Page 83 of The Vampire Kingpin
I’d been so afraid ever since Jared had dragged me into the shadows and out of the building, where he’d pushed me into a waiting limo. The entire ride I’d fought a raw, terrible fear that something had happened to Spider, because otherwise he’d never have let Jared take me out of the ballroom.
Jared had been agitated. He’d taunted me that my lover had been staked, and I’d died a little inside, until it hit me that Jared was lying, because I knew that Spider was still alive.
Now Spider’s eyes burned into mine. Something passed between us and I felt his terror, a twin to mine. Terror, and a fierce determination.
I’m here, Lark, and I’ll burn Manhattan to the fucking ground if I have to. Because I’m not losing you now.
I drew a shaky inhale. Okay, then.
Jared snarled, “Come back, damn you,” and I cut my eyes to the side in time to see his bodyguards slipping away.
“No way,” one muttered. “This is Kral territory. They’re in charge.” He jerked his head at the three dark-haired, tuxedoed men with Spider, who now that I looked closer, appeared to be a trio of Greek gods come to life.
Zaq Kral sauntered forward, followed by a guy who had to be his younger brother Rafe. And the third had to be Gabriel, the Kral crown prince.
Holy crap, the Kral Dark Angels themselves had come to my rescue. What kind of favor had Spider done Zaq, anyway?
“Look, Zaq.” Jared pitched his voice to be heard about the helicopter’s engine. “I don’t want any trouble with you. The woman signed a contract with me.”
Zaq shrugged his big shoulders, but before he could speak, Spider moved into the light.
“She didn’t sign anything,” he said in ringing tones. “Her parents did.”
“That’s right,” I muttered, adding, “Without my knowledge or permission.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Jared growled in my ear.
I scowled but obeyed. Jared was on a hair trigger. It wouldn’t take much to set him off.
“Look, dude,” said Zaq. “Spider’s a friend. Find another woman.”
Jared stiffened. He glanced at where Spider had moved into the light. “That jumped-up Underworld lord?”
That was a mistake. Zaq’s expression darkened, and Spider stiffened, his muscles hardening under the elegant tux.
“That’s right,” Zaq said. “Now let Lark go and maybe you walk out of here alive.”
“Not so fast.” Jared’s fingers dug painfully into my throat. “I want a guarantee.”
Rafe cut through the tension. “No problem, dude. We can work something out.”
Spider eased another step forward. He looked calm, almost bored, but I was picking up his emotions like I would a human’s, and he was literally vibrating with a savage, you-touched-her-now-you-die fury.
My mouth dropped open as the realization hit me. That was the mate bond I was feeling. It ran between us like a live wire, crackling with intensity.
We were mates?
So much of what had happened made sense now. The way we’d immediately connected. The constant battle not to fall head over heels for him. The way he was the most beautiful man in the world to me, even when surrounded by the Dark Angels.
His gaze held mine, and somehow, I knew that he felt it, too.
Spider’s protectiveness, his need, his rage, all of it surged through me, binding us together in a way that defied logic. The world narrowed to the space between us, and I knew, without a doubt, that I was not alone in this fight, and that I wasn’t fighting just for my survival, but for Spider’s—and vice versa.
I stood a little taller, outwardly relaxed, but inside I was grinning like a freakin’ wolf because Jared Darkman was going down.
Zaq and Rafe spread apart. I sensed Jared’s distraction, his head turning from side to side, following them.
It was the chance I’d been waiting for. I slipped the dagger from my glove.
