Page 23 of Blood Lost

“Give him a minute. He needs to work through it on his own. You can take Dec to get the supplies. I can handle Vik if he comes out and wants to fight. I’m not scared of him anymore.”

I watched Eli’s expression change. He accepted what she’d said with no argument. A moment later, he walked over to the two of us and pressed his lips to hers while she was still in my arms. The whole thing should have been awkward, but somehow, it seemed fitting. After kissing Eli, Delilah turned to me and quickly kissed me.

“Blood bags in the kitchen?” She asked as she walked into the other room and opened the fridge. “Is Scott bringing more?” Delilah swung the door open to show that the fridge was nearly empty. It was clear that Vik had been planning for this place to be just for the two of them. I wondered why he’d put in extra bedrooms.

“Yeah, he was supposed to get me as much of the supplies as he could. Once I have a secure connection, I have to call him and explain what happened. Maybe he can try to keep the hunters off our trail.” He spoke to her, then turned to me. “We should go. I don’t want to be out there after it gets dark. We don’t know the area and could get lost. I’ll get the codes from Vik.” He walked over to the door Vik had slammed and, instead of knocking, walked right inside. We could hear shouting and a scuffle, but Eli came out unscathed and asked me to follow him.

I hated leaving Delilah alone with the psychopath, but she seemed like she could handle anything right now. I would talk to her later about the drugs. I was sure she would want to know what had happened.

I decided to use this time to bond with Eli since we would be spending time locked in the bunker together. It would help if everyone could find some common ground, besides just Delilah. “So, you’re into tech, huh?” It wasn’t the best conversation starter, but I was trying.

“Yeah. It’s always come easy to me. If it has a chip that controls it, I can build it. What about you? What’s your thing?” He asked as we crept through the woods toward the clearing.

“I build things, mostly out of wood. I love to carve intricate designs into solid furniture. There hasn’t been time for much since Delilah came into my life, though.”

Eli stopped and stared at me. “Do you regret it?”

“Falling for her?” I asked. He nodded, and I continued. “Not even for a second. I know that I barely know her, but I feel like we’re meant to be together.”

“It was like that for me too. I didn’t understand it and tried to take her without asking what she wanted. That was how I lost my hand, and it’s the real reason I forgave Vik for it. I hurt her physically and emotionally, and I deserved to be taught a lesson. He protected her. That’s why I agreed to share time with him. We have a history from before we met Delilah that isn’t pretty. Most of it is behind us now, but it’s still there.” He looked at the ground as he spoke. I felt terrible for him but understood what he was saying. I would expect one of them to do the same to me if I ever hurt Delilah that way.

“You didn’t have to tell me all of that. I appreciate it, though. I’ve felt like the odd man out since I met up with you guys. Knowing that there’s history there eases some of that.” It should have seemed strange having a heart-to-heart with an almost stranger in the woods, but Eli was easy to talk to about whatever.

He pointed, and I saw the clearing ahead. “It looks like Scott dropped the container already. It’s going to take both of us to carry it back, but I want to check it first.” I nodded and approached the clearing with him by my side. I understood his hesitation. We had no way to know if this was the package he’d requested or if this was some sort of trap. If the hunters had already put together what had happened and who was responsible, that would be another level of crazy. I figured we’d have a day or two at least before we had to worry.

Eli opened the container and looked inside, scrutinizing the contents. “It looks like everything is here. Are you ready?” I nodded as he closed the metal box. I stood on the opposite side of him with the box between us. We both lifted it and started walking back toward the bunker when he said. The package was heavier than I had expected, so there wasn’t much conversation on the way back. I was surprised that the silence between us was comfortable as if we’d been friends for years. I wondered how hard it would be to change Vik’s mind about me. I would have to find a way to prove myself worthy in his eyes.

Chapter 28

Delilah

I watched Eli and Dec leave to get the supplies. I could tell something bad had happened, but no one wanted to tell me. I didn’t push for answers. I had hazy memories of the day that seemed like I was watching myself from outside my body. I tried to make sense of it all. I was relieved that Vik didn’t come out of his room. It gave me time to think through the memories that had been assaulting me since I woke up.

