Before I could contemplate further a woman screamed, “Oh no, you don’t! I like him! He’s mine!”
The other voices subsided as the altercation accelerated. With grace, Jazmine dropped to the ground, slinking toward the distraction. My distraction!
I crept down the stairs, hoping the commotion would serve its purpose.
Dillon roared, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t belong to anyone, and not either of you.” Ouch! I knew Connie wouldn’t like that shocking proclamation regardless of the reason. Dillon sounded like he meant every word.
The yelling escalated as I headed the opposite direction. As planned, everyone was drawn to the potential dogfight, the animal part of them unable to resist the impending bloodshed.
I found a dark corner by the school, blocked from view by a shield of overgrown Emerald Green Arborvitaes, or as some referred to them, “Instant Privacy” trees. I slipped between them and ducked, praying their promise of privacy would apply to me. There wasn’t much time remaining. The girls could only argue so long before a full-fledged fight was expected.
“Tonight, as I look upon this amazing moon …” I stalled. This was ridiculous. I was talking to the moon. How would proclaiming my love for Zane under a full moon bind us together? The whole idea was absurd. Why am I thinking about this now? These don’t feel like my thoughts. This isn’t me.
“Mating with a werewolf is not in your best interest, my beauty.”
Turning, I faced the voice’s soothing source. I knew right then who’d been planting the confusing thoughts. Damn it! I’d wanted to talk with Valamir, but not until after I’d completed the mating ceremony, and not now when I was on a life or death time schedule.
“You!” I snapped. “I’ve been held hostage for days and you choose now to ride in on your white stallion. And who are you to tell me who or what I can mate with?” I was beyond tired of being bossed around. I didn’t care if the delectable man towering over me had two very pointy teeth. I was saying my bit before he or someone else tore me to pieces.
“You should watch your tone, my dear. I may lust for you and your blood, but I do not take kindly to disrespect.” He glowered, arms crossed.
“Go ahead! Do me a favor. At least I’ll have a moment of ecstasy while you’re sucking me dry. Go on! Bite me!” I took a very dangerous step forward and tilted my neck in submission.
He shrugged, fangs extended. “I think I will have a bite, since you’re offering.”
Warmth pooled in my belly and spread down my thighs as his teeth sank in. This wasn’t what I wanted, was it? Death by vampire? No. I’d simply challenged the wrong foe ¯ one older, stronger, and ultimately sexier.
My eyelids fluttered shut and I allowed myself to drift away, floating on waves of pleasure and pain.
Dying in his arms made death seem delightful.
Chapter 42
Dying without telling the world how much I loved Zane was unacceptable.
Through the fog-like-dizziness of severe blood loss, the words I’d longed to speak floated from my mouth, barely audible: “Zane, I love you … you. I want to be your mate, your wife, your everything. It’s too …” My next word, late, was drowned by Valamir’s snarl.
He released me and leapt back.
I straightened up, an unfamiliar power coursing through my limbs. A ripple of heat ringed my ankle, forming what felt like an anklet of fiery metal.
Ignoring the vampire’s snarls turned hisses; I bent to examine my leg. I yanked the red wig from my stocking and tossed it at Valamir, who despite his discomfort caught it with ease.
A circle of sigils bordered my ankle. They seemed to writhe on my skin like miniature snakes. Unable to restrain my curiosity, I touched the foreign markings and was sucked into a portal of black nothingness. Not the response I’d expected.
Valamir, the bonfire, Jazmine, everything had vanished.
I stood somewhere, but nowhere.
For the first time, I noticed a metallic taste in my mouth. Searching my recent memories, I recoiled. At some point during Valamir’s little blood bath, I’d consumed his tainted blood, and then I’d activated the mating mark. The repercussions of these two interrelated actions would without question cause some future abnormality ¯ yet another group of bizarre gifts or talents to unwrap.
Approaching footsteps drew my attention. Despite the gloom, I was able to make out a familiar figure. My worries were swallowed by the