Authors: CT Nicholson
Drake, Collin, and Gregory took off.
Jerking his shirt off and tossing the cloth to Lena, Aiden gripped the long ass sword going through Julian’s chest. Bones had to be broken and arteries sliced. Julian squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his teeth together as Aiden readied to remove the blade.
“
Just do it!”
Nodding, he glanced over to Lena.
“Be ready as soon as I pull it out.”
Without another word, he jerked the sword out in one clean pull.
“Fucking bitch!” Julian’s curses exploded from him but his body grew noticeably weak right before them.
With his fangs, Aiden ripped open his wrist and shoved the opened wound against Julian’s lips.
“Drink now.”
Julian started drinking immediately and grabbed at Aiden’s wrist to keep him from moving. They all pledged their life to their
prince. Giving blood was part of their pledge.
“
That’s enough Aiden. I’ll give him blood now.” Anticipation and longing lit Lena’s eyes.
They all knew s
he cared deeply for Julian but they also knew Julian loved her more like a sister. Aiden wouldn’t stop her from giving Julian blood, even though doing so would only cause her more grief.
He pulled his wrist away and Lena pushed her own against Julian’s lips. Jumping up, he checked that Lucian stayed unconscious
before he went to search for Elle. His heart pounded and his palms started to sweat. If he found her dead, his life would end.
“
Someone help me! Aiden?” Elle’s voice sounded through the door.
Relief filled him as he burst through the door and straight to the bed.
Her legs and arms were tied but she still looked healthy. Her skin seemed pale and he saw bite marks that hadn't come from him.
“
Stop it,” Elle fussed.
He didn’t realize he
was growling until she spoke. Within seconds, he had her free and in his arms. When he tried to kiss her, she turned her head away and he knew then something had changed. Of course things changed. Who wanted to be with a vampire?
“
Anya?” Elle pulled from his grasp and ran to her friend and her knees hit the floor as she dropped before Anya.
When he heard her sharp intake of air, he knew she knew. His son turned Anya and everything
bad that had happened was because of Aiden and his crazy lover. Stepping back into the hall, Aiden left Elle to tend to her friend when all he wanted was to wrap her in his arms and never let go again.
Julian sat up, keeping his gaze averted from Lena
, and a curse left his mouth every few seconds as the others explained how Luciana escaped.
“
We have to get you back to Sanctuary and get you more blood.” Aiden, along with Drake, helped Julian up. He nodded toward Elle and Anya as he spoke to Lena. “Help get them to the vehicle.”
She sulked away and he started down the stairs. He almost made it to the car when Elle’s scream pierced the air and
gutted his very soul.
Chapter
Twenty
With a headache from hell, Nicolas watched as his cousin and Drake helped Julian out of the two-story home.
What the hell happened to Julian?
Collin came out carrying another vampire he didn’t recognize. A red headed male.
After being knocked out in the warehouse, he awoke to the smell of the Guardians moving closer to him. He stumbled out and knowing they searched for the rogue, went in the opposite direction.
Seeing her had brought back too many damn memories and questions.
It also made him realize her being alive was because of him and no one else.
He only had one choice
. He would turn himself in. Stepping from behind the tree cloaking him, he started to move toward the Guardians when a loud scream tore through the house for all to hear. Forcing himself to stand still, he watched as they all took off at a run. Even Julian moved with speed for someone who had needed help only moments before.
The redheaded vampire
was dropped carelessly on the ground, showing he wasn’t on their side. When he started to stand and look around, Nicolas stepped forward, waiting to see what the vampire did.
Nicolas took the weakened vampire down with one kick to his back
then slammed his sword handle into the back of the unknown vampire's head. Once he had the vampire's hands cuffed and his legs tied, Nicolas rolled the big ass vampire over.
Holy shit!
He looked just like Aiden, minus the read hair.
Everything clicked into place as his mind worked over-time to put two and two together. Luciana had been pregnant. He knew before her ‘death’ that she smelled different but he chalked
it up to her becoming rogue. If this was their son then he’d lived the life and been raised by a rogue.
With his weapons thrown to the ground
, Nicolas crept up the steps on the front porch and watched as Aiden leaned over the human he’d seen earlier.
Did Aiden meet his mate? Again.
Chapter
Twenty-One
Aiden darted up the porch stairs and through the open door to find Elle choking for air as blood poured out of her neck. Lena had Anya by the throat and pressed against the wall.
Lena looked at him with regret.
“I’m so sorry, Aiden, she just ripped into her. I should've known better than to take my eyes off a new turn. She’s hungry and went for her first opportunity.”
Aiden should have realized Anya would be hungry. He fell in front of Elle.
“I’m sorry, Elle.”
He put pressure on her wound but knew she had no chance of surviving. Her artery had to be severed for so much blood.
Wide blue eyes filled with tears and fear as she looked up at him. His heart shattered, forcing him to realize his love for her. Everyone surrounded them. Even Julian had come back into the house.
“
It’s not too late to turn her, Aiden.” Drake kneeled beside them. “You can feed her your blood now and she might still make it. I mean if she’s your mate...”
They all teased earlier by calling her his mate, but could she really be?
Had everyone realized the truth before him? He shook his head. He still couldn’t change her.
She would despise him for turning her. The way she turned her head away before
was proof of how she felt now that she understood the full situation.
“
My mate is the reason we’re in this situation.” His voice came out strangled, emotions plowing through him as he thought of never seeing Elle’s blue eyes dancing with laughter or darkening with passion again.