We were shopping. I had asked the guys to grab different sizes or styles of things I’d already tried on. They insisted that I could have anything I wanted, so I thought I’d test that. We were the only ones in the store, after all. I knew that the girl helping us was human—I could smell it on her. Relief washed over me that I’d had extra blood before we came out. I didn’t want to hurt anyone. Dec had warned me about blood lust taking over and how dangerous things could get for a vamp who killed a human.

Oh, no. Did I kill her? The guys walked away, and she came to ask if I needed help. She smelled so good. “Let me help you zip that dress.” The girl had practically shoved her way into the dressing room. I tried to argue with her, but something happened. White powder? There was so much blood. Too much blood. They ripped the door open, and I was covered in blood. What did I do?

Guilt washed over me, and my knees gave out. I was glad that Dec and Eli had left already. I didn’t want anyone to see me like this. I killed someone. She’d been a daughter, maybe a mother, or a wife. That was why we were here. Hiding out from those people Dec had warned me about. What had he called them? Searchers or something. Well, they’d be searching for me soon. There was no way to fix what I had done. I was a murderer. I was a monster.

I tilted my head back and screamed as the tears took over. Strong arms picked me up before I realized I had collapsed onto the floor. I didn’t have to look to know it was Vik. I could smell him. That was a perk of being a vamp. We had heightened senses. “Why didn’t you just turn me in?” Tears streamed down my face, and I refused to look him in the eye.

“I love you. I would die before I let anyone hurt you. I will never let them take you.” He gently laid me down on his bed, then climbed beside me.

“How could you possibly still love me? I’m a monster.” I cried harder while he tried to comfort me.

“Myshka, please look at me.” He paused to see if I would. I didn’t. “I understand how you’re feeling. I know it seems hopeless now, but it will be okay. We’ve all been there, whether it was accidental or not. You’re not a monster. Trust me.”

I let him roll me over to face him but refused to make eye contact. He held me close and rubbed my back until the sobs stopped. I wondered what he meant. Had he killed people on purpose? I should have been terrified of him, but I wasn’t. My soul called out for him the same as it did for Eli and Dec. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because I am one. You’re not like me. And even if you were, I would still love you.” His words were sweet and straightforward. He thought himself a monster the same as I did about myself. It must have been a vamp thing. I wondered why they didn’t tell me about that part. Did they all see themselves this way?

I wiped my face then sat up on the bed. Vik didn’t move. I let him take my hand and play with my fingers. “I don’t think you’re a monster, either,” I whispered.

“Oh, Myshka, but I am.” He pulled me down to meet his lips, then flipped me onto my back. The glint in his eyes told me he was still upset about earlier. It was laced with passion, and I liked it. I could feel his erection pressed against my leg, and it made me wet. Our lips met again, and he fought to dominate me. His tongue worked its way into my mouth and stroked mine. His hands caressed me through the pajamas I’d been changed into at some point. I was certain the hazy memories were true, but none of that mattered right now.

Vik ran a finger down my cheek and across my neck. His hand traveled down my collarbone and the front of my top. I didn’t realize until he leaned down to take my nipple in his mouth that he’d been unbuttoning the top while he distracted me with his tongue. Moans of pleasure escaped me. I wanted to touch him, but he had my hands pinned with the shirt. He kissed, licked, and sucked all over my breasts before moving down my chest to my stomach. The sensations had me squirming and arching my back, trying to guide him to where I wanted his touch. “Please, Vik,” I begged in a whisper.

His fingers barely touched me, grazing over the area where I wanted him the most. “Oh, yes.” I sighed, arching my back to try to get more contact. But he pulled his hand back. “You have to be patient, Myshka.” Then he chuckled and went back to torturing me with his mouth. I wanted that mouth on me but couldn’t get my arms free to take off my pants. I kept trying to use my body to convince him to go lower since my words hadn’t worked.

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