Chapter 64 Abducted
❀ Maeve ❀
Coughs racked my body, pain vibrating down my spine. Broken?
Oh gods, no.
I dragged my battered body, arms first, fangs bared in a snarl, planning to rip Lilith the Leech a few new holes.
Through the settling dust, I saw a cloak billow in the soft wind, the scene too serene for the violence taking place.
Nikolai had his fist around Lilith’s throat. Her face was red, blood tears tracking down her cheeks as she scratched deep gouges into his arms, trying to free herself.
He turned and walked toward me, eyes blazing crimson, body thrumming with anger.
“Apologize,” he spat at Lilith.
Her lips curved around her choking breaths in a stubborn snarl. She couldn’t speak.
I looked on, astounded.
Without waiting for her apology, he set her on her feet and twisted her head to face me.
“The day you lay another claw on my bride is the day you perish by my hand,” Nikolai hissed. “Let this be a lesson to guide your intrusive thoughts.”
Then he spun gracefully, flinging his arm in a wide arc and throwing Lilith like a soft ball.
Rock caved where her body met the mountain. She hung there, married to the rock face, blood splattered around her.
My brows rose.
Nikolai immediately knelt beside me, gathering me in his arms like a babe.
“You’re hurt,” he growled.
He glanced back just in time to glare at Lilith’s body sliding down the rock and hitting the ground.
She didn’t move.
I winced. That must hurt.
My spine had already healed, my cuts and tears mending before our eyes.
I looked up at Nikolai. His lips were grim at my injuries, his arms wrapped protectively around me. My heart swelled.
He’d defended me. Avenged me.
Lilith was undoubtedly an acquaintance, but he hadn’t hesitated to show her the order of importance.
“I’m fine. I’m healing already.” I nuzzled against his chest, breathing him in deeply. “Where’s Tammy?”
I followed his gaze to Tammy beneath a shadowed bush. He’d hidden her there before coming to my rescue. Not that I needed it. I’d have thrashed Lilith.
High on Lyssa’s fog and full of gurgling crimson blood, I felt overpowered.
As he drew me to my feet, a disturbing thought occurred.
Just then, he’d looked relieved to see Lilith—because he couldn’t trace, and she could.
My heart sank. It was time for him to leave. For us to be separated.
He couldn’t take me to Veilmoor. Not that I was ready. I missed Bastian and sorely needed to explain the way I’d left IronWolf.
The news must’ve spread.
The Princess Consort who’d consorted and fled her pack with a vampire.
Shrugging off Nikolai’s arms, I headed for Tammy. I felt him stand and watch me for a moment before he made his way to Lilith.
She’d healed enough to twist onto her back and glare.
Tammy’s flesh was still cold, her heart still. I began to worry whether she would even survive the turn.
I brushed a finger over her cheek, concentrating deeply to catch a stray heartbeat. Anything to confirm she lived, or would live still.
Nothing.
Oh, Tammy.
I tucked the bedding back around her face and sat beside her.
Nikolai stood over Lilith’s writhing body. The more she healed, the faster she twisted herself into a sitting position.
He spoke in low whispers, but thanks to my heightened hearing, I heard every word.
“You bastard, how dare you!” Lilith hissed, grabbing her thigh bone and jerking it back into place.
“Arrange yourself. We leave now,” Nikolai ordered.
Lilith glanced at me. I gave her a stoic, menacing look in return.
“You have a dog for a bride, then? I always knew I was too good for you,” she sneered up at Nikolai.
I almost heard him clench his jaw in annoyance. I bristled at the name-calling. That bitch—
“Insult her again,” he said softly, dangerously. “I beg you. Give me a reason to transfer my pent-up aggression onto you.”
I smiled at Nikolai’s words.
Lilith finally stood, her cloak torn in places, exposing a pale thigh and her midsection.
Her voice lowered to a purr. “Knowing you, you wouldn’t even be giving me the time of day in this situation. You need something from me.”
I stiffened.
Would she agree to trace me to IronWolf and Nikolai to Veilmoor after he’d painted the rock with her face?
“Trace us to the kingdom,” Nikolai bit out.
Lilith cackled with glee.
Then, fast as a flash, she backhanded him—and traced.
I gasped, jumping to my feet.
Nikolai spat blood onto the ground, wiping his face with his sleeve.
When I reached him, I cupped his face. “That bitch did not just hit you!”
Leaves rustled above.
“This bitch is your ticket back home, mongrel,” Lilith drawled.
I looked up to see her perched comfortably on the branch of a tree.
Nikolai didn’t look. He only clenched his fists and stared at the ground. I knew he was imagining all the heinous ways to murder Lilith.
Finally, he slowly turned. “Get down here, Lilith.”
