“Yes, he is, and so am I.” Chrissten grabbed Craig’s arm. “We’re family.
We stand and fight together.”
“You need to get away from here,” Craig told her. It was bad enough that he knew Evie wouldn’t leave. But he couldn’t risk the safety of his family as well. “Now.”
“Enough.” Isaiah didn’t roar, he didn’t have to. His tone carried absolute authority and everyone went silent. “No one is going anywhere. If this vampire thinks to attack anyone in my pack, he’s going to face the wrath of us all.”
Craig swallowed the lump in his throat. Isaiah had included him in that statement. And when the alpha’s gaze flicked toward Evie, Craig knew that Evie was included as well. She’d been accepted by one and all. They would stand beside him and Evie and fight.
A sense of determination welled inside him. Power surged through his veins. He would protect his family at all costs.
Benjamin, one of Meredith’s sons, came up to Craig. The large, powerful werewolf shoved up the sleeve of his shirt, exposing his muscled forearm.
“You need blood to be at your most powerful. And there is nothing more powerful for a vampire than paranormal blood.” He offered his arm. “Drink.”
Nothing could have convinced him more of the pack’s acceptance. The offer of blood wasn’t made lightly. “Are you sure?”
Benjamin gave a curt nod.
“Thank you, my friend.” Craig took his proffered wrist. His fangs punched down from his gums and he bit, careful not to cause any pain to his friend. Blood filled his mouth and slid down his throat, but it was unlike any he’d tasted. It was full and powerful and energizing. He sucked harder, very aware of everyone watching him, including Evie. He could feel her hunger growing.
Chrissten yanked off her cardigan.
“Here, Evie, you can drink from me.”
His sister’s offer brought tears to Craig’s eyes. Evie was thunderstruck, backing away from Chrissten with her hands out as though she could ward off the other woman. The offer was unexpected and Craig knew Evie didn’t trust herself.
Meredith stepped forward. “No, she needs pure blood. It’s stronger.”
Meredith eased Chrissten aside and offered her wrist. “Take it, child.”
Evie shook her head. “I’m afraid I’ll take too much.”
Craig withdrew his fangs from Benjamin and licked the puncture holes to close them. “You won’t take too much, Evie. I won’t let you,” he promised.
He went to stand behind Evie and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. “Drink,” he ordered. “It’s the only chance we have of defeating Vladimir.” As he’d hoped, that was all the impetus she needed. Her fangs descended and she eased their sharp points through Meredith’s flesh.
Meredith jerked at the penetration, but her smile never wavered. Isaiah hovered behind his mate, ready to stop the feeding if he deemed it necessary to do so.
It was erotic as hell to watch Evie drinking, even if it was from another woman. Craig felt the rise of his dick and willed it down, knowing it was brought on by a combination of the feeding, the danger and having Evie pressed against his front.
In less than a minute, Evie withdrew and closed the puncture wounds.
Meredith leaned against her husband, not because she seemed weak, but more to reassure him she was okay.
Craig knew what Evie was feeling, the flood of adrenaline, the surge of energy rocketing through her. Her body trembled so he held her tighter. “I won’t let you go,” he promised her again, not in the least concerned that the others could hear.
Evie slowly straightened away from him and he released her. She turned her head slowly toward the thick paneled door. “He’s here.”
Craig jumped in front of her, eyes blazing, teeth bared. He felt it then, the surge of unfamiliar power. The other vampire had arrived.
Chapter Fifteen
Evie’s body hummed as though it were powered by a high-performance race-car engine, whereas before it had run like a lawn mower. The difference in blood was astounding. She could feel her cells soaking it in, feel them changing, getting stronger.
She was still in shock over what had just happened. Instead of fleeing or being angry with her for bringing an unknown vampire to their door, the Haven pack was standing beside them.
The entire pack, his siblings and their spouses were spread in a semicircle, all facing the main entrance of the club, all ready to fight. She knew them by name only. Had barely spoken to any of them, but they were willing to put their lives on the line for Craig and, by extension, for her.
They’d given both her and Craig blood, for crying out loud. If she ever had any doubts about Craig’s friends, they were gone. He had a family here, both by blood and choice. He would be fine if anything happened to her.
With that in mind, she stepped around him. His gaze was fierce, unlike any she’d ever seen on him. Craig was usually easygoing, laidback and intelligent. Sure he was competitive, but this was different.
Craig was ready to kill. For her.
It was in his stance, the way his eyes glowed red and his fangs flashed. He wasn’t as tall or quite as broad as the werewolf males, but he was more powerful. His brown hair brushed his shoulders and she wanted to reach out and touch it one more time, just in case she didn’t make it.
She was a vampire, but immortality was different for each vampire. Remove her heart and she would die. Do that for Vladimir and he might not. It seemed that immortality grew stronger with time.
And time was one thing she’d run out of.
Her enemy was here, and this time there was no running away.
Even if she tried to lead him away from Craig and his friends, the vampire would come back for them. She couldn’t let that happen. Vladimir had to die.
The front door slammed open and Vladimir strolled in like he didn’t have a care in the world. She could almost taste his arrogant assurance that he would walk away the victor in this fight. Good.
If he was overconfident he would be more likely to make a mistake.
Off to her left, Isaiah cursed. “Damn vampires always want to make an entrance.”
If the situation hadn’t been quite so scary, Evie might have laughed at the disgruntled tone of the werewolf. He sounded totally irritated by Vladimir’s actions, not scared at all.
Vladimir, the monster from her dreams and waking hours, was just as she remembered. He was about the same height as Craig with dark-brown hair and eyes. He looked young, about the same age as her and Craig. But looks were deceiving. He’d lived for more than two hundred years. She didn’t even want to think about the number of people he must have killed over that time period.
“Evie.” Vladimir ignored the others as if they weren’t even there and strode toward her, stopping about five feet away. “You’ve been a naughty girl, running away from me.” He tipped his head to one side and studied her. Evie could feel him trying to get into her head and concentrated on blocking her thoughts from him.
Vladimir frowned and turned his focus on Bethany. Craig’s sister-in-law immediately cried out, grabbed her head and fell to her knees.
Craig pounced. He flew across the room, knife extended and ready to strike.
But Vladimir was faster. He moved out of the way and attacked at the same time, hitting Craig hard. Craig flew backward and smashed into the wall, leaving a huge hole in the drywall. The blade fell from his hand and clattered to the floor.
The force would have killed a human.
But Craig pulled himself up slowly and shook himself.
An unearthly growl came from deep within Evie. Fury, the likes she’d never known exploded inside her. She jumped at Vladimir, claws extended, fangs out.
She only had a second to realize her mistake when he snatched her right out of midair. He wrapped one arm around her neck, choking her. The nails of his other hand dug into her chest over her heart, gouging through the sweater and into her skin. She could smell her own blood.