I writhed and winced.Please stop, please don’t let me die today.
“How is it? She smells amazing. Is she clean?” Rolf asked eagerly.
Vaspar lifted his head. His devious, depraved stare drank in my fear and twinkled with sickening delight. He used the pad of his thumb to wipe away blood, my blood, from the corner of his upturned grin. “She’s…an absolute delicacy. Succulent enough to drain.”
Drain. My eyes went wide and I fought with every ounce of effort I had. Hate and hopelessness burned as I continued my fruitless struggle against their supernatural strength.
“Yes. Keep fighting. It helps the blood flow faster,” Vaspar hissed as he prepared to dive under my skirt.
Suddenly, Rolf’s hand fell away from my mouth and my wrists were free. Vaspar was staring, mouth agape, eyes focused on something behind me.
I sat upright and turned to Rolf’s headless body crumbling to the floor. The resounding thud shook the room. Freshly drawn blood dripped from a familiar serrated blade.
Dommik looked absolutely murderous.
“Step back, filth.” His words vibrated with rage through his bared teeth, his weapon extended and ready to strike again.
Vaspar lifted his hands in retreat, but it wasn’t Dommik’s blade he fixated on as he backed away, it was me. The unrelenting hunger in his gaze sent tidal waves of nausea through me.
“Reyva.” Dommik’s stern voice called my attention. “Come, are you all right?”
“Yes. I mean. No.” The admission was but a squeak before taking his hand and climbing from the table.
Stormy eyes looked down, taking in the state of me. My undone braid, ripped dress, bruises forming on my arms, and finally, the fresh blood dripping down my arm and leg. His nostrils flared at the sight, his dark eyes becoming darker as he faced my retreating attacker.
“I shouldn’t have—” I began but I lost the words as he pulled me into him. Leather and pine consumed me and his muscled arm wrapped around my shoulders.
“Sh—no. Stop. This is not your fault,” he consoled. There, hidden against his chest, I let silent tears fall.
“Touching,” Vaspar jested.
Dommik moved me behind him, shielding me from the ghostly attacker. “You—defied—strict—orders.” Dommik bit out each word.
“Apologies, ” Vaspar sneered and rolled his onyx eyes. “She’s wounded and we were…overcome?—”
“Shewaswounded. But that—” he gestured to my bleeding thigh “–-that’snew.Thatwas your doing.”
I dared to steal a glance and regretted it instantly.
Vaspar’s attention flicked back to me. In a blink, Dommik leapt to the other side of the table like he hadn’t suffered an extensive injury. He dwarfed the pale, lean vampire in physical stature and prowess. Althoughsharp fangs jutted between Vaspar’s sharpened teeth, he recoiled, trying to escape the blade Dommik held in the soft space where his jaw met his throat. The sight of Vaspar’s shrinking frame sent a satisfying flicker through me.
The feeling quickly evaporated when my foot met Rolf’s large, lifeless body and the dull eyes of his severed head.
“By the Four. Don’t tell me you can’t smell her. That you don’t want a taste, too.” The blade, illuminated by the dying light of the setting moon, pressed against Vaspar’s quivering neck. With his free hand, Dommik gripped Vaspar’s black tunic.
He had smelled me. He’d tasted me. I felt so exposed. So…violated. He’d stolen a piece of me I would never get back, and he’d enjoyed every second of it.
“You’ll face extreme punishment for this.” Dommik’s smile wasn’t one I’d seen before. This smile was different. Wide. Threatening. A promise of pain. Pain I wanted to see delivered.
Vaspar’s hands lifted in surrender as he pleaded, “You know you can’t hurt me, Dommik.”
“Commander,” Dommik barked, releasing Vaspar with a forceful push.
“I’ll make you a deal,Commander.” Vaspar’s salute was a sarcastic mockery of Dommik’s position. “You keep my activities a secret and I’ll do the same for you.”
“I have no secrets,” Dommik said with unwavering confidence. The heat of Vaspar’s attention landed on me and slid back to Dommik with raised brows.
“Really? Given your history, I doubt…”
