Page 58 of The Vampire Debt

“I told you,” he says low and dark. “Not to wander outside at night. What part of that did you not understand?” He grabs my face with both hands and moves my head around, then takes a half a step back and looks at the rest of me. “Are you hurt?”

“No,” I say, and I’m not thrilled that it comes out as little more than a breathy whisper.

He leans forward, resting his forearm against the wall next to my head. It’s so similar to when he found me in the forest and yet so different. His hands gently move over me and this time there’s no anger in his posture.

My eyes flick to his mouth and linger on those full lips as he leans closer and closer. Heat washes over my body.

What is he doing?

Alaric’s eyes slide closed and I don’t know if my heart thunders in my chest from anticipation or fear.

I open my mouth to protest as he leans against me. He’s heavy. The warmth spreading through me seconds ago dissipates.

“Alaric?”

When he doesn’t respond I know something is wrong.

He slumps and I manage to wrap my arms around him before he falls. There is a wet, sticky, warmth where my hands touch his back.

He’s hurt.

Struggling to keep him from dropping, I lower him to the ground, positioning him on his side. I crouch and carefully examine his back, moving the scraps of material to get a better view. Several long, deep gashes cover his back.

His face is pale in the firelight and he’s unconscious. For a moment, I don’t know what to do. There is no way I’ll be able to drag him up to the third floor to his room. I should pull the dagger from my boot and end him now.

It’s the perfect chance to free myself from our bargain.

I reach my shaking hand toward the hilt and slowly withdraw it. One swift movement and this world will be rid of another vampire.

I stare at him, holding the dagger above his chest for a long moment, willing my arm to obey… but I can’t bring myself to do it.

He saved me…

He had saved me from the higher demons in the forest, and he was hurt for it. The mournful cries of demons grow louder from outside, sending shivers over me and driving the point home.

I owe it to Alaric to keep him safe now.

I stand and look down at him, curled up on his side, features contorted in pain, and I feel the need to dosomething.

The demons won’t come inside… they can’t unless given permission. Still their sounds fill me with a fear of them I have never known before.

I bite down on my bottom lip, not wanting to leave his side. Even with him unconscious, I feel safe in his abilities to keep them at bay.

I waver. What I need to help him is down the hall.

The demons can’t enter here. The demons can’t get me.

Pulling in a deep breath, I bolt out of the room, running to the kitchen. It’s completely empty. He had said the servants were not available at night, but I had assumed that was a rule meant to punish me. I quickly grab a kettle of water, a towel, and a small bowl.

When I return, Alaric hasn’t moved. I set the kettle in the fireplace kettle holder then kneel at his side. I didn’t even know he’d been hurt at first. I reach out and brush his hair back off his forehead.

Plucking up the towel, I tear it into strips as the water heats. I dip one rag in, ringing out the excess water once soaked.

His shirt clings to his back, sticky and wet with blood.

I will have to tear it open so I can clean his wounds. Once more I pick up the blade, the polished metal gleams in the light cast by the fire.

With my other hand, I reach forward. Alaric’s hand shoots out and grabs my wrist.