Page 43 of Trapped for Her Blood
Axe backs away. “She used witchcraft to get me down here. I was put to sleep. If that wasn’t magic, then what?”
“Not magic. Science,” Zuben says matter-of-factly. “Colloidal silver to be precise. The DEFTA security team injects it into the bloodstream of vampires to subdue them. It is used in small doses for torture and in larger doses to render vampires unconscious.”
“DEFTA!” Axe roars. “Theyare behind this dungeon?”
Zuben straightens. “You did not know this?”
Axe shakes his head. “But I am not surprised. For centuries they murdered my ancestors, along with other creatures of the forest, just to sell their skins. Monsters.”
“DEFTA is no longer in the fur trade,” Zuben says with zero compassion in his voice.
“But they’re all clearly still monsters.” Axe’s voice is deep and heavy with hate.
Zuben looks back toward the furs where he and I so recently…fucked, I can think of no other word for what happened between us.
“If furs are the trappings of monsters,” Zuben asks. “Then what are those?”
Axe’s eyes narrow, and he growls. “Spoils of war.”
Zuben nods as if that’s enough information, or maybe he’s just not that interested in how Axe came to have wolf pelts, but a shiver traces through me, remembering that room of wolf shifters and how easily Axe killed vampires today.
“Ember,” Zuben says softly, “may I speak with you privately?”
Nodding toward him, I squeeze Axe’s hand and then follow Zuben toward the arched entrance of the cave.
Axel runs, taking three impossibly long strides before diving into the pool, disappearing beneath its surface.
“You feel safe with this bear,” Zuben says—a statement, not a question.
“He’s not a bear.” I shake my head. I have no idea whether being called a bear would be offensive to Axel; it might be a compliment for all I know. “Yes. I feel very safe with him.”
I glance over to the pool, and Axe breaks through the surface near the far wall. “Axe rescued me. Protected me. He’s been very kind and gentle.”
Zuben reacts to the word gentle and looks down, almost like he’s ashamed. “Have you recovered from our…our sexual activities?” He glances into my eyes, his full of concern.
“I’m…I’m fine.” My legs are like jelly and my insides are burning from the friction, but those feelings aren’t unpleasant, more like a physical reminder of how his cock felt inside me, an echo of the many orgasms that rocked me.
I’d like to discuss what happened with Zuben, why things started so passionate and tender, but turned so—rough and mechanical—but this isn’t the time.
Still coming down from the adrenaline and other hormones, I’m not even sure how to frame the discussion yet.
“The bear—” Zuben gestures toward the pool with his head, and his brow furrows. “I must explore this dungeon, investigate how it functions so I can form an escape plan, but I do not want to leave you alone with this bear while he is so clearly starved for human blood.”
“How can you tell?” Axe has already had ample opportunity to feed from me if that’s what he wanted.
“It isveryobvious now that he is back in vampire form,” Zuben says. “I can see it in his skin, in his posture, I can smell it in the air around him. It has been far too long since that creature has tasted human blood—or vampire blood for that matter. Without it, he will soon fall into a deep sleep, not unlike a coma.”
“Vampires drink from other vampires?” I ask.
He nods. “We need both, but for different reasons. Human blood is food, vampire blood is…it is less necessary for survival. It is craved for…for other reasons.” He shakes his head. “Those details are not important at the moment. Vampire blood will not satisfy the bear’s urgent need.”
Zuben looks at me with concern in his eyes. “He needs to feed, but even if you are willing to provide your blood for him, I should be present—so I can protect you.”
Realizing what Zuben’s saying, a combination of fear and excitement races through me. I want to help Axe, but the idea of sex again so soon…and with a cock as large as Axe’s… Perhaps I do need Zuben’s protection.
“How long will you be gone?” I ask him, fear for Zuben now creeping in. The other vampires I’ve encountered in here were less than friendly. “Will you be safe alone out there?” I glance toward the pool, but Axe is underwater.
A hint of a smile brushes Zuben’s lips, as if he’s happy that I’m concerned for his safety, and he cups my face gently. “Believe me, precious one, I would not leave you here unless it was of the upmost importance. I must find a way to get you out of here.”
