Page 36 of Make Me Bleed

Fire and a wolf.

Bridget and Conall.

“My friends,” I tell him.

Exhaling roughly, he scrubs his palm down his face. “Yeah. I know, darlin’. You ready for the rescue party?”

Of course he knows. The first time he came after me, it was Bridget and Conall who kept him away from me.

Which is why I pat his meaty shoulder and say, “I’m not the one who’s going to need rescuing, honey bear.”

My light-hearted comment—and the use of that nickname—has him grinning at me. “If you think so.”

Before I can retort, Bridget’s magic-amplified voice booms around me; thanks to her mastery of the wind, it echoes and finds us even in the cave.

“Elise! If that bear stole you, I will light his ass up!”

Instead of taking that as a challenge from the fire witch, Hank grins. “Well… guess I better go put on a shirt.”

Knowing Bridget like I do,actions speak louder than words sometimes. Which is why, after Hank pulled on another t-shirt, ran his claws through his shaggy hair, and even shoved his feet into his boots so he could make a good second impression on my best friend, I looped my fingers through his so that we could walk out of his den hand-in-hand.

At least, that was my plan. Taking Hank’s gigantic mitt in mine, his hand swallows mine, his bulk dwarfing me as I take two steps for every one of his to keep up.

It doesn’t matter, though. His bed is in a side cave that leads to the actual opening I first saw. Once he guides me through, he lets me step in front of him so that I could bring us both outside where Bridget and Conall are waiting.

Bridget already has a ring of fire around them, showing off her temper. Conall’s hands are flexed, his claws on display. If Hank reallydidvamp-nap me, these two are prepared to get me back.

Of course, since he didn’t do anything except rescue me from my own fears and recklessness, it’s a little bit much.

I nod at Conall, a regal gesture that will get through to the wolf. For Bridget, I just sigh and left my hand. Hank follows the movement, raising his arm at the same time so he can show her that he wasn’t dragging me, but rather holding my much smaller hand the only way he could.

Just in case she needs further proof that I’m staying here of my own free will, I tug on Hank’s hand.

He glances down at me.

I tug again, murmuring, “Come here, honey bear.”

He doesn’t hesitate again. Bending his knees, he drops low. With my free hand, I cup as much of his chiseled jaw as I can, then press my lips to his cheek.

Conall relaxes. Bridget dims her fire. Her wolf mate rubs her upper arm, giving a look that must get through to her even better than my display because Bridge huffs.

“Okay, fine.” The ring of fire winks out. “I won’t light him up today. Happy?”

Immensely.

If I thoughtthat Bridget would see that I was safe and sound and not being held captive by my bear, then go off on her merry way with Conall, then I didn’t know her at all.

No surprise, then, that she refuses to leave until I explain what happened. And since this is Bridget, I do. I give her the same amount of details as I do Hank at first, hoping that that will satisfy her.

It doesn’t, and I figured it wouldn’t, but it was worth a try.

“I understand how you ended up here. Following your bond and running to your mate when you were in trouble… that’s part of having a shifter as your partner. I get that. But Iknowyou, Elise. To get you out into the dark… we’ve watched our fair share of horror movies. You’re the one who always scoffs when the idiot heroine wanders off because he ‘heard something’. There’s something more to it?—”

“And so what if there is,” cuts in Hank. “You’re her friend, ain’tcha. Maybe you shouldn’t be bullyin’ my mate into tellin’ you when she’s had a fright.”

Bridget looks impressed that Hank is standing up to her. Impressed, and a little embarrassed that he scolded her. “You’re right. I’m sorry, Elise. It’s just…”

“There were traces of that human scent,” Conall says in that flat ‘head of security’ voice he has. “I caught it the other day. Just traces because… and I don’t say this to be offensive, Elise… but vampires stink like corpses. Like meat. It’s so powerful, and it overlays the woods near your place.” Conall’s gold eyes flicker toward Hank. “Bear msk, too. But I’ve gotten a hit on the human scent enough to know it’s been by a handful of times over the last couple of weeks. None of it’s too fresh, but if you heard something…”

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