Page 108 of Mortal Blood
“It should be me,” Alina said, looking uneasy, but jaw set indetermination. “The two of you are stronger than me in human form. You’ll have a better chance of holding her back without hurting her.”
“It shouldn’t be anyone,” I disagreed, even as my throat started to burn in anticipation. “Feeding from you will make you weaker, and I’m still new to my shifted form. It’s not worth it.”
“You’ll still be stronger than you are now. A pack is only as strong as its weakest member.” She dropped her gaze from mine and a slight pink tinged her cheeks. “I know I’m not your pack, but…”
“You are today,” Cole said, clasping her shoulder. “And you can run with the Iron Shadows any time. Cali?”
I blew out a slow breath and nodded. “Okay. But you and Jax should both restrain me. And Alina, you should take this, just in case I try to do anything stupid and it gets lost.”
I slipped the necklace over my head and handed it to her. The last thing any of us needed was for me to lose the whole purpose of our task in the mud while I was trying to break free and kill the person who was trying to save my ass.
Alina pulled the chain over her head with a nod. “How do we do this?”
I crouched down, and then glanced at Jax and Cole, holding my arms out wide to them. “Whatever you do, don’t let go. I mean it.”
Jax nodded solemnly and took hold of my right arm, one hand wrapped around my wrist and the other braced against my shoulder. He’d seen firsthand what I would try to do, and I was glad he was taking it seriously. Cole’s hands caressed my skin as they slid into the same position on my left, and he ducked hishead to mine.
“It’s okay. I won’t let you hurt her,” he murmured.
I swallowed hard and nodded to Alina. “It’s probably safest if you don’t let me touch you. Just cut your wrist and hold it above me.”
She nodded, then cast around quickly and snatched up a stone from the ground. With one quick slash, she opened a red gash in her wrist with the jagged side, and saliva immediately pooled in my mouth as I caught the rich, coppery scent. My eyes tracked her movement carefully as she came closer, holding her wrist above me. I tilted my head back, mouth open wide, and couldn’t quite contain the hiss of delight and desire as the first drop of blood hit my tongue. I swallowed greedily and she squeezed her wrist forcing the blood to flow faster…but it was still coming too slowly. I needed it. I neededmore.
“Steady, princess,” Cole murmured in my ear, and I nodded jerkily. Right. I had to keep control. Think about something other than the blood…the hot, viscous blood that was the only thing that could sate my need with its heady, powerful taste, and…
I squeezed my eyes shut, only for them to fly back open again. I surged up, lunging for the wrist above me.
“Fuck,” Jax grunted, hauling back on my arm. Cole’s grip didn’t budge, burning into my skin as he kept me from what I needed. I snarled in frustration, whipping my head round to the side to take a snap at Jax, at this pup thatdaredto try to keep me from what was mine, before lunging up again, and again being held down.
I caught more of the precious blood as it kept flowing, tongue flicking out to catch a stray drop that landed on my lip as thewrist above me quivered. I battled against the arms holding me, feeling myself growing stronger by the second. I needed more, more strength, more power, so I could break free and finally slake my thirst. I yanked hard on my right wrist, almost managing to break loose from the infuriating restraint.
“Hold her,” Cole shouted.
“I’m trying!” Jax shouted back. “Fuck’s sake, has she had enough yet?”
No. Never enough.I needed more, always more.
“It’ll have to be. Alina, get back.”
No! The blood disappeared from above me and I roared my fury, turning to snap my teeth at the threat on my right.
“Dammit, Cali, snap out of it!” he said as my teeth narrowly missed him thanks to the hands pulling me from the other side. I whirled to my left.
“Easy, princess. It’s over. Come back to me.”
I snarled again as the muted scent of blood faded from the air and the taste faded from my mouth. I squeezed my eyes shut again, panting with the exertion of fighting the two shifters. As the smell and taste cleared from my senses, clarity started to creep back in.
“Princess?”
I nodded. “One...second.”
I stilled in their grip, carefully testing my thoughts to make sure I was back in control. I didn’t need the blood. It was just blood. I was more than just a dhampir. That wasn’tme.
“Okay, yeah, I’m good.”
I opened my eyes as they released me, looking around until I spotted Alina. She looked a little pale, but cut me a curt nod as she tore a piece of her shirt sleeve off and wound it around her wrist.
“Are you okay?” I asked her.
