Probably longer.
“Why don’t you tell me what’s got your butt in such a twist?”
His knuckles whitened around the wheel. “You didn’t have to drink from him,” he bit out. Your butt in such a twist. Nice.
“I wanted to know if he was coming after me. Us.”
He could still see her mouth on the other man’s wrist. Her lips so red against his dark flesh. Tasting him. Taking him.
The SUV swerved onto the median and Simon yanked the wheel so the vehicle slipped back into the right lane. “You took his blood. You linked with him.” Wasn’t it enough that the two of them already had some kind of bond he didn’t understand?
Trust. Yeah, Dee trusted her demon.
“I linked with you, too. I didn’t hear you complaining about it.”
No, that was the problem. He’d all but begged for more. The feel of her lips. That tongue—
Good f**king thing the demon had been knocked out.
“I-I thought I had to do it. After what Cat said, I didn’t want him following us.” Quiet, subdued.
Since when was she subdued? What the hell? He slanted her a quick glance and tried to get the crazy bat-shit jealousy under control.
Fear. That’s what it really was. Fear about facing Grim. Because what if the bastard was too strong? And then…cold-eat-your-soul fear that when the battle was over, he’d lose Dee.
One way or another.
When did she become more important than freedom? He cleared his throat and tried to unclench his fingers before he broke the steering wheel. “I thought you didn’t believe the witch.”
A sound, could have been a strained laugh or just a long sigh, came from her lips. “Sometimes, I’m not sure what I believe anymore. I shouldn’t have let them leave the city with us. I knew the whole time that was a mistake.”
But the demon had been adamant, and he’d herded the shattered Ignitor and the still-dazed witch with him.
“I tried to sleep at the motel, but I just—I just kept seeing Catalina, surrounded by the fire.”
But the fire surrounded you, too. Why wasn’t Dee scared for herself? Didn’t she care?
“I couldn’t make her face the flames again. And Zane—oh, hell, after what I saw—”
His gaze snapped to her. “What you saw?”
Her hand lifted, then fell limply back in her lap. “Every time I bite someone, I’m going to see the person’s life, right?”
Unfortunately, that was the way of the Born. Most saw that as a strength. A way to get into the minds of prey and control them.
Not Dee. He could tell she saw it as some kind of punishment. Another one, for her.
“He’s already been through enough. I’m not going to have him dying for my fight.”
He reached for her hand and linked his fingers through hers. “Our fight.” She wasn’t in this alone. She wasn’t going to ditch him the way she’d done the others.
He wouldn’t leave her side. No matter what. “I’m not gonna turn on you, babe. I don’t care what the witch saw, I won’t turn.” The spell might be weakening. Grim might be starting to find a link again, but it wouldn’t matter. Grim would be dead long before the spell wore off completely.
Her fingers tightened around his. “I know.”
Simple. Certain.
Trust?
His breath expelled in a hard rush and his heart thundered against his chest.
“There’s something you should know.” The leather groaned beneath her as she shifted to stare at him. “I didn’t want to bite Zane. Didn’t want to bite that freak vamp Leo. Since turning, I’ve needed to bite. The bloodlust has been there, no denying it. When I first opened my eyes and saw Jude…” He heard the click of her swallow. “I thought I might even lose control.”
The first cravings were the strongest. The most dangerous. That was why he’d taken her to Pak. Pak knew how to care for vampires. He’d guarded dozens of Taken over the years. Guarded them, and had to put some down.
Simon knew if he’d stayed with Dee, her bloodlust would have flared and instead of calming her, his own control would have broken.
They would have broken.
But now they were stronger. Together, they were stronger.
Not. Gonna. Break.
“You are different. I wanted you. I wanted to bite, and I wanted you to bite me.”
A confession like that, from a hunter…from her.
His gums burned as his teeth grew and the crotch of his pants got way too tight around his expanding cock.
“You’re the one I want, Simon. Only you.”
Their joined hands rested on her soft, jean-clad thigh. “When this is over,” he managed to say, the words coming out hoarse and hard, “you’re not getting away from me.” He’d have to explain, have to tell her everything—
But she wouldn’t escape him.
“Good.” He caught her faint smile. “Because you’d better not even think that you’re getting away from me.”
Ah, damn.
She’d done it to him again. A sucker punch. Tony would never let him hear the end of this one. Zane jerked up in bed. His gaze flew around the room. Gone. Of course. What else?
He jumped up, automatically checking the clock. How long had he been out? An hour? Two? Judging by the faint light trickling through the blinds, a hell of a lot longer.
Dee had used that vamp strength on him.
He almost smiled. Almost.
Then he caught sight of the marks on his wrist. Faint. Small. Two circles.
Sonofabitch.
She’d taken his blood. Gotten a lock on him.
“Fine, princess—so you know I’m coming. What else did you expect me to do?”
He stormed to the door. Car. He’d steal one from the lot, get on the road, and call for backup. Pak might even have some other hunters in Texas that he could send in for them. Easy deal.
Dee wouldn’t get rid of him this easily.
He wrenched open the door and caught the scents too late.
Three vampires. Tall, thick, with teeth ready and claws out. They stood just past his door, smiling.
“Knew we’d find someone waiting,” the one in the middle said, and his fanged smile widened. “Let’s see how long it takes to make the demon scream.”
A really, really long time.
Zane lifted his hands and tossed out a smile of his own. “Who’s first?”
They all attacked at once. Figured.
Dee sucked in a sharp breath and lunged forward. The seat belt cut into her chest. In the distance, the faint purple light of dawn streaked across the horizon.