“I’m sorry!” She’d put her hands over her mouth—over those delicate fangs—and the words came out as a mumble.
He shook his head. “You shouldn’t be sorry for what you are.”
He’d once cursed what she was, and he was glad that she didn’t have that memory.
Memory.
Alerac stiffened.
In the heat of the moment, he’d forgotten one of the most important parts of a vampire’s power.
When a vampire drank blood, it wasn’t just about getting a rush of strength. When a vampire drank blood straight from a victim, he or she also tapped into that person’s memories.
Will she see my memories?
Jane didn’t have memories of her own, and he wasn’t sure that he wanted her to see what he’d done with his life. She already feared him enough.
Her hands slowly fell back to her sides. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I-I took too much.”
“It takes more than that to weaken me.” Did she hear the rough edge of desire in his words?
Her gaze drifted over him. Down, down, then her stare jumped right back up to hold his.
His smile was grim. “The bite just made me want you more.”
She backed up a step. Rammed into that oak tree.
“Don’t worry, a rúnsearc, I won’t take you here.”
Another quick step back. “You aren’t taking me anywhere!” Jane fired at him.
Yes, he was. But there was a time and a place for everything. “Our enemies are growing closer. I want you at my home, where I know we have the advantage.”
His wrist seemed to throb where she’d taken his blood. He could almost still feel her mouth on him.
It made him remember the first time that his vampiress’ s fangs had pierced his flesh. She’d been scared then. Scared but aroused.
“You looked the same way then,” the words came from him, unplanned.
Jane stilled.
“You didn’t mean to drink from me then, either, but your fangs came out.” They’d been kissing. He’d had her naked in his arms. For vampires, physical lust and bloodlust were so tangled together. Her fangs had come out. He’d wanted her bite.
And, after she’d bitten him, then he’d wanted everything from her.
“What happened after I bit you?” Her voice was soft. Husky. Temptation in the dark.
He turned away from her. “We f**ked.”
A twig snapped behind him.
“Stop backing away,” he muttered without looking over his shoulder. The woman was always pulling away from him. “We need to get on the bikes and get out of here.”
Her footsteps didn’t follow his. He squared his shoulders. Waited. “Jane…”
Then he heard the whisper of her footstep. One. Then another. She crept toward him.
“Thank you.” Incredibly soft.
Now he did look back. Curiosity had always been a weakness of his.
“You saved my life.” Her lips lifted in a small curve. “Twice now.”
He’d also cost this woman her life. “Save your thanks. That’s not what I want.” But he found himself reaching for her hand. Pulling her with him. Keeping her by his side.
They broke from the trees. The others turned to look at them. They’d all know what he’d done.
Werewolves weren’t supposed to offer themselves up as prey to vampires.
Jane wasn’t any vampire.
Mine.
His stare swept the men. No one spoke. No one questioned him.
They knew better.
Alerac stalked toward his bike. The scent of Jane—her blood—followed him.
Jaw locking, he reached into his saddle-bag and pulled out an extra shirt for her.
Then, making sure he shielded her with his body, he ordered, “Take off your top.”
Her jaw dropped.
He smiled. She was just so damn cute.
“The shirt and the bra.”
She edged closer to him. “What?”
“The vamps will follow the scent of your blood. So we need to leave as much of that scent behind as we can.” Or, even better, maybe they could use that scent to lead the vamps on a false trail.
Jane grabbed for the top he offered. “Then I’ll go into the woods and change. I won’t do some kind of peep show for your pack.”
“They can’t see you.” Not with his body blocking hers. “And we need to move.” They’d lost too much time already. Granted, that was his fault. He’d been too taken with her. Apparently, he hadn’t learned a damn thing from the mistakes of his past.
She stood on her toes. Glanced over his shoulder. “Make them all turn away.”
Fine. “Turn the f**k away,” he ordered.
He knew they would.
She clenched the cloth in her hands. “Now you turn away, too.”
He lifted a brow.
“Turn. Away.”
He turned. Crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ve seen you naked before.”
Her clothing rustled. “You aren’t seeing me naked now.”
A challenge? His lips curved. “I will be.”
Her breath caught. He heard the slight sound. His smile stretched.
“I-I’m done.”
He glanced back at her. His shirt swallowed her, but at least the blood was gone.
“I tried to clean off my skin with my old top. A little blood is left, not much though.”
He jumped onto the bike. “Finn,” he called out. A wolf with dark red hair drove his motorcycle closer. “Take this to the east. Give ‘em a trail to follow, then meet back up with us at base.”
Finn took the material from him. Rode off without a word.
Alerac reeved the motorcycle. Jane took up a position behind him. She wrapped her arms around him.
“Closer.” A growl.
She slid closer.
Much better.
“Be prepared for another attack!” Alerac called out. Those hunting them weren’t going to stop.
Not until Alerac saw them all cold in the ground.
***
The two vampires had been ripped apart.
Breath heaving, rage nearly blinding him, Lorcan stared down at their remains.
They’d died too quickly. They should have suffered.
“Jane’s still alive.” The human’s voice came from behind him.
Lorcan whirled toward him.
Heath frowned at him. “You okay?”
No, he wasn’t. Some plans could come back and twist and—bite you in the ass.
“I don’t want Jane dead.” The words were clipped. “Alerac had better keep her alive.”
Heath edged back a step. The glimpse into the human’s mind had been very interesting. Traitors had been revealed. Secrets uncovered.