“I’m sorry,” I start, unable to stop the apology from tumbling out of my mouth. “I know you didn’t want to be?—”
“It’s okay,” Devon replies and hugs me. His body is cool, just like Xavier’s, and it unnerves me a bit, reminding me that my friend and the only other trusted human in this house is undead because my former boyfriend shot him. “I’m glad I’m…” he trails off, burying his face against me. “You smell good.”
Oh shit. I forgot vampires can sense magic and it’s like offering drugs to an addict. “Devon,” I say and go to push him off. “Don’t?—”
He’s too strong and doesn’t know how to control himself. His arms tighten around me and his fangs press into my skin.
“Devon, stop!” I conjure whips of magic and zap him with it, but it’s not enough to stop him and Devon’s fangs sink into my neck.
Chapter
Eleven
“Devon,” I try again, this time summoning a bigger ball of energy. The lights flicker and Devon squeezes me tighter, making it hard to breathe. Then, suddenly, he’s pulled back and his fingernails scrape against my arms, tearing my skin. Xavier pushes him back with one arm and Devon comes back at me, like a hungry dog desperate for the last slab of meat. Xavier turns, puts both hands on Devon’s head, and snaps his neck. Horrified, I watch Devon’s eyes roll back and his body collapses to the floor.
“Wren.” Xavier rushes back to me, putting his fingers over the bite wounds on my neck. I wince from the pain, realizing that my skin is torn and tender. Xavier has drunk from me and of course it hurt to have his fangs puncture my flesh, but it wasn’t like this.
“I’m okay,” I rush out and let out a shaky breath. “I didn’t…I forgot…”
“It’s okay,” Xavier says and cradles me against him. I inhale and let myself melt against him, feeling safe wrapped in his one-armed embrace. “Is Devon okay?”
“He’s isn’t dead,” Xavier explains. “It’ll take a few minutes for him to heal.”
“What the hell is going on?” Theo appears at the top of the stairs, eyes narrowing as he looks at me.
“He, um, he bit me,” I say, thinking it’s fucking obvious.
“You provoked him?”
“Excuse me?” My brows go up and I pull away from Xavier. “I knew you were an asshole but I didn’t take you for awhat-was-she-wearingkind of asshole.”
“Get her under control,” Theo tells Xavier through gritted teeth.
“Tread carefully, brother,” Xavier warns.
“Or what? You’ll snap my neck too?”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Xavier says back and turns to me, carefully pulling his fingers off the bite. He brings them to his mouth and licks the blood off. “You shouldn’t be around him. Not yet,” Xavier tells me. “The scent of magic can be intoxicating even to more disciplined vampires.”
“I didn’t think about it.”
“Clearly,” Theo huffs.
“It will take Devon a while to learn the restraint we all have,” Xavier goes on, ignoring his brother.
“He’ll be fun at the summit tonight.” Theo leans against the wall, crossing his arms and looking bored on purpose.
“Summit?” I ask.
Theo raises his eyebrows. “May I suggest you don’t bring the human,” he tells Xavier.
Xavier draws his fangs. “The human is my wife.”
“I fear, brother, you may have forgotten where your loyalties lie.”
“Enough.”
Theo pushes off the wall. “What can she contribute to this family? The arrangement is off now that Devon is a vampire. She’s nothing more than a magical risk and?—”
