I let out a sarcastic chuckle. “They didn’t want a desperate vampire either.What a shocker.”
She raked her hands through her hair as my blood dribbled down her chin. “Breaking humans through the wards would have been much easier if I could have gained your trust, but guess what? I still managed it.”
“You have a disgusting way of earning trust.”
“If that damn shifter hadn’t showed up, I would have won one of you over.” She curled her lips back to bare her teeth. “That bitch ruined everything! I even sent the experiment after her. Butno, you guys just had to come get involved.”
“Don’t fucking talk about her,” I growled, willing her blood to leave her system, but my power still came up short.
“I still learned enough from you to be useful to the humans though. You’re the one who taught me about tourmalyke. The humans found a way to harness the power as a liquid.” She pulled out a needle with a clear substance in it.
“I knew you were a bitch, but you’re worse than I thought.” I glared at her, pushing my power to work.
It squirted up in the air as she pushed the plunger and threw her head back with a laugh. “Oh, Alister. Don’t bother trying to use any of your powers. This stuff makes it to where you’re practically human.” She locked her lips, leaning down until we were eye level. “But you certainly don’t taste human.”
The needle plunged into my neck where she had bitten me, and pain rippled through my body before the world blackened.
THIRTY-FIVE
Wren
“Wren,”Kianraspedashis breath trickled down my neck.
Desire flooded my core as I wiggled against his chest. Our magic intertwined, and I cracked my eyes to see the sun rising over the horizon as the beams of light danced over us.
I raised my head to look into Kian’s eyes with a smile. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, sweetheart. They’re back.” He pressed a kiss to my temple.
I sat up and pressed my back against the house. We’d snuggled together on the porch last night since my emotions overheated my body, and I needed the cool night air to prevent a shift.
I told Kian he could sleep inside, but he wanted to stay by my side. I expected as much, since the bond was pulling us together savagely. So many emotions hit me after Lachlan had left last night. I worried about him with the note from his sister, but I was also reeling from the bond snapping in place with Kian. Then, there was another feeling gnawing at my gut that I couldn’t place. Since Thorn and Damien didn’t come back, I knew something had happened at the academy.
Kian’s arms were the only thing that grounded me last night.
I inhaled a deep breath of the frosty morning air and pushed the blanket off my lap.
“There’s Lachlan.” Kian got up and held out his hand to help me to my feet.
I took it and looked toward the forest line from the mountains to see Lachlan walking our way with his parents.
“Do you have the note?” I glanced at Kian with a frown. He made sure he grabbed it for Lachlan. He didn’t think he’d want his parents to know about it yet, and we hadn’t read it either. It was for him to tell us about.
He nodded and patted his jean pocket before nudging me with his shoulder. “He probably needs you.”
Swallowing the thickness in my throat, I nodded and took off toward Lachlan without a second thought. My bare feet bounded down the stairs and through the snow until I reached him. My body smacked into his, and I held him tight, wrapping my arms around his neck and threading my hands through his hair.
“Wren,” he murmured, stumbling back just a little as he wrapped his arms around me. “You’re still here.”
“I wouldneverleave you.” I lifted on my toes and brought my lips to his. His lips were soft, and he tasted like soil.
It took him a moment to register what I had done. But when he did, his arms tightened around my back. He took control of the kiss, cradling my head in his hands, and he slipped his tongue into my mouth with a groan. His kisses were possessive, and a low rumble left his throat as he pulled back and rested his forehead on mine.
“Never try to hide from me like you did last night.” My voice broke.
A blush crossed his cheeks, making me bite down on a smile. There was something undeniably adorable about Lachlan when he smiled. “I won’t. I promise. Your reaction was something I never dreamed of.” His brown eyes glistened with unshed tears as he pushed his lips to mine again.
Warmth rushed through me before someone cleared their throat. Lachlan let go of my face, and I turned my head to look at his parents with a sheepish smile.
