Page 33 of Claiming the Dhampir

I stumbled backward so I wouldn’t be in the way and nearly tripped over Kenrid.

Brance screamed, and I prayed he wouldn’t have time to fling a spell at Elliott. Brance’s cries turned into a gurgled croak, then silence. Elliott’s wolf completely covered the fae’s body, but the smell of sickening sweet blood grew thick in the air and a pool began spreading beneath Brance’s body. Elliott started to move away from his victim, and I forced myself to look away.

I had no doubt that Brance was dead, but I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. The guy was obviously homesick, but that didn’t give him the right to sacrifice others to get what he wanted. Just because he felt betrayed or abandoned or whatever, didn’t mean he could ruin my life or anyone else’s.

Instead of facing Brance’s death, I knelt beside Kenrid and swept the hair away from his bruised and battered face. Blood still oozed from the newest cut just above his ear. I didn’t know how to help him. I’d read all kinds of books where the hero tore their shirt into strips to make bandages, but I was pretty sure the dirt and sweat covering my clothes would not be good for him.

Despite Kenrid’s injuries, the urge to seek out Elliott and Damon was overwhelming. My heart felt like it was being torn in three directions. How was I supposed to prioritize one mate over the others?

I was reasonably sure that Damon was okay, but Brance had hammered him with so many spells, how could he not be injured? Had he hidden his pain behind the mask of rage and badass demon? How would I know?

Elliott had just tackled the asshole spell-flinger and could also be hurt. I didn’t smell any burning fur or hear him whimpering in pain. Honestly, I couldn’t see Elliott whimper over anything, though.

But my fae was broken and bleeding, and I couldn’t do anything for him.

Damon crouched beside me a moment later and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. I hesitated to look up and meet his gaze. It wasn’t hard to see he was once again in his human form wearing blue jeans and a t-shirt, but I remembered his demon from a few moments before. He was terrifying. Glorious but terrifying.

I forced myself to look. I needed to know if he was hurt. My eyes swept over his legs and up his chest. His clothes were clean and free of blood. I couldn’t see any bruises or scratches on his face, only concern in his dark eyes.

“One of the fae is coming to heal the worst of Kenrid’s injuries,” Damon said. “We cannot linger here, though. Nathan doesn’t have much time.”

I gasped. “I’m sorry. I …” I didn’t want to say I’d forgotten about Nathan, but with everything else happening so quickly, I’d forgotten.

“It’s okay.” Damon kissed my forehead and rose to his feet. He crossed the room and kneeled next to Nathan. He grabbed both ends of the rope wrapped around Nathan’s wrist and tugged. A swell of Damon’s heavy magic filled the room, followed by a loud snap. The rope disintegrated, falling to the floor in a cascade of glitter. It would’ve been pretty if it hadn’t held Nathan against his will and allowed Brance to torture him.

Damon gently lifted Nathan into his arms and headed for the door. The vampire had stopped bleeding, but I wasn’t sure that was a good thing. It looked like he’d left most of his blood on the floor.

He’s dying. Mir’s voice wavered with her emotions. We’ll never get the chance to know him if he dies.

She was right, but I couldn’t think about it. I shouldn’t mourn something I never had. I certainly shouldn’t yearn for someone who could never be mine. Nathan couldn’t be mine. I knew what would happen if he and I swapped blood.

There was no way I could have an intimate relationship with him without tasting him. My willpower was pretty strong, but I knew my limits. I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from biting him during sex.

I pulled my gaze from Nathan’s limp body and turned back to Kenrid. My heart would shatter into a million pieces if I lost Kenrid. His eyelids fluttered open, but all I could see were his blown pupils. He blinked several times and moaned, then tried to sit up.

“Let me heal you first, Your Highness.” A man knelt beside Kenrid, resting his hand on my mate’s shoulder. “Please relax and allow me to help you.”

Kenrid slumped against the man. Tears welled in my eyes. I wasn’t sure he even saw me.

“Will he be okay?” I asked, hating the sound of my quivering voice.

“Yes,” the man replied. “It will take some time, but I’ll have him back on his feet soon.”

“Close his wounds now and make sure he has no internal bleeding.” Elliott’s command startled me.

I craned my head around to look up at him. Under normal circumstances, I would’ve ogled his naked body, but his magic pulsed in angry waves. I was so used to his magic comforting me and making me feel safe; seeing him like this broke my heart.

Elliott scowled at the man beside Kenrid. “As soon as you’re done, he’s coming with us. You have five minutes.”

My eyes widened. I’d never seen him angry or harsh to anyone. Even when he wasn’t joking and playful, he was professional. I could hardly blame him, though. The fae had betrayed us in a very personal way.

“I can’t heal him that quickly,” the fae argued.

“You better find a way,” Elliott warned, then pulled me to my feet. He pierced me with a look I couldn’t read. “Go with Nathan and Damon. He needs you.”

I searched Elliott’s face, trying to understand what he meant. Damon didn’t need me. He was fine when he left with Nathan, wasn’t he? Surely, Elliott wasn’t implying that Nathan needed me. My thoughts and emotions were too confused to resist the call of Nathan’s blood right now.

Blood …

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