Bound By Blood. Elizabeth Valentino
okay, Bryce,” I pant. “Sorry I didn’t warn you. I’m used to it. I’ve stopped thinking it’ll kill me. Trust me, in the beginning I wasn’t sure.”
“Well since you’ll survive, can we get going?”
Relief swamps me as the pain begins to subside. My wings flutter softly on the wind, ready to carry us. “Ready?”
“Sure,” he says, hesitation edging his words.
Without giving him time to back out of it, I let my wings stretch and carry us upward, toward the welcoming pull of the moon and the serene beauty of the night sky. “Relax, Bryce. It’s actually pretty cool up here, and I promise I won’t drop you. I wouldn’t want to mess your hair up or anything.” I am rewarded with a slight smile that is devastating in its subtlety. I am slightly uncomfortable with him wrapped around me, his scent–as attractive and wild as he–invading my senses. Arousal curls through me, taunting me with a disturbing desire I can’t act upon. This is unfortunate. Good thing for him I don’t plan on surrendering to lust with any man, lycan or not. It only leads to trouble.
“Fuck,” I whisper as I try to coax more speed from my wings.
“Did you say something, Mila?” His raspy voice scrapes over me sensually, further heightening my unwanted attraction.
“Nothing, now can you be quiet? I need to concentrate. Flying isn’t as easy as it looks.”
“Jesus, woman, no need to bite my head off. Since small talk seems to be out, tell me about what happened with Evan in the end.”
“Your brother fought the disease for six days. He was a trooper right until the end. He was able to function normally until the last day. Then it seized him, suddenly and without mercy.”
“So that’s what happened to Evan. I should have been there with him.” Bryce’s voice becomes even deeper and raspier with emotion.
“Not exactly.” I’m not too keen on revealing the next bit while we’re floating high enough that the houses below look like tiny dots.
“What do you mean, not exactly?” Bryce digs his fingers into my back hard enough to leave bruises.
“Evan could sense you were tracking him and was afraid you’d find him before he died. So the day the disease really took hold, when he was satisfied I was in a safe place and I had his message to you...” A trickle of blood leaks down my cheek at the memory. “...he killed himself. How did you find us, anyway?”
“I received an anonymous phone call about your location. The whole thing reeked of a setup, but I couldn’t abandon my brother. So I masked my scent and presence, and waited until I was sure it was just you in there. I had to act quickly after the crazy lady ratted me out. I knew it was only a matter of time until you figured it out.”
“I did, about the same time you barreled in and tried to maul me to death. Venice is down below. Hold on tight, we’re about to drop.” Silence envelops us as my wings pull us down toward the city–and not a moment too soon. Dawn is already edging in.
Chapter 5
The antique beauty of Venice stretches out below me in a river of history and breathtaking architecture. Even in the midst of the squalor, Venice still looks majestic and proud from above. It’s as if the city is holding its head high despite its fall from grace.
Our arrival is fortuitous in more ways than one. I can’t handle being locked that close to Bryce, his warm flesh, and his deliciously earthy and totally male scent, tinged with tobacco. The sun is cresting the horizon, and even my light-blocking paraphernalia doesn’t shield me enough while flying–and there’s always the risk of a gust of wind blowing my hood off.
“Thank the gods,” Bryce breathes into my neck, his breath sweeping lightly over my skin.
“Ready to be rid of me?” I could definitely stand to be rid of him. Every spot where he presses against my body inexplicably throbs with need. It’s annoying as hell.
“Something like that. Mostly I just really need a smoke.”
My feet drop lightly to the uneven paved stone roads in front of a crumbling apartment building. Nestled beneath the apartments is a small private garage. I paid two years’ rent in advance before I turned vampire. I keep the key on a cord around my neck. I’m thankful it’s survived to this point.
“Where the hell are we, Mila?”
“I have an alternative mode of transportation stashed here.” I can’t quite contain my smile.
“What other mode of transportation?” His voice betrays his distrust.
“My car, Bryce. A standard–well, maybe not standard–runs-with-an-engine car. She’s my baby, and I love her. Don’t hurt her or I’ll hurt you. Understand?”
Bryce ignores me and lights up a cigarette from a pack he fished from his duffel bag. His eyes practically roll back in his head as he inhales.
Normally I abhor the smell of tobacco, but somehow it fits with Bryce, blending in with his already earthy scent. I’ve lost my hair band somewhere along the way, and after the flight my hair is tangled into an unattractive mess beneath my hood. Oh well, I suppose it matches the rest of my disheveled appearance. Nearly dislocating my shoulder, I try to untangle the clasp stuck in my hair so I can release the key from the cord. This is really tricky when one is trying not to flash any skin.
“Do you, um, need any help?” Bryce looks mildly irritated as he grinds out his cigarette with the toe of his boot.
“The stupid clasp is stuck in my hair and I can’t get it undone.”
“So what you’re saying is...you need help.” Bryce steps close to me, close enough that I can feel the heat radiating off of him, soothing my icy skin. His callused hands skim over my neck, slip beneath my hood, and fist in my hair. It is a good thing I don’t need to breathe, because I don’t think it would be possible in this close proximity. “Hold on a sec, I need to untangle the knot it’s wound itself into.” Bryce’s voice is a hoarse whisper, promising the fulfillment of carnal desires, even if he isn’t aware of it.
I swallow the lump lodged in my throat. I need to talk or do something to distract myself. “So Bryce, is there a Mrs. Big Bad Wolf waiting back in the compound for you?”
“What is it to you if there is or isn’t?” Bryce grunts, tugging none-too-gently at my tangled hair.
“Just curious.” I scuff the toe of my boot through some sludge on the street. I know it’s pretty stupid to even make the smallest personal connection between us.
“No, I haven’t met my mate yet.” With a small growl, Bryce pulls his hands from my hair and removes a knife from the belt holding his brown leather pants in place.
“Pent up a little, are we?”
With another growl Bryce slides the blade between my skin and the leather cord, and cuts it off in one smooth motion. The key clatters to the road. Not waiting for me, he picks up the key and strides over to the door. “What about you? Any sleazy vampire guys stake their claim on you? Maybe the one who left those marks on your neck?”
“I have been fucked–both literally and figuratively–by men of all species, more times than I care to recall. I have no need for a man.”
With a sharp tug to the rusted lock Bryce gets it to loosen enough to pop open. The door swings free. Following him into the blessed darkness of the garage, I swing the doors shut and latch them from the inside. I begin an incantation to summon an orb of light. We both have excellent night vision, but I want Bryce to know I’m not staging an ambush. As the orb casts a gentle glow on the cement floor, I turn around and run smack into Bryce, whose arms automatically circle me to keep me from toppling over. Even though we hate each other, he’s still a gentleman. “Thanks,” I mumble, shaking off his arms. A tiny thread of excitement worms its way through me