“Dammit, D-man, what the hell are you waiting for?Eat.”
Dagan didn’t move, didn’t blink, appeared nailed to thewall.
Despair took hold. At the sight of her blood flowing from her wrist and spilling onto the floor, her knees gave way, and sheswayed.
Cursing, Nik caught her, and snarled at Dagan. “You’re a damn idiot! Shae, I cannot let you bleed out for nothing…” Nik put his mouth on her wrist and licked herwound.
She shut her eyes as the burn faded, feeling as if someone had stomped on her heart. Pain flowed. A deadly roar filled the small bathroom like a wild animal had been let loose. Her eyelids snapped open just as Dagan flung Nik away. He snatched her before she hit thefloor.
“I will kill you for this,” he promised Nik, sweeping her into his arms and carrying her into thebedroom.
Wiping the red smears from his mouth with the back of his hand, Nik shrugged and followed. “Get inline.”
“You knew what she planned, and you didn’t tellme?”
“Stop,” she whispered, trying to will away the dizziness. “It’s not Nik’s fault. I asked him forhelp.”
“I don’t know what the hell’s going on with you, man. You won’t even try. You’ve struggled through the centuries because of that—” Nik broke off and cursed. “Maybe you like being tormented by that sadistic— Shit, just forgetit.”
Why did she get the feeling that Nik would have tacked on “bitch” to his comment? Thegoddess?
His features set in stone, Dagan settled her on the bed. “Staythere.”
“Would you stop treating me like an invalid?” She pushed him away and sat up. Dug into her jean’s pocket for a candy and put one into her mouth. “I felt faint because I haven’t eaten anything since lunch except for the soda at thepub—”
“Because you were busy planning thisshit.”
“Call it what you want.” She tipped her chin in determination. “We’re going to do this again tomorrow and every day after that. Nik will be there to make sure nothinghappens.”
“You are mortal.Youcannot give me what I need.” His tone was pure ice. “Your blood will only bring on thebloodlust.”
“You don’t knowthat—”
He grabbed her by her upper arms and yanked her up, his nose almost touching hers, his eyes scalding her. “I drank from humans—hundreds of them.I. Killed. Every.One.”
Wariness crept through her. That may have been true once, but she didn’t believe that now. Frustrated with his inflexible attitude, she taunted, “You’re telling me,you, a big, bad warrior, still has no control after so manymillennia?”
“This discussion is over.” He dropped her, and she bounced down on themattress.
Nik simply shook his head and headed for thedoor.
“We’re not done,” Dagan snapped at the warrior, his tone likerazors.
“Then I’ll meet you on the mountaintop with swords.” Nik threw over his shoulder. “Take your best shot, maybe you’ll getlucky.”
“Angelus?” Dagan barked. “Get food in here. Fast.” Then he pinned her with those lethal yellow eyes. “You ever do something that recklessagain—”
“You’ll, what? Leave? Pawn me off on Nik or someone else?” Anguish constricted her chest, making it hard to breathe. No matter the attraction between them or that she was his mate, he didn’t want her help—didn’t want anything from her. He couldn’t have made it any clearer while she was bleeding all over the floor. She would never beenough.
No longer. She knew when to cut her losses. Only an idiot would put herself through more misery. Unable to stifle her pain, needing to be in motion, she got off the bed. Wavered. He was there, reaching forher.
“Don’t!” She flung out a hand, her cold tone stopping him dead. “My personal well-being is not your responsibility. You made it quite clear you want nothing from me. So this is me, giving you what youwant.”
His nostrils flared, jaw hardened. “This is notover.”
For her it was. Struggling not to let her devastation show, her hope of a relationship with him shattering like glass, she shuffled from the room, praying she wouldn’t fall flat on her face. All those sensual touches and kisses meantnothing.
She rubbed the throbbing scar on her cheek as she entered the kitchen. Angelus looked up from setting the tray, his troubled gaze skimming over her. “I was about to bring you food. Are you allright?”
