Page 20 of The Bodyguard and the Alpha (Witch Twins #2)

Bastien

I was already turning, my mate’s distress scraping like a blade against my senses when she tugged on my arm. With a glance I took in the signs. Her face was pale, sweat beading on her forehead. When she fell, I was ready to catch her.

Despite my fear, a ragged purr stuttered into life as I tried instinctively to soothe her. My arms tightened, hauling her close to my chest. This. This was what I needed. What I craved. Her soft body against mine. Always. Her heartbeat pounded against my chest. It was rapid. Too fast.

What was wrong? I held her away from my body, scanning her for new injuries.

I knew she had a sore shoulder. Was it enough to cause her to collapse or had I missed something?

Had Stick-guy caused new damage? I should have ripped his body into pieces.

Shifting her slender body back against mine I dipped my head, sniffing, drawing on my enhanced sense of smell.

No blood. The vise around my chest loosened slightly.

But, fuck, what was it? She hadn’t eaten for too long.

Perhaps she was simply dizzy. She never ate enough as it was, despite my efforts to give her more food.

In all the time she’d worked for me, I hadn’t been able to properly feed her.

Once we were bonded, she would learn what it meant to be mated to an Alpha.

No more starving her body of the nutrition it needed.

She would take food from my hand when I told her to eat.

My cock jerked at the thought of her naked on my lap, sucking on a strawberry. Bite. Claim.

Not now , whispered the voice of reason at the back of my mind. Not until we are safe .

Her eyes fluttered. “M’okay,” she mumbled. “You can put me down.”

I shook my head. No, this was much better. With her in my arms I could move much faster. I could feel the beat of her heart. She was right where she was supposed to be.

I ran through the corridors, looking for a way out, checking at each intersection of corridors for the stench of men.

At some point a loud alarm started to blare, and red lights positioned near the ceiling began to flash.

Fuck. Our chances of getting out of here without a fight had just dramatically reduced.

Slowing at yet another intersection—how fucking big was this complex?—I tested the air. The scent of unwashed bodies and fear wafted to my nose. There were men ahead. I pulled to a stop. One voice murmured, “Shoot to kill when he comes around the corner.” I took a step back. They knew we were here.

I didn’t care. If the way out was through the bodies of my enemies, I’d wade into the battle gladly. But I had to keep my mate safe. I turned back the way we’d come, looking for somewhere less dangerous for her.

“What’s going on?” My mate whispered, squirming to get free now that I’d stopped running. “Let me see.”

I growled softly. Hell no. I wasn’t going to put her in danger. Not when she didn’t have her magic.

Her brows drew down as she scowled. “This is literally my fucking job, Bastien. Just rip the fucking cuffs off so I can help.”

In reply, I bared my teeth in a vicious smile. She didn’t flinch.

She was perfect . I could see the beat of her pulse in her neck.

It called to me. Saliva pooled in my mouth as I anticipated the feel of her skin on my tongue.

The sweetness of her blood when my fangs broke her delicate skin.

I would make it quick but she would gasp with the pain.

I couldn’t avoid it. It was the only pain I would ever deliberately inflict on her.

And as soon as she’d taken my bite our mate bond would kick in.

She would feel everything. She would feel my love for her.

My desperate need. And I would feel her.

The bleeding hole in my heart would finally be filled with her.

My soul mate. Her gasps would change to ones of pleasure when I impaled her on my cock.

My vision narrowed to that small patch of skin.