Page 25 of Forced Vampire Mate

“My family aren’t the only dragons in the area,” he continued. “And vampires are not well-liked.”

Luken’s amber gaze darted to me. His expression hardened as he nodded. “We will gladly accept, then. Thank you, Bain.”

Bain nodded. “I’ll be outside when you’re ready to go.”

“No need to wait. Elara?” Luken turned to me fully. I couldn’t read his expression.

I shoveled the last of the oatmeal into my mouth. “I’ll be ready in five minutes.”

Luken nodded. “Wait outside for us, then. I’ll have to put the glamor back on.”

Bain inclined his head and stepped outside. Luken cast the glamor while I made sure my things were packed. We didn’t speak. I expected to find a dragon waiting for us when we stepped outside. To my surprise, when Bain shifted, it wasn’t into a dragon, exactly.

He was a huge wolf, twice as large as a horse. His body was covered in scales except for his head, ruff, and down his back, which had a strip of dark fur. Massive wings spread on either side of him. He nodded his head as he crouched.

“Ahh,” Luken murmured. “That’s how he smelled through the glamor. Half-dragon. Half-wolf.”

He grinned at me as he tugged me toward the shifter. I shouldered my pack, nerves churning in my stomach. I’d been expecting saddles, or at least spikes to hold onto. Now that I was climbing onto his furry, slippery back, though, only one thought crossed my mind—it would be very easy for Bain to throw us off and send us plummeting to our deaths.

Chapter 12

I was worried, when Luken settled me tight between his legs, that the flight was going to be awkward. As soon as Bain took off into the air, though, thoughts of how close Luken was and how much of his body I could feel against mine disappeared.

I clung to his arms wrapped around my waist, my fingers digging into him. Below us, the ground whirled by in a flurry of wings that made my head spin. The wind whipped in my face, sending my hair into Luken’s face. He pressed his cheek to mine, his arms possessively around me as he laughed. Damn him! How could he be having such a good time? My stomach swooped with every slight movement. I was sure any moment, I was going to be pitched off to fall to my death.

“I’ve got you,” Luken purred into my ear.

“I never liked heights,” I admitted, heart hammering in my chest.

Luken’s arm tightened. “Then close your eyes.”

He used his body to push me forward, spooning me. I closed my eyes, obeying him. When I was practically flat against Bain’s back, I was pinned between Luken and the wolf-dragon shifter. All of a sudden, I felt much more secure. The little shifts and turbulence weren’t nearly so jarring. Luken had me. He was keeping me in place. The pressure of his weight was oddly soothing and exhilarating.

Not so exhilarating as to make me forget that we were hurtling through the air miles above the ground. But enough so that I could actually breathe again.

We pitched suddenly down, and I screamed. Luken whispered reassurances in my ear but I couldn’t feel them. He pushed at the bond; I felt him, trying to get in to soothe my worries. I shoved him back. I’d take the fear over that any day!

Bain landed roughly, jostling us both. Luken slid easily from his back, but my hands and legs were numb from gripping so tightly. Luken had to pick me off Bain’s back and hold me to his side. The shifter retook his human form. We were on a bare hill from where we could see the forest sloping down before us.

“This is as far as I dare take you,” he said, running a hand through his hair.

“It’s not the train station,” I said, looking around wildly.

Bain winced. “There’s some sort of barrier. I could see it as we were approaching. I don’t know what it is, but I know it’s elvish. I’m not going to risk tangling with them. It’ll only be a day’s walk that way to the city,” he said, pointing. “Good luck.”

“We don’t have the time—” I protested, but Luken took my hand, squeezing softly. When I glanced at him, he gave me a significant look.

Trust me,he said with his eyes.

I hesitated. I’d trusted him enough to touch him last night. I trusted him enough to believe he was going to help me save Thessa and Darcie. I tried to give him a message back.You have to tell me what your plan is.

Bain nodded. He hesitated a moment longer before he retook his winged form and launched himself into the air. He took off, heading back the way we’d come. I couldn’t help but wonder if we’d just put extra time on our journey, rather than cutting it down.

“We had best get moving,” Luken said. He adjusted his pack and started to walk.

I followed him, noting the tension in his shoulders. He walked slower than was usual for him. Had he been injured during the fight, and I hadn’t noticed? I studied the way he moved and realized that, no, it wasn’t due to injury or physical impairment. He was moving cautiously as he watched our surroundings, ready for an attack at every moment.

I quickly moved to his side and kept a good grip on my staff, ready to turn it from walking stick to weapon at a moment’s notice.

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