“You fucking shot me, bitch.”
“And you lived, like I knew you would.My father wouldn’t send his men into battle without adequate protection.You and I both know that.But Rogan here?He would’ve killed you if I hadn’t intervened.So go tell your fucking king what happened here.”
He doesn’t reply.
And it dawns on me.
“He told you not to harm me, didn’t he?”
Again, no reply.
The battle rages around us, yet the three of us seem to be in some kind of protective bubble.Surely, I’m imagining it.
“You see me as a traitor,” I continue, “so you thought you’d have some fun at my expense, but you can’t harm me.Your king has forbidden it.”
Once more, nothing from the vampire.
So it’s true.And this man is bound to obey his king, just as I am.Our blood demands it.
Except now…
Now I’m bound to Rogan.No longer does my blood define my allegiance.Or perhaps it does, but in a wholly different way.
The vampire stands before me, towering above me, and still he says nothing.
“Go,” I tell him.“Go find my father.Tell him I need to talk to him.”
“He won’t talk to you.”
“He will, and you know it.”
Rogan stands next to me and growls.
The vampire turns and leaves.
Will he bring my father to me?I don’t know, and at the moment?I need to see to Rogan.
“Come,” I say to Rogan.
He can’t change here, in the middle of a battle zone.He’ll be completely naked and defenseless.
He walks with me back to the bunker.
And I understand.
I understand now that neither of us can fight in this war.Dominic was right.The pack needs Rogan, and Rogan needs me.
If I’m in danger, Rogan will stop at nothing to see that I’m protected.
Once safely in the bunker, Rogan changes, and I see him in his most natural state.Human in form, but still very much an animal.I inhale the crisp wolf scent—woods, bark, spice, musk.
And I can’t help myself.
I pull the pistol out of my waistband and set it down.Next the vamp’s knife out of my boot.
I’m unarmed but still clothed, and I stalk toward my wolf.Toward my lover.
I clamp my heeled boot over his neck.