Richard held a branch the size of a toddler like he planned to take a swing at us. “I think you know,” he said.
Andrew whimpered beneath us as we peeled off more flesh without looking and stuck it into our mouth. Chewing on the bloody skin, we smirked when Richard’s eyebrows lowered and he frowned in disgust.
“Go ahead. Hit us,”we said with a small laugh after we swallowed our food.
Richard’s eyes widened.
“We said what we said. Hit us.”
Richard hesitated, but the stupid human walked toward us and, without warning, swung the tree branch and smacked it against our head. Our hand shot out at the same time, grabbed his leg, and yanked him forward. Richard yelled as he fell to the ground, his head smacking against a large rock. We dragged him toward us, and in the next breath, we grabbed his head with both hands and snapped his neck.
Andrew cried and mewled as his friend’s bones cracked.
The human’s legs shook for a few seconds before he went limp; his eyes stayed open, losing their light.
We turned back to Andrew and licked our mouth with a feral smile.“We aren’t done with you.”
Istood over Emma as she slept. She lay on her side, one hand cupping her cheek and the other slung over the edge of the bed. The position looked uncomfortable, and my protective side wanted to rearrange her so she would be more comfortable. I wanted to slip in behind her and hold her against me, but she’d scream if she opened her eyes and saw me.
That thought reminded me of when she first laid eyes on me as I crept behind that fucker who had hurt her. Gordon. I had watched the terror fill her kind eyes, unable to look away from me. She saw me for the second time when she woke up hours later. I had wanted to give in to the mating frenzy she put me in.
“Shh, shh, I won’t hurt you.”My growled promise still echoed in my head.
Emma’s whimpers and struggles beneath me as I tried to touch her flashed through my mind like it was happening right now.
My mate looked so peaceful as she slept. Her eyes moved behind her closed lids as she dreamed. What was she dreaming? Was it of Dimitri and me? Or were they nightmares, and she was fighting against her own demons? Her lips parted with every deep, even breath. A little snore escaped her every few minutes, making me bare my teeth in a smile.
I crouched so I was at eye level with her. Her scent filled my lungs as I leaned closer, breathing her in. She smelled like blood oranges and the air right before it rained. It was refreshing and brought forth tender feelings in me I hadn’t felt in all my life. I was a demon. There was nothing good about me. But Emma made me want to be loving and overprotective.
Cocking my head, I studied her face, taking in every detail. Freckles dotted her cheeks and nose. I longed to gently touch each one and kiss them. With her eyes closed, her long eyelashes dusted the tops of her cheeks and created dark crescent moons. My mate was beautiful, and no other could ever compare to her.
Giving in to the desire to touch her, my clawed hand moved toward her but stopped halfway.
I didn’t want to spook her. She’d already gone through too much. Even Dimitri was hesitant to tell her everything. Emma didn’t take it well the first time she found out we were demons.
I dropped my hand.
She would eventually remember. Our bond would make sure of it. I knew it was working because she was healing rapidly. The bruises on her face had faded, and her breathing sounded stronger.
I curled my fingers into my palms, my nails biting into the tender flesh as I thought about our bond. Why was Emma harmed when our lives were connected? One couldn’t die without the other following. Dimitri and I didn’t die when Emma did. Why? Someone must’ve tampered with our bond—there was no other reason.
Standing up, I backed away from her and stared at her for a second longer before I walked toward the doorway. I planned on finding the answers, but I would also find the second person who crashed into our car before they ran off like the coward they were.
Stopping at the door, I glanced at my mate. “Sweet dreams, little one. The next time we see each other will be under different circumstances.”
Emma’s shoulder rose and fell with each breath as she continued to sleep, and a small whimper escaped her, as if she already missed me. I bared my teeth in a snarl, wanting to return to her side.
Another time. I had to return another time when she wouldn’t get spooked by me.
I walked out.
Iwas shocked—shocked—that Mr. Volkov allowed me to drive him to his surprise for his birthday. He even let me blindfold him so he couldn’t see where we were going.
Opening the passenger door, I touched his shoulder and grabbed his hand. “We’re here. But you’re not allowed to take off your blindfold yet,” I said, my voice huskier. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as he closed his hand around mine and got out of the car. He reminded me of a large cat with his smooth movements and how he glided when he walked. I closed the car door behind him and gently led him to the spa door.
“Ms. Hayes,” Mr. Volkov warned as I gave into my desires and laced our fingers together. It was all for the sake of holding on to him so he wouldn’t fall. Yeah...that was why.
“We’re almost there, sir,” I said, biting my bottom lip with a smile when his hand briefly squeezed mine. It was as though he couldn’t stop himself from reacting to me calling him sir. His skin was warm and soft, with only a few calluses on his fingers from hard work. My mind conjured images I shouldn’t have thought about. Like how his touch would feel while he dragged those soft hands down my body, squeezing my breasts and cupping my mound.
