Chapter 9

“Andrei!” Lynda rushed to Andrei, unconscious and bleeding on the couch, but Pierre snatched her arm.

“Careful, we don't know how much blood he's lost, and he might attack you.”

Andrei wouldn't harm her…she could feel it in her bones. Still, she waited for Mihnea’s nod before stepping forward.

“Not too close.” He kept a hand on Andrei’s shoulder.

She swallowed the dry lump pressing in on her throat. “What happened?”

Wounds and bite marks covered Andrei’s neck and arms. Two deep gashes had been cut into his chest through his shirt like someone had stabbed him.

“A second swarm of vampires attacked the hospital.” Mihnea cringed. “By the time I got there, Andrei had killed eleven of them, but was too weak to fight their leader. Bastard nearly bled Andrei dry before I showed up. I had to bring him here. He's already had four blood bags, but they don't seem to be helping.”

“What happens if he doesn’t heal?” She knew some about vampires and their quick healing capacity so why wasn’t Andrei recovering?

“He’ll become a Nosferatu.”

“Like the old movie?” She sputtered. The one with the monstrous-looking vampire.

“Yes, in a way. That movie was inspired by what happens to a vampire when we are too injured to heal properly. The longer he is like this,” Mihnea waved a hand toward his brother, “the faster he’ll lose who he is and become a blood-craving fiend.”

“Like when your kind go into bloodlust?”

“Worse.” Pierre shook his head. “There won’t be any coming back from becoming a Nosferatu…it’s permanent…and the Andrei we knew will be gone.”

What if it was too late and feeding him did nothing? She had to do something, and every second counted.

Lynda squeezed Mihnea's shoulder, her mouth dry at what might happen to Andrei and at the haunted look in both brothers’ eyes. “Let me help.”

Sometimes vamps required fresh blood, not the stored stuff. She didn't know how much, but Andrei had fought to protect her, then again at the hospital to keep the innocent safe. Offering help was the least she could do. She just hoped both Mihnea and Pierre would be able to hold Andrei back if his bloodlust decided to take every last drop she had.

She lifted her wrist and pushed her sleeve back. “Here, let him drink from me.”

Behind her, Pierre snarled. “It's too dangerous in his current state.”

“Do you have any better ideas?” She stared down at Andrei. His face was so pale despite his spray tan. Sweat beaded across his forehead and his cropped curly hair was damp. But what worried her the most was his unresponsiveness. He hadn't flinched or anything since she and Pierre came out of the bedroom and found him bleeding on the couch.

“I'll go round up a couple of homeless people and let him drain them,” Mihnea said.

Lynda faced him. “Absolutely not. Anyone willing is fine, but you’re not abducting people off the street.”

“Better someone who won't be missed than you.” The muscle along Mihnea's jaw twitched as he clenched his teeth.

“No, I won't endanger anyone else.” She crossed her arms. “Besides, from what you’ve told me I don't think he has that much time.”

Mihnea looked behind her to Pierre, then sighed. “Fine. But two minutes only. “With butterflies dancing in her stomach, she stepped forward.

“I'll get a blade,” Pierre disappeared into the kitchen and ran back with a silver-looking knife.

“I thought one of you would just bite me to open the vein.” She held out her arm amazed that it didn't shake. Tonight was a night of firsts: first time in a limo, first time chased by vampires, first time making out with not just one but two men, and now she was going to feed a vampire.

“If mine or Mihnea's saliva enters the wound, Andrei's primal instincts will kick in even stronger. His vampire nature will recognize it as a threat in his current state. No, your blood must not be tampered with.”

Her stomach lurched. Second thoughts plagued her, but she had to help Andrei. Her heart hurt seeing him lifeless.

“Do it.” She nodded.

Mihnea scooted beside the couch until he had all of his weight on top of Andrei. His hands holding down his brother's shoulders.

“I've got him. You just break the contact when the time is up.” He glanced at Pierre, then nodded to her. “Don't pull away when he starts.”

“Why not?” Best to know all of the ramifications of everything. And there was always the chance that Andrei could take so much blood so fast that she’d die before either Mihnea or Pierre could stop it.

“For the same reason you don't run from wolves or any other predator...it will cause his instincts to turn feral.” Pierre gently grasped her hand, holding the silver blade above her wrist. His dark eyes met hers, and he paused to wait for her acceptance.

“I understand.” She winced when the knife sliced into the skin across her wrist. Thick drops of blood welled up from the cut and Pierre hissed out a breath.

She placed her bleeding wrist to Andrei’s mouth.

For a moment, nothing happened. Andrei stayed motionless, no frantic feeding or even a fraction of movement. She kept her bleeding wound beneath his nose and pressed it down to his lips. Were they too late?

Then a tugging sensation hit her wrist from his mouth clamping onto her. It was painful at first, but soon calming. She swayed on her feet. The room around her suddenly spun.

Shouts sounded far away.

“Lynda,” Andrei said, holding a hand out to her.

Both of them were surrounded by blue, snow-covered mountains. She glanced down to find herself standing on a castle ledge. Grey, worn stones under her boots. And snow flurries kissed her nose.

“Where are we?” She asked, taking his hand.

Andrei smiled and patted her hand. “One of my fonder memories of the castle in Romania.”

“In Transylvania?” She raised her eyebrow.

He chuckled, pulling her hand around his arm as they strolled along the inner castle wall. “Yes. The castle borders Transylvania and Wallachia in Romania.”

A man in a black cloak rode a horse across the snow-filled hill toward them.

“Who is that?” She wondered out loud.

“Mihnea with news of the Turks and that he and father have pushed back their army.”

She turned to Andrei. “What am I doing here? In your memory?”

The last thing she remembered, she was with all three brothers at the safe house, but Andrei had been hurt.

“You were bleeding.” She pushed against his shoulder so that he looked at her instead of his approaching brother. The magical scenery of this place had enchanted her at first, but now something was wrong. She was pretty sure she wasn't supposed to be here.

“No, I am unharmed.” He held out his hands for her to inspect him. His tunic was dark and clung to his arms and chest highlighting the bulge of his muscles. His cloak was midnight black like his brother's.

She shook her head to keep her focus. “I'm not supposed to be here. I gave you my blood to help you, and then I ended up here. How do we get back...to my time in the modern world?”

“Are you a witch?” He scowled, his brows furrowing. “What gibberish spell did you cast?”

She snorted. “I'm not a witch, I'm a matchmaker...well, I run a service to help people find their mates, and I'm helping you and your two brothers find—”

He grasped her by the throat and hauled her to the side of the castle wall. “Who are you? I've only one brother.”

She clawed at his hand, the stone digging into her back. “Please, Andrei. Don't.”

Her lungs screamed for air. Dizziness pressed against her skull. She felt her life force slipping away. She kicked and jerked to get free, but his grip was like steel that kept squeezing. Her limbs grew heavy.

Her life flashed before her eyes. The past loves she'd pushed away for the sake of guarding her heart and not ending up miserable like her mom and countless others she'd seen.

But they all said they'd do it all again to have love one more time. She'd thought they were all insane. Now she'd had a taste of it with these three brothers...three vampires. And she was going to fight to live and fight for love.

“Andrei,” she choked out, yanking on his steel fingers. Her whole life she’d been afraid of giving in, of love. Now that she was dying, she wasn’t afraid anymore. She held up her wrist which was now bleeding profusely. “I give you my blood, my life, my love. Take what you will.”

He tightened his hold on her throat, and she stared into his crimson eyes. Her last breath came out as a slight gasp.