Page 37 of Claiming the Dhampir

“Never,” I mumbled. “I …”

I paused, realizing that I was about to admit my love for him. I’d avoided thinking about the depth of my emotions for my guys until now. I would hate myself forever if Kenrid had died not knowing how I felt. He didn’t hesitate to say he loved me, that his heart and soul belonged to me. Fae couldn’t lie, so there was no doubting his truth.

I couldn’t imagine someone actually being able to hurt Damon, but he needed to know how I felt.

I lifted my head and wiped at my tears. He looked back at me with concern.

“I love you,” I said. “I’m pretty sure I can’t live without you.”

“You’ll never have to.” His hand slid up my back and his fingers threaded into my hair. “I’m angry with you for letting Alyssa take you, but I understand why you did. I’m also concerned that you entranced Nathan.”

“He wouldn’t take my blood,” I said, more than a little defensive and very emotional. “I couldn’t let him die.”

“I agree, we could not let him die, but there might have been a different way,” he said. “Now that Nathan has had you, it will be far more difficult for him to resist the call of your blood. He may very well blame you for his new dependence because you coerced him into taking the first sip.”

My eyes widened. “You mean he’ll be addicted to my blood? Like a drug?”

“Why do you think Conrad looked like a walking skeleton?” he asked in response.

I didn’t want to remember the morbid vampire who’d tried to enslave me, but it was impossible to forget his bony features. He was incredibly gaunt. Was it withdrawals from his last dhampir? Hadn’t the guys said it’d been one hundred years or more since his dhampir were taken away?

“I didn’t know,” I whispered. “Why did you let me give him my blood, knowing he’d end up an addict?”

“The alternative would have been to let him drain a few humans. He would’ve hated us and himself if we’d kidnapped Alyssa’s neighbors to save him,” Damon replied. “He would’ve died before we made it back to his supply of blood at the fortress. Had I known what Brance had planned for Nathan, I would’ve brought blood with us. I should’ve anticipated it, though. I should’ve been prepared, and I wasn’t.”

I dropped my forehead onto Damon’s wide shoulder and sighed. He blamed himself, which was stupid. “It takes more than once, right? He shouldn’t be addicted because of one little taste.”

Damon tugged at my hair, and I lifted my head. He stared back at me with an indecipherable look.

“He had more than a little taste,” Damon said. “We’ll deal with the consequences this evening when he wakes up. In the meantime, you need to eat. I’ve asked Elliott to bring us food. And yes, he’s bringing Kenrid with him.”

His mention of food made my stomach growl. Mir also perked up. After the stress of the last few hours, and my blood donation, we were both hungry.

“Yes, I was talking about feeding your dhampir,” Damon said.

The smile he gave me eased some of the tension between us. I remembered how rude Mir had been to him in the truck. I winced. He was still willing to take care of her, despite her attitude.

He was being unreasonable, Mir said.

You should still apologize, I countered.

She huffed, but we both knew I was right.

“Are you two done talking about it?” Damon asked.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Talking about what?”

His smile widened. “You’re very easy to read, Lorna. Your dhampir behaved exactly as I expected. She was protecting Nathan, as she should, even though she doesn’t truly understand the threat she poses to him.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, fearing he implied that Nathan was also my soulmate. He’d mentioned it before, but I refused to acknowledge it. Besides, Nathan didn’t want me. He’d done his best to avoid me ever since I arrived.

But … Nathan had also made me a promise just before the clan meeting. He’d promised that he’d find a way to have me.

I didn’t know what to think anymore.

“We’ll discuss it later,” Damon said. “Let’s get your dhampir fed before Elliott shows up.”

He didn’t have to explain his comment to me. Elliott and I had just sealed our bond last night. I didn’t want him to walk in and see me sucking on Damon. I always ended up aroused. Even the thought of pressing my lips against Damon’s skin had me squirming.

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