Page 52 of Taste of Forever (Vampires of Sanguine #3)

Her lips met mine in a kiss that was far too brief when I was jerked roughly away from her. Four humans shoved me down into the chair she had just been in, and I heard the click of another set of cuffs attaching me to the slats in the chair back.

“You need to go,” the cold one told Heather.

But she rushed at me, wrapping her arms around my neck and bringing her face to my shoulder. I widened my legs to make room for her, wishing I could return her embrace.

“I’m not leaving you,” she whispered. “There’s no fucking way.”

“Listen to me, Heather.” The scent of her hair filled my nose and I brought my face closer to hers. “We’re not too far from the state park entrance. Get to Sanguine and alert the clan.”

“No, I can’t go.” Her arms wound tighter around my neck. “I can’t leave you here. I can’t do it alone.”

“Yes, you can. It’s our only chance.” Sweet-smelling, honey blonde hair tickled my lips as I spoke directly into her ear. “Don’t worry about me, okay? Vampire Ken can handle more than just looking good.”

My attempt at humor didn’t land as Heather cried softly into my shoulder.

The humans around us shifted restlessly.

Any second now, they would pull her away from me.

As much as I didn’t want her to let go, daytime was approaching.

The sooner she got back to Sanguine, the safer she would be.

And the sooner Blood ‘til Dawn would bring righteous justice to these thugs.

“There’s a road leading down the mountain,” I said. “Follow it all the way down to the intersection. You’ll be able to get your bearings and find your way from there. I know you can do it, Science Barbie. Your blood is in me so I know exactly how capable and brilliant you are.”

Another sob shook Heather’s body, but her grip around my neck started to loosen. She pulled back until her forehead rested on mine. If I had my hands, I would have wiped her tears. But without them, I had to kiss just under her eyes, catching the salty droplets with my lips.

“What if I don’t…” She swallowed and tried again. “What if I’m…”

She couldn’t get it out but I understood what she was trying to say.

What if I’m too late? The truth would be that Blood ‘til Dawn would avenge me, and she’d have a home with them for as long as she desired.

The clan would take care of her in the event of my death, but that wasn’t what she needed to hear.

“You won’t be, because you’re my blood mate and we have centuries more to live, okay?

” I kissed her brow, hoping I wasn’t betraying my own anxiety.

“I’m not going home to Temkra until you and I are over eight-hundred years old and we have a beautiful, fulfilling life behind us.

It’s as simple as that. We’ve barely just begun.

So I will be here, waiting for you until you get back. ”

“Enough already,” grumbled one of Soren’s men. “Let’s go.”

Heather’s shaking fingers curled into the fabric of my shirt. “Promise me. Promise me you’ll still be here when I get back.”

It killed me to make a vow I wasn’t sure I could keep. It went against everything Blood ‘til Dawn stood for. But the most important thing was getting her the fuck out of this cabin and away from these men.

“I promise.” Another tear gathered on her lashes and I kissed the corner of her eye. “And when we’re home, I can’t wait to go dancing with you again.”

My brave, brilliant mate tried to smile, but her lips just wobbled. “I’ll hold you to that.”

“You don’t have to. It’s done.” I smiled back, taking in all her lovely features for possibly the last time.

“Alright, time’s up.” One of the men grabbed Heather by the arms and dragged her away. She stumbled a little, but didn’t resist as her tear-filled eyes remained locked on me. I forced my chin high, keeping a slight smile on my lips as if I had it all under control.

If I didn’t make it out of here, which was a real possibility, my one regret would be not getting the chance to see her dance one more time.

The elation on her face, the expression in her movements as if she felt the music in her soul.

And, if we had the chance, I’d have the freedom to touch her and move with her.

Because unlike the first time, she would be truly mine.

“My clan will know if you harm her,” I warned the men as they dragged Heather toward the stairs. “And then you’ll be outnumbered. You won’t have a prayer’s chance of escaping them.”

“Blindfold her and then let her out in a random spot in town,” said the one who’d been under my boot. “No roughing her up. Just take her and ditch her.”

My jaw clenched. No matter where Heather ended up, I was certain she’d get to Sanguine. But time was ticking by. The likelihood of me getting out of this alive looked slimmer and slimmer.

Heather’s gaze never left me as she was dragged across the basement and then marched up the stairs. The moment she was out of sight, the human with cold eyes held up one of the silver knives that had been taken from me.

“How well does this work?” he mused, carefully thumbing the blade’s edge. “Silver is a pretty soft metal. Doesn’t it bend when you stab with it?” A chilling grin pulled at his lips. “Guess there’s only one way to find out.”

With that he plunged the knife into my thigh, just above my knee.

The pain was unlike anything I’d ever felt. Hundreds of times worse than carving my vow into my skin and all of my motorcycle accidents combined. My entire leg burned with an unrelenting fire. It felt like my skin and muscle was being peeled away with a red-hot poker.

I jerked against the chair, my body flailing for relief. Tears burned my eyes. Everything in me wanted to scream, was desperate for some kind of release from the agony.

But I kept my jaws shut, only hisses and groans escaping my mouth while my teeth formed a shield against any other sounds coming out.

Because if Heather heard me, I knew she wouldn’t hesitate to run right back into danger.