Page 57 of Vows Forged in Blood

I’m going to die.

Chapter 28

ALARIC

No. No. NO!

A roar tears from my throat, a primal, deranged sound that I’ve never heard before. My thoughts are a maelstrom of panic and fear and fury. My mate is in danger.My mate. My mate. My mate.

I’d come to find her once LaRouche finally left the camp, practically coming out of my skin with the need to see her. Her chef had told me she’d come to the pond she usually frequents with Nova and Wesley some hours ago, and when I’d come into the edge of the clearing, I’d smiled. She’d fallen asleep on a blanket in the middle of the field, near a crimson oak that overlooks the water. She’d looked beautiful, face soft and relaxed in slumber, lips slightly parted. I’d come so, so close to kissing those lips not three days ago. I knew how foolish it was, how irresponsible, but I couldn’t stop myself. If Caldwell hadn’t interrupted, I don’t know that I would have stopped at a kiss. I don’t know that I could ever be satisfied with a mere brush of my lips to hers.

I’d watched her for a minute, so lost in memories and fantasies that I hadn’t caught their scent or heard their approachuntil it was too late. The herd of hellcats burst through the trees, barreling directly for Dahlia. My heart had clenched in my chest, twisting painfully as terror choked me into near immobility.

“KEEVA!” I’d roared, willing her to hear me, putting everything I had into the bond between us, hoping she could feel my fear and panic, praying it would wake her in time. She jolted upright, looking a little dazed, but she turned and met my gaze immediately, as if she’d known I was here. I’d taken off towards her, running as fast as I could, everything around me blurring around the edges as I sped across the field. She pushed herself up to her feet, turning to see what was coming for her, and I could feel the terror seize her, the cold realization: there isn’t enough time.

She whirls back to me now, gaze meeting mine, pleading for me to save her when we both know I won’t make it.

“Alaric,” she whispers, and even across the distance, I hear her voice as if she’s whispered it directly into my ear.

“NO!” I roar. I almost lost her once, and here I am, about to lose her forever. I think the Goddess of Fate must be punishing me for refusing the gift she bestowed me in Dahlia, in giving me not only a mate, but someone I love more than my own life.No. I will not lose her. I refuse. I snarl a curse at the goddess, telling her to fuck right off. Something within me cracks then, splintering and opening, but notbreaking. No, it’s as if new, raw power I never could have imagined is pouring through the cracks, filling every fiber of my being.Purpose. That’s what’s filling me now, erasing everything else. Purpose. My purpose is to protect this woman, to protect what is mine, in all ways, forever.

I have no idea how it happens, but somehow, between one heartbeat and the next, I’m beside her, pulling her against me and diving to the side just as the first hellcats race by. A spiked tail catches me across the back and I grit my teeth against theswift flash of pain, but I’ll take it gladly if it means that Dahlia is safe and out of harm’s way.

We tumble together down the hill. I try my best to tuck my body around hers, to use my own as a shield as we fall, slamming into rocks and sticks until we finally come to rest in the small hollow beside the stream. The stampede continues on above, running parallel to us atop the hill, but still, I don’t move, continuing to cradle her body beneath mine. The ground shakes all around us from the force of the herd and she grips the front of my shirt, pulling me even harder against her, shrinking into my body.

Finally, the shaking eases and I know the herd has moved on. I slowly push myself up so I can see her. She’s wide-eyed and breathing hard, pulse racing, but looks to be mostly unharmed.

“Keeva. Keeva, are you alright?”

She takes a shuddering breath but nods.

“I’m ok.”

I brush the hair from her face, pushing myself up onto one arm so I can inspect her more thoroughly.

“You’re certain?”

“Yes, I’m alright, I promise. You saved me—again,” she says, breathless.

“Gods, Dahlia, I thought—” I bite back the words, unable to give them life. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to calm the storm raging inside me. Panic, terror, need, fury. It’s too much. Suddenly, her hand is on my cheek, her soft skin burning me where she touches my face. My eyes fly wide and lock with hers.

“I’m alright,” she says again. “Breathe, Alaric.” I let out a long, shuddering breath and put my own hand over hers, holding it to my cheek and leaning into her touch, needing it so badly that I’m positive that I’ll die without it. I almost laugh—she almost dies, and here she is comfortingme. Whatever filled me before, whatever gave me the power to get to her, isn’t subsiding.Every fiber of my being is calling out to her in ways I can’t comprehend.

My eyes skate down her throat.

“You’re bleeding,” I say, voice thick and rough, and I finally release her hand.

She blinks and moves her fingers to her neck, finding the small cut. It isn’t a deep wound, but enough that the blood is flowing easily. She holds her hand before her eyes, examining the crimson painting her fingers. Then she lowers them, holds my gaze, and very deliberately tilts her head, exposing her throat to me.

“Take it,” she whispers.

“Dahlia,” I warn, even as my mouth waters, my fangs sliding out.

“It’s yours, Alaric. Everything…all of it…it’s yours.” A shudder runs through my body at her words. Is she saying…no, it can’t be…but I feel it in the bond between us, feel the dangerous truth in what she’s saying: she’s telling me that she’s mine. Not a bond, not an instinct, but she, herself, is telling me. I swallow hard as I eye the blood flowing from her neck, her offer echoing in my head…

I will not bite her. I will not…

But I do lean down, unable to stop myself, and slowly run my tongue along the gash. She gasps and shudders as a tremor works its way through my body, the taste of her blood like a chemical shock to my entire system. I pull back ever so slightly, but she grips my shirt and pulls me back towards her, arching her body upward. I keep my fangs firmly in check but I do lean down again, burying my face in her neck and latching my lips around the wound, sucking gently.

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