Page 51 of Blood Moon Heat

I sprinted through the trees that lined the long driveway, away from the prime’s mansion, concealed from the cars that were headed toward it. I recognized the court members, all grim-faced and pale.

Fear.

I could smell it even through steel and glass.

They should be afraid.

They should be really fucking afraid.

Seventeen

Nero

I laid Mina on my bed, while Pretender hovered at the door.

“I’m so sorry. I tried to stop them… I failed you… I…”

I turned to my ward, and he trailed off, his gaze dropping to the floor.

He had nothing to apologize for. He’d fought with everything he had. It was there in the bruises still fading and the bones that still hadn’t properly knitted themselves back together. “You almost died in your attempts to save Mina. You fought valiantly, Pretender. You don’t owe me an apology. I owe you one. I should have seen this coming. I should have stayed.”

He flinched. I’d shocked him.

I’d never apologized to him before, and I’d probably never spared my young ward a kind word in his entire time with me. Why would I when I’d been incapable of empathy, of truly seeing him? “You need to rest, to feed and recover. I’ll need you strong for what might come next.”

He blinked several times, his eyes bright, then he nodded and limped away. Guilt swarmed me immediately. These new emotions were a lot to deal with, near overwhelming. I didn’t like knowing I’d hurt him, and I didn’t know how to make it right.

I brushed Mina’s hair back from her face. Blinded as I’d been, I’d hurt her as well. “You’re home now, Lalka. I promise you I will never leave you vulnerable like that again.”

She was unconscious, panting, her chest rising and falling fast, her cheeks flushed. My blood was working its way through her system, repairing the damage done. I had no idea how long she’d be like this, how long it would take for her to wake, but I’d be here when she did.

Taking my phone from my pocket, I scrolled to Constantine’s number. His female, his mate, now that he’d fully claimed her, had just been through hell.

For the first time, I understood what my brother was feeling.

I knew what he’d suffered and I knew what asking this of him, asking my brothers this, would mean—but I’d do anything to ensure Mina was safe, and for the first time in centuries, they would understand that as well.

Mina

My eyes were scratchy when I opened them, my throat so dry, and when I ran my tongue over my lips I could feel they were cracked. It felt as if I’d been picked up by a giant and squeezed, as if every last ounce of moisture had been wrung from my body. My hand shook as I reached for the glass of water beside the bed, and as soon as my fingertips brushed the cool glass, memories flooded me.

The elders, their fangs buried deep, tearing at my flesh, ravenously draining my blood…the pain—

“Lalka, you’re awake.”

I jolted. Nero. I hadn’t even seen him there. He sat by the bed, leaning forward, his fingers around the glass I’d been reaching for. He wore only a pair of dark tracksuit pants. His feet were bare, and his pale, tattooed chest and arms flexed as he moved.

I’d never seen him like this. “You own tracksuit pants?” I rasped past my dry throat.

His lips twitched. “I do.”

I realized I wasn’t in my room, that I was in his, in his big bed, surrounded by pillows, the covers pulled up around me.

He held the glass to my lips. “Sip, then you need to feed,” he said, his voice low, husky in a way I’d never heard it before.

“What happened?” The elders. That dining room.

Nero had come for me.

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