She sat on the edge of the bed with ease and tugged her negligee over her thighs. He must have changed her clothes while she slept. A shiver shook her shoulders. The idea of being so vulnerable and easily manipulated didn’t sit well.
“Sugar—”
“Shut up.” The command popped out. Daedalus’s hurt expression still managed to bother her even after he’d betrayed her wishes. She bit back the apology on the tip of her tongue.
He rose from his seat wearing metal armor across his chest. A brightly colored shield rested against his chair as he set a helm on his head.
Sugar crossed her arms. “Are you expecting trouble?” Damn him for looking so devastating in that stupid costume. All he needed was a sword to complete it. She assessed him further. He didn’t wear any weapons, only armor.
With a snort, he shook his head. “You.” He gave her a weary smile. “I thought you’d wake up ready to smite me.”
“The thought has crossed my mind.” She sighed. “Your outfit is overkill though. I can’t hurt you. You're too strong.”
“When you were human, yes. Only time will tell how strong you’ll become. I’ve no idea what clan you’re from.” He rubbed his chin. “I should have asked the vampire before killing him. It won’t be hard to find out.”
She gasped, and her stomach rolled at the memory of the blood in her mouth. “You mean you’re not the one who did it?”
Daedalus moved toward her, his face grave. “I’ve explained before, I can’t transform a human, only vampire males. I would have killed you.”
Something snapped inside her chest. “I’m already dead!”
He retreated as if her shout had physically pushed him.
She jumped to her feet and stalked after him. “You broke your promise.” Setting her hands on his metallic chest, she shoved. “You knew I didn’t want to cross over. What gives you the right?” She shoved him again.
Hot tears rolled down her cheeks. She wiped them away, and her hands came away blood-tinged. With a cry of frustration, she launched at him. Fists banged against cold metal and bare cheek. She didn’t care where her strikes landed.
An arm snaked around her waist and lifted her from Daedalus. “Easy, Prima. Daedalus only means well.” Pallas set her back on the bed. He twisted to confront the vampire who had betrayed her most principal wish. “Why are you dressed like a Roman? Don't tell me they're still around.”
Daedalus shrugged. “I hoped it would put a smile on her face. It worked for a second.” The despair in his eyes tugged at her heart. “If she tried to stake me, I don’t think I’d have the will to stop her.” He knocked on the chest plate.
“I don’t know where my cane is, so I can’t stake you.” She jumped to her feet, but Pallas blocked her path. She couldn’t see past his back. “Get out of my way.”
Pallas glanced over his shoulder at her with an icy glare. Half-healed bruises and cuts marred his rugged face. He’d taken those injuries for her.
She cleared her throat. “Please.” Daedalus wouldn’t hurt her, but she wasn’t so sure about Pallas. Funny how her fury was focused on the one person who loved her unconditionally. That was what hurt her the most. She had trusted Daedalus.
The tight ball of rage inside of her kept exploding each time her gaze landed on him. With him in the room, she couldn’t think straight. “You need to leave.” She dropped her head in her hands. “I need to clear my head.”
She listened to the creak of metal and leather as he moved toward the door.
“Pallas, stay with her.”
“No.” She refused to look at either of them. An odd shame tore her apart. “Out, both of you.” She understood Daedalus had turned her because he couldn’t let her go. She’d often feared he’d do this, especially after the stroke, but when she’d had the cardiac arrest in the ICU, Spice told her Daedalus hadn’t attempted to change her.
She cringed. He hadn’t the means to change her at the time. He needed another vampire to do it for him. Was that truly the reason why she had remained human and why he’d been so adamant about Clementine moving in with them afterwards?
The ache in her chest grew so strong she wanted to vomit. Could a vampire die of a broken heart? She’d soon find out.
Daedalus’s heavy footfalls followed Pallas.
She twisted in time to meet her lover’s gaze before he left the room. “You’ll need to feed soon,” he said, then closed the door.
Chapter Fourteen
Sugar stared at nothing. Feed? As in bite into a person and suck their blood? It had taken her some time to find the courage to allow Daedalus to drink from her. This would be another hurdle for her to overcome. How many would life toss at her before it would leave her alone? Living with shifters, vampire boyfriend, stroke and now this.
What should she do? She couldn’t make Daedalus take it back. If she called Spice, her twin would jump in her car with the pup and come straight here. Part of Sugar yearned for her strong comfort. Her sister would take charge and make things better fast. The other part of Sugar knew her sister and the pup would be placed in danger by coming here. Daedalus may have killed the traitors he knew of, but if experience had taught Sugar anything, it was that more would be lurking in the shadows.
She had to deal with being a vampire on her own. She shifted her gaze from the door to her body—her whole and completely functional body. With a hesitant step, she twirled in spot on her tiptoes. A small giggle escaped her lips. She hadn’t allowed herself to imagine walking, let alone dancing again. If she had survived a shifter attack and a stroke, she would survive this.
But this wasn’t about survival. She caught her image in the mirror over the dresser and crossed to it. The woman in the mirror was her. The real her. The one before the attack and pain and horror. A little paler, but the droopy lip was gone. This was about getting her life back.
She tore off her negligée.
“Whoa.” The sharp edges of her ribs no longer showed. Even the hint of roundness of her lower abdomen had returned. She did a slow turn. Damn, she’d missed looking healthy. Daedalus never made her feel ugly, but she knew she had changed.
She ran her hands over her breasts and cupped their heaviness. Welcome back, girls.
A gasp cracked the silence in the bedroom. Daedalus stood in the doorway, a goblet in his hands. “I brought you something from my supply.” He kicked the door closed and set the cup on the closest table.
“I said I needed some time alone.” She covered her bare breasts, and the heartbeat that seemed nonexistent a moment ago suddenly raced into action once more.
“Can’t I at least watch?” He raised an eyebrow and strolled around her, his gaze wandering slowly over her flesh, not leaving an inch unchecked. “Damn.”
“Why did I change back to the way I was? I thought vampires stayed stuck as what we were as human.”
He shook his head. “The virus heals all damaged cells. They make you the best that your DNA can manage.” An appreciative noise rolled in his throat.
Shivers of anticipation ran over her spine. It warred with her anger. “No.”
“Yes.” He brushed his fingertips over her upper arm.
Goose bumps formed on her traitorous skin. A rush of desire flooded her body like nothing she’d experienced since she’d first laid eyes on him. The cold wood of the dresser pressed against her ass. She’d backed into it in her unnoticed retreat.
Setting his hands on her hips, he lifted her to sit on the cool surface.