Page 10

Neo

I grabbed the bag of food and water, then pulled my True Mate along toward the hot springs. We’d planned to go back there for a while because it was a special place, but we hadn’t had a chance over the last couple of weeks. I was excited because Dorian had made sure the others that knew about our hot spring would steer clear so we’d have privacy tonight. We just wanted to have a nice night together.

He wrapped his arm over my shoulders and tucked me into his side as we left the courtyard, but I needed to taste his lips, so I stopped him and kissed his mouth and thought, I love you, Dor.

He kissed me back with a huge smile. I love you, too. Hearing his voice in my head still made me giddy.

I hadn’t really believed that would happen for me since I was a human, but now that I could hear his thoughts, I wouldn’t want it any other way. His love for me was exponential and almost knocked me to my knees at times.

He kissed my temple. “And it will keep growing every day so you better get stronger legs.”

I snorted out a laugh and shook my head. I guess he’d picked up on my random thought.

“Do you know how to swim?” he asked me. We had access to each other’s thoughts and even our memories, but they could be hard to interpret, and it was nice to have conversations about things, anyway.

“My older brother taught me. I love swimming.”

“Good. Maybe we can swim by the beach when the weather gets a little warmer.”

“I’d like that.”

We finished the walk to the hidden hot spring, set down our supplies, and before I could do anything other than stand up, Dorian was on me, pulling me into his chest and capturing my laughing lips with his.

“I thought we were bathing, Dor, not messing around,” I joked.

He chuckled. “Pretty sure we can do both.” I grinned and went to step into the pool, but he caught my arm. “Not so fast.” He pulled my arms over his shoulders and tugged me flush against his chest, kissing me like he wanted to devour me. I do want to devour you.

We both laughed again, but didn’t stop kissing each other.

A loud noise in the distance broke us apart, and suddenly, a huge gust of something— like wind, but more powerful—blew me back away from Dorian. He got knocked back, too, but he used his vampire speed to rush behind me and catch me before I could fall all the way to the ground.

“Holy shit!” I yelled. “What the hell was that?”

Dorian looked in the direction the gust came from. “Magic.” He licked his lips. “Magic so potent, I can taste it.”

Licking my lips, I noticed a strange grainy, earthy taste in my mouth. It almost tasted like I’d eaten dirt, but there was also a gross sour taste underneath of it. What the heck?

“I don’t know. But…” he trailed off, and finished through our link, I think I felt dark magic.

“What’s dark ma—” Another loud sound came from the same direction, cutting me off, and Dorian pushed me behind him, protecting me—from what? I didn’t know. “Dor, Wh—”

A large grey… thing —a bird, maybe? Did birds grow that big?—flew through the air. It was too far away to see what it was, but it had to be huge. It flew straight up toward the moon, then in the opposite direction.

“What the fuck is that?”

Dorian turned to me with terror in his eyes as the loudest roar I’d ever heard filled the air. It was coming from the same direction, but it was so loud and forceful it shook me to my very core. It filled my veins, making me tremble in fear.

Dorian scooped me up so fast, I couldn’t protest, and he started running toward the freaking roar. He held me close as he ran using his vampire speed. I was so terrified, I could hardly get the words out. “Wh-what is that?”

He kissed my temple. “Dregan’s war cry.” He pulled me closer, and I noticed that I wasn’t the only one shaking. I’ll protect you, my treasure, I heard his voice in my mind.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and whispered back, “I’ll protect you, too.”

He kissed my temple again as we arrived in the courtyard with the rest of the vampires, bestowers, shifters, and humans. Everyone looked like they were ready for a fight as Dregan stomped into the square. He walked to one end of the courtyard, and when he turned to face us, everyone went silent. I’d never seen a vampire so out of control as he was in that moment. His power was radiating off of him, and I had no doubt that his vampire side had completely taken over. The man I’d met as Dregan was gone, and only a monster stood in his place.

Whoever caused this reaction should be terrified to face his wrath.

***

The End

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