Chapter 10

I paused. I was soaked in sweat, muscles buzzing, and out of breath. I felt great, by my standards. I turned to get a bottle of water and saw Michael, Leone and Emil standing by the door like three statues, arms crossed over their chests, all void of expressions as they looked at me. Definitely related, I thought with a shake of my head.

Going over, I grabbed the towel. I had to keep moving to cool down gradually. I mopped off my face, then walked in a circle as I took a few sips. With the bottle I motioned to the padded pole, then looked at Michael. “Thanks for that. I feel great now.” I held up my wrapped wrist. “For the wrap too.”

He gave me a brief nod.

Emil grinned and started walking over. “I was skeptical, even after seeing what you did to those guards—but now,” he motioned to the pole, “I’m in awe, and possibly afraid.”

I blew out a breath. “I have to compensate for not having the bulk and size to throw around, but,” I shrugged, “I get by.”

“Indeed.” He turned and smiled at Leone. “And you say she disarmed Rafael?”

Leone nodded. “More than once. Raf didn’t even see it coming.”

Setting the water down, I shook my arms, then kneaded the muscles in my neck.

“Impressive.” Emil looked back to me. “I’ve sparred with Rafael several times. He’s very good.”

I rolled my head from side to side. “My biggest advantage is fighters that underestimate my size and agility.” I rubbed the muscles in my neck again. “They see a cute little blonde chick and figure it will be easy.”

“Have you injured yourself?” Michael came over, his brows drawn together.

I shook my head. “No. Just tight. I’m always wired before a match. I’ll just take a hot shower and wrap a towel around myself to keep my muscles from tightening up. Joe has this gunk I use beforehand, keeps everything loose and limber.” I lifted my hand to my mouth and used my teeth to get a hold of the wrap, so I could find the end and take it off.

Michael came over and pulled my hand from my mouth, then turned it over to find the start.

“You should give her some eufori, brother.” Leone said with a smirk.

Michael turned and looked at him, I couldn’t see the expression on his face.

Leone shrugged. “It works.”

I shook my head. “I don’t use drugs or anything that’s not natural.”

Emil grinned and looked at Leone. “Oh, it’s quite natural.”

Michael’s eyes flicked to mine for a moment, then he looked back down to unwrap my hands.

Emil and Leone gave each other an odd look.

“I better go find Beth, so we can grab some z’s before tomorrow.” Leone saluted me and turned to the door.

Emil nodded. “I want to check in on Rena.”

I gave him what I hoped was an encouraging look. “It’s going to take time. She’ll do what’s best for her to get through it all.”

He looked at me for a moment, then inclined his head to me before following Leone out.

“It must be hard for him to watch his daughter struggle through this.”

Pulling the last of the wrap from my hands, Michael looked at me. “We’ll do all we can to help.”

I gave him a gentle look. “I know you will. Your family excels at helping others.”

Balling the used wrap in his hand, he walked over and tossed it in the garbage. “We were destined to keep the balance between our realms. Any that suffer are a result of our failings,” he tucked his hands in his pockets, “it is our responsibility to look out for them.”

I picked up the towel, my phone and the water. “Destined or not, it’s still a great thing you do.” I motioned to the door. “I’m going to grab a shower and something to eat then I’ll try to sleep.”

“I’ll walk with you.” He said in a quiet tone.

We stepped out into the hallway. “So, Beth and I aren’t in trouble for stumbling on your little diner?”

His mouth quirked. “Diner? That’s a new term for it.” He shook his head. “No. It’s not a secret, it’s a part of life here. Those we fed from are volunteers, they are not forced.”

“It was a bit awkward.” I gave him a wide-eyed look. “When everyone turned to look at us in the doorway.”

He grinned. “I’m sure a few were quite excited to see two human women coming in.”

I frowned, “What are we like some sort of delicacy?”

He looked at me briefly. “Oh, yes, to many.”

I nodded slowly. “Got it. Don’t go to the diner.”

“It might be best.”

“I’ll give Beth a heads-up too.” I patted my face with the towel.

“I’m sure Leone already has. Not that anyone would dare to feed from her.”

“Oh?” I looked around trying to see if I knew where we were.

“With her mates’ mark and a royal amulet around her neck, it would mean death to touch her in anyway.”

I stopped walking. “Like, death, death?”

His eyes searched mine. “Yes. Some things are not forgivable, even in modern times. A true mate—” he motioned to his arm, where the others had tattoos, “is so very rare.”

I glanced at his bare arm, then back to his face. “So, they get tattoos so people know? What makes a true mate different?”

He motioned for us to turn.

I did and finally recognized where we were. I wasn’t sure, but I think he took a different route.

“It’s complicated to explain—perhaps keeping your mind clutter free until after tomorrow would be best.”

I huffed out a breath. “Yeah clutter free is good.”

He stopped.

I looked to see we were at my bedroom. I opened the door and motioned with my head for him to come in. Unzipping the hoody I wore, I pulled it off and set it on the chair as I went past it. “Think that smelly ointment Clairee gave me will help a few tender areas?” I glanced over my shoulder to see he was standing halfway across the room.

“Did you hurt yourself?”

I shook my head. “Not really, but a few spots are always tender after a workout like that.”

He cleared his throat. “I’m not sure what the ointment she gave you will do.” He still didn’t move.

I shrugged. “Can’t hurt, right? I’ll try some after I have a hot shower.”

He jolted like someone smacked him. “Would you like me to go get you something from the kitchen while you shower?”

I sat on the bed and undid my shoes. “That would be great. Protein and fruit if Mitz has any on hand.”

He cocked his head and grinned. “Mitz always has everything.”

I nodded. “She’s great.”

He bowed his head formally then backed up. “I’ll return shortly.”

Wrapping one of the large towels around me, I looked down, it went to my knees. I’d never had a towel this large before. I grabbed a smaller one and dried my hair and glanced in the mirror. My choppy hair was touching my shoulders now. I’d have to hack it off again soon. I didn’t need hair getting in my way when I was fighting. I’d wanted to dye it a few years ago. Something dull and nondescript, but Joe told me the light blonde worked to my advantage. Opponents wouldn’t see past my hair color and gender.

Tossing the towel on the counter, I turned to see Michael standing in the doorway. his gaze moving slowly over me.

I rubbed a hand down over the towel. “I guess I should close the doors around here.”

“I should have knocked.” He said quietly.

I shook my head. “No harm. This towel is big enough for three of me.”

He didn’t find the humor in that. Clearing his throat, he held up a jar. “Mitz uses this for Ira when he’s sore after a battle.”

“Oh.” I walked over and held out my hand. “She really does have everything.” I took it, opened it and sniffed. Making a face, I nodded. “That smells about right.” Putting the lid on I handed it back to him, then asked, “Can you put some on between my shoulders? It’s locked tight there.”

He looked at the jar in his hand. “I could call Daxx if you’d…”

I shook my head. “The way she was making eyes at Troy during the meeting, I don’t want to interrupt them.” I shrugged. “I’m sure you’ve seen a woman’s back before.” I went over and stood by the counter.

He cleared his throat again. “Very well.”

I loosened the towel, exposing my back. I watched in the mirror as he came behind me, his eyes were taking in my back.

Setting the jar on the counter, he dipped his fingers and touched the center of my back, rubbing the ointment around a bit. Taking a shaky breath, he used both hands to rub it in. His hands were so big, he was able to rest them against my neck and reach down with his thumbs to work the center of my back.

I sighed. “That feels good.”

His gaze flicked to mine in the mirror. His eyes were red.

A shiver of awareness went through me. “Are the red eyes your natural state, or just sometimes?”

“Sometimes,” he whispered.

“But you can change them anytime you want?”

He held my look in our reflections. “Yes.” His hands continued to knead my muscles, moving up toward my neck.

“And now, did you change them?”

He licked his lips.

I caught a quick look of fangs.

“Not intentionally.”

I closed my eyes as his hands worked magic. “Do they change when you feed?” I opened my eyes and looked back at him. “When you walked out of that room…”

“I need fangs to feed.” He said in a hoarse tone.

“Right.” My heart felt like it was skipping around in my chest. I needed to change the subject before I did something desperate like dropping the towel and hoping he accepted the green light. “This eufori?” His eyes flicked back to mine. “That Leone mentioned. What is it? Do you drink it or what?”

His gaze moved down the front of my image in the mirror. “No. It’s the substance from our fangs when we bite someone—to dull the pain and relax them.” He looked at my neck in the mirror.

“Oh. So, your brother was telling you to bite me?” I smirked.

He did not. “Yes.”

I could see indecision in his eyes.

“Do you need something to relax?”

The way he looked at the reflection of my body sent a rush through me. His hands moved to my neck. “What I need—” I took a shaky breath, “to start with, is to know why your eyes are red right now, and the other times when you healed me.” I touched his hand and held it against my neck. “Because if we’re being honest here, I’ve never felt this kind of sexual tension before.”

His gaze held mine.

“Don’t tell me it’s one-sided.” I whispered.

Keeping his one hand against my neck, he used the other to tilt my head to expose the other side of my neck to him. “It’s not one-sided.” He leaned down, his breath brushing against my skin, his gaze never leaving mine in the mirror. “I’d like to feed from you.” He took a ragged breath. “For two days I’ve been trying to sate my hunger and it’s left me bereft and wanting.”

I was having trouble translating what he was saying to make sense inside my head. I was turned on by the idea and as near as I could tell, so was he. He stood there watching me, not moving, waiting for my answer.

I prodded my mouth to move. “Yes.”

Michael’s eyes held mine in the mirror as he leaned down and licked over neck. My knees felt weak. Reaching around, he placed his hand on my stomach, spanning the width, then pulled me tight against his hard body.

When he bit into me, I gasped. There was no pain, only an intense feeling of need. I closed my eyes, letting the weight of my head rest in his hand. When he lifted his head and licked over his bite, I opened my eyes. Both of us were breathing fast.

“Is it always like that when you feed?”

He lifted his head and held my hip to turn me. “No. It’s usually cold and methodical.”

I was facing him now, looking up into lust heavy red eyes. “So, it’s not sexual, normally?”

He leaned down until I could feel his breath against my cheek. “Does your broiled chicken turn you on?”

My heart was beating so fast, I was breathless. “No.”

Touching the side of my face, he turned his head and brushed his lips over mine.

Leaning into him, I let go of the towel and reached up to grasp the back of his head.

He needed no further encouragement. His mouth covered mine, he took control and commanded, and I complied. I was only able to cling to him and try to keep up. I’d never been kissed like this before. Three hundred years had served him well to practice the art of kissing.

With a soft growl, he grasped my waist and picked me up, setting me on the counter. My towel slid off; I didn’t care. His warm hands moved down my back, pulling me closer to stand between my knees.

I ran my tongue over his fangs and moaned against his mouth.

He pulled his mouth from mine abruptly and rested his cheek against mine. Our breathing was all over the place, rapid and shallow. Michael reached down to pull the towel back up and lifted his head away. He looked down at me with blue eyes filled with pain.

I realized then that this wasn’t going any further. I glanced at the scar on his face and then reached up with a shaky hand to touch it. “What was her name? The one you wear this tribute for.”

He gently took my hand from his face and held it. “Lara.”

“You must have loved her a lot.”

He closed his eyes and released my hand. “I did.” Straightening, he looked down at me for a second. “Get some rest. I’ll come by early in the morning and renew the blood bond, so you can see through Clairee’s glamor spell.”

I clutched the towel to me and nodded.

He backed away, then turned and quickly walked out.

I looked at the floor and sighed. “I can’t compete with a three-hundred-year-old ghost.”