“Beg,” she replied cruelly.
Nikolai snapped.
He shot to the tree with a punch that ripped the trunk in two.
Lilith snickered behind her palm and traced again.
“Nikolai, we don’t need her,” I said, easing toward him. “Let’s go to one of your lairs. Your tracing will return once you’re rested and fed. I’m sure of it.”
“We’re going to Veilmoor. You’re not returning to that pack,” he grated, fist shaking in the battered tree trunk.
A chill ran down my spine.
“What are you saying? I have to go back. My mother—”
He spun, face set in a snarl, eyes glowing. “…is in the care of a wolf she obviously cares about more than you!”
I stumbled backward. My eyes prickled.
“Don’t say that,” my voice sounded small. Too small.
“You’re mine,” he advanced. “I will protect you. I will end the feral threat. I will provide for you. Make you happy.”
“You’re making me unhappy right now!” I screamed.
A chill breeze blew, ruffling the dark curls over his forehead. He looked as I’d never seen him before—gaze cruel, lips thinned.
“Awww, are the mismatched couple fighting? Whatever for?” Lilith’s voice floated, lingering.
Nikolai snarled and sped sideways to catch her, but she escaped by tracing again. Her mocking laughter rang through the air.
Nikolai roared.
I shivered.
How he must feel, not being able to trace. To be mocked like this.
But then my fists clenched. I refused to participate in this madness.
He’d already said Drusilla would kill me. Now Lilith was in on it too.
I walked toward Tammy, wrapping my arms around her, planning to take her back to IronWolf—
I froze as Nikolai asked from behind me, “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Taking her from here,” I snapped, even though I didn’t know how I would care for a newly turned vampire in IronWolf.
“And how would you manage her in IronWolf?” Nikolai echoed my thoughts.
Lifting Tammy’s form, I turned to leave. “I don’t know. I’ll figure it out.”
Nikolai stepped in front of me, looking bored. “You’d be risking your life, and hers.”
“You’re risking mine with your crazy ideas.”
I continued backing up as he boxed me in, balancing Tammy in my arms and glancing at Lilith, who stood off to the side.
My breath stuttered. I felt cornered.
“I’ll trace you, on one condition,” Lilith chirped.
“What?” Nikolai snapped.
“You’ll give me the one thing I want most.” Lilith drifted behind him, her hand settling on his shoulder. “You know what,” she whispered.
My skin prickled. What the hell could that be?
Nikolai’s gaze locked on mine as he muttered, “Done.”
What?
He took Tammy from me easily. I didn’t struggle—I didn’t want her hurt. He handed her to a scowling Lilith.
“I don’t want this,” I murmured, the tears I’d been holding finally spilling. “Take Tammy to Veilmoor, then. She’ll be safer there. But I want to go to IronWolf. I need to speak to my mother…”
“You’re coming with me, milaya. Don’t argue.”
Lilith traced with Tammy.
My heart thudded, my mind torn.
“What will she do with her?” I stared at the spot Lilith had been.
“There’s a system for training new vampires. She’ll be fine.”
Lilith traced back almost immediately. She looked down her nose at me.
“I agree with the wolf. I can trace her to her… kennel.”
I almost ran to Lilith—then I saw her malicious grin. She could trace me to the middle of a cesspit and abandon me there.
Well and truly trapped.
A tear slid down my cheek.
“Don’t,” Nikolai said softly, cupping my face. “How do you know you won’t be happy if you won’t give us a chance?”
“I’m willing to,” I whispered. “Just not like this. I’m not ready. Please.”
His gaze hardened. “Lilith.”
No.
He slid an arm around my waist, holding me tightly against him. Then Lilith grabbed his other arm, far too comfortably for my liking.
He tensed.
Even Lilith’s head snapped around.
A scent flooded my senses. Pine smoke and roasted cocoa. Virile wolf.
Mate.
I followed their gazes.
Bastian.
He stood just outside the tree line, blue gaze pinned on us. Yara and another woman I didn’t recognize flanked him.
All three were dressed for battle, blood streaking their garb and skin. Yara held a wicked-looking blade.
The other woman held a notched bow, already aimed.
Bastian’s claws glinted in the moonlight, chest heaving, eyes wild.
“Bastian!” I screamed, lunging toward him.
He came for me.
Nikolai grabbed my dress, yanking me back, and shoved me into Lilith’s arms.
Bastian roared, already charging.
An arrow whizzed past Nikolai’s face, and damn me, my heart stuttered at the thought of him being hurt.
“Take her to my chambers. Now,” he hissed.
“No!” I kicked and fought, tears streaming down my face.
I reached desperately toward Bastian.
Just a few feet more—
Close enough to feel his heat—
Lilith traced me.
The world fell away beneath my feet.