Page 13 of Bitten

The only sounds he heard were the humming and beeping of the machines… but just underneath it all, he could hear the barest sounds of Ralnur’s heart. The sound made his own chest begin to tremble, as if his heart matched the slow beating. Lifting a hand between his pecs, he felt the slight quiver.

A gasp came to his lips.

Kane couldn’t recall the last time he’d felt the beat strong enough against his hand. He lowered the hand to Ralnur’s chest and felt the same fading palpitations. Ralnur was so close to death. A matter of hours… perhaps only minutes.

It was now or never… either Kane intervened or he let the man go.

He caressed the side of Ralnur’s cheek, the skin so soft under his touch. Those blue eyes popped open again, but Kane felt sure the warlock didn’t truly see anything in his current state. Wild-eyed and panting, Ralnur was locked in a world of pain. A world Kane could save him from.

“I won’t let them kill you,” he murmured, brushing back some of the warlock’s long, black hair.

Ralnur was suffering, sweat coating his brow, his body in turmoil. “Kill me,” he whispered, begging for a different salvation than Kane had in mind.

Not happening.

He was only a half-vampire, one who had never tasted the blood of another, so he wasn’t even sure he was strong enough to do what his instincts screamed. But something within demanded he try. He would give a second life to the male… and hope Ralnur would make the most of it. After a moment, Kane sliced a line down his arm and offered the blood to Ralnur’s lips. A cry rose from the warlock, and his eyes slid back into his head before he took to the vein and drank.

Kane slid into the bed beside Ralnur and fed the dying man. Body to body, they melted together as one. Lust slammed into him, his whole body quickening. He could feel his cock lengthening, ready to claim what was his. He could feel Ralnur’s hardness against his thigh, and he struggled to refuse himself when all he wanted to do was reach down and caress the length. Kane fought that need. Ralnur was in no condition for more.

Not that he planned to claim anyone.

I can’t have a mate.

No weaknesses…

Images flashed through his mind… images of him driving into the warlock. Kane stifled a moan, dragging his gaze away from the sensual look of Ralnur suckling at his wrist. He imagined the male suckling elsewhere, feeding from another spot. Kane’s body throbbed painfully…and he closed his eyes, denying himself the erotic sight.

Soon, he felt his own strength fading… Ralnur was taking too much… Kane struggled to get his arm away but couldn’t. Finally, he tugged and fell onto the floor, his body wracking with its own pain. It felt almost like he was dying again, his body screaming from the loss of blood.

After he licked the wound to heal it, he pulled himself up and stumbled to the door. He gave one last look in Ralnur’s direction—the man was now looking more peaceful. It took a weight off his shoulders.

Even if it wasn’t working, the blood appeared to be stopping some of his pain.

If it was, a different pain would soon come—as Ralnur transitioned into the Undead.

Instinct demanded he stay at his mate’s side, to help the warlock through it. Instinct screamed at him to remain and help his male through the coming days.

But he’d come to save a life, not claim it as his.

No matter how much the need screamed in his veins, he wasn’t going to be even more selfish and mark Ralnur’s as his forever.

He’d come to offer a chance, nothing more. After another moment of watching the peace slip over Ralnur, Kane inched closer to the door. From the edge, he eyed the officer posted at the door.

The guard still slept. Idiot.

After a peek into the hallway, he saw the coast was clear. He walked out slowly, passing sleeping beauty. Once he’d gotten a few paces from the door, Kane heard voices approaching. He pulled his ballcap back on before slinking in the opposite direction. He slid into one of the doorways down the hall as he saw two guardsmen bringing another man in cuffs to the room. One of the king’s guardsmen kicked the stool the sleeping sentinel sat up before the pair shoved the cuffed guy into the room.

Once they were out of sight, Kane fled the scene, hoping his blood was enough to save the warlock’s life.

As he slipped out the back door of the hospital, a pain slammed into his chest.

And then he felt a quickening that nearly stole the breath from his lungs.

Lub-dub, lub-dub…

Kane lifted his hand to his chest and felt the beating of his own heart, stronger than it had been in years. He lifted his stare to the rows upon rows of windows that shielded those inside from that which was out.

Live, damned you.

---