Page 23 of Awakening the Dhampir

She chuckled, but I could feel her agreement.

I know a lot depends on me, she said. If you believe the demon will keep his word, I can prove I’m a worthy mate.

I hadn’t wanted to acknowledge Damon’s weird wording. I understood what a mate was, even if I was reluctant to admit it.

If you can really see my memories, you know he’s always been open and direct with me, I said. I still don’t understand why he’d want to have us around. We’re not good for him. What could he possibly get from this?

My dhampir snorted. He is our mate. How can you not feel his magic calling to you? It’s no different than Kenrid’s.

I can’t think about all that right now, I snapped. We need to have a survival plan first.

You asked what he gained from being with us. I only answered.

She had a point. I had asked. Okay fine. We’ll convince them we’re not a rabid animal, and then we’ll get our life back.

Yes, as long as we can also have these delicious men, she purred.

I rolled my eyes and scrubbed my face one more time, then smiled. She was totally different from me, but I liked her. She was not the unhinged animal I originally thought. It seemed like she could be reasonable and easy to talk to. Together we could make it work.

I pulled my hands from my face and shifted in the seat again. Elliott and Kenrid had not given me any space. Both of their bodies still sandwiched me. Kenrid wasn’t as massive as Elliott, but I could still feel the hard planes of his thigh against mine. Now that my dhampir—she really needed a name—had pointed it out, my mind went straight to picturing the fae naked. My face flushed again, and desire swooped through my core.

A low growl rumbled in Elliott’s chest, but I couldn’t look at him. He must’ve been able to sense my arousal. Before Elliott’s growl faded, another one started from the front seat. Was that Damon or Nathan? I couldn’t tell.

“Can you pull over for a few minutes?” I asked. “I need some air.”

“Yes,” Nathan snarled and immediately slowed down.

The tires hit the soft berm a few moments later. I pushed Kenrid until he opened the door and slid off the seat. I tumbled out after him and quickly walked away from the truck.

“Deep breaths,” I muttered to myself.

I planted my hands on my hips and sucked in the cool night air. A gentle breeze caressed my heated skin and cooled some of my stupid hormones. If I wasn’t pining after Nathan and Damon’s blood, I was lusting after Kenrid and Elliott. What the hell?

Just make sure you share all that juicy pleasure with me, my dhampir demanded.

I laughed, the sound echoing back at me from the tree line. Like I can keep it from you!

She joined me in our brief moment of hysterics before Kenrid interrupted us.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked.

I turned around and found him standing a few feet away, planted between me and the rest of the guys. Nathan and Damon leaned against the truck’s hood. Elliott strolled toward me. I hadn’t realized I'd moved that far off the road, but apparently I had.

“Yeah,” I replied, running my hands through my hair. “I just need to learn how to control my reactions to my dhampir’s thoughts.”

I’ll give you lots of practice, she teased.

I grinned, and Kenrid gave me a worried look.

“I like her,” I hurriedly explained. “She’s just so different from me. I’m not used to having a whole other person in my head.”

“She’s responsible for the wave of desire that just assaulted us?” Elliott asked, having reached Kenrid’s side. It was too dark to see if he wore that silly smirk of his.

“Yeah,” I admitted, feeling my face flush yet again. “Sorry. We’ll work it out.”

“I could …” Elliott began.

“You will not,” Kenrid finished. “Remember who threatened to throat punch Damon.”

---