CHAPTER 8
Rue
I shoot straight up in bed, heart racing, the last of the nightmare taking its sweet time fading from my mind. I can still practically feel the hundreds of fangs and talons clawing into me.
And the blood, gods, there’s nothing like that coppery odor.
The unfamiliar sheets pool around my waist as I cradle my head in my hands and breathe through the panic, inhaling the scent of dark cherries.
A soothing hand on my spine startles me, and that’s when everything comes flooding back.
Slade rescued me. He saved my life. He gave me his blood.
And we’re… bonded?
Holy broomsticks.
That actually happened.
Slade’s steady calmness spreads through my chest in soothing waves, reminding me of what we did. I don’t regret it for one second. I turn to face the vampire lord, a little unsure of what to say or how to act. His hair is the messiest I’ve ever seen it, like he didn’t bother fixing it from when I dug my fingers into it last night. His brow is dipped in concern, his hand still resting on my back.
“You okay?” he asks softly.
“I had a nightmare. They happen far too frequently lately,” I reply, still trying to shake off the remnants of the dream.
A vein in Slade’s neck pulses. Something tells me if he thought he could, he’d physically fight my nightmares for me, but unfortunately, he can’t. Not unless he’s holding back on dream walking powers. I read a book about a wolf shifter with those once, but sadly, they don’t exist in our reality from what I know.
His ice blue eyes are intense as he checks me over. I glance away, suddenly self conscious, which is a strange feeling to have around someone who is literally your perfect match. But sometimes anxiety doesn’t listen to reason. I move my arms to cover my breasts, but a growl from Slade has me stopping.
You are a vision, mon trésor. Let me show you, he says mentally. Reflected in my mind’s eye is me, as Slade allows me to see what he sees through our connection. The glow from the candlelight reveals that my hair is sticking every which way. My eyes seem darker in this light too, but none of that seems to matter to him. Then I see what he’s focusing on. The two little puncture marks on my neck have transformed into a beautiful, black swirling tattoo that rises up my neck and flows down my shoulder. His mark. My soulmatch.
Testing the connection for myself, I stroke a mental finger across the thread tying us together. His utter devotion flows into me like a cooling balm over a burn. The bond between us is undeniable, the pull strong. I can feel his desire for me, and it’s matched by my own.
I barely know him, and yet, it seems like I’ve known him forever. Therein lies part of the problem. There’s so much he doesn’t know yet. And who knows what will happen when he finds out. I shudder to think of the wrath he’ll no doubt wreak.
Slade strokes a finger down my naked spine. His touch is so gentle, goosebumps break across my flesh. I’m not sure what I expected from him, but this... wasn’t it. The man is shattering the image I held in my head about him from his ruthless reputation. I’m starting to think it was slightly exaggerated.
“I would never hurt you, mon amour,” he whispers, probably picking up on my spike of fear through our bond. “Are you afraid... of me?”
“No,” I answer truthfully. And I’m not. For scrying out loud, the man dropped everything and rushed in to save me despite not knowing a hexin’ thing about what he was walking into. For all he knew, it could’ve been a trap, and he came anyway.
But I am afraid of hurting him when he finds out what my blood can do. The salvation to his people in his bed, his mate. Curses, I need to come clean.
We’ve exchanged blood, and in doing so, made me a part of him. The bond between us can’t be broken, and he deserves the full truth. All of it.
Slade pulls me onto his lap so that I’m slightly above him. I rest my forehead against his, soaking in the affection. “Then what is it?” he asks, tone gentle.
I blow out a breath. “For starters, so much has happened. I think I’m still processing everything,” I respond. “Never in my wildest dreams did I believe I’d be rescued by you, the ruthless Slade Dumont, let alone become bonded to you shortly after. But it feels… right.“ The last part of my sentence is scarcely a breath of air, but with his vampiric hearing, I know he heard it.
Slade’s fangs are prominent as he grins from ear to ear and leans in close, his breath hot against my ear. “Believe it, ma douce goutte. You’re mine now, and I’m not letting you go.”
I shiver at the possessive tone in his voice. It’s both thrilling and terrifying to be wanted so fiercely by someone so immensely powerful. The bond between us pulses with need, and my heart races in response. The chemistry between us is undeniable. The only other time I’ve experienced anything like it is with the wolves. And that thought hits me like a bucket of ice.
Slade notices the change immediately, but I don’t give him the opportunity to say anything. “I’m not so sure you’ll say that once you’ve learned the truth about me.”
“So then tell me,” he says, his expression nothing but open and inviting. It doesn’t help calm my racing heart though, which I’m sure he can hear beating rapidly.
“I cured a feral vampire,” I blurt, eyes widening. “Well, more specifically—my blood did. I think.”
