Pallas plucked a long splinter from his gut with a tortured groan. “Son of a bitch, I forgot how much wood burns.”
“You’re lucky none of them struck your black heart.” Daedalus settled the vampire next to Sugar and exposed his wrist.
“What are you doing?” The alarm in Pallas’s voice surprised Daedalus.
He gave Pallas a sharp look. “I’m saving her. Something you should have done.” Using his fangs, Daedalus sliced across the vampire’s wrist and allowed the blood to drip into Sugar’s mouth.
Only a few minutes had passed since Sugar’s heart had stopped. It shouldn’t be too late.
“She’ll never forgive you.” Pallas grunted between words while he struggled with the splinter buried through his shoulder into the floor under him.
“I’ll have eternity to make it up to her.” He milked the vampire’s wrist, filling Sugar’s mouth, then massaged her throat to assist the flow into her body. “Come on.” He couldn’t remember the last time he’d made a vampire. He never had the patience to care for fledglings and passed those he’d made to other caretakers.
Sugar would be different. She was the only thing that mattered. Pal Robi Inc. could rot, and the council could go to hell.
He glared at Pallas. “What am I doing wrong?”
“Do you want my list in alphabetical order or in order of priority?” Pallas panted as he twisted the splinter loose in his shoulder.
Jumping to his feet, Daedalus stomped to his brother and made short work of yanking the remaining splinters from his body before gripping his throat. “Help me, or I’ll hang you from this roof by your intestines to watch the sunrise.” Daedalus’s fangs elongated and pierced his lip.
Pallas rested his hands on the one around his throat. “You’re doing it right. Just need to wait for it to work.” His eyes moved to something behind his shoulder. “And not allow the vampire you’re using for this to escape.”
Daedalus dropped his brother and spun.
The little traitor was crawling to the door on his stomach. This was not happening.
“Get back here.” The snap of his voice sent the vampire into convulsions of cowering. “You’ve a blood price to pay for your bad behavior.” Daedalus punched him unconscious once more and dragged his body back to Sugar.
Exposing the other wrist for a fresh cut, he hesitated. Something appeared different. He stared at Sugar.
Her chest rose.
“Yes.” He couldn’t stop the grin spreading across his face. It was working. Slicing the vampire’s wrist, he repeated the process. “Drink, baby.”
She swallowed, and her eyelashes fluttered open. Dazed, she drank as if in a trance.
“That’s it.” Unable to resist touching her, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You’re doing great.” He had almost lost her forever. The ache in his chest eased while the anxiety of her reaction grew. How would he explain?
Footfalls filled his empty house.
He twisted to face the Vasi invading his library.
Sam led the group in shifter form. His gaze moved from him to Sugar feeding from the dying vampire. He shifted to his human form.
“No.” His shout sounded like a howl while his body finished the change.
Chapter Twelve
A howl drove into Sugar’s mind and shattered the daze she’d been caught in. Reflexively, she swallowed a mouthful of warm, salty liquid. She focused on Daedalus's face while he knelt by her head, then onto the Vasi standing in the doorway as if in shock. She dropped the flesh in her mouth and wiped her chin. A hot blush burned across her cheeks.
What had they caught them doing? She couldn't recall anything. Running her hands over her torso, she almost fainted in relief to feel clothes. She sat up, leaning on her elbows. “Hey.”
The anguish in Sam’s face sent a wave of concern over her.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” She searched the room and startled at the sight of Pallas. His shirt was covered in tears and blood.
He gave her a small smile. “I’ll be fine. If you’re done with that, I’d like some.”
She followed where he pointed and gasped. A corpse lay next to her. “What…?”
Strong hands gripped her shoulders. “It’s all right. The worst is over.” Daedalus kicked the body toward Pallas.
While the body rolled over the floor, she glimpsed fangs. “That’s a vampire. Were we attacked?” Things seemed fuzzy, like she’d tossed back a few too many wine coolers. “Wait, what are you doing here? Weren’t you supposed to be killing someone?” She rubbed her temples—
With both hands.
She stopped and dropped them in her lap, staring at her fingers, then wiggled all ten. How was this possible? Blood stained her palms, and there was a metallic taste in her mouth. Oh no, he didn’t. With her tongue, she traced her teeth and felt the beginning points of fangs. “No.”
A tortured whine masked what she’d said. It came from the vampire Pallas fed upon.
“I didn’t know you could feed upon your own kind.” Her mouth went dry.
Daedalus knelt in front of her, blocking her view. “Those like Clementine can’t. My clan is different. Vampire blood doesn’t contain many nutrients unless they’ve just fed—” He choked on the last word and shot a glare over his shoulder at Pallas.
She touched her neck where a lingering ache faded and found nothing. “We’re in the library.” Memories tumbled open from where they’d been dormant. “We were attacked.” She blinked. “Where’s Stephen?”
The Vasi shifted to human form and gathered close together like pack did when distraught.
Without her cane, she rose to her feet. Standing. Assessing her legs, she took a few unsteady steps past Daedalus. “That vampire bit me.”
Forlorn, he watched her.
She spun and confronted him. Betrayal tore at her dead heart. “You shouldn’t have.” She couldn’t breathe, but then again, she didn’t have to.
“Sugar.” Robert’s voice was rough with emotion.
“How could you let him do this to me?” She twisted from them, back to her lover. “You all knew my wishes.” Her legs moved of their own accord toward him. She was whole. No limp or paralyzed arm.
“It’s not their fault, babe.” Daedalus spoke, but she couldn’t accept this change. If she did, it meant this was all real and not some nightmare. “They came afterwards. I—I…” He cleared his throat. “You had just died when I entered the room. I only had minutes to think.”
“Think?” She halted inches from him. “Think? I don’t see any evidence of thinking here.” Her voice grew louder with each word. “Take it back.” With two fists, she pounded on his chest. “Take it back!” Her cry held an edge of crazy to it, but she’d earned the right.
Daedalus clutched her against him.
She struggled against his iron hold, then sensed a gentle caress inside her head and his whispered command. “Sleep.”
Sugar relaxed in Daedalus’s arms, and he cradled her against his chest, carrying her.
“Why?” Sam approached them, his stare riveted on Sugar’s peaceful face.
“What would you have me do? Let her die on my library floor? What’s done is done.” He shouldered the shifter out of his way and spotted Stephen creeping from under the table where he’d lain unconscious. “Need help?”
He rubbed his head. “I don’t think so. I hit my head.” His gaze fell on Sugar. “Is she hurt?”
Daedalus flinched. “She’ll be fine now.” Part of him wanted to shout with joy that she’d live forever. The other cringed that she might refuse to stay at his side after his betrayal.
Pallas let the vampire he was feeding from fall from his lap. “I could use more.” Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth. “I wouldn’t leave me alone with any of them.” He pointedly stared at the shifters.