Page 73 of Undying
Of course, he completely ignores me, and the door shuts behind him with an ominous thud.
Fuckers!
I’m rigid in Stanton’s arms, struggling to gather my wits and think of a plan to extricate myself. I give an experimental wiggle…only to have him grumble and his arms tighten around me. His head lowers, then he sniffs at the top of my head, and I completely freeze.
To my shock, instead of snapping my neck, he sighs, then tucks my head under his chin and goes back to sleep.
What the fuck is happening right now?!
The scent of mint fills my senses, and it’s like I’ve been dosed with a drug. While my brain knows it should be panicking, my body acts of its own accord and melts against him. My eyes automatically close, and I wait for panic to take over at being so close to another vampire. But a small purr comes from his chest, the gentle sensation felt throughout my body, and I’m out like a light.
* * *
STANTON
The click of the door alerts me that someone has entered the study. I swim up from unconsciousness, my fangs and claws lengthening, ready to savage anyone who thinks I’m weak in this state. I only relax when I sense it’s the wolves. Though they might be shifters, our partnership works because we don’t have loyalties to anyone else.
We’re each apex predators with no pack or clan. Our family lines died out a long time ago. We’ve managed to survive against all odds without losing ourselves to the madness, which is a miracle in itself.
Surviving so long has changed us.
Most vampires remain bloodthirsty assholes who think they rule the world, while wolves are still controlling dickheads who lick their own balls. They play games, antagonizing each other, the threat of war always hovering on the horizon between the two races. If something isn’t done, the two races will eventually go extinct, so we decided to do something about it.
Progress is slow…if you can even call it progress when everyone is resistant to the idea of change.
Then Jolie came into our lives, something so unexpected that I don’t know what to do with her. She’s like no one else, and I’m still trying to figure out if she’s our punishment or reward.
I crack an eye open to see what the wolves want, and I’m startled to see them carrying an unconscious Jolie. Worry spikes through me that something happened, but I quickly realize she finally succumbed to sleep.
I’m shocked it took so long, even with her unique abilities.
Most vampires need to rest during daylight hours, many leaving a full security team in charge or they scurry away to hide in a vault to keep safe. Back when I was young, we used to bury ourselves underground. It was the only guaranteed protection both from humans and sunlight.
As time passed, things gradually changed. I became stronger, requiring only a short nap to recuperate. I use the wordnapbecause even while resting, I’m still mostly conscious and aware of my surroundings—one of the perks of being ancient.
Waking a vampire from sleep can be deadly.
If in danger, I can still function, but only at minimum capacity.
Little more than feral.
I’m surprised they would bring her to me while she’s vulnerable and unable to defend herself. They’ve grown attached to her in a very short amount of time, the wolves so possessive that I’d almost swear they were mates, but that would be impossible.
Vampires and wolves aren’t compatible.
I remain mute as they get her settled against my side, pleased they would trust me enough to watch over her while she sleeps. I catch a whiff of her sharp citrus scent seconds before her skin comes into contact with mine. Every primitive instinct inside me roars to life, and I practically snatch her from them and clutch her to my chest.
With my inhibitions lowered, so are my shields, and recognition slams into me hard enough to leave me speechless.
My reina.
My eyes snap open, unable to pretend to be asleep any longer, and I gaze down at Jolie in awe, reverently brushing my fingers along her cheek just to confirm for myself that she’s not a figment of my imagination.
When my fingertips brush against soft skin, I suck in a sharp breath.
She’s real!
I wrap myself around Jolie, fighting the instinct to bite her and claim her for my own before anyone can take her from me. We haven’t had a blood queen for over millennia. Vampires no longer bother to search for their mates.