Moons, Rue. Way to be tactful. But I guess there’s nothing like ripping the bandage straight off, right? It stings for a second, but then it’s over. Better than drawing it out.
Slade’s expression shifts from curiosity to disbelief. “That’s not possible,” he replies, his voice low, almost breathless. He watches me inquisitively, expression guarded.
I swallow the lump in my throat before responding. “It is. It happened the night I was attacked when Caylix, Rhys, and Kathan saved me. It’s also what that woman was attempting to recreate, and if I had to guess, why she kidnapped me in the first place. How she knew is beyond me, though.”
Slade’s eyes narrow as he processes my words. “You all kept this from me?”
I nod. My first reaction is to feel guilty, but I refuse to. Slade is well-known for being a loose cannon. If I wasn’t his soulmatch, I don’t doubt he’d tear me to shreds to save his people.
Maybe that’s why fate matched us together.
Thanks for looking out, gods.
“We were afraid of what you might do once you found out. You’re not exactly known for shitting out sunshine and rainbows.”
His lips quirk at that, loosening some of the tension in his body. “Tell me everything and don’t leave anything out.” Phew. His tone is growly and demanding. It shouldn’t be as hot as it is, but there’s a familiar throb between my legs all the same. I make a mental note to see if I can get him to use that voice again later… between my thighs.
Swallowing past the thump in my throat, I start from the beginning at The Growl where Tessa and Darcy ditched me on my birthday, to the attack, to spending time with the wolves, to the attack from the not-so-feral at the cabin—everything. When I get to the part about the bartender mouthing Dar’tha, he stops me.
“Dar’tha? The fae healer?” he questions.
I shrug. “The only reason I know the name is because of Caylix. She’s the one he originally called to heal me that night, but she was in mourning or something.”
Slade’s lip curls. “Those batards. My blood is a hundred times more powerful than some fae magic.”
I quirk a brow at him. “Would you have healed me if we didn’t have an instant connection?” I ask, feeling brave since he hasn’t snatched me up, phased me outside, and ripped me open.
He looks me up and down, his gaze snagging on my lips like he wants to devour them. “I’ve never given anyone my blood before. Only you,” is his response.
That should not make me as giddy as it does, but it proves my point and he knows it.
“But to answer your question, no, not likely. Your kind, witches, have been nothing but a thorn in the side to vampires for centuries. I came to see what had Caylix in such a frantic state and discovered something so much more. You, mon amour, intrigued me from the start. Your scent, so unlike anything I’ve ever encountered, was stuck in my head like someone glued it to my nostrils. Not to mention you were so different from anyone I’d ever met.”
“How so?”
“You, a little witch, tried to run from me despite knowing you had no chance of escape.” Suddenly, his eyes darken, a spike of lust shooting through the bond like he’s remembering every detail. “Tell me, mon amour, do you know what running does to a vampire?“ He doesn’t give me a chance to reply before responding, “It initiates our need to chase, to hunt down our prey like the predators we are.”
My breath hitches in my throat as the intensity of his desire floods through the bond. The thought of Slade chasing me again, now that we’re bonded, my pounding heart leading him straight to me as I try to no avail to evade him has a flush crawling up my neck. I make a mental note to put him to the test later. See if teasing him rewards me with him chasing me down and tasting me like he said.
“So, you don’t want to throw me to the ferals yet? Make me a savior for your people?”
Slade chuckles darkly. “Let’s get one thing straight, ma douce goutte. Now that I have you, I’m never letting you go. I would damn the entire world to keep you safe.”
My breasts brush against his chest as I suck in a sharp breath, causing my nipples to pebble. He notices the reaction and a self-satisfied smirk crests his lips. His fingers find my chin, tipping my head back. Leaning in, Slade presses his lips to my throat, kissing a line up my neck until his mouth is on mine, his kiss fierce and dominating in a delicious way.
Slade’s other hand roams my body, igniting a fire within me when he cups my tit and tweaks my sensitive bud. Our bond amplifies the intensity of the moment, and his hunger pours into me.
As we break apart for air, his eyes are banked with lust. “I told you, you’re mine, and I’ll make sure you never forget it,” he growls, his hands gripping my waist possessively.
“I’m yours, Slade. But you’re mine, too.” As quick as I dare, I plant my lips against his and suck the bottom one into my mouth, nipping slightly. He lets out a moan that has me shivering.
My back hits the mattress as he prowls over me, kicking my legs open so he can settle between them. His breath is hot against my pussy and my head tips back as I wait for him to bury his face between my thighs. “We’re not leaving this room until I’ve savored every inch of you. The rest of the world can wait a few more hours, yes?”
“Yessss—“ My answer is a drawn out hiss as he plants a kiss against my clit.
“Good.”