Page 66 of Trapped for Her Blood
Even though my gaze was on Axel for only seconds, Ryker’s skin has improved, his hair is growing and I can see sparks of mischief returning to his eyes.
Axe arrives on the other side of Ryker, the shape of his strong lower legs in my eyesight. “Here.”
He bends to offer me the tin cup of water.
“Zuben said he shouldn’t drink yet.”
“For you,” Axe says, drawing my attention to his face. “You’re a human. We walked a long distance. This is very stressful. You need to drink.”
I want to argue, my needs are not paramount, but I accept the cup and tip it to my lips. The cold water blazes a trail down my throat, radiating outward. I gulp down the entire cup and then hand it back to Axel.
“Thank you.” I lick my damp lips to get every last drop. “I had no idea how badly I needed that.”
He nods, and then reaches down to stroke my head. The simple gesture of affection warms me more than I can describe. Axe seems to sense what I need and my gratitude expands.
Zuben and Axe…clearly they both have some kind of feelings for me, even though nothing has been put into words, and yet both seem okay with how I’m so focused on Ryker right now, shattered by his pain and suffering. The other two aren’t showing a hint of jealousy, and I’m glad that they care enough about me to allow me to show my feelings for this other man, this other vampire.
Ryker seems to be healing more quickly now, and Psycho and Zuben roll him onto his side and check that all the silver is gone from underneath his body.
When he’s returned to his back, Ryker looks directly into my eyes. “Hey, little dove. Fancy meeting you here.”
“Oh, Ryker.” My eyes fill with tears again. “I thought—” I don’t want to tell him what I thought, not right now, not while he’s still healing from his burns.
Obvious pain captures him again, and his eyes close, but with every passing second, his body returns closer to normal, more recognizable. Even the scars on this chest are taking shape as the burns that removed them vanish.
Every part of me wants to touch Ryker, to provide whatever comfort I can, but his skin looks too sensitive. I don’t dare.
“All the silver’s off,” Psycho says, using one of the pelts to carry the metal chains toward the pool.
“What are you doing with that?” In a single bound, Axe is ahead of him, blocking his path.
Psycho shrugs. “Tossing the chains into the water where they can’t do more damage.”
Axe frowns, growling deep in his chest. “Don’t poison my water.”
“It won’t.” Psycho tips his head to the side. “Fuck. I don’t know. Maybe it will. What should I do with it then?”
Zuben walks over to join the arguing men. “We should store the silver in the cave,” he says, facing Axe as if asking his permission. “In here, it will remain hidden from the other prisoners and could prove useful.”
He turns to Psycho. “Can we trust you to keep the existence of this silver confidential? To keepeverythingthat has happened today confidential?”
Psycho drops the pelt that’s bundling the silver, and then crosses his arms over his chest. “What’s in it for me?”
“Keep your trap shut, and I might not kill you.” Axe roars and his body expands before my eyes. The dusting of hair on his chest and legs rises away from his skin, and the sound from this throat increases and deepens, as if he’s starting to turn into a bear.
Psycho takes a step back. “I could give a shit what you do with the silver.” He picks up his bolt cutters. “Long as you don’t fucking use it on me.”
Psycho heads toward the exit, and I rise to my feet. “Thank you.”
The monster turns toward me, salutes with a nod, and then heads into the dark tunnel leading out of the cave.
“Who the fuck was that?” Ryker pushes himself up to sit.
I drop to a crouch. “Careful. You’re still healing.”
“Don’t worry about me, little dove.” He winks. “I’ll be one hundred in no time.” He bends one of his legs and winces.
“Take your time. Please.” I sit next to him, my legs to the side. He leans back on one arm and puts his other hand over mine. His skin is still so red, and some of his rings are gone.
