Page 99 of Vows Forged in Blood

“Did I imagine you at the Plain??”

“Yes,” she says at the same time Elias says, “no.” She cuts him a killing look but I give her a pointed one and she throws up her hands in exasperation.

“Ok, ok, fine. Yes, I was there. I couldn’t let everyone else ride off to rescue you while I just ran away to safety, so I…might have evaded da, stolen a horse, and followed the army.” She shrugs and juts her chin out in defiance.

“She’s as stubborn as you are,” Elias says, half irritated, half indulgent. It’s then that I realize that I can smell Eliasall overmy sister and I arch a brow in his direction. He merely grins, but when I cut my eyes back to Enid, her cheeks flush.

“We’ll discuss it later,” she says quietly.

“Oh yes we will.In detail,” I add, smiling.

“Alright, let yer old da in for a hug why don’t ye?” da says gruffly, and Enid huffs out a laugh, moving so that da can wrap his arms around me. Soon, everyone is having their turns and the love I feel is nearly enough to drown me.

“I always knew you’d make a hell of a vampire,” Wesley says, grinning and punching me playfully in the shoulder.

“Now we can really train you,” Nova adds excitedly. “No more taking it easy.”

“Thatwas you taking it easy on me?!” I exclaim indignantly. “I could barely walk for the first week!”

“Oh yeah, that was nothing. Child’s play,” she says, waving me off and winking.

Fiona gushes about having a new sister, Sebastian greets me warmly and welcomes me to the Clan in truth now, as a vampire. Elias hugs me, thanks me for saving them all, and promises me that he’ll take care of my sister.

We hug, we cry, we laugh. A flurry of chatter erupts around the room, everyone talking all at once in small groups, and while I’m beyond happy to see all of them, I meet Alaric’s gaze through the throng of people, and I know that what I see in his eyes is mirrored in mine.

Need. An intense, unapologetic, all-consuming need that I’ve never felt before and can’t deny much longer. And it isn’t for blood.

“Out. Now,” he says in a low, quiet command.

Elias looks between the two of us, and quickly shoos everyone from the room.

“We’ll give you two some time,” he says quickly, giving us both knowing looks. “Try not to break the furniture, yeah?” Alaric growls at him but Elias merely grins, winks, and closes the door behind him as he leaves.

In a heartbeat, Alaric is there, kissing me fiercely and pinning me to the bed, his big body covering mine and pressing me down into the soft mattress. His tongue delves, rolling and thrusting as I rip his shirt off: literally. The fabric comes apart beneath my fingers as if it’s made of parchment.

“Fucking hells,” I whisper and he chuckles lightly, using a claw to split my own nightgown down the center, the silk falling open. He quickly moves downward, sucking a harden nipple into his mouth. I moan and buck, all of the sensations more powerful than ever before. He sucks hard, then releases me only to move to the other side and twirl his tongue. He trails his hand downward and quick as lightning, slides two fingers deep inside while he bites lightly.

“Fuck, Alaric!” I cry, tunneling my fingers into his hair, begging him not to stop.

“So wet already,” he growls in approval. I rock my hips upward, desperate for more, needing him to touch and taste everywhere, all at once. Everything is so new, so different. Mymind is a roaring tumult of desire and need, needs I’ve never had before. A need to bite, a need to feed, a need to please my mate, a need to claim him. I whimper and writhe, claws and fangs flaring. I gasp as one slices into my tongue again.

“Mmmm,” Alaric moans, smelling the blood, and moves to kiss me once more, my blood mixing between our tongues like it did all those months ago, but this time, Iunderstandthe pull. I understand the power of the blood, the desire for it. I need…I want…I can’t…

“Alaric,” I whisper, somewhere between a frustrated sob and a plea. I can’t form the thoughts, let alone the words, but as always, Alaric understands me completely. His pants are gone an instant later, and he’s above me once more, hand gripping his cock and guiding it to the right spot. I arch my hips, desperate in a way I don’t truly understand. It’s something primal and animalistic. Something I can’t explain but need to obey.

Without hesitation, Alaric shoves his hips forward, gliding in to the hilt with one long, quick thrust. I cry out, my entire body bowing in utter pleasure. My fingers dig into the bed on either side of me, ripping the sheets and mattress beneath to shreds.

“Fuck,” he rasps.

“More,” I demand, nearly out of my mind.

He obeys, pulling back only to slam forward again so hard that my teeth clatter. It’s ecstasy. Again, and again, he thrusts. I claw at his back, begging him to move harder. Faster. I feel blood beneath my fingers, but he doesn’t seem to care. The scent of his blood makes my heart race and my mouth water, instincts flaring.

“Alaric,” I gasp, not knowing what to say or do. He pulls back to look into my eyes and whatever he sees there makes him understand. He shifts back, pulling me up with him so that I’m in his lap, legs wrapped around his waist. He grips my hips and moves me bodily, helping me to ride him while I grip hisshoulders. He kisses me hard, our chests slick with sweat and sliding against one another with every thrust.

“Do it, Keeva,” he growls, his voice rougher than I’ve ever heard it. I meet his gaze and his eyes are practically burning in a way I’ve never seen before. “Take,” he rasps, turning his head to expose his throat to me. I don’t even have real thoughts now, just instincts roaring and directing me. I lean forward and lick his neck, making his big body shudder beneath me. I smile against his skin.

And then I sink my fangs into his flesh.

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