Page 8 of These Deadly Dreams

Salvatore takes a step closer and Kai’s entire body goes rigid. My heart thunders in my chest and I’m not sure if it’s my reaction or Kai’s. Perhaps it’s both. Cade’s hand tightens on my shoulder, almost to the point of pain.

The king of the vampires reaches out a hand and wraps one of my escaped curls around his finger. “You are a true beauty, aren’t you?”

His dark eyes flash red at the same time he grabs more of my hair and yanks my head to the side, exposing my neck. His free hand comes up and traces the column of my throat. With his thumb pressed on my pulse point, he leans his head forward. Cade squeezes my shoulder, like he’s debating pulling me away but is afraid of how Salvatore will react. If he’s currently in predator mode, it will incite violence for Cade to yank me out of the way.

I whimper and my heart stutters. The vampire king feels it under his thumb and he grins. A low chuckle rumbles up his throat. I’m sure my fear is only making this game more fun for him.

Before he can move another inch, Kai slams into his dad with an inhuman growl. Cade uses the distraction to shove me behind him, his magic springs up to surround us. My fingers tingle but I suppress it. If I show this man I can use magic, I’ll become even more interesting to him.

Kai presses his father against the wall with a hand at his throat. “Don’t ever touch her again. Don’t even think about touching her. I will destroy you if you do.” His words are guttural and hard to discern over the insane length of his fangs.

Salvatore Thorne doesn’t look a bit phased. He laughs darkly and studies his son. “Interesting,” he mutters. He shoves Kai off of him and straightens his suit jacket. “I want you two in my office in ten minutes. We have business to discuss.” Before he walks away his gaze lands on me hiding behind Cade. “I’ll be seeing you again, I’m sure.”

With that parting remark, the king of the vampires turns and disappears down the hallway.

“Fuck!” Kai screams. “Gods damn, motherfucking, asshole!” He shoves his hands through his hair roughly and paces back and forth in front of Cade and me. “I swear, if he so much as looks at Ellis again, I’ll rip his fucking heart out of his fucking chest and shove it down his fucking throat!”

I swallow at his outburst. I’ve never seen Kai so angry before. His whole body is tense, almost vibrating with aggression that is begging to be let loose. I can feel an energy surrounding him that raises the small hairs on my arms. His gray eyes are burning bright red, like the fires of hell itself. This is the predator I was afraid of when we first met.

Cade sighs and pulls his phone out of his pocket. He sends off a quick text before grabbing my hands and tugging me toward the library. “Come on, I need to make sure the wards are still good before we meet with him.”

Kai follows us, a thundercloud of anger and rage threatening to sweep us away. Cade keeps one eye on our surroundings and the other on Kai. I keep silent, afraid I’ll do or say something that will set Kai off even more. I’m not sure how to handle this situation.

In the library, I settle on the couch while Cade walks around doing his thing to make sure the wards are all still in place. I keep my gaze on Kai as he paces back and forth. His fists clench and unclench causing his muscles and veins to pop with each squeeze. A muscle ticks in his jaw and his eyes are almost glowing red. Pissed doesn’t begin to describe the state he’s in.

The door opens and Sterling walks in, shirtless as always. I let myself appreciate his sculpted torso and the wolf and moon tattoo there. His gaze lands on me as soon as the door closes behind him, and our eyes lock. There is no denying the connection between us. I feel the tug in my middle that tries to propel me toward him. I could get lost in his icy blue eyes and the emotions swirling through them.

But then I remember what he did. Both lying to me as well as almost dying to protect me. I’m not sure how to process either of those things, so I get up and walk through the shelves, looking for a book.

I let my fingers trail along the spines. Reading has always been one of my favorite things to do. After my mom and sister died, I didn’t read as much. I lost some of the joy I found from it. After Sam changed and turned into a monster, I lost all of the joy I found in novels.

I meander along the shelves until I come across a section with romance books. I hesitate a second before pulling one down. Romance books were always my first choice. I loved the idea of being the center of someone's world. Of being cared for and loved. My past has taught me romance books are just that. Books. A fantasy that will never come true. Reading them began to depress me as my relationship with Sam turned uglier and uglier.

I hold the book in my hand, running my fingers over the cover. I’m no longer in that relationship. I have two guys, maybe three, who put me at the center of their world. They claim to love me. Even with everything going on and everything we’re learning. I wasn’t lying when I said I don’t know who I am anymore.

In ten years, I lost my mom and sister, two people who meant the world to me. I was beaten and raped for two years by someone who was supposed to love me. The man I thought was my dad let it all happen. Then one day, I find out that man is not my dad. My real dad killed my mom and sister, tried to have me killed. Now, I find out I’m fated to be with three guys, and I’m supposedly a mythical creature who is feared above all the others. How does a person process all of that?

I take the book back to the couch with determination. I guess the first step is reclaiming the things I enjoy and not letting my past steal them from me. Curled up against the arm rest, I crack open the book and begin to read. I’m distantly aware of Kai’s continued pacing and Cade walking the perimeter of the room to check the wards. I know Sterling is sitting across from me on the chair, doing something on his phone.

I’m halfway through the first chapter when Cade approaches. He pulls the blanket off the back of the couch and settles it over me, and my heart squeezes at the gesture. Kneeling in front of me, he takes my face in his hands.

“You’re still safe in here, I promise. I added a few more protection spells just in case, but as long as you stay in here, he can’t hurt you.”

“Is Kai going to be okay?” I gaze at my beloved. He’s still pacing, still cursing under his breath. Still tense and looking at the room through glowing red eyes.

Cade looks at Kai for a second before turning back to me. “He … he’ll …”

I bite my lower lip. Cade always seems so sure. To see him hesitate like this makes me uneasy.

“Depending on what his dad wants us to do, it might take him some time to calm down. He will probably need an outlet for his aggression when we get back.”

My stomach flips over at his words. I know what kind of outlet that will be. He gives me a knowing smile and a wink, but his smile falls and he turns serious again.

“Just, understand that he might be a little more protective of you for a while. If he feels like there’s a threat to you, he might not be able to control himself. Try to be patient with him.”

“Always,” I whisper.

“I love you, Ellis.” He kisses me softly before standing.

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