Death Game: Supernatural Battle (Vampire Towers #3) - Kelly St. Clare Page 0,103

last four months, I’d existed as a shadow. The first few days were better—when I kept expecting Kyros to turn up at all hours of the day and night.

Food tasted like sawdust.

Laughter was hard to come by.

Music pissed me off.

If Tommy, Mrs Gaughton, my oldies, and my Vissimo friends weren’t here, I’d be halfway to death’s door.

Cruelly. Ironically. Along with my enjoyment in life, the negatives had disappeared too. Every trace of fear and uncertainty and mistrust that ever sat between Kyros and me was eradicated by misery.

The doubts I’d carried seemed so small now.

The blood bond was unrelenting with its desperation to force me off the estate and onto his lap. Unfortunately, I had the presence of mind to instruct Laurel and the others not to listen to my orders on the matter four months ago.

They’d prevented me from leaving the estate twenty-five times.

Turned out, I’d used all my luck sneaking off the property to save Tommy. They’d confiscated all the frequency generators in the house after I tried using them to get away. With the damage to my ears, I didn’t have much of an advantage. They heard me coming far before I heard them.

The blood bond was shoving my body to exhaustion, wearing me down physically and mentally so I’d cave and crawl to my mate. It was helped by my very real misery.

I missed Kyros so damn much.

Sighing, I sipped the orange slop through my bamboo straw.

Tastes like horseshit.

Then why are you drinking it?

I frowned. Tommy makes me.

Then I assume it’s for your own good.

I slowly straightened, my mouth full of the carrot juice. As though she had a radar, Tommy whipped around.

“What is it?” she demanded. “Don’t spit that out.”

Kyros?

Yes, my beauty.

I spat the juice out over the bench, startling everyone in the kitchen. My guards tensed, immediately on high alert.

Falling off the stool, I barely had the presence of mind to keep my speed regulated for my human staff as I raced toward the thrumming of Kyros.

He was by the pool.

It wasn’t the first time he’d come closer. I’d feel him in Orange or Black sometimes—occasionally right on the border of Black and the Estates.

Never this close.

Never on my property.

This had to mean something. I couldn’t bear it if he left again.

It means something.

His voice rumbled through me, eliciting a sob. I tore out of the patio and rested my eyes upon him for the first time in four months.

My feet stilled as I looked upon him. The icy winter wind whipped my hair around my face, and I lifted a hand to push back the obstacle to my vision.

He was here, but I didn’t know how to go to him.

It meant too much.

Like I could shatter into a million pieces by taking a single step closer.

My eyes drank him in—because if that was all I got of him, I’d take whatever scraps possible.

He wore a green shirt, sleeves rolled to expose his muscular forearms. He’d partnered it with khakis. If there was one thing I loved more than my vampire in a suit, it was seeing him dress smart casual.

Because that look belonged to me.

Come to me, my beauty.

I startled at sounds behind me.

Tommy was out of breath, even though she’d been joining me in the pool each morning. My guards hadn’t overtaken me, so I could assume they’d figured out Kyros was here.

Tommy gave me a not-so-gentle shove. “What the fuck are you waiting for? Go get him, tiger.”

Kyros strode toward me, done with waiting.

I ran.

His growl filled the air as I traversed the last few steps and launched myself against his body, seventh exchange be damned.

That was the last thing on my mind.

Crying so hard I felt my ribs may crack, I wrapped my arms around his neck, latching my ankles behind his back. His arms wrapped around me, and Kyros held me close.

“Shh, Basilia. I’m here now,” he said in a low voice, turning his back to those watching us from the patio.

My voice couldn’t form words through my tears.

His thoughts were whipping through mine too fast to comprehend. That’s right. I didn’t need a physical voice.

What took you so long?

Kyros inhaled me, squeezing me tighter. Never let her go. Smells right. “You were clear about how you wanted me. You always have been.”

Four months, I thought brokenly. I thought you weren’t coming.

He set me on my feet, hands running down my arms. “You’re so fucking beautiful.”

I can’t breathe around her. Mine.

Fresh tears spilled over my cheeks at the uncontrolled