With the Sunrise - Fiona Davenport Page 0,18

only an arm’s reach away. It was perfect timing, which I assumed was planned by Kieran and Thana through their bond. I hated that I couldn’t comfort and reassure my woman through a telepathic and soul-deep connection. It also meant that Selene was vulnerable, and that was unacceptable. As soon as I dealt with this parasite, I was claiming my consort.

I heard the girls’ footsteps as they rushed away, and the intruder’s eyes flew over my shoulder. My hand darted out, and I grabbed his bicep in a punishing grip, keeping him from teleporting after our women since I refused to let him take me with. My power dwarfed his, and he could not force me to portal with him.

“They’re taken, so you should probably keep your eyes to yourself,” I drawled. The nightwalker sneered and took a swipe at me with his other hand.

I dodged his blow just as Kieran called, “Heads-up.” Without taking my eyes from the evil psycho glaring at me with red eyes and a bloodstained shirt, I reached out and caught the stake Kieran tossed to me.

“Going after a consort was a stupid idea,” I told him through clenched teeth. I would always protect Selene, but images of what could have happened to her were making me edgy. “But going after a Bancroft consort?” I tsked. “You obviously have a death wish. So I’m going to do you a favor and help you out.” He wrenched his arm and snarled at me before his eyes went wide, and he hissed as his face twisted with pain.

Staggering away, he grasped the stake embedded in his heart and tried to yank it out, but he burst into flames before disintegrating into ash and blowing away with the breeze.

It wasn’t as though that had been a difficult kill, but my heart was racing, and I felt restless energy buzzing on my skin. I teleported to my living room, where Thana was trying to reassure Selene that Kieran and I were not in any danger.

I stalked over to my woman and yanked her into my arms, crushing my mouth over hers in a deep kiss.

“Let’s go, baby,” Kieran murmured.

“But—”

Then there was no sound except the thumping of my heart and the rush of blood thundering in my ears.

Selene moaned, and I held her steady as her knees weakened, my fangs elongated, and my mouth watered for the taste of her blood. Not yet, I reprimanded myself. I tore my lips from hers with a reluctant groan and swept her into my arms when she swayed on her feet.

“Until we are bonded, you are vulnerable,” I explained to her softly as I headed for the staircase. Selene wasn’t particularly fond of the feeling of being teleported, though that would change once she was turned. However, I didn’t mind making the journey up to our suite. I enjoyed the feel of her in my arms, her scent wafting up to tempt me, and the sound of her heartbeat causing my fangs to tingle while my heart swelled with emotion. “I can never lose you, love,” I choked out. “I need to claim you.”

Selene had tucked her head under my chin, and she bumped it when she nodded, making me smile. “I want to be yours, Athan. I’m ready.”

We reached the bedroom, and I carried her over to the closet before setting her on her feet. Clasping her beautiful face in my hands, I searched her vibrant, purple eyes as I asked, “Are you sure?”

To my relief, she answered with no hesitation in her features. “Yes. I’m more than sure.”

The breath rushed out of my lungs as my heart jumped into my throat while all the blood in my body headed straight to my cock. Calling on all of my restraint, I gave her a soft, brisk kiss, then turned her toward the door to the enormous walk-in closet and patted her delectable little butt.

“Get the box on the bottom shelf to the right,” I told her. “Take it with you to that bathroom and change into what’s inside.” I’d popped out during one of her deep naps during the day and bought something special. I hadn’t been sure when she’d be ready for the claiming, but I’d wanted to be prepared. And fuck, just knowing she was in there putting on what I’d picked out for her was testing the limits of my control.

With a wave of my hand, the room transformed into the perfect chamber to claim my consort. My