How could I? It would only make things worse. There was sexual attraction, sure. He was tall, muscular, and had a strength that almost matched Waleron’s. And that there was the problem—Waleron.
“No matter what it was, you’re a Wraith. I’m a Scar. I can’t live permanently in your realm and you can’t in mine.” Wraiths were spirits, and spending more than a few hours at a time in the human world drained their powers.
“We can make it work,” he argued. “I didn’t mean what I said. I was angry.” Maybe he did or didn’t. The result was the same.
I wanted to say I didn’t either, but it was better this way.
“Come back with me.” He stroked the side of my throat with the tip of his finger. Shivers coursed down my spine at his gentle touch. I might not love Edan, but I did care about him and hated that I hurt him.
I wondered if Waleron felt that way using Trinity for her visions. No. He didn’t care about anything except his oaths.
“I want to fuck you again,” Edan whispered.
My cell vibrated.
Where are you? Need you at Liam’s club. ASAP.
Shit. “ I have to go, Edan.” I quickly typed back.
What are you doing at Liam’s?
“Will you think about it?” Edan asked.
My phone buzzed again and I glanced down.
Tell you when you get here. Hurry up. I get antsy all alone with these bloodsucking vampires and bug-people.
“It’s Jedrik, something’s going down. I need to go.”
“You need me?”
That was sweet and I leaned over and lightly kissed him. “No. But thanks.”
He nodded and let go of my hand as he turned back to the bar and sat on the barstool. Then he grabbed the beer from the guy next to him and chugged it back.
Give me five.
Make it two.
That couldn’t be good.
I DIDN’T KNOW HOW it happened, but one second I was wrapped in some stranger’s arms ready to bite his neck, and the next second the guy was on the floor unconscious and Jedrik was dragging me through the crowd toward the washrooms.
“Jedrik?” I lost my shoe and stumbled.
“Just in the nick of time, eh, sugar?” Jedrik shouted over the music as he continued to propel me to the hallway.
Shoe lost, I limped after him as he towed me past the washrooms. Was he taking me out of here? But he couldn’t. Liam expected me back.
Oh, God, I needed blood. It was too late for me.
“Stop. Jedrik, stop, damn it. It can’t happen like this. It’s too late. I’m too far gone.”
Jedrik ignored me until we were alone in the hallway, a hundred feet from the fire exit. He pushed me up against the wall, his hand at my throat.
“Have you tasted blood since I last saw you?” Jedrik’s fist plowed into the wall beside my head when I didn’t answer right away. “Have you?”
I shook my head, but it wasn’t easy with his hand still locked on my throat.
“Then it’s not too late.” He released my throat, but his palms rested on the wall on either side of my head. Then he chin-lifted to the left, down the dimly light corridor toward the bar.
I followed his vision.
Everything inside me went haywire—pulse, breath, my belly whirled with an out-of-control frenzy of butterflies.
It was him. I’d recognize him from just the way he moved. He didn’t just walk. He owned his walk. He owned the ground he walked on and everyone around him. Over six foot three, broad shoulders, and long confident strides that said ‘get the fuck out of my way.’ And people moved without him having to say or do anything.
I shook my head back and forth. “I told you I didn’t want him to know. Oh, my God, I told you.” I tried to slide out from under Jedrik’s caged arms, but he grabbed my elbow and held me in place.
“Oh no you don’t.”
“Why? Why did you have to tell him?”
“He deserves to know, Abby. And don’t think it was all ice cream and popsicles writing that email.”
Holy shit. “You emailed him?” Oh. My. God. He emailed him. Damien must have been livid.
My shoulders slumped and I sagged against the wall, staring at the floor, listening to the determined footsteps approach and stop beside Jedrik and me. I suddenly liked Jedrik’s arms caging me in because they kept me protected from Damien, but it didn’t last as Jedrik moved back and I was forced to look at him.
Damien’s eyes blazed with fury and his rock-hard body—in a snug black T-shirt and faded blue jeans—was tense, tatted arm muscles bulging. But he wasn’t looking at me; he was looking at Jedrik, which was somewhat of a relief.
“Delara coming to help with Liam?” Damien asked, and my heart skipped a beat at the sound of his deep, husky voice.
Jedrik nodded. “She’ll be here any minute. I’ll stay to make sure she’s safe. You get Abby the fuck out of here. Her thirst is too strong and Liam knows it. This goes down now.”
Damien nodded in my direction, but refused to look at me. “She know what’s up?”
“Umm, I’m right here,” I said.
Both men ignored me. “I stocked the cottage for six months. The room is ready and the place is seriously secluded, so no one will hear her. You have the directions, right?”
Hear me? The room was ready?
Damien nodded.
“Don’t leave her alone for a second and secure her, for fuck’s sake.”