable at times.
I open the mini fridge to the right of my desk and she screeches in glee as I bring out a plastic container filled with her favorite food. Mangoes. I swear she’d murder a man to get her fill of mangoes, and that’s the sort of bloodlust I can admire.
Maybe that’s why I keep her around. Even with the annoying noises she makes.
“Are we square now?” I mutter as she hops from my shoulder to the desk.
She wiggles as if to say yes, blinking her too-large eyes in an unsettling way, and nabs the largest piece of fruit possible. Her happy noises are all the confirmation I need to know that all is right in the world once again.
For the marsupial at least.
My little witch, on the other hand... we haven’t even reached the surface of her problems yet. Whatever darkness may come knocking, I’ll always be by her side to fight whatever demons may come. And anything that dares try will regret it.
Now to finish up the rest of my business so I can get back to holding her.