“I will do this for you under one condition.”
Her breath caught. “What’s that?”
He didn’t answer, just grabbed her hand, and pulled her towards a door behind him. To the room he shouted, “Give us a minute. She needs to be convinced.” That didn’t sound good.
She had a feeling he was lying but didn’t say anything. The door shut behind them, muting out the bellows of rage and anger shouted after them. Aidan led her deep into the castle until they came upon another door. Inside he locked it with a piece of wood barring the door by two metal rungs.
He turned to her and she balled her hands into fists. “And what exactly do you want?”
He let out an uneasy laugh. He reached for her and though she flinched, he grabbed her shoulders. His eyes bore into hers. She had no choice but to look back at him. “You swear to follow through with your promise?”
“Yes,” she said though her voice wavered.
He released her and walked in an agitated circle, running his hand through his shaggy black hair. “I am not like the others.”
She’d noticed but didn’t say so.
He faced her, his eyes locking on hers. “I am not a demon.”
One of her eyebrow’s rose. “Then what are you?”
The corner of his mouth quirked up but it wasn’t quite a smile; more a sad, mocking look. “I am a vampire.”
She swallowed hard. Her suspicions had proven right. She didn’t feel particularly good about being right on this. “Okay.”
“I haven’t drunk from a fresh source...in so long.”
She heard the longing and the agony in his voice. It pulled at her heartstrings. Maybe she was too nice for her own good because it didn’t bode well for her to feel anything positive for her captor. Shoot, she’d already royally screwed that up with Alrik. She felt way more for him than a captive ever should about her captor.
“What do you normally drink?”
His smile turned bitter but his gaze roamed over her face with hunger before settling on her neck. Even hidden by her hair she felt his gaze scorch her. “Blood of animals. The men know what I am. You give me this and I’ll let the fallen king participate in the challenge.”
She tensed but her heart started racing. “Give you what exactly?”
His voice almost gentled. He tucked her hair behind her ear pushing it over her shoulder to reveal her neck. A body part so common had never felt so vulnerable until now. His gaze found her neck and she swore he could see her pulse pounding wildly. “Your vein this once,” he said, his voice thick. “Give me this and I’ll abide your wish.”
Abby squirmed under his stare. Let him drink from her in order to have Alrik participate in the challenge? It could work to her advantage—if he won. If he didn’t—she’d be screwed, royally.
“Okay,” she agreed.
His mouth parted in surprise. A look that could almost be described as gentle hunger came over him as he stepped into her, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her flush against him. He cupped her cheek forcing her to meet his gaze. They were so close, the moment so intimate she felt as though she was standing naked in his arms. This moment felt more intimate than their kiss did. She felt bared down to her bones.
“You won’t hurt me?”
He shook his head slowly and for some reason she believed him. Maybe it was the sincerity in his eyes or just her instincts but in this she trusted him.
Gulping, she nodded and tilted her head to the side. “Then do it.”
His breathing turned heavy and loud. His lips touched her throat and she jumped, her eyelids squeezing tight. His tongue darted out to lick a warm wet path up her neck. She shivered, unable to stifle it. The sensation was pleasant, might have been nice if coming from someone else. Someone like Alrik.
His hands were gentle on her as he wrapped himself around her as if trying to get as close as physically possible. He cupped her jaw, tilting her head back. She felt so exposed and weak in his grasp. His lips pressed a soft kiss to her neck. His warm breath sent a shiver racing down her spine.
Panting, she waited for him to make his move. But he seemed to be savoring the moment, taking his time. His tongue passed over her and then two hard points pressed against her. She heard him inhale her scent.
She stiffened just as he struck. A fleeting moment of pain as her skin broke then a warmth built in her beginning at the bite then radiating outwards to all points of her body. She could feel the sucking sensation working at her neck and it was more erotic than she could ever have guessed. But it was all wrong, coming from the wrong man. She didn’t want to like anything he did to her.
Moisture flooded between her thighs and her hands flew to his shoulders to hold on. Her lips parted and he groaned a deep, vibrating sound that shivered over her skin. Time seemed to speed up because he broke away too soon. Her hands still held him. She didn’t want to let him go. Her eyes were slow to open but when she looked at him, she saw barely restrained desire lurking in his eyes.
“If I don’t stop now, I’ll take your body right here.”
She shivered, the idea now actually sounding quite good. His bite had done all that? She was practically a quivering puddle of need. Wet and needy, nipples hard and wanting to be touched. She pressed fingertips to the wound and looked at them only to find no blood. She gazed at him in question.
“My saliva heals the wound after I feed.” His voice was much deeper, a sexy rumble.
Abby swallowed hard and nodded fast. “Okay, it’s done. Let’s get out of here.” She had to because right now what her body craved and what she wanted was two entirely different things. Moreover, a nagging guilt filled her as if she’d done something wrong. Like she’d cheated on Alrik... She shook her head to rid the negative thought. They’d never done more than share a kiss, she reminded herself.
Aidan’s dark gaze bore into hers as if he could read her thoughts. “I’ll win this and then we’ll finish this,” he promised.
She almost believed him. Almost.
Because she knew Alrik would win and she hadn’t wanted anything so badly in a long, long time. The sooner he won, the sooner she could feel his mouth on hers. She wanted him, craved him, and needed him to appease the hunger stirring deep inside her. She froze, realizing her own thoughts. What in the world was wrong with her?
Aidan scowled. “You think of another now. Who? The king,” he spat the word as if it tasted disgusting.
Abby didn’t dare say anything.
Jaw clenched tight, Aidan grabbed her hand and led her back into the hall. The men were even more restless now.
Aidan made her sit in a throne-like chair at the front of the hall. “Stay here.” To the room he said, “Bring the fallen king up here.”
The men didn’t move and all conversation ceased. The blonde-haired demon who’d escorted her from her room this morning stepped forward. Disbelief marred his handsome face. “What say you?”
“The woman says she’ll not accept any of us under any condition unless he’s allowed to fight for a chance. So be it.”
“This is ridiculous,” cut another demon.
Aidan’s body stiffened in a lethal way as if trying to keep from physically launching at the man. “We are not rapists. We have her promise and she’ll abide by it. Besides,” now she could hear the taunting laughter in his voice, “we finally have our chance to beat the king once and for all. And fairly.”
Some of the demons started nodding and smiling. Another came forward. “I agree. Let him fight us. He won’t beat us. Too long has he sat upon a throne while we’ve battled. He won’t win against us.”
Others started murmuring their agreement and then the matter was settled.
Four guards split to go retrieve Alrik. Abby fidgeted in her seat feeling strangely nervous at the thought of seeing him again. A minute later Alrik came in. Each of the four guards struggled to keep hold of him. He lurched and jerked against them and the guards barely seemed to keep hold of him. She wanted to smile but kept her lips in check.