Chapter 9

Soft flesh broken under the press of his fangs, blood filling his mouth, her pulse weakening against his tongue as he drank from her veins. Doubt plagued David as the moment passed when he could let her go peacefully, with no regrets. He bit into his own wrist and held the wound to her lips, holding still as he waited for her to swallow.

When she did, all his misgivings about what saving her would cost him disappeared. He could feel her heart beating with the same steady rhythm of his own. He could not think of his people, of the young ones who needed him to make difficult choices to protect them, because she was his to care for. Nothing else mattered, she shared his blood and her pain was his own. But the pain was lessening. She was resting. She would be okay.

He trailed his fingers down her cheek, over her lips, wiping away a droplet of his blood. Leaning close, he felt the pull between them, so powerful he ached to lift her and keep her wrapped up in his arms until she woke. He needed to see her open her eyes, to see her smile at him and promise she’d remain at his side for eternity.

This is wrong. Snap out of it, David.

Easing away from the bed, he fought the urge to touch her, to kiss her and whisper words that he didn’t mean. He didn’t know her, didn’t love her.

Not that ‘love’ even came close to what he wanted to say.

Confused, he forced himself to back up even more. Distance didn’t help. He’d heard that a sire’s bond with their kin could be almost crippling, but he’d never believed it. If he had, he would have…

No! He couldn’t even consider her death now. Every instinct raged against the very idea of her leaving him. He had to get away from her. Reaching for the door was a struggle. How could he function as a leader like this? What the hell had he done?

“David?” Tommy stood in the hall, one hand out as though he wanted to support David, but had stopped himself because he wasn’t sure he could. “Is she—”

“She’s fine.” David latched onto Tommy’s arm as he moved toward the door. “Don’t!”

Tommy stared at his hand, his muscles tensing and his jaw ticking. They might look close in age, but David was much older and had been careful over the years to avoid using his strength against his friend. He knew the abuse Tommy had suffered at the beginning of his immortal life. Abuse the sanctuary had been formed to prevent.

He released Tommy and rubbed a hand over his face. “I’m sorry. I can’t—”

“Don’t worry, it won’t last.” Tommy patted David’s shoulder and gave him a tight smile. “She protected me at first, but it wasn’t long before she could hurt me without hurting herself.”

“I need a fucking drink.” David couldn’t seem to move away from the closed door. It took all his strength not to go in there and make sure she didn’t need him. Maybe a few drinks would dull the urge. “This was a mistake, but…I don’t regret it.”

“I know you, David.” Tommy sighed and gestured toward the stairs. “You will.”