Page 250 of Flirting with Darkness

DAVLOV

Iopened the SUV’s door for Sorcha and helped her down.

“Thank you, Davlov.” Her sweet voice and shy smile eased the tension in my body. I took a steadying breath and nodded. The blonde-haired, alluring human looked at the Count.

He nodded to her, giving her a small smile. “Go on in, Sorcha. Go and rest. I need to talk to Dav. I also have some work to do tonight, so I will see you tomorrow.”

“Okay.” She glanced up at me before quickly dropping her gaze to the ground. “See you later, Dav.”

I nodded at her though she didn’t see.

Bal waited until she’d gone inside. “How is Elliot?”

His question had me snapping to attention, and I couldn’t stop a low growl resonating from me. My heart thundered as he raised a brow. I ran a hand through my hair. For once it was unkempt. I’d not even shaved that morning. But the thought of my Lord hurting Elliot was killing me. I was ready to destroy this whole fucking estate, even lose my life if it meant Elliot would stand a chance of getting away.

The Count prowled towards me. He was taller than my six feet four, and though he was solidly muscled, he was sleek and looked like he’d just stepped from the pages of GQ magazine. He was lethal. His black hair hung down his back in a long braid, his pale, almost colourless eyes not missing a thing. He studied me intently, and I tensed when I felt his firm grip on my fisted hands.

“Breathe, Dav.” His eyes narrowed. “So, he is definitely your mate.” It was more a statement than a question.

I swallowed hard. There was no point in denying it. “Yes.”

He angled his head slightly. “And you would fight me to save him?”

I blinked, a battle raging in my soul. I both loved and hated that I would. I was devoted to my Lord and friend, and would never betray him, but Elliot was mine. My mate, and the only one I would ever give up everything for—including my life.

A small smile pulled on the corners of the Count’s mouth. “Your silence tells me all I need to know, my friend.”

My heart lurched.

The Count peered up at the castle windows. “Where is he?”

“No, I won’t tell you…” I croaked, wishing I’d gotten Elliot out. But he was in bloodlust. There was no way he could survive on the run while he transitioned. Selfishly, I’d wanted him where I could make sure he had everything he needed.

Except you…a little voice added.

Now Bal was going to kill him…

My whole body tensed, my vampire side punching forward. I roared. “You will not hurt him!” I yanked my fists from the Count’s grasp and punched out at his stomach, hitting air. He’d moved sideways faster than I could see.

“Elliot! Run!” I bellowed, hoping he’d hear me from the open window of his room. I hadn’t been the one to take him the bags of blood he needed to survive, but Vito told me he was doing okay, putting on weight and being a grumpy bastard, but okay. Like the sad idiot I was, I’d asked if he’d mentioned me. Vito had laughed until he cried, and told me to stop being a prick, get up there and talk to Elliot myself.

I spun, hating myself for not getting Elliot away sooner, but the Count hadn’t told me he was on his way back. He'd landed at the private airfield, and by the time I’d gotten there, he’d been waiting for me. I’d had no time.

“Davlov! Stop this, right now!” roared the Count from behind me.

I ignored him and ran as fast as I could up to Elliot's room. The Count caught me, slamming me against the wall outside Elliot's room. His fist connected with my jaw, knocking me down.

“Dav! Enough!” he snapped, a powerful wave of compulsion accompanying his words. I was too damned old for it to hold me for long, but it was enough to still me even though every instinct I had urged me to protect my mate.

“Balthazar, please, don’t hurt him.” I’d do it. I’d beg for his life…

The Count’s elegant features twisted, and I swore he looked affronted.

“Hurt him? I’ll pretend you didn’t just insult our centuries old friendship. I’d never hurt him, not when he’s your mate. What do you take me for?” He leaned down and held out his hand. “Now get up off the floor and introduce me to the man who has stolen your ice-cold heart.”

For a moment my brain didn’t compute his words. “W-what?”

He sighed and straightened his suit, dropping his hand. “I was never going to hurt him, Dav. He wasn’t ever a real threat. If he was, I’d have ended him that night. Do you really think you were the only one to watch a half-blood stranger wandering around my club? One who was totally unknown to me and in my territory? One who had no interest in the other entertainments the club had to offer? He had no clue how to behave, or what to do there. He didn’t go anywhere except to the bar, and then spent each night watching me. He has scars all over his hands and he moved like a killer, except there was no murderous light in his eyes. He was a paradox. One that intrigued me, especially when you became fixated on him.”

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