Page 27 of Trapped for Her Blood

“Oh, he’ll consent.” Octavia glares at me. “He’ll consent, or he’ll live in excruciating pain for the rest of eternity.”

Chapter Ten

Ember

Zuben stops,and I register that we’re in the main cave, near the pool. He holds onto me tightly as he looks around. I know where we are, but can barely see anything in the dim light cast by the final few glowing embers of the fire.

“Fascinating,” Zuben says. “An underground lake. Fresh water from the scent. And fed by a waterfall.”

“Can you put me down?”

“How did you come under the bear’s protection?”

“Down please?” I tip my head to the side.

Nodding, he releases the tightness of his hold and I slide down the side of his tall body until my feet touch the ground, but he leaves his arm draped around me.

“Are you hurt?” he asks.

“I’m fine.” Slipping from his hold, I head over to Axe’s wood pile, find some smaller pieces and carefully place them on the coals, hoping to capture the waning fire before it’s fully out.

“Careful,” Zuben says. “Do not touch the fire. You will get burned.”

From my crouched position, I turn my head to shoot him a look. “Gee thanks. I had no idea fire could do that.”

He blinks, and then smiles softly. “I apologize. But while you may be more powerful than most humans, your body is vulnerable compared to a vampire’s.”

Me, more powerful than most humans? Ha!

I have no idea why Zuben would think that about me, but don’t correct him. The fire sparks to life, so I add a few larger logs, and then hold up my hands to warm them for a few minutes, before straightening to stand.

While I built the fire, Zuben has been examining the walls of the cave, as if he thinks there’s a secret door out.

A loud roar reaches us, then a scream, and I turn toward the cave’s entrance.

Axe!

“We need to help him.” I step toward the entrance.

From nearly thirty feet away and before I can take a second step, Zuben arrives, taking my forearm and holding me back.

“How did you come to be under the protection of this beast?” he asks.

“He’s not a beast.” I tug against him. “He’s a shifter. And he saved your ass too.”

“My ass?” Zuben tips his head to the side.

I pull my wrist free of his hold and rush toward the cave entrance, but Zuben lands ahead of me, blocking my exit.

“Oh, yes,” he says, nodding. “Saved my ass. An American idiom. Very funny. I see what you mean.”

“I wasn’t trying to be funny.” I move to step around him, but he blocks me, gently placing his hands on my shoulders. “Ember, that bear does not need our assistance. He can save his own…ass. And you have no fighting skills of which I am aware.”

My heart is racing, and as the adrenaline overload subsides, I realize I’m grateful that Zuben stopped me from running back toward the danger, but I also don’t like that he’s taking my choice away.

I glare at him. “I thought you said I was more powerful than most humans.”

“No doubt of that.” Zuben’s hands tighten on my shoulders, and I look up into his eyes, finding them full of concern, but also a hint of humor.