Page 255 of Flirting with Darkness

“Elliot!” His commanding voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Yes,” I managed to say. My pulse thundered, the tension in my shaking muscles almost unbearable. Dav’s taste lingered on my tongue, and it was driving me mad not having him near me to touch, and kiss—to bite.

“You’re about to hit your full bloodlust, I can sense it.” He smiled. “Try not to drain my second dry. I need him around for another six hundred years.”

“Six hundred years?” I breathed, my eyes wide.

“That’s right. And in all that time I’ve never seen him fall for anyone. You are his mate, making you one of the only people alive who could hurt or break him.” His eyes turned to ice. “If you do, I will hunt you down and end everything about you. Then I will bring you back from death and do it over and over again. Do I make myself clear?”

I nodded, unable to speak past the fear and respect I felt at that moment. The Count loved my man, and although that warning scared the shit out of me, it also warmed my heart. Dav was protected as fiercely as he protected the Count. “You do, Lord Rossi.”

He grinned. “Oh, I think we can dispense with formality, certainly while no one else is around, don’t you? You will belong to my friend, and he to you, that makes you family—my family. You can call me Count or Bal when we are in the confines of the castle. If we are in public, or you are working for me, Lord or Count will do.”

“Yes, Count.”

“Good. Now go. He’s waiting for you.”

“Thank you,” I said quietly.

“Go.” He made a grand dismissive gesture with his hand, but he smirked at me as he did. I turned and jumped off the stage before I broke into a run, heading through the club and sprinting up the stairs. I didn’t give a shit at that moment that the most powerful vampire lord in existence had just given me his blessing to claim his second and basically invited me into his family. All I cared about was getting to Davlov.

12

ELLIOT

My legs bounced impatiently. The helicopter landed, and before I was given the all clear to jump out, I threw off my headset and leapt, my feet slamming into the ground. Cold air buffeted me, and goosebumps rose on my skin. My reaction wasn’t because of the cold, though. It was nervous excitement and raging desire. I was going to claim Dav tonight. I’d make him see sense and use everything in my power to make him admit we were stronger together.

The headlights of an SUV flickered at me. I jogged towards them, my heart pounding. Had Dav come to pick me up?

I threw the door open, ready to jump him right there.

“Oh, it’s you.”

“Hey, don’t look so fucking disappointed, kid,” Vito said, with a shit eating grin.

I rolled my eyes. “No offence, old man, but your ugly mug isn’t the one I want to see.”

He chuckled. “I get it. I really do.”

“Yeah? Well, put your foot down then, I’ve got a mate to claim.”

“Ain’t that the truth? Maybe when you both sort your shit out, he won’t threaten to rip our heads off every damned day.”

“He did that?”

Vito just peered at me and raised his brows. “I’ve never seen him so messed up. He hated leaving you to go through bloodlust alone. Poor bastard had to force himself to stay away, even after he’d bled himself almost dry to give you enough blood to survive. He even threatened to rip my throat out if I didn’t keep my hands off you when I delivered the stuff.” He started the car. “And when he discovered you’d left…well, broken doesn’t do justice to how he looked.”

I rubbed my hand over my chest, my heart aching. “I didn’t mean to hurt him like that. I thought he didn’t want me.”

“Yeah, well, you're both a pair of bloody pricks. He hurt you, you hurt him, and all that hearts and roses shit. Now you can both fix it, and the rest of us can breathe easy again.” He pulled up at the back door of the castle. “It’s unlocked,” he informed me with a waggle of his brows.

I rolled my eyes and jumped out. Vito pulled away, the tyres crunching on the gravel. Taking a deep breath to calm my nerves, I pushed open the door, then turned around and locked it. Silence greeted me. The atmosphere was eerie, yet charged with energy. Or maybe that was just me. Soft lighting illuminated the clean lines of the kitchen, making it easy to see the bottle of Remy Martin with a crystal glass placed beside it. I grinned, picking up the note scrawled in Dav’s handwriting.

Your second favourite drink…for courage. Your favourite is waiting…xx

I looked at the key. And knew exactly where. Picking up the ridiculously expensive bottle of brandy I splashed some in the glass, the aroma making my mouth water, but not as much as the thought of Dav waiting for me. Taking the bottle and the glass, I strode down the familiar corridor. From the old castle to the modern extension, this place felt like home now. Victor’s house and coven was just a memory, one I deliberately pushed away until it was just a distant echo.

Striding steadily down the dark hallways, I made my way to the hidden door, thankful for my improved sight. Swallowing down some of the brandy, I smiled. Warmth spread through my insides. Dav knew me better than I knew myself. I had no idea what claiming a mate entailed, but I trusted him to guide me. Another swallow. My belly heated from the alcohol, but I was still starving. Clawing emptiness gripped me. I needed to feed. I needed Dav…

---