Page 2 of Thorn of Sorrow

Vampire. The word whispered through my mind but quickly faded into the dark recesses. Closing my eyes for a second, I swayed, but those firm hands kept me from teetering over.

When I cracked my eyes open, I was staring into fathomless blue depths that steadily watched me with interest, as if debating on helping me.

“Tell me where you live,” Giovanni finally said.

Don’t give him anything that can identify you. Then how was I supposed to make it home? My apartment was ten blocks away. In my condition, I wouldn’t make it to the end of the alley before collapsing.

With no other choice, I rattled off my address, praying my stupidity didn’t get me killed.

Giovanni slid his arms around my waist, his solid body warm against mine. Whatever cologne he wore caused me to sink into him just so I could inhale deeper. “What’re you doing?”

“Getting you home, Kyson,” he whispered into my ear, his voice curling around my senses. “Hold on tight.”

No sooner had my arms snaked around him than he took off at a speed that wasn’t humanly possible. Everything around me was a blur of streaking colors, the warm air pressing into my back with a pressure that startled me.

When he stopped, I felt like we were still going. My instability had me clinging harder to him as he climbed the steps inside my building. The familiar smells surrounded me, but Giovanni’s scent still lingered in my lungs.

“Keys,” he said against the shell of my ear.

As hard as I tried, I couldn’t unwind my arms. “Front pocket.”

A groan slipped free when I felt his hand slide into my jeans. A soft chuckle tickled my ear. “You are one tempting human, Kyson.”

My breath caught. Human. Yet, for reasons that defied logic, I didn’t fear him. “Thanks…I think.”

He unlocked my door then walked inside, closing and locking it behind us. But Giovanni kept moving until he found my bedroom.

“Need you to let me go, handsome.” His hands slid down my sides, causing me to arch into him.

A seductive laugh ghosted over my cheek, sending shivers racing through me. “You’re making it hard not to ruin you, Kyson.”

Somewhere deep inside of me, he was already ruining me in a way I knew I would never recover from. His touch was warm, steady, and far more comforting than it should have been. “You’re—” I licked my lips, trying to focus. “You’re too close.”

“I am.” His fingers brushed mine as he eased me back until the bed caught me behind the knees. “Sit.”

My legs folded, and I sank onto the edge of the mattress, my balance wavering. Giovanni crouched in front of me, his hands still holding my waist, grounding me. His blue eyes scanned my face like he was reading something written there, something I couldn’t even see.

“Better?” His voice was softer now, that edge of command gone.

“Yeah.” I swallowed thickly. “Thanks.”

But he didn’t move away. His gaze lingered, trailing down to where my hands fidgeted in my lap. My fingers twisted together, knuckles pale. His hand covered mine, stilling them with an ease that made my pulse race. Even though I knew he was dangerous, I never wanted so badly for someone to kiss me.

“You should lie down,” he said, his voice rough, as if he wanted the same thing. “Get some rest.”

I nodded faintly, my body leaning forward instead of back. “Will you stay?”

His brows lifted slightly, surprise flickering over his features. Then he smiled, not the kind that bared teeth but something quieter, something…real. “For a little while.”

He helped me shift back onto the bed, pulling the blanket over me like I was something fragile. Maybe I was. His fingers brushed the side of my face as he stepped back, and I was too tired to question why the touch felt like a promise to keep me safe.

Chapter One

Kyson

I woke with a start, glancing around my bedroom, feeling the pang of regret I always felt when I realized I was no longer in the past. Giovanni hadn’t kept me safe. Osiris had still gotten his hands on me, and my life had turned into a living nightmare.

Five years and I still hadn’t found it in me to forgive Giovanni for allowing it to happen.

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