He waited for her to allow him to talk, the silly creature. But he’d obey whatever she wanted, because that’s what a vampire did for his mate. A sharp pain burned deep inside, rejecting the idea of blind obeisance, but that spark of rage-like hostility didn’t belong anywhere near Kaia, so he shoved it back down.
She flushed. “I’m sorry, Orion. Please, say whatever you want. Can Macy have a drop or two of your bloode? I want her to help you get better, and she needs it.”
“If that’s what you want. Sure.” He lengthened a nail and punctured his left forearm. A punch of power released as it trickled over his arm. “Hurry. I heal fast.”
Macy wiped her finger through the cut then licked her finger.
“Macy!” Kaia looked shocked.
“She’s our clan’s Bloode Witch. It’s okay,” he hastened to reassure her as Macy wiped a bit more and smeared it on a tissue she tucked into a pocket. His arm healed, and he wiped the small bit of bloode away. “See? All better.”
Kaia studied his arm and patted his tiny wound. “It doesn’t hurt?” She watched his claw retract back into a human-looking nail. “Does it hurt when the claws come out?”
“No, my arm is fine. It’s a small sting when vryko claws come out to play, but so worth it.” He smiled at her, wanting to sigh at the perfect female he’d been blessed to join. And a virgin? Orion had never lain with a virgin. He’d have to make sure to be extra gentle so as not to harm her.
He laughed and drew her into a hug, not even bothered that he smelled like a pack animal, the scent of sea nymph filling his soul... well, if had a soul. Macy was right in one respect. He didn’t normally feel so giddy or poetic over a female. But he liked it.
“Oh boy. This is going to take some work,” Macy said, watching him.
He reluctantly let Kaia go, aware she hadn’t protested his touch. Not now, and not before. She very much liked the look of him. He’d seen her reaction when witnessing his massive erection. He wanted to tell her he only got that way for her. He didn’t remember ever getting so aroused in the past. But she smelled hungry, needy. Wanting.
She smelled perfect.
“We’re fine,” Orion said in hopes of taking that frown off his mate’s face.
“Orion, I want you to be free. Not bound to anyone, but living with your own free will.”
He shrugged. “Whether I’m with you or not, I’m still bound to Hecate until my clan’s bloode debt is repaid. And now I’m bound to my Night Bloode brothers. And sisters,” he added with a glance at Macy. “We have to gather the rest of the Bloode Stones to protect us from some kind of ancient evil that’s coming back to destroy life as we know it.” He shrugged. “Eh. I’d much rather be with you. What do you think I should do?”
Macy paled. “Oh, Kaia. This is bad. Orion’s a gruff bastard who’s not one for sharing secrets. I bet you could tell him to cut off his own hand and he’d do it for you.”
He immediately extended his claws. “Right or left?”
Kaia grabbed his non-clawed hand. “Neither. Never cut off anything. You stay whole, you hear me?”
He released his claws and patted her gently on the shoulder. The poor creature looked distraught—overhim.So pleased, he had a tough time holding back his joy. “Of course, my lovely mate. I’ll always protect you, and I can’t do that if I’m less than whole. Don’t worry. Nothing will ever hurt us.”
“Do you see what you’ve done?” Macy asked his mate.
He didn’t care for her tone and scowled.
“Me? I tried to save him.”
“You stole him from the witch who stole him from Hecate. She’s not going to be pleased. You have to give him back.”
“I would if I could.” Kaia shot him a sad glance, and he didn’t like Macy making her feel badly.
“Alright, witch. You should go now. My mate’s been most generous with you. But she’s tired and needs to feed.” He stroked Kaia’s hair. “You’re making her sad.”
“Jesus. I’m not trying to hurt her feelings, jackass. I’m trying to save her life.” Macy turned to Kaia. “He can’t go back. Not until this is fixed. I know Duncan would try to help, and Rolf might find this amusing as heck, but Khent and Kraft will try to end you for bespelling a vampire. Varu, our patriarch...” She swallowed. “Kaia, he’ll kill you and make it hurt. He doesn’t believe in second chances for those who hurt his kin.”
“He’ll try.” Orion huffed. He might have been more upset about the idea of his kin trying to hurt Kaia if he thought they could do it. But he knew he could end them. The secret fountain of rage deep inside him registered on a level none of them understood, including the goddess who owned his debt. They all thought him no more than an average vryko, and he was content to let that lie. “No one touches my mate and lives.”
Macy glared. “He’ll kill you too, Orion. If you’re a threat to the Night Bloode, he might feel bad about it, but Varu will end you. I heard all about how he killed a master strigoi—his own sire.”
He snorted. “Duh. I know. I was there.”
She continued, “Dude is a nasty killer, and the only one safe from him is his mate.”
