“Because I have a beast in me that must prove who you belong to.”
“A pissing contest?”
She felt his humor. “Something like that.”
She did as he asked and took a couple more pulls from his neck while trying not to moan shamelessly. When Alice cleared her throat, Lizzy knew she hadn’t been successful.
After Lizzy was done, Finn dropped his hand, and she was able to lean back and look up at him. He was even more handsome in person. His eyes appeared as if someone had lined them with black eyeliner. He had ridiculously long eyelashes, dark auburn, the same color as the hair on his head. He had a strong jaw with a little scruff. “Yep,” she whispered. “You’re definitely hot.”
He smirked at her.
“You’ve fed her, wolf.” Cain’s voice interrupted their moment. What a dick. “She’s going back to her room now.”
Finn ignored the vampire and continued to look at her. His eyes roamed over her face as if he was trying to memorize every inch. Then he leaned down and nuzzled his face in between her shoulder and neck. “Um, Finn, we have an audience.”
“Try to be quiet.” Then she felt a jolt of pain that quickly morphed into something wonderful. Her body shuddered as pleasure ran through her from the top of her head, all the way to her toes. What in the world was happening? How could a bite to her neck feel so damn good?
“Not just a bite,” he said in her mind, sounding slightly drunk. “The Blood Rites. A bite from your true mate. Only my bite will make you feel like this.”
“Blood Rites?”
“There will be time to explain all that later.”
“Is this how you felt when I bit you?” His answer was a rumble as he pulled her tighter against his body.
Lizzy relaxed against him, and the hand in his hair pushed his head more firmly against her. If this is what she had to look forward to as a wolf-vamp hybrid, she supposed it might not be too bad. Although they were still Cain’s prisoners, and he was yacking on about taking her away from Finn. Fat chance, vamp.
Suddenly Lizzy was ripped away from Finn, her body momentarily weightless as she flew through the air. She hit the ground hard. Her teeth jarred from the pain. Snarls filled the room. Alice kneeled beside her and seemed to look her over. She was also attempting to re-cover her with the damn blanket. Lizzy wanted to push the woman out of the way so she could see what was happening.
Cain roared. “You didn’t have permission to bite her.”
“She’s my mate.” Finn growled back. “I don’t need anyone’s permission except hers. Now get out of my way, or I’m going to rip the arms from your body and beat you with them.”
“Wow, that’s violent,” Lizzy muttered.
She heard more snarling and roaring, then bodies slamming into each other and into walls. Alice pushed Lizzy back against the wall. Suddenly she smelled Finn’s blood, but this time, the scent was terribly strong.
“If you don’t stop him, Cain will kill the wolf.” A male voice said from somewhere behind Alice.
“Claude?” Alice turned away from Lizzy, confusion in her voice.
“Alice.” The man’s voice was more insistent now. “Cain is going to drain the wolf dry if you don’t stop him.”
Lizzy’s wolf bellowed inside of her. One minute, she was human, and the next, she was in her wolf form. She stumbled to her feet and snarled, pulling her lips away from her teeth.
“And now you might die, too, Alice.” Claude sounded bored. “Do I have to do everything?”
Lizzy was about to lunge for Alice, but before she could, Claude picked Alice up and sank his fangs deep into the scientist's neck. He didn’t just bite her and let her go. He ripped his fangs free, leaving a huge gash.
“That should do it,” Claude said, wiping his mouth.
Alice made a sound somewhere between a cry and a whimper. She raised her hand to her neck, attempting to staunch the flow. Lizzy looked past the woman, searching for Finn. She saw Cain, his fangs buried in her mate’s neck. She jumped, but Claude caught her in the air and hissed. “Wait. Or he’ll wind up killing you both.”
Cain’s head snapped up, and his fangs came free. He turned toward them, his gaze honing in on Alice. Then his eyes shifted to Claude, and he growled. “I’m going to kill you for touching her.”
Claude shrugged. “If you don’t do something quickly, you will be the only one left standing in this room.” The vampire lieutenant sounded way, way too calm for such a comment.
Cain dropped Finn like a sack of potatoes and caught Alice just as she began to fall.
