Page 21 of Awakening the Dhampir

The front doors opened, cutting off Elliott’s fragile attempt to lighten the atmosphere in the truck. Damon jumped into the passenger seat in his human form. Nathan watched Lorna but didn’t get in. Well, we all watched her, but her eyes were glued on Damon, shifting from hazel to green to black several times. He draped an arm over the back of his seat and met her gaze without an ounce of fear. Of course.

The rest of us held our breaths. Lorna’s internal struggle was so obvious. Without consciously thinking about it, I moved closer to her and pulled one of her hands into mine. Elliott did the same from her other side until all three of us were pretty much pressed into the center seat.

Lorna blinked several times, then pressed her back against Elliott’s chest, almost scooting into his lap. It was like she was trying to get as far from Damon as she could. It wouldn’t help when Nathan got in on the driver’s side. She’d have nowhere to run.

“Little d’laej,” Damon said, keeping his voice calm and low. “I can give you what your dhampir needs, but only if you show me the control I know you’re capable of.”

A deep black consumed Lorna’s eyes, and we all froze. I knew that look. It was the same one she had when we first arrived.

“You would feed me even after seeing what I did?” Lorna’s voice held a sharp edge, the same as when her dhampir spoke before.

“I would feed my mate,” Damon said, “but only if she proves herself worthy.”

Lorna scowled, baring her fangs. Elliott’s arm slid around her waist, but she didn’t act like she would fight him.

“And what do you consider worthy, demon?” she asked. “I will not be controlled by you or anyone else.”

Damon leaned over the center console, nearly putting himself in the back seat. Elliott’s grip tightened, and Lorna dug her fingers into his arm and my hand. At least she wasn’t trying to get away from us.

“Will you let your hunger control you?” the demon asked.

Lorna blinked again, then her eyes closed for several seconds. “No. I want to live.”

“So prove to me you want to live,” Damon said, then moved back to his seat.

Neither Lorna nor her dhampir responded. She didn’t release my hand, but she did peel her fingers from Elliott’s arm. He loosened his hold on her ever so slightly. I couldn’t help noticing that she didn’t mention Damon’s claim on her.

“Can I get in the truck?” Nathan asked, voice harsh. He was still standing at the open door, scowling at the rest of us.

Lorna nodded, but Nathan probably couldn’t see her now that she was tucked behind the driver’s seat.

“Yeah,” I said. “Let’s go.”

A few minutes later, Nathan had the truck turned around and driving away from the burning building. It hadn’t taken long for it to catch fire. Flames poured from the downstairs windows, and several on the second story had already broken. Black smoke billowed into the night sky, barely visible in the dark.

The local fire department wouldn’t arrive before the building and everything in it was gone.

Chapter 9

Lorna

Aheavy silence filled the truck’s interior. With Elliott and Kenrid’s magic, essence, and warmth surrounding me, I could barely smell Damon and Nathan’s chocolatey goodness in the front seat. I was sweating from all the body heat, but it was still better than losing control.

The silence would give me and my dhampir time to sort out our shit. It was weird having someone else in my head. Her presence was real and almost tangible, like I could reach out and touch her. How had I not noticed her before?

I was in a deep slumber, she replied to my silent question. Nathan and Kenrid already explained the awakening to you.

I frowned, then wiggled in my tiny space between Kenrid and Elliott. Part of me hated it and the other part relished their closeness. I hadn’t realized how much three weeks of isolation hurt me. I’d always been an introvert and didn’t like people in my space, but after my experience in that damn cell, I really didn’t want to be alone. I had a feeling these four men weren’t about to let me out of their sight. But it was all irrelevant to my dhampir’s comment.

How do you know what Nathan and Kenrid told me if you were snoozing? I asked.

She laughed at me, and I growled. The two men at my sides both jumped.

“What’s wrong?” Kenrid whispered.

“Nothing,” I muttered, then took a deep breath. I wasn’t mad at him. I wasn’t even really mad, just frustrated and confused. “My dhampir and I are having a conversation, so just ignore me for a few minutes.”

“She talks to you?” Elliott asked.

---