He should have been disgusted with himself. He wasn't.
He was only enraged that he'd been interrupted.
He didn't like this vampire king and didn't like the way the man watched Jewel, as if inviting her to be his friend. But more than that, he didn't like the fact that the evil creature was swooping in and becoming the hero. Irrational, yes. But it was Gray's job to protect Jewel, and he'd be damned if he'd allow anyone else to get near her. Especially a vampire.
The irony of that didn't escape him.
The woman was hunted like a prized twenty-point buck during deer season, and he didn't dare trust anyone with her.
"Without me, you'll lose her," the vampire said.
"I will allow your men to see us out of the city." Better to keep them close and use them to escape the demons. "After that, they must leave."
"Or what?" Layel asked with amusement.
"Or I'll do to your men what I did to the demon castle."
Layel lost his smile. His ice-blue gaze narrowed menacingly. "Very well. If Marina captures you, however, I will kill you both before I allow her to use the - "
"Layel!" Jewel shouted, nervousness blasting from her voice. "You cannot kill me, and you know it. Now be on your way. Marina is looking for you and she is not pleased."
The vampire actually grimaced. "Until next time."
And then he was gone, two other vampires standing in his place. "Let's go," one of them said. "We don't have much time."
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Three hours later, Gray found himself alone with Jewel and safe in the forest. True to their word, the vampires escorted them safely through the city and left them in peace.
"This is far enough," one of them said. "We must go now. Do not return to the city." Before Gray could respond, they vanished in a flap of movement.
"Wait here," he told Jewel. He sprinted through the trees, their trunks blurring because of his own speed. He wanted to make sure the vampires didn't double back and attack. He caught sight of them only once, their white-blond hair whipping past the foliage.
Satisfied they wouldn't come back, he retraced his steps. Jewel was exactly where he'd left her, spreading out the meal they'd purchased before leaving the city. She glanced up at his approach.
"I hope you're hungry."
"Starved." He plopped down. The air was cool and fragrant with summer scents. Birds soared overhead, and the river trickled beside them. The perfect picnic setting. He could almost forget he'd been chased by crazed mermen and revenge-minded demons.
He gazed at the food hungrily. After having only a tasteless energy bar for breakfast, he would have sold his soul - maybe he had already and that was a moot point - for a single bite of that succulent meat.
"Shall we eat?" she asked as proper as ever.
He didn't take time to respond, simply ripped off a piece of meat and popped it into his mouth. He almost groaned at the sheer pleasure of it.
Jewel did groan. "I don't think I've ever tasted anything quite this good," she said. "Well, except you."
She kept saying things like that, and such boldness from her shocked him enough that he paused, his fowl-filled hand poised just in front of his mouth. "I can say the same of you."
Since their last kiss, there had been a heavy tension between them. They were going to make love again; they both knew it. He couldn't resist her; he just couldn't. Every time he tried, he only succeeded in driving himself insane. So he was done denying himself. His desire to bite her excited rather than repulsed her. A blessing he wasn't going to question.
He didn't know with one hundred percent surety that she was the Jewel of Dunamis as he suspected. Didn't know if he'd have one more night with her or many. None of that mattered. He loved her, and he was going to be with her.
When, he knew, would be sooner rather than later.
His gaze drifted to her. Dirt and blood specks smudged her cheek. Black-as-night hair cascaded in tangles down her back. And yet, with the vitality sparkling in her ocean-blue eyes, she'd never looked more lovely. More exquisite.
This tenderness he felt for her, this ferocity. This need to be near her. This furious passion and unquenchable hunger.
This protective obsession.
Only his sister, Katie, had ever brought out his protective instincts like this - and now Jewel. He felt anything but brotherly toward her.