Page 40 of Defying the Relic Hunter

“I am. Today we did the impossible.”

“We did, but none of the Elders will believe us.”I closed my eyes and snuggled into Ethan. God was I tired.

Chapter Twelve

Ugh. My mouth tasted like rotted blood and I had the headache from hell. A big, heavy body shifted beside me. My eyes shot open. Holy hell! There was a man in my bed, and I was naked! I scrambled backwards and fell on the floor with a loud thump.

“Angel?”

Wait! I knew that voice. “Ethan?” I peeked over the edge of the mattress.

His concerned gaze roved over me. “What are you doing on the floor?”

“It was a bit of a shock waking up next to a strange man.”

“I’m not a strange man, I’m your mate.”

“Who I’ve only known for about a week. It’s going to take some getting used to.”

“I’m not Ivan or your clan. You’re stuck with me. Forever. Get used to it,” Ethan stated.

I narrowed my eyes. “You really know how to turn a girl’s head.”

“I’m a warrior, not a poet.”

Ivan had loved spouting poetry, but he couldn’t fight his way out of a paper bag. “I don’t want a poet. I want a warrior with smoking hot dance moves.”

“Do you now.” Ethan scooped me up and leaned down to kiss me.

I threw up a hand. “Stop! I’ve got vampire breath.” I wiggled out of his grip and ran into the bathroom. “Where’s the friggin’ toothpaste?”

Ethan tapped the wall. A panel slid back to reveal a fully stocked medicine cabinet including toothbrushes, toothpaste and tampons. “Before you brush your teeth, I need you to drink more blood.”

My stomach rolled. “I’ll just puke it back up.”

“No. You won’t. You need to understand that I will dowhateverit takes to keep you safe. You came very close to dying yesterday. My blood makes you stronger and harder to kill.” Ethan slid into my mind and I was suddenly thirsty. Very thirsty. For his blood! To my utter horror, I latched onto his now bleeding wrist and sucked it down like it was my favorite chocolate sauce.“Get out of my head.”

“No.

Warmth seeped into my stomach and spread through my body. My headache vanished along with all my other minor aches and pains.

Ethan released his grip on my mind. “Admit it. You feel better.”

“Ok, I do, but I’m still pissed.” My stomach rumbled. “And I’m starving.”

“Breakfast burritos at Hilberto’s?”

Hilberto was my favorite Mexican food joint. “It sounds great, but Ihatewhen you use mind control on me.” I squirted some toothpaste in my mouth. To my surprise, it foamed up. Crap! I looked like I had rabies.

“I’d rather have you angry than dead.” A glint of amusement in his eyes, Ethan handed me a toothbrush.

I ran it around my mouth in a desperate attempt to get rid of the foam. “How do you feel about no sex, sugar?”

Ethan just grinned.

I jumped when ghostly hands stroked my body until I got a nipple boner. “That’s cheating.”

“All’s fair in love and war.”

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