All of my pent-up energy turns to anger. I throw myself against the door like a caged animal. It doesn’t budge, and Alistair’s smug laughter cracks like a whip.
For the first time since arriving at Heartsflame, I agree with Revyn.
I should have never left the wilds.
Chapter 20
Callum
There arecertain nights of the year when a vampire can extend their power beyond its natural limits. Special eclipses, witches’ sabbats, and of course...the longest night of the year.
The winter solstice.
It’s been a long time since I’ve had full use of my power, and even now on the winter solstice, I’m close but not quite there. The hum of power crackling beneath my skin weakens as I try to stretch its limits, and for the first time in centuries, I’mannoyed.
Sighing, I shake the ice from my limbs and hop down the castle’s rooftop onto Sienna’s balcony a few stories below. For tonight’s plan to work, I need to focus on Sienna and not myself—an easy feat were it not for her wild wolf salivating over being near her for any amount of time.
The man isferalfor her.
I stare through the cracked glass as she paces the length of the room, claws out and raven locks blowing wildly around her. The fireplace is unlit, the room dark, cold, and empty except for the thud of her footfalls and the sharp glow of her wild, wolf eyes.
They snap to mine as I tap on the window. When she rushes over, I hold up my hand. “Stand back,” I instruct, smiling whenshe does exactly as told. Pressing my palm to the glass, I flex my fingertips until the cracks spiderweb along the entire frame. With a focused pressure point and enough force applied, it finally shatters, falling like sleet around Sienna’s feet.
She doesn’t waste any time and grabs my outstretched hand to pull herself through the opening. Selfishly—greedily—I draw her body to mine and press my nose to her hair. A vampire’s senses aren’t as keen as a shifter’s, but we have our own ways of memorizing our mates—taste being the primary one rather than scent. Though my illusion is not a perfect replica of reality, the taste of her blood on my tongue has left me wanting.
Midnight couldn’t come fast enough.
I drag my fingertip along the column of her throat and tip her chin up. The flush coating her cheeks is a welcome reminder of the blood coursing through her veins, and I wrap my hand around her neck to test her pulse. Strong, rhythmic, and if things go my way tonight... nearly mine.
I indulge in her warmth more than I should, breathing in—despite not needing oxygen—so that I can pretend that I’m drinking her in like the others do. I know she likes it when they touch her, so I do the same. Taking my time, I thumb her pulse until it flutters...and she blushes a beautiful rose red.
“We’re wasting time,” she huffs, grabbing my hand and pulling it away from her face. Her demeanor shifts as she leans into the moonlight, the shine of her eyes growing in intensity. “Where are the Games set up?”
A smile tugs at my lips. We have a moment to spare for teasing. “Nothank youfor your rescuer?”
She clutches my fingers so tightly that my joints pop, the brittle bones grinding against each other. This startles her so much that she gasps, a delicate little sound that catches us both off guard. Her eyes soften a fraction alongside her grip, but I don’t let her release me.
“Callum, are you?—”
“It’s nothing for you to worry about.” My annoyance comes back in full force, stealing every remnant of joy from a precious moment alone. Of all the times for my body to give out, now is not one of them.
Lifting her into my arms and ignoring the twinge in my wrist, I jump off the balcony with ease, landing on the snow-covered ground with my body fully intact. I toss a quick curse to the gods, knowing that they’re watching their children fall apart and not lifting a finger to assist.
We’re alone to face the chaos we’ve sown.
Revyn glowers as he approaches from mere feet away, his fists already clenched by his sides. “You were supposed to drop her.”
“Your help was not needed.”
“Like hells it wasn’t. We agreed that I would carry her.”
“Stand down, wolf.” I cradle Sienna’s head against my chest and enjoy the way Revyn absolutelyloathesme being far too close to his mate. Selfishly, I run my fingers through her hair and scrape my fingertips against her scalp, eager for the whimper of pleasure that passes her lips. Shifter senses are heightened during a fool moon, and I intend to take full advantage of that fact until sunrise.
Revyn’s brooding intensifies, and I bite back a grin. Messing with his head has easily become one of my favorite pastimes. But alas, we’re out of time for the evening. Tonight’s Mating Games are already underway.
“We need to teleport,” I inform them, taking measured strides through the snow. It billows around my cloak and leaves a trail in its wake. “The transporter is this way.”
“Have the Games begun?” Sienna asks, using my shoulders as an anchor to lift herself up.
