Page 19 of Blood Bonds

Feeling significantly freaked out, I quickly got off the train and started to make my way up to the street level. I barely understood what was wrong with me because I honestly didn’t feel like myself. In fact, I felt like I had last night, when I kept walking myself right into trouble, unable to stop. Which was why I couldn’t help but make my way toward Central Park. Crossing the road and entering the barely lit park, which wasn’t exactly safe at night. But like I said, I couldn’t seem to help it, like something was compelling me on. So, I followed the pathway around the lake to my right and a kids playground to my left.

And I just kept going.

My feet just kept walking until I made my way around the lake and even another playground. I had no idea what part of the park I was in, having never visited this part before. How long had I even been walking? I couldn’t seem to remember.

I approached a circular garden, one perfectly manicured, and as I followed the path around I couldn’t help but gasp at the fountain in the middle… Three bronze ladies danced in a circle, each holding hands as they laughed, their faces full of mischief and glee.

I could imagine in the light of day it was a cheerful sight but right now, it was nothing short of creepy. It was as if any minute I expected their heads to all turn my way and scare the shit out of me.

“What the hell am I doing here?” I asked myself aloud, and my answer came from behind when I heard a rustling noise.

I turned and saw a man dressed in black with his hood raised emerge from behind a bush and began heading my way.

Oh, hell no.

I quickly ran back to the main path, this time following it around until I saw a small brick building. A sign that saidMentold me it was a public toilet. It was also covered in twisted vines and little brick hexagon windows.

I kept running, looking behind me to check if anyone was following me when I should have been looking straight ahead. Because suddenly I ran square into someone. Someone big enough to catch me, and someone strong enough that they didn’t even take a step back from the force. Of course, my body’s natural response was to bounce back, something I would have done had the person not gripped the tops of my arms to prevent this.

My panicked heart skipped a beat as I started to look up… and up some more. Then the moment I reached the stranger’s face I couldn’t help but gasp.

The man was beautiful.

Hauntingly so.

Chapter 8

Guns and Coffee

Adark untouchable beauty.

He reminded me of some ancient warrior. Like a general who would command his armies into battle and insight fear into his enemies with just a look.

He had the type of face that would no doubt become a constant in my dreams, just like the one last night. Although unlike the man they called Mr. Erebus, this man was the dark to his light. He had dark brown eyes, and a dark trimmed beard covering the lower part of his face, framing a pair of lips I suddenly wanted to trace with my fingertip. The bottom one was slight bigger than the top, and they gave nothing away… they didn’t move. Not like last night where the Vampire had expressed his cruel amusement freely.

No, not this man. He continued to give nothing away as his dark eyes accessed me, the deep-set gaze seemingly penetrating through every layer and seeing right down into my soul. The shadows at the top of his nose were more prominent as he narrowed his gaze down at me after it seemed like his nostrilshad flared for a second. Did I smell or something? And had he just muttered something to himself?

His dark hair, wavy and pushed back from his face, had me wondering if it was longer and currently tied back. Added to this was his high cheekbones, giving him a slightly regal, exotic look.

“I’m… I’m so sorry but I thought someone was following me and…” At hearing this, his eyes lifted and now that harsh gaze was directed at someone else.

He was more than a foot taller than me and put my eyeline at his chest, where I could see his black shirt had enough buttons undone to showcase the barest hint of his skin and the long lines of his neck. And once again, my fingertips itched to touch him, to stroke up his skin and along his jawline.

“I will deal with this,” he said, finally speaking, and I swear I thought my toes would curl. I even felt slightly lightheaded when hearing it, a voice so deep it became almost frightening. Then he shifted in front of me protectively and I found myself moving the way he wanted me.

Jesus, the guy was almost as big as the guy last night, although this man’s muscle was hidden under a black suit. I could also see from where I stood that I had been right, half of his hair was tied back. It was a sight that made me wonder what it would look like free and wild, running through my hands…would it be as soft as it looked?

Soooo not the time for fantasizing, Nessa.

The second I heard the sound of the hooded man approach us, I looked around the bulk of him and stated the obvious.

“That’s him.”

The man that had named himself to be my protector looked down at me over his shoulder, and I glanced up in time to see the slightest of smirks as his lips twitched. It was as if he found my obvious observation amusing. And as for obvious observations, the hooded man seemed startled at first when coming aroundthe corner and finding I was no longer alone. For a second, he seemed to think twice but then I gasped when I saw him pull a gun from the waistband of his sweatpants.

Instantly, my hands found their way to my protector’s sides and I held on, making him tense the moment I did. In fact, had we not been faced by such a threat, I would have apologized for doing it. But when he didn’t shrug me off, I decided it didn’t matter. If we were both about to die then I might as well die holding onto someone as beautiful as him. Who knows, perhaps this dark angel would take me back to Heaven with him.

“Give me your wallet, asshole!” the thug demanded, and the man in front of me held his hands open, slightly to the sides as if he was surrendering.

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