She shook her head. “No. I remembered what you taught me about defending myself. I fought as hard as I could, and then the Count came.”
“Balthazar. I told you to use my name.” His voice was soft but firm.
Sor just looked at him and turned back to me. My brows twitched up, and I hid a small smile. I liked this stubborn, tougher version of Sor. She was clearly shaken and bruised, but she was still able to be pissed at Bal. He deserved it. The way he’d dismissed her and treated me earlier needed to be rethought.
Her dismissal seemed to stun him, but in the blink of an eye, he was next to us. She flinched, which made me growl. I saw the way he looked at her when he thought no one was watching, so I was pretty sure he wouldn’t hurt her. However, I was also sure he forgot about her past when he was being an asshole and pulling moves like that. “Back off, Count.”
“My name is Balthazar,” he snarled right back.
I held his gaze. “I don’t give a shit.”
“Really? You will when you’re begging for my blood and my touch.”
My eyes narrowed, but Sor spoke first.
“He doesn’t need your blood. He can have mine.”
If I hadn’t seen it myself, I wouldn’t have believed Bal’s gaze could soften so much. He raised a hand and gently touched thedark purple bruise on her cheek, much as I had. “You can’t, Sorcha. You already gave me too much. As a human, if you give any more, it will make you ill. Besides, after what’s just happened, you need to rest.”
Her spine straightened, her eyes flashing. “I might only be human, but I am more than capable of feeding a vampire more than once in a day. I doubt you’ve forgotten my past, Count. I’m used to recovering from being nearly drained dry. Besides, Shane won’t harm me. Have you even considered, Count Rossi, that he might not want your blood? Have you given him a choice?”
“My name is Balthazar. And no, because he has no choice. To survive, he needs my blood, or have you forgotten that he nearly drained me dry earlier? It needs to be a powerful vampire who feeds him for him to survive. Or maybe you would prefer it to be Nikolai who has him?” His voice softened as she glared at him for that comment. “We also have no idea how Shane will react now he has tasted blood and rage in battle. Those emotions and that sense of power can be consuming for a fledgling. His bloodlust isn’t done yet; he could still hurt you. So no, I won’t allow you to be in a room alone with him.”
I stepped in at his heavy-handedness, though there was a sinking feeling in my gut. He was right. I didn't have a handle on my desire to feed, and adrenaline and rage still simmered through my veins. My need for Elliot’s blood had consumed any rational thought, and, as sickening as it was to rely on the Count, I dreaded becoming some mindless killer.
“Sorcha?”
She looked at me.
“He’s right. I don’t trust myself yet, not with you or anyone else. I wanted to drink Elliott dry. I would have done it if the Count hadn’t arrived when he did.”
“Balthazar!” he snapped.
I hid my smile at actually being able to rile the coolly controlled ancient Original. I slowly looked at him. “If you want either of us to use your name and treat you with respect, then fucking earn it.” I leaned in closer, getting right up in his face. “I might need, or even want, your blood, but you don’t ever get to make me kneel again. If you force me, I’ll rip out your godsdamned throat.” I had no idea if that would even be possible, but I didn’t give a damn. I wouldn’t be forced to kneel. Just like Sor, I’d had my choices taken too many times. I would do whatever it took to survive: drink blood, fuck until my body was spent. I’d even lock myself away and starve if it meant I wouldn’t hurt innocents, but I wouldn’t kneel. I turned to Sor to find her gaze bouncing from my face to the Count’s. “Let’s get you to your room, love. You can shower and rest.”
She quickly shook her head, her eyes scanning the inside of the kitchen that was splattered with blood everywhere. “Are they all dead?”
Bal stepped up, scowling at me when he couldn’t get in front of her because my body blocked him. “They won’t get in again. I promise.”
“How can you promise that? You have all these guards and security, and they still got on the estate.”
Bal’s face and voice remained calm, but his eyes were a storm of fury. “I have called for more guards, and Davlov already has the one who betrayed us.”
Sorcha gulped and looked at the broken door. “But what were they here for? They came after me at the lake. Why would they do that…?” Her voice petered out, and she swallowed hard.
“It wasn’t Nikolai, Sor. He wouldn’t attack me so openly, and not for a hu…”
I cocked my head and glared. Gods, for an ancient vampire, he was clueless sometimes. Bal must have felt the weight of mystare because his eyes snapped to mine before he continued his sentence.
“...a moment would he risk an all-out war with me. No, it was for something else. Whoever it was knew you were here and tracked you to the lake. I believe they wanted to use you as a distraction.”
I growled and pulled Sorcha gently into my arms, hating that they had hurt her, and needing her to know she was safe now.
Bal’s face remained cold, but he lifted a hand and stroked it gently down her hair. “Let’s do as Shane suggests and get you cleaned up.” He turned to Davlov. “Johnson is back. Ask him to make some sweet tea and bring it with some toast to Sorcha’s room. Then take a look at the bodies. Find out who they were. When I’m done here, we’ll talk to the prisoners.”
I hadn’t realised Davlov was so close. It was then that I realised we were surrounded by guards, though at a respectable distance. All wore combat gear and carried weapons. Elliot had moved back among them, and Davlov was glaring at me. Shit, I’d attacked his mate. Way to make friends, you idiot. My wolf rumbled, not in the least bit bothered that Elliot was still bleeding. Then I remembered my wounds. Some were healed, and some stung, but that was all. Even the bullet and knife wounds.
Davlov nodded before he looked away. I wondered why he was clenching and unclenching his jaw and fists, until it dawned on me that not only had his mate been hurt, but he was Bal's right hand. He was responsible for his safety…