“
Get over it.” Nicolas walked in and everyone turned slack jawed toward him. “The way Elle brought your passions back to life, I’d say she’s your mate. As such, you need to change her now. That crazy redhead running around isn’t mate material. She’s a madwoman.”
The others, with exception of Julian, who still slumped against the wall, jumped into motion. Nicolas was right. The thought of losing
Elle felt like someone slowly ripping Aiden’s heart from his chest. Without giving himself any more excuses, Aiden bit into his wrist and forced her mouth open for him.
“
Drink, Elle. Please don’t leave me this way.” He knew deep down she’d hate him but watching her die wasn’t an option. Not now, after his realization of his love for her. Blood dripped down her throat. She coughed and choked. He didn’t look at anyone else, only her.
Ten minutes went by and she never started to drink on her own. He leaned in and kissed her forehead. Tears streamed down his face as he heard her last
heartbeat. Felt her last breath.
He didn’t remove his wrist, praying he wasn’t too late.
But even he knew he couldn't bring someone back from the dead.
“
Fuck you! Let me go and help. We can’t give up on her!”
Aiden looked up when Nicolas yelled.
Nicolas struggled against his hold. One foot stomped Gregory’s foot, causing his hold to falter giving Nicolas just enough time to swing his arm straight into Collin’s nose. A string of curses left them both as Nicolas dropped beside Aiden instead of running.
Drake and Lena grabbed Nicolas and started to pull him away.
“No.” Aiden shook his head. Looking at the prince, he told the truth. “Nicolas isn’t the rogue. Luciana has been framing him for the deaths.”
Julian gave him a look filled with regret and nodded at Lena and Drake to let Nicolas go.
“I’m so sorry, Aiden. I failed you once but I can’t do it again. She needs more help.” He placed one hand in the middle of her chest and the other on top.
Aiden knew what he his cousin planned to do but the human treatment wouldn’t work.
“It’s too late, Nicolas. She’s dead.”
After pushing down onto her chest over and over, he stopped, tilted her chin back, opened her mouth
and pinched her nose. Nicolas leaned in and blew two deep breaths into her.
Her chest rose and fell and Aiden’s heart stopped. Knowing her chest rose only because of Nicolas
didn’t make a difference. He wanted her alive.
“
It’s not going to work.” God, he wished it would work.
Nicolas started pumping again.
“She had to have gotten some of your blood.”
Hope filled him and when the time came to breath into her, Aiden didn’t leave the job up to Nicolas. He copied what Nicolas had done before and gave her two big breaths. His throat
closed when she actually started to breathe on her own. Her precious heartbeat started again. The thump started off weak before getting stronger.
“
Now give her your blood again.” Nicolas pointed at her neck.
Shock froze him when he saw her neck had actually started to heal. Aiden tore into his wrist again and pushed the dripping blood against her lips. She didn’t drink on her own but he still hoped.
That hope started to falter as her heartbeat started to slow once again. Aiden panicked then yelped when out of nowhere, her mouth moved. Sucking on his wrist, everyone let out a breath when Elle started to drink from Aiden.
“
It worked.” Nicolas’ shocked words whispered beside him.
Aiden looked around at everyone, unable to wipe the grin off his face. When his gaze touched on Anya, he noticed tears in her eyes.
The horror on her face showed the realization of what she’d done.
Anya’s eyes stayed on Elle as she took a step forward. He growled and her gaze jumped to his.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened.”
Nicolas reprimanded and gently took Anya’s
hand. Glancing back at Elle, she followed reluctantly behind him. “I’ll give you blood.”
Aiden heard the gesture meant for her. Someone needed to feed her
soon before she hurt someone else. Aiden’ body had started to weaken as Elle’s mouth kept pulling on his wrist so Nicolas would care for Anya.
“
Let me.” Drake stepped forward.
A
growl rumbled in Aiden’s chest
. Having a mate sure was aggravating.
He wanted no one near her, much less touching her. When Aiden met Luciana, he didn't remember being quite as possessive or jealous. “No. I’ll feed her. But I’d appreciate it if I could take from one of you until we get back to Sanctuary.”
Drake nodded.
“Now that we have that settled, I’d really like to get home and lay down with some blood for myself.” Julian pushed off the wall and started out the door.
“
We’ll exchange once we’re on the road.” Breaking his wrist from Elle was tough as she kept grabbing for his arm. Her eyes stayed closed but her soft moans and licks caused his dick to strain against his pants.
Damn!
“
Let's go then.” Julian headed out the door with Lena trying to help.
Aiden
stood with Elle in his arms and followed suit with everyone else trailing behind him.
Julian, Lena, Collin and Gregory got into one vehicle but not before Nicolas and Gregory loaded Lucian into the back.
That was good since Aiden wouldn't risk Elle in the same SUV as his son. Nicolas hopped into the driver seat and Anya joined him up front.
Drake sat beside Aiden and held his wrist out.
“Drink.”
Without moving Elle from his hold, Aiden grabbed Drake's wrist and bit. The blood felt like heaven as he took it into his body. He didn't take much before pulling back and biting into his own wrist to feed Elle.
She held onto him and took everything he offered.
Aiden closed his eyes. He couldn't believe she
was alive. Someone nudged him.
“
Hey! Aiden, you have to stop her!” Drake reached to pull Aiden's wrist away.
“
Don't!” His fangs exploded from his mouth. “No one’s to touch her.”