Page 55 of A Vampire Bewitched
Nik glared at the two of them sitting there with their heads together. When the hell had they gotten so chummy? “I can hear you! I’m right fucking here!”
They stared back at him in stony silence.
“Un-fucking believable.” Throwing the last log into the circle, he sat on his haunches to start the fire.
Aiden patted Emma on the hand and got up to come over to help, adding more kindling under the logs.
“So where did you go anyway?” Nik asked after a moment.
“Oh! Yes, that. Well, I went outside to give you two some privacy. But then I thought as long as I was out there, I may as well look around a bit.” He paused to blow on the small flames. “Someone else is in the area.”
Nik left the fire to Aiden, who was much better at it than he was, and took a seat on one of the stones. “Who? Dante?”
Aiden didn’t answer until the fire was licking merrily at the logs. “No, I don’t think so.” He sat next to Nik and watched the flames. “If it is, he’s gathered more fighters. I found their tracks just a little ways north of here. Then they suddenly disappear after about two miles.”
Nik thought a moment. “Wolves?”
Aiden shrugged.
“All right, I’ll go check it out. See what I can find. I need to get out of here for a while.” Nik grabbed his backpack.
Aiden carefully fanned the flames. “Nope. Can’t let you do that. I’ll go back out there and scope it out. I just wanted to check in with you. You stay here with Emma.”
Taking out a couple of wicked-looking blades from the bag he’d brought, Nik strapped them around his thighs. “I’m going. I need the air.Youstay here.” He tore open a blood bag and chugged it down before he could taste it, then took a water bottle out to bring with him. Those things were getting nastier and nastier. With a sideways glance at Emma, he sauntered toward the tunnel, waving away Aiden’s protests.
“I don’t know why Luukas ever appointed me to you,” Aiden said. “You completely ignore all of my endeavors to keep you safe.”
Nik flipped him off and paused to tighten one his knife straps.
He heard a quick exhale before Aiden finally gave it up. “Be careful. Don’t get too close.” He paused. “Although thatwouldbe the easiest way to find Luukas…”
“Aiden!” Emma didn’t sound pleased with that plan.
Another pause. “No, you’re right, Em. Leeha would love that. She’d have both brothers to torture, along with our missing Hunters, if that’s where they are.”
Nik resumed walking and tried his best to ignore the both of them.
“Although,” Aiden continued, “I could follow to see where she took you, but I’m not sure how I would get you all out of there on my own.”
Nik glanced over his shoulder to see Aiden waving a hand around in dismissal. “Eh, I’ll figure something out.”
He paused at the tunnel entrance, shooting an exasperated look at his friend. But he was already back on his radio, trying again to get a hold of the others.
Emma rose from her spot on the floor and brushed off her pants. “I want to come with you, Nik.”
Nik barely glanced at her. “No. It’s too dangerous, and you’ll just slow me down.”And I need some space from your scent.
A frustrated breath burst from her lungs. “It’s my sister in there, too.”
He turned to leave and heard her footsteps behind him.
“You’re not going to just leave me here in this cave with this…this…unstable,womanizing, oversensitive, psychopath. No offense, Aiden.”
Aiden grinned charmingly at her. “None taken, love.” Then he looked pointedly at Nik. “See, Nik? Emmaunderstandsme.”
Nik turned around and found the two of them watching him expectantly. “What? No. Absolutely not. Emma is too fragile. Too human.” He ignored her sound of protest at that statement. “And too much of a distraction.”
“Not disagreeing with you there, mate, she is quite the distraction,” Aiden agreed. “Clear off and leave her here with me, I’m sure I can find her something to do.” He winked at Emma, and the naughty grin on his face grew as Nik’s simmering growl filled the silence.
