While my heart had beaten several times since the attack, his had yet to stir.

“Who will make me bleed if not you?” I asked, stroking his face.

When the car finally stopped and the trunk opened, what little patience I possessed had come to an end.

“Open the bay door and park inside. Hide your car well and be ready to come to me when I call for you.”

Leaving the human to obey, I carried Adriel inside, upstairs to the loft we’d taken as our personal nest. Adriel called it our play palace. It had electricity, plumbing, furniture, and a comfortable bed.

Anchoring his lithe and motionless body to mine, I eased him onto the bed then stood back to look at him in the soft lighting.

Fuck. How the hell did I fix him when he was so mutilated and blood-deficient?

Biting my wrist, I held it over the gaping wound in his chest and let the droplets slide along his pale skin right onto his still heart, hoping it would start the regeneration process. I didn’t close my wound until a pool of my blood glistened in the cavity. It was a beautiful sight Master would have enjoyed.

As I waited, I stripped off my shredded clothes and washed away the dried blood and dirt. Then I cleaned him more thoroughly too. His skin was nearly translucent in the moonlight that filtered through the loft window.

Morning would be upon us soon, so I closed the blackout curtains and secured them. Then I fed from our new toy. After the battle and blood I’d given Master, I was ravenous. The human squealed a little at my rough treatment, and the sound helped soothe me.

I could have consumed a blood bag stored in the refrigerator but wanted to save that supply for Master since there were only a few left–rationed from Juicy before Cross and the wolves shut it down.

Fucking Brodier Ashley Cross. I’d known he was against us when he’d saved his favored feeder at the club but hadn’t dared think he would choose to side with humans and wolves. By doing so, he’d made an enemy of every vampire. While he was old and was able to walk in the sun, he was not infallible. He had a weakness—a blonde with sweet-smelling blood that I vowed to tear into while he watched.

The thought helped ease some of my anger.

After I drank enough blood to regain my strength, I went to message the nest to let them know I had survived. Others were checking in as well, but I ignored them. I only cared that Adriel survived.

Me: I’m hiding with Adriel. Not sure if he’ll survive.

A private text came through moments later.

Queen Bitch: I need you back here.

My hand tightened around my phone as I seethed. I always took commands from the master seriously. Not to do so could mean death or exile. But tonight, I’d take the risk. Adriel was more important.

Me: I’ll return once Adriel heals.

Queen Bitch: Now. Or there will be consequences.

Me: Oh? And what consequences will Cross face for betraying us and taking what is mine from me? I stay with Adriel. We need him. Don’t forget who he had worked for and why he can walk during the day while we cannot.

Queen Bitch: He no longer works with the fae.

Me: The fae have long memories.

Queen Bitch: You have two days, or I’ll hunt you down and kill you myself.

She wouldn’t. She needed me, and she needed Adriel. That didn’t mean I wanted to listen to her nag.

Pulling a spare pair of cat ears from the nightstand, I placed them on Adriel. Better.

I curled him up into my arms and fell asleep.

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