Page 93 of Desired for Her Blood

And then somehow, we need to find a way out of the cave before it collapses on top of us.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Zuben

Axeand I emerge from the passageway, shift the false stone to block the entrance, and then dive under the waterfall, coming up on the other side.

Ember and Ryker are still engaged in coitus. She holds his face in her hands, as the tattooed and scarred vampire shows impressive restraint, thrusting at a human-like speed inside of her.

Axe turns away from the scene and gestures for me to do the same. “We should wait on the other side of the waterfall.”

“No.” I reach for his shoulder before he dives. “We cannot waste any time.”

“Please excuse our interruption,” I say loudly, and Ryker’s thrusts stall. “We have news to share that is most urgent.”

Ryker bends to kiss Ember, and as we swim toward shore, he pulls out of her and they shift position, so he’s holding her between his legs, her hands stroking his arms around her.

Both of them are flushed and clearly tired, the scent of their sex strong in the air.

“What is it?” Ember asks, clearly in need of water.

Axe quickly grabs the tin cup, fills it and offers it to her.

“This better be fucking good,” Ryker says. “Because you interrupted somethingveryfucking good.” His fingers brush Ember’s tit and she sets down the cup, and then she smiles at him, shaking her head.

I clear my throat. “Let me summarize what transpired. When Axel and I emerged on the other side of the waterfall, we discovered a false—”

“They’re setting explosives to collapse the cave,” Axel cuts in. “She means to bury us.”

I tip my head to the side. The bear man left out many details I would have included, but I must admit he’s transmitted the most important news.

“It isimperative,”I add, “that we make another attempt at Ember’s transition. Immediately.”

“So soon? Ember’s body contracts, moving back as if she wishes that Ryker’s could absorb hers. “I thought you said I should recover for several days between tries.”

“Wait, wait…” Ryker holds up his hands. “Why would Octavia try to bury us in here?”

I sit opposite the entwined lovers, and Axe starts pacing behind me grunting and snorting.

“Revenge,” I give my best hypothesis based on the information we have. “I know that recognizing the emotions of others is not my forte, but revenge is the only explanation I have been able to reach for her actions.”

“She hates me that fucking much?” Ryker whistles low.

“Putting aside the enormous size of your ego,” I respond. “I have also reached the conclusion that this is primarily about you—and about Ember.”

Ryker raises his gaze. “Does she know what Ember’s blood can do?”

Ember looks away, worry on her face.

I draw a deep breath. “That I do not know, but if she did, I do not think she would risk killing her. I do not think she would have trapped us in here.” I shake my head.

Axe steps up beside me. “What Ember did to stop her, the magic, might have scared her.”

I nod. “But it was also clear, even before that, how Ryker had enraged Octavia with his rejection in favor of Ember. And Octavia’s zeal for revenge seems boundless. Everyone in this dungeon has wronged her in some fashion, most of them, I assume, in ways that would not be crimes under vampiric law. ”

“No fucking kidding,” Ryker says.

“In my estimation, I do not believe Octavia knows that Ember is the Illuminant. Not if she plans to collapse the cave.”