Chapter 15
Knox
The second Danni’s body hits the water that her brilliant mind conjured, the lights dim, signaling that her training is over.
My chest feels fit to burst with pride since she finally figured it out.
So many potential Familiars fail at this stage.
Humans have grown more stupid as the decades pass.
Familiars are meant to entertain both us and the humans we choose to feed upon.
If they can’t raise the levels of the brain chemicals that produce the high-quality blood we need, then what’s the point?
Of course, my mate would excel at this. She was designed for me, for my pleasure, which only makes this arrangement that much fucking harder.
Don’t get attached. Keep her at a distance. Don’t let them know.
I sneak a glance at The Five, noting their sneers.
Of course, they never wanted her to succeed by figuring out that she is the one in control.
They don’t like me, a truth they don’t hide, so the fact that Danni made the grade probably has them more jealous than ever.
Their chosen Familiars did well enough, but the scent from the crowd around me is something truly salivating. Danni did that.
The bond inside of me threatens to wage a war right here, right now.
Another reason why no one can ever know what she is to me.
Vampires take far too much pleasure in destroying another’s happiness.
Taking Danni from me would provide them with the ultimate punishment.
After all, I spent decades letting the magic of our realm wither into dust.
I watch the surface of the water, waiting for her to break through, but there’s no sign.
Not a single bubble. Panic crashes against my bones in waves, chilling them down to a temperature I’ve never felt before.
Egor chortles beside me, his hands clapping as he watches for her, too.
He’d love that, wouldn’t he? Egor would love for her to die.
No, not today.
Exhaustion from extending my power to her is already beginning to fog my mind, and my usual sharp senses feel as dull as a battered blade.
Yet it doesn’t matter. Not when it comes to her.
Danni has to survive, at least long enough for me to get her out of here.
I rise from my seat and ignore the stares and questions that follow as I make my way to the stage.
This could blow it all up. Destroy our bond that I’ve worked so hard to keep secret.
But it’s as if my mind has no control over my body; my conscience isn’t in charge here, only our connection is.
I hesitate at the edge of the stage, seawater lapping at my feet.
It’s dangerous to enter someone else’s dream without their consent.
Drowning isn’t the worry here, but getting stuck inside the dream is.
Fuck it.
I dive into the crystal blue water and search for Danni.
The sea seems endless, but not in a terrifying way.
More like a never-ending tropical paradise, with the warmth of the abyss and gentle taste of salt.
I feel the water thicken, as if to slow me down.
So, this is how the dream might trap me here.
Just as I’m about to change tactics, I spot her floating peacefully just up ahead.
There’s no rocks, coral, or sea life here.
The dream feels unfinished, like her brain couldn’t quite come up with the full scene before she jumped.
As I get closer to Danni, the bond thumps from the proximity.
Her eyes are closed and she’s still. So still that I’d believe she was dead if it weren’t for our connection.
But I’d certainly know. It would mean an unbearable, painful existence for me, and so far, I was still functioning despite the exhaustion.
I reach out, electricity surging as I grip her arm.
Danni’s eyes spring open as I pull her body against mine.
Her arms wrap around my neck, a smile curving across her perfect lips.
A real one, not the murderous one she usually gives me.
The interaction freezes me, and thoughts of saving her from her own dream float away.
It feels incredible to be this close to her.
A few air bubbles escape her mouth as her body magnetizes itself to mine.
Danni’s so close I can almost taste her. I want to taste her. Need too.
All the oxygen in my lungs dissipates at the sight of her. The axis of my world shifts gloriously in her direction. Being this close isn’t enough; I need more. I need to carve my name into her flesh and brand her as mine for the world to see.
Her lips are inches from mine; it would be so easy to claim her down here. Yet my damn moral compass refuses to take her like this. I want her to want me, for real. Not just because she’s inside a dream and thinks there won’t be any consequences to her actions down here.
My tongue slides out of my mouth and brushes her lips.
She shudders within my embrace. Danni tastes just like I thought she would, like an addiction.
A toxicity created just for me. She’s both my dreams and nightmares manifested into human form.
A human who wields a stake as sharp as her tongue.
My biggest weakness, yet my greatest conquest.
Danni’s eyes change; gone is the lustful stare, and in place sits fear and uncertainty.
Her consciousness has finally broken through.
The water begins to fade. The ring returns to normal, but I don’t let her go.
Instead, I pour all of my emotions into her with a single desperate expression, begging for her to see me as she did before.
I’m not a monster; I’m trying to keep you safe. This is killing me—you’re killing me. Don’t look at me like I’m a monster. If you must, then kill me. Deliver your sweet kiss of death. I’ll take it if it’s what you want. I’ll take anything you give me just for a scrap of your attention.
She frowns, then faints against my chest.
“Well, well, well. The crowd is practically vibrating from your performance, Knox.” Tension ripples through me as Damon approaches behind us.
I lift Danni into my arms, suppressing a growl as I settle her against my chest before turning to face him.
“Who knew you were an old romantic?” he jokes.
Egor smirks as he approaches. “I agree, your infatuation with the girl is… surprising, after all of those years you spent punishing us for the misgivings of your last Familiar.”
My jaw ticks. Still, after all of these years, Celeste is a touchy subject.
While she made an obedient servant, the way in which she gained immortality still burns a hole deep in my chest. A short time ago, that burn would have triggered a fit of rage from me.
But now, all I can think about is getting Danni safely off this stage.
“What can I say? I’m a sucker for green eyes.” My face and tone are deadpan; I’m not giving Egor or Damon any excuse to dig further into this. My mate is stuck with me in this hellish place, and I can’t get her out until we’re back in our realm below.
Damon gives me a deadly smile that says, ‘I know who she is, and I know what you’re hiding.
’ I sense the shift in the crowd’s blood: their happiness is fading.
Damon notices, too, as his head snaps towards them as they start to file out of the tent towards their accommodations.
The blood won’t be good to them if it’s spoiled.
I hate that violent part of me. The part that knows when to strike, to feed.
It’s a dangerous edge to balance on for centuries.
I’ve seen far too many vampires snap from the pressure of it all.
“Come, Egor. Let us enjoy the crowd now that they’re all riled up.
” Damon gives me one last wicked grin before leading Egor away.
My fingers dig deeper into the rubber of Danni’s suit, holding onto her as if—What is it I feel?
Fear, I think. Fear of losing her. Fear of The Five discovering our connection.
Fear of having just met her and then needing to set her free.
Fear of trapping her here with me and condemning her to a lifetime of darkness for my own selfish reasons.