Page 103 of Bitten

“I. Don’t. Need. It,” Kane murmured before kissing Ralnur, taking his breath away.

Ralnur let the magic that had been accumulating within rage. The necklace had drained much of it—perhaps too much. But he had to try.

Lifting his hand and letting lose, he sent a blast into the middle of Kane’s chest. It knocked the vampire to the stone floor, his head slamming down. He turned to search for the gem and saw Caelian standing there holding it.

“Place it on his chest!”

Caelian ran over and laid it on Kane. Ralnur shot another blast, forcing the amulet to burn into Kane’s skin. The dhampir screamed in pain, but he wouldn’t stop. He sent another blast of power, forcing the amulet deeper, and fusing it to Kane’s spine. Made one with Kane’s body, he’d not be able to toss it away so easily.

Dropping to his knees, weak from wearing the amulet and the blast, he saw the gaping hole in Kane’s chest and knew the dhampir needed blood to heal. Ripping at his wrist, he sliced the vein before offering it to Kane—who took to it instinctively.

“No!” Caelian screamed. “You’re too weak.”

“He needs to heal,” Ralnur whimpered before collapsing onto Kane’s chest.

Ralnur drifted into darkness, feeling the suckle at his wrist.

* * * *

Sacrifice…

Caelian slid to the cold floor and pulled Ralnur’s wrist from Kane’s mouth, but the dhampir had too strong a hold. He yanked again, but couldn’t break the bite. Knowing it might be the only way, he slit his own wrist—using one of Kane’s claws—and offered his blood to Kane.

“Let him go,” Caelian roared. “Take mine. I’m the one at fault. Not him. Take mine!”

Kane released Ralnur’s vein and turned to Caelian’s.

That first bite made him moan.

The need pounded in his veins…

Kane had already nearly drained him twice before that night. He wasn’t sure he would survive another bite, but he wouldn’t allow Ralnur to suffer for his sins. If he would die here and now, giving his blood to his mate—perhaps that sacrifice would be enough to keep him from hell.

And keep Kane from forever hating him.

* * * *

Back to square one…

Kane awakened, the blood he was drinking rich and delicious. He drank deep, starving for some reason. His chest ached, a burning sensation. Pulling his mouth from the wrist he suckled, he saw it belonged to Caelian.

Shoving it away, he growled at Caelian.

And saw Ralnur lying across him.

Across a huge wound to his chest.

“What the hell?”

He sat up and looked down at his chest—but saw it was already healing. The bones grew, the flesh reknitted… the blood sustained him. Turning to hover over Ralnur, he brushed some of the long hair from the warlock’s face. “Ralnur? Ralnur!”

The warlock’s eyes fluttered. “Did it work?”

“Did what work?” Kane asked. He looked about and saw they were inside a cell. The king, his mates, Theis, and the dragon, Solomon, all stood outside the bars watching them. “What the hell is going on?”

“You don’t remember?” Adriel asked.

Kane shook his head. “The last thing I remember…” He searched his mind and then reached for his amulet. “I lost my amulet and couldn’t find it. It’s still missing.”

“Search the blood memories of your mates,” Theis said. “It should tell you all you want to know and more.”

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