Chapter 24 Coveted Lifeblood
❀ Maeve ❀
I yelped as stone flew from the impact.
The cave shuddered behind me, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave the wall.
I was between a raging vampire and a hard place. Literally.
My body trembled. I clutched my dress like armor.
Nikolai hadn’t known I’d found my mate? He was disbelieving of the fact, maddened by it. He’d threatened to trap me here!
“Nikolai…” I whispered.
His fist was still in the wall, his body balanced in that posture. His eyes were tightly shut and his chest heaved quivering breaths.
“Nikolai, who will kill me?” My voice sounded small in my ears.
A jealous lover? Was that why he couldn’t take me with him to Veilmoor? Or did he think I’d be easy prey as a wolfless rogue in the midst of other vampires?
I had to admit that the prospect scared me. Somehow, I felt more secure in IronWolf amongst wolves than the idea of being among vampires.
What if they weren’t all like him?
After what seemed like an eternity, he turned around.
After feeding from me, he looked even bigger and stronger. I gulped at the sight of his wickedly toned arms and torso, the bobbing member between his thighs.
My core clenched in recollection of how he’d felt inside me. The ache was one I knew I’d miss.
“Come here.” He rasped.
I dragged my gaze back up. His eyes seemed calmer, his hair, still damp from our passionate tryst, fell over his face.
My hauntingly beautiful vampire.
Already I felt my fear waning, but I stayed put.
He licked a fang. “I will never hurt you, Milaya. Come here.”
He could make me if I didn’t move. He was stronger, could do anything to me and I’d have zero defenses.
I hated it.
I dragged my feet to stand in front of him, my gaze locked on his damp chest. Intrusive thoughts tempted me to lick it, but damn it this wasn’t the time!
He swooped me off my feet.
I gasped.
He stepped backward until he reached the bed, and sat with my legs strewn over his thighs.
We were both still naked.
Ignoring his rapidly growing erection, I repeated my question before my thoughts went south.
“Who will kill me, Nikolai? You’re a crimson vampire. Who would dare to harm me under your protection?”
I stared at the wall, my shoulders relaxing as he ran his fingers through my hair.
“Drusilla, the Regent of Veilmoor. She’s my sire.”
Oh.
“But why?”
Why would a whole regent, with plenty other things to do, concern herself with his… mate, enough to kill me?
Unless they were fucking.
“She is very territorial. Especially over her progeny. And she’d assume you would divide my attention from service to her.”
“Are you two lovers?” I blurted.
He scoffed. “No.”
My hackles dropped, just as my heart broke.
“So there’s no way we could be together. The more reason why you should let me go, Nikolai. This was never the plan.”
He went rigid around me.
“You are my bride, Maeve. You don’t feel it because we’re not the same species, but you’re mine.”
“Then how can I be Bastian’s?”
He growled. I twisted my fingers on my thighs.
Oh how I’d just love to be back in my bed at home, with my mother.
Not having to worry about these two immortals. One who hated me but kept me close, and the other who supposedly loved me, but kept me hidden.
I bristled, recollecting the night I’d left for the ceremony. The way mother had looked at me, as if it was the last time…
She’d known. She’d known she would abandon me.
Tears stung. Had it all been a lie?
No. Something bigger was at play here. What if Sorin did take her against her will? Mother wouldn’t do this to me. Not to me.
Tears streamed down my cheeks. I swallowed back a sniffle.
Nikolai cupped my cheek, tilting my face to his.
His crimson gaze lulled me, and for a moment, I let myself fall.
“I have a plan, Milaya. Trust me, and all will be well.” He said, his voice husky.
“You can’t keep me here. I need to find my mother. I have to. Without her…” my heart tightened. “I don’t want to be without her.”
His jaw clenched.
“Once I find and kill Maverick Graves, Drusilla will be able to assume the vampiric throne. She’ll have no need for me, and only then can I come for you.”
“Why? What is he doing that is so important to her reign?”
His fingers brushed over my chin, my lips, a contemplating look in his eyes. Just when I thought he wouldn’t divulge, he spoke—
“Veilmoor can only be ruled by the chosen matriarch of the Crimson stone. Drusilla had been the eldest, but Queen Lyssa had been chosen.” His eyes glazed, distant.
“The blood of a born crimson vampire is very powerful,” he continued. “And Graves happens to have a large quantity of Queen Lyssa’s preserved blood in his possession. It’s what he uses to turn feral vampires. And because her essence still lives in the blood, Drusilla may never take the throne. Until the blood is destroyed.”
I hadn’t realized I’d been holding my breath.
I exhaled, amazed. “So Graves is in league with Alpha Mordane to destroy Veilmoor with the feral vampires?”
Nikolai flicked my chin absently. “Just so.”
But if so, then he was in grave danger staying in IronWolf! Why would he trap himself like that?
Just as I made to ask him, he stiffened. His ears twitched, his eyes narrowing.
“What’s wrong?” My stomach dropped.
Oh how I hated being defenseless. If we were to be attacked this Instant, he’d no doubt protect me. But I’d be a burden.
A burden on mother, on Bastian. On Nikolai.
Nikolai shifted me to the bed and dressed up in a blur.
“Nikolai?” My voice trembled.
“I’ll be back.” He said sternly, his eyes hard, “Stay.”
“Wait…!”
Too late, he vanished.
Traced to gods knew where.
And here I was, naked and defenseless in his cave chambers.