Page 1 of The First Year Continued
Chapter One
Odin
Caught between bliss and anguish, each pull of Roxy’s mouth sucked more of my life force from my body. I swayed toward her, bracing my hands on either side of her body. I didn’t want to hurt her but knew that my strength would give out any second.
The edges of my vision became so cloudy, I closed my eyes and sank into the abyss—farther and farther. Darkness washed over me. Pulled me under. Tugged on my consciousness until I barely remembered my name.
Or if I was still alive.
“Roxy!” someone called from a distance. I recognized the voice but couldn’t recall the name of the owner. “Roxy, you have to stop. Stop!”
Hands clamped on my shoulders and wrenched me backward. I would’ve caught myself if it weren’t for the debilitating jelly my legs had turned into. My body weighed a thousand pounds. Clattering and rushing movements swirled around me. I landed in a slapping heap on the cold floor. Oh, the chill felt so nice compared to the fever that had wrapped me in its embrace.
Cold. Sleep. So damned sleepy.
“Odin.” My face stung from the impact. Ouch, that hurt, damn it.
Did Sol slap me? That insolent prince. He was going to pay for that…as soon as I could move my arms and legs again. I tried to lift my hand to bat him away, get him to let me drown, but my hands were made of lead and even my shifter strength was of no use.
“Odin, wake up. You’ve got to open your eyes. We have to make sure you’re okay.”
I would’ve loved to wake up. Damned eyes wouldn’t open.
Fight back. Wake up. Wake up!
My wolf sent me a surge of energy. Magic trickled through our connection, dripping at first, and then a big push had me inhaling all the oxygen in the room.
“There. Open your eyes, big guy.”
I shot up to a seated position and used all my concentration to force my eyelids open. I was in Roxy’s room. Evander had his arms around her waist and his legs wrapped around her hips. A thin scarlet ribbon made a river that started at the corner of her mouth and meandered down her jawline and to her throat. Fangs, vampire fangs, sharp and white, protruded from her gums.
Her eyes were wild. Wide. Large. Nailing me down.
“Is she okay?” I asked. “Roxy? Are you okay?”
Her breaths slowed, and it was her turn to close her eyes.
Sol crouched beside me. “Is she all right? Are you?”
Why was he worried about me? Why me and not her?
The moments before my capture by the darkness all came flooding back. Finding Roxy in the stairwell. Bringing her to her room. This room. Yes, we were in her room. Why was it so hard to remember that?
She pulled me in. I thought she was going to kiss me.
Then she sank those fangs right into my neck. A burst of pleasure and passion took over the pricks of pain.
Then there was the throbbing of my heartbeat in my temples.
The drumming of my slowing heart.
The gulps and grunts as she pulled me closer, tugging at my clothes. Pulling me closer—closer still.
She couldn’t stop. Her need flowed from me, from her body to my wound and threaded into my soul.
“Odin, gods damn it. Answer me!”
“I’m here.” I could form no other response at the moment.
