Shane’s head snapped up, and frown lines appeared on his forehead as confusion clouded his eyes. The Count groaned and tried to move. Davlov’s nostrils flared, and he took another step closer. Shane’s eyes glowed the brightest blue I’d ever seen. As Iwatched, red seeped into them in a spiderweb pattern that was so beautiful it stole my breath. A vicious and possessive snarl rumbled into the air. Shane’s lip curled, his fangs growing.
Davolv stopped and held up his hands in supplication. “Okay, wolf, I won’t come any closer, but he needs blood. You hear me? He needs to feed. And it can’t be from you. It has to be someone different. You contain too much of his power, now. It will cause him great pain if you let him bite you.”
My heart flipped, and I ducked around Davlov’s hand. He was quick and snagged my shirt in his grip. Shane immediately sprang to his feet and growled, his body growing until he was over a foot taller. His jaw and his fangs lengthened, and his bone structure morphed into that of a half wolf, half vampire, until ridges of bone protruded from his skin. My mouth dried at the sharp claws that punched through his nail beds, and my heart raced, but deep down, I knew he wouldn’t hurt me. Perhaps it was a foolish thought, but one I believed. I had to. Or the one person I’d ever become remotely close to was lost to me.
His muscular thighs contracted, and his knees bent. A blink later, he leapt.
“Shane! No!” His bare feet hit the floor in front of me, and instinct made me slap my hand in the centre of his chest. “Stop!” A long, vicious growl rattled against my sweating palm, but it wasn’t directed at me. “Davlov, let go of my shirt.” My voice shook, but Shane’s eyes were fixed on where Bal's second grasped my clothes. My stomach flipped.
“No. I was ordered to keep you safe.”
“Davlov, please….” My whispered words trembled. Shane snarled again, pushing against my palm. He could easily dismiss my touch, but he didn’t. I was almost certain he wouldn’t, but he wasn’t wholly my friend right now. Despite the uncertainty about my future in this castle, I had to help them both. Shane’s protective and possessive instincts were new and extreme, butthat had to be good. Right? It meant he wouldn’t hurt me or Bal. It was hard to ignore the primal part of my brain that told me to run from this brutal monster. I wasn’t brave or a warrior; I was just a woman who’d befriended the man beneath. Hoping Shane couldn’t see my hand tremble or sense my fear, I gently reached up and cupped his cheek, trying to get his attention off Davlov.
“Shane, please, look at me.” I pulled gently against his deformed jaw, urging his attention to my face. Those pretty, marbled eyes focused on mine. Any other time, I would have been utterly under his spell, but the Count needed help. He wouldn’t recover in time to help with Shane’s next bloodlust unless he fed. And if Shane wasn’t fed and he escaped to hunt, it would take the estate’s whole squad of guards to bring Shane down. And I knew they’d kill him to stop him. I couldn’t let that happen. None of this was Shane’s fault, nor was it his choice. I knew how that felt, and I’d do everything I could to stop anyone hurting him again.
“Shane, please, if you won’t let Davlov near the Count, will you let me?” Shane’s heavy brow drew down as he considered my words. “I can give him blood. Feed him.”
“Sorcha? Are you sure?”
At any other time, Davlov’s use of my name would make me smile. I’d finally gotten through to the stubborn vampire, but I couldn’t take my eyes off Shane. Not when losing eye contact might mean losing him.
“Sorcha?”
Shane snarled at the vampire, pushing against my palm again. Heat from his skin branded my hand, his powerful muscles shifting under my touch, which sent waves of something far more compelling than fear through my blood.
“Yes.” I glanced over my shoulder. I could see the concern in Dav’s gaze, and swallowed my surprise. Maybe he wasn’t ashardened to my past as I’d thought. I nodded. “This is my choice. It’s...different…”
Davlov frowned and studied the Count, who had turned his head to stare at us. I didn’t miss the single, tiny nod of his head. Yep, Davlov was loyal to one person only. I didn’t care as long as it stopped this situation from getting worse. I wasn’t going to risk other lives, Davlov’s included.
The huge vampire stepped back, and Shane’s tension eased a little. His head dipped, and he dragged his nose up my neck and jaw, inhaling deeply. “Mine,” he rumbled.
“Sorcha? Don’t move.” A raspy voice said.
I froze, doing as the Count said. Nerves danced in my belly as I stayed still until Shane had finished rubbing his face in my hair. Shane flashed his teeth in warning at Davlov before he took my hand in a gentle grip and pulled me towards the Count.
“Feed him?” But it was more a question than a demand.
“I will, but I want Shane back—all the way,” I told the wolf that stared out at me. I ground my teeth and ensured that I held his gaze for a couple of seconds before I lowered it to his chest, careful not to look any lower. I’d seen plenty of naked men, but it seemed wrong somehow to study his body when it wasn’t entirely Shane. Some kind of power bathed my skin. It felt like a heavy weight against my muscles. I shook myself and straightened my spine, fighting off the compulsion I’d had to kneel. That had to be his alpha power he’d told me about. His clawed hand cupped my face, but it was a careful hold. One nod of his head and the wolf receded. Before long, Shane’s deep blue eyes looked directly at me. He blinked, his eyes widening when his attention dropped to where the Count lay at his feet. There was a bump as he dropped to his knees on the hard floor next to the vampire lord who’d gotten him through his bloodlust.
Balthazar’s eyes fluttered closed as Shane’s fingers brushed strands of dark hair from his cheek. “Count?” Shane gently shook his shoulders.
Relief warmed me as Bal’s mouth actually flicked up at the corner. “You want—me to call—you Shane? You call me—Balthazar…” There was a short pause. His pale eyes moved to me. “You, too.”
“I’ll be right outside,” Davlov muttered, looking from Bal to us. He stepped out and gently closed the door.
Dark shadows under Bal’s eyes made them more luminous than ever. He looked so weak; I hated it. I’d never for one moment thought I’d see him like this. I nodded quickly and dropped down next to Shane, trying to ignore the fact that Balthazar was fully naked too. Damn, it was none of my business what had happened between them, but I couldn’t help the tight feeling that invaded my chest over what they’d done together. It felt a lot like jealousy. Not because they were together, but because I wasn’t a part of what was happening between them. I knew it was ridiculous to feel like that, so, shaking it off, I pulled up my sleeve.
“No.” A soft snarl curled Bal’s lips.
It was second nature to shut down my expression, but I couldn’t stop my cheeks from flushing. Gods, even now, when his selflessness had drained his strength, he didn’t want to accept my blood. I swallowed hard, tears of shame and rejection burning my eyes.
“Hey! You selfish son-of-a-bitch. She’s trying to help you…”
“I know,” ground Bal, his gaze searching out mine. “But used. Too many times. I’m not like him.”
This time, a tear did drop down my cheek, but I smiled. No one had ever been that considerate on my behalf, and warmth bloomed in my chest. “It’s fine.” Tentatively, I reached out andlaid my hand against his cheek. “This is my choice. I want to help you. Both of you, if you need me.”
Balthazar held my eyes for a long moment before he nodded once. I quickly sat down and shuffled closer. “Lift his head into my lap.”